US6299254B1 — Head restraint

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

Head restraint for a backrest of a vehicle, comprising: a head cushion; and a retaining device including a pivot adapted to be positioned above a backrest for coupling the head cushion pivotably to the backrest, said pivot being aligned transversely to a front surface of the backrest and passing eccentrically through a plane of symmetry of the head cushion such that the head cushion is pivotable between an upper functional position and a lower nonfunctional position, wherein the retaining device includes a bearing cup having a cup axis coaxial with said pivot, said pivot including a pivot pin coupled to said head cushion and extending rearwardly of a proximal portion of the head cushion which is lower in the functional position, said cup rotatable accommodating said pivot pin, wherein said proximal portion of the head cushion is bevelled on a rearward side to define an oblique surface running approximately parallel to the front surface of the backrest.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

Head restraint for a backrest of a vehicle, comprising: a head cushion; and a retaining device including a pivot adapted to be positioned above a backrest for coupling the head cushion pivotably to the backrest, said pivot being aligned transversely to a front surface of the backrest and passing eccentrically through a plane of symmetry of the head cushion such that the head cushion is pivotable between an upper functional position and a lower nonfunctional position, wherein the retaining device includes a bearing cup having a cup axis coaxial with said pivot, said pivot including a pivot pin coupled to said head cushion and extending rearwardly of a proximal portion of the head cushion which is lower in the functional position, said cup rotatable accommodating said pivot pin, wherein said proximal portion of the head cushion is bevelled on a rearward side to define an oblique surface running approximately parallel to the front surface of the backrest.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

Head restraint according to claim 1 , wherein said head cushion includes an upholstered supporting frame having a first transversely extending frame strut located at said proximal portion, and a retaining bolt protruding at an obtuse angle with respect to the supporting frame, said retaining bolt being coupled to the pivot pin in a rotationally fixed manner.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

Head restraint according to claim 2 , further comprising a second transversely extending frame strut located at a distal portion of the head cushion which is higher in the functional position, said first transversely extending frame strut having wider upholstery in a vertical direction than said second transversely extending frame strut.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

Head restraint according to claim 1 , wherein said backrest defines at least one guide sleeve, and wherein said bearing cup is coupled to a supporting hoop configured to be disposed in said at least one guide sleeve.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

Head restraint according to claim 1 , further comprising a lock which releasably locks the pivot pin to the bearing cup when the head cushion is in said functional position, said lock being at least one of manually releasable and releasable via a power assisted control, said lock automatically engaging when the head cushion is pivoted into said functional position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 47 words

Head restraint according to claim 5 , wherein the lock comprises a recess in the pivot pin and a locking pin retained in an axially displaceable manner on the bearing cup, said locking pin being engageable with the recess under a spring force of a locking spring.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

Head restraint according to claim 6 , further comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force of the locking spring via excitation of said solenoid.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

Head restraint according to claim 7 , further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing cup and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force via said release lever.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

Head restraint according to claim 6 , further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing cup and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force via said release lever.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

Head restraint according to claim 5 , further comprising a restoring spring coupled to said pivot pin, said restoring spring being tensioned when the head cushion is moved to said functional position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

Head restraint according to claim 10 , wherein the restoring spring is a spiral spring or a leg spring disposed around said pivot pin, said restoring spring having one spring end coupled to the bearing cup and having another spring end coupled to the pivot pin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

Head restraint according to claim 1 , further comprising a covering hood arranged to cover said retaining device, said covering hood being at least approximately aligned with an upper edge of the backrest.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

Head restraint according to claim 12 , wherein said head cushion and said covering hood are configured and said pivot pin is coupled to said head cushion such that an upper edge of the head cushion, when in the lower nonfunctional position, is essentially flush with an upper edge of the covering.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 157 words

Retaining device for pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising: a bearing to be coupled to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest; a pivot pin adapted to be positioned above the backrest and coupled to a lower portion of the head cushion, said pivot pin being disposed in said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion; and at least one locking mechanism which releasably locks said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a recess in the pivot pin and a locking pin axially displaceably disposed on the bearing, said locking pin being releasably engageable with the recess.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 157 words

Retaining device for pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising: a bearing to be coupled to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest; a pivot pin adapted to be positioned above the backrest and coupled to a lower portion of the head cushion, said pivot pin being disposed in said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion; and at least one locking mechanism which releasably locks said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a recess in the pivot pin and a locking pin axially displaceably disposed on the bearing, said locking pin being releasably engageable with the recess.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

Retaining device according to claim 14 , further comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via excitation of said solenoid.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

Retaining device according to claim 15 , further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via said release lever.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

Retaining device according to claim 14 , further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via said release lever.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

Head restraint system, comprising the retaining device of claim 16 and the head cushion, said head cushion including a supporting frame, said pivot pin being coupled to said supporting frame via a retaining bolt, said retaining bolt being fixed non-rotatably to said supporting frame and being fixed non-rotatably to said pivot pin.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

Head restraint system according to claim 18 , further comprising the vehicle seat backrest, said vehicle seat backrest defining at least one guide sleeve, said bearing being coupled to a supporting hoop configured to be disposed in said at least one guide sleeve.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising: coupling a bearing to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest; coupling a pivot pin to a lower portion of the head cushion; coupling said pivot pin to said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion wherein said pivot pin is positioned above said backrest; and providing at least one locking mechanism to releasably lock said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising: coupling a bearing to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest; coupling a pivot pin to a lower portion of the head cushion; coupling said pivot pin to said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion wherein said pivot pin is positioned above said backrest; and providing at least one locking mechanism to releasably lock said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-10-08	2005-04-09	2005-10-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-10-08	2009-04-09	2009-10-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-10-08	2013-04-09	2013-10-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Head restraint

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