Power actuated headrest assembly

Claim 2

A headrest assembly for a seat back, comprising: a headrest having support means extending therefrom; guide means for said support means adapted to be carried interior of the seat back for allowing controlled relative movement between the latter and the headrest; tape means of a columnarly loadable material for supporting said headrest as predetermined positions with respect to the guide means, said tape means having a lower end adapted to be secured relative to the seat back and an upwardly projecting free end; actuator means carried with the headrest and operatively engaging said free end of said tape means for driving said headrest relative to said free end to thereby selectively vertically position the headrest relative to the guide means and the seat back.

Claim 3

A power-actuated headrest assembly for a motor vehicle seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest; a support member extending from said headrest; a guide member adapted to be carried interior of the seat back, said guide member slidingly engaging said support member to provide controlled extensible movement therebetween; an elongated tape of a longitudinally stiff material extending along the support member, said tape having one end fixedly connected to the guide member and a free end projecting to the headrest; motor means carried with the headrest and operatively engaging the tape for moving the headrest relative to the seat back whereby the tape serves as a columnar load bearing member for vertically supporting the headrest during dynamic operation.

Claim 4

A power-actuated headrest assembly for a motor vehicle seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest; a support member extending from said headrest; a guide member adapted to be carried interior of the seat back, said guide member slidingly engaging said support member to provide controlled extensible movement therebetween; an elongated tape of a longitudinally stiff material extending along the support member, said tape having one end fixedly connected to the guide member and a free end projecting to the headrest; motor means carried with the headrest and operatively engaging the tape for moving the headrest relative to the seat back whereby the tape serves as a columnar load bearing member for vertically supporting the headrest during dynamic operation.

Claim 5

A headrest assembly for a seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest; actuator means including an output gear operatively carried with the headrest, said output gear being bidirectionally rotatable upon selective energization of said actuator means; a guide member adapted to be carried interior of the seat back; a support member connected to the headrest, having an end portion slidably engaging the guide member for controlled extenSible movement; an elongated flexible load bearing tape having one end fixed relative to the guide member and the seat back, and a free end projecting to the headrest; a series of openings formed in said free end of said tape, the sides of said openings being operatively engaged by the teeth of said output gear, whereby energization of said actuator means imparts rotation to said output gear and causes the latter to operatively traverse said free end of said tape thereby varying the relative distance between the headrest and the guide member and selectively positioning the headrest at a desired vertical height.

Claim 6

A headrest assembly for a seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest; actuator means including an output gear operatively carried with the headrest, said output gear being bidirectionally rotatable upon selective energization of said actuator means; a guide member adapted to be carried interior of the seat back; a support member connected to the headrest, having an end portion slidably engaging the guide member for controlled extenSible movement; an elongated flexible load bearing tape having one end fixed relative to the guide member and the seat back, and a free end projecting to the headrest; a series of openings formed in said free end of said tape, the sides of said openings being operatively engaged by the teeth of said output gear, whereby energization of said actuator means imparts rotation to said output gear and causes the latter to operatively traverse said free end of said tape thereby varying the relative distance between the headrest and the guide member and selectively positioning the headrest at a desired vertical height.

Claim 7

A power-actuated headrest assembly for a motor vehicle seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest including a curved reinforcing plate defining a downwardly opening pocket; a support member attached to the reinforcing plate and extending downwardly from said headrest; a guide sleeve adapted to be mounted interior of the seat back and having spaced surfaces serving to guide the support member for vertical extension with respect to the seat back; an elongated drive tape of a longitudinally stiff load bearing material, said drive tape having a lower end fixed to the guide sleeve and a free end projecting upwardly into said pocket of said headrest; a series of longitudinally spaced gear-tooth receiving notches formed in said free end of said drive tape; an electric motor located in said pocket and fixedly attached to the reinforcing plate; means including switch means for selectively energizing said electric motor; gear means operatively connected to the electric motor including an output gear having teeth drivingly engaging said notches whereby energization of the electric motor imparts rotation to said output gear and causes said teeth to successively engage the next adjacent notch thereby shifting said headrest upwardly with respect to said drive tape to vary the relative distance between the electric motor and said guide sleeve and selectively position said headrest with respect to the seat back.

Claim 8

A power-actuated headrest assembly for a motor vehicle seating unit having a seat back, comprising: a headrest including a curved reinforcing plate defining a downwardly opening pocket; a support member attached to the reinforcing plate and extending downwardly from said headrest; a guide sleeve adapted to be mounted interior of the seat back and having spaced surfaces serving to guide the support member for vertical extension with respect to the seat back; an elongated drive tape of a longitudinally stiff load bearing material, said drive tape having a lower end fixed to the guide sleeve and a free end projecting upwardly into said pocket of said headrest; a series of longitudinally spaced gear-tooth receiving notches formed in said free end of said drive tape; an electric motor located in said pocket and fixedly attached to the reinforcing plate; means including switch means for selectively energizing said electric motor; gear means operatively connected to the electric motor including an output gear having teeth drivingly engaging said notches whereby energization of the electric motor imparts rotation to said output gear and causes said teeth to successively engage the next adjacent notch thereby shifting said headrest upwardly with respect to said drive tape to vary the relative distance between the electric motor and said guide sleeve and selectively position said headrest with respect to the seat back.