US6513871B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Headrest on a vehicle seat
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Filing: 2001-02-05
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2021-02-05
Abstract
Abstract On a vertically adjustable headrest provided on a backrest of a vehicle seat, a perpendicularly extending center part is arranged on a front side. On the two lateral edges of the center part, a supporting part is pivotally connected in each case by way of a film hinge, which supporting parts can be swivelled toward lateral edges of the headrest. A holding bow is provided on each supporting part. A leg spring, which itself is inserted into the headrest, reaches around the holding bow. The holding bow interacts with the leg spring such that, in the event of a vehicle crash, the supporting parts are displaced into the inoperative position by the mere action of the vehicle occupant's head. Furthermore, one control element respectively can also be applied to the end section of the supporting part, by way of which control element, the supporting part is swivelled in a sensor-controlled manner into the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash.
Inventors
- 👤 Sven Bartels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/80; B60N2/885; B60N2/806; B60N2/809; B60N2/888; B60N2/02; B60N2002/0204; B60N2002/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
Headrest on a vehicle seat having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, wherein the two supporting parts are connected such with the headrest that, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are automatically displaced by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element into the inoperative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
Headrest on a vehicle seat having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, wherein the two supporting parts are connected such with the headrest that, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are automatically displaced by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element into the inoperative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the two supporting parts are pivotally connected to a center area of the width dimension of the headrest and are displaced into the inoperative position from the tilted-out position by moving the two supporting parts in a direction toward a lateral edge of the headrest.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
Headrest according to claim 2 , wherein one curved holding bow respectively is pivotally connected to a free end section of the supporting parts or is rigidly mounted on an upholstery plate, which holding bow has on its free end section several mutually spaced detent grooves into which a detent element engages in a locking manner which is situated in the headrest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Headrest according to claim 3 , wherein in the headrest, in the area of its lateral edges, one leg spring respectively is provided which surrounds the holding bow and which, in a respective swivelling position of the supporting part, elastically locks into a detent groove of the holding bow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Headrest according to claim 2 , wherein one mechanically, electrically or electronically actuated control element respectively is applied to the free end section of the supporting part, by means of which control element the supporting part is swivelled in a sensor-controlled manner in the event of a vehicle crash from the tilted-out position into the inoperative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
Headrest according to claim 2 , wherein the two supporting parts are situated in a front-side recess of the headrest, wherein in the center area of the width dimension of the headrest, a stationary, perpendicularly extending center part is provided which is laterally adjoined by one supporting part respectively which is pivotally connected to a film hinge of the headrest, and wherein an upper free end section of the headrest, in an approximately surface-flush manner, adjoins the center part and the supporting parts situated in the inoperative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
A vehicle headrest assembly comprising: a central headrest part, a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part, a lateral headrest support holding structure operable to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein in the tilted out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and control means automatically operable to move the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in response to an event of a vehicle crash.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
A vehicle headrest assembly comprising: a central headrest part, a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part, a lateral headrest support holding structure operable to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein in the tilted out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and control means automatically operable to move the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in response to an event of a vehicle crash.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the lateral headrest support holding structure includes a holding bow which is movably disposed at a headrest frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the control means includes spring loaded latching means engageable with said holding bow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the control means includes a mechanically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the control means includes an electrically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the control means includes an electronically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of adjusting a headrest of a vehicle, the headrest having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, comprising: automatically displacing the two supporting parts from the tilted-out position to the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of adjusting a headrest of a vehicle, the headrest having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, comprising: automatically displacing the two supporting parts from the tilted-out position to the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of automatically displacing the two supporting parts includes the step of mechanically actuating a control element in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of automatically displacing the two supporting parts includes the step of electrically actuating a control element in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of automatically displacing the two supporting parts includes the step of electronically actuating a control element in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
142 words
A vehicle headrest assembly comprising: a central headrest part, a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part, a lateral headrest support holding structure operable to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein in the tilted out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and control means operable to move the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in an event of a vehicle impending crash condition, wherein the lateral headrest support holding structure includes a holding bow which is movably disposed at a headrest frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
142 words
A vehicle headrest assembly comprising: a central headrest part, a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part, a lateral headrest support holding structure operable to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein in the tilted out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and control means operable to move the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in an event of a vehicle impending crash condition, wherein the lateral headrest support holding structure includes a holding bow which is movably disposed at a headrest frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the control means includes spring loaded latching means engageable with said holding bow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the control means includes a mechanically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the control means includes an electrically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle headrest assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the control means includes an electronically actuated control element engageable with said holding bow and operable in response to a collision sensor signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |