MOUNT FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE HEADREST

Abstract

Among other things, the invention relates to a mounting assembly for a headrest with at least one mounting rod (13a, 13b) having at least one retaining structure (17) that can be mounted on a vehicle seat by at least one mounting assembly (19a, 19b) having a respective seat (14), wherein the seat (14) forms a passage (25) for supporting and guiding the mounting rod (13a, 13b), wherein the mounting assembly (19a, 19b) has a latch assembly (15) that releasably latches the mounting rod (13a, 13b) can be releasably latched in at least one position relative to the seat (14), wherein the latch assembly (15) has at least one latch element (16) that is movable between a latching position and a release position and has a latch formation (21) that can be releasably engaged with at least one retaining structure (22) of the mounting rod (13a, 13b) to prevent movement of the mounting rod in at least one direction (p.sub.1, p.sub.2) along the passage (25).

The particularity is that the latch formation (21) has at least one mating surface (32, 33) that cooperates with a driving surface (34, 35) of the retaining structure (17) in such a way that when rotating the mounting rod (13a) about a longitudinal central axis (m) relative to at least one rotational direction (u.sub.1, u.sub.2), in particular relative to two opposite rotational directions (u.sub.1, u.sub.2), the latch element (16) is entrained.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for a headrest comprising: at least one mounting rod having at least one retaining structure that can be mounted on a vehicle seat by the mounting assembly; a seat forming a passage for supporting and guiding the mounting rod; and a latch assembly that releasably latches the mounting rod in at least one position relative to the seat, wherein the latch assembly and that has at least one latch element movable between a latching position and a release position and that in turn has a latch formation that can be releasably engaged with at least one retaining structure of the mounting rod to prevent movement of the mounting rod in at least one direction along the passage the latch formation having at least one mating surface that cooperates with a driving surface of the retaining structure in such a way that when rotating the mounting rod about a longitudinal central axis relative to at least one rotational direction, in particular relative to two opposite rotational directions, the latch element is entrained.

2. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, at least one area of the latch formation has a rectangular shape, a V-shape, a U-shape or a semicircular shape.

3. The mounting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, claim 1, wherein the latch element is movable approximately radially to a central axis of the passage.

4. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element is plate-shaped and has a thickness that is low in relation to its length and width.

5. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element cooperates with an actuating element in such a way that the latch element is movable by the actuating element between a latching position and a release position.

6. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element has a guide having guide surfaces of the seat with which the latch element is movably guided between the latching position and the release position.

7. The mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the guide of the latch element has stop surfaces for the latching position such that the latch element cannot come into contact with a bottom surface of the retaining structure extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis.

8. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element is mounted on a support.

9. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element is rotatably mounted about two axes.

10. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch element is mounted on a support.

11. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein side areas of the latch element cooperate with the support surfaces of the seat.

12. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat is formed by a guide sleeve.

13. A headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising: a head part; a retaining device with at least one mounting rod having at least one retaining structure; and at least one mounting assembly for guiding and supporting the mounting rod and having a latch assembly having a latch element associated with the mounting assembly, and the retaining structure, the latch element engaging the retaining structure in a latching position and being disengaged from the retaining structure in a release position, the mounting assembly being designed according to claim 1 and having a latch formation, the retaining structure having at least one driving surface that cooperates with a mating surface of the latch element.

14. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein the retaining structure and the latch formation cooperate in a form-fitting manner.

15. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein the retaining structure and the latch formation are at least partially complementary.

16. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein the retaining structure has two mounting rods or two free end areas of a mounting rod bracket.

17. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein at least one mounting rod or a free end area thereof has at least one retaining structure.

18. The headrest according to claim 17, wherein each retaining structure is associated with a respective one of the latch elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0044] In the figures:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a front view of the headrest with head support part, retaining device and mounting assemblies, where only one of the two mounting assemblies is shown,

[0046] FIG. 2 is a section along line B in FIG. 1,

[0047] FIG. 3 is a side view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1,

[0048] FIG. 4 is a section along line C in FIG. 3,

[0049] FIG. 4a is a large-scale view of a detail of FIG. 4,

[0050] FIG. 5 is a section line D-D in FIG. 4,

[0051] FIG. 6 is section line E-E in FIG. 4, where the latch assembly is in the latching position,

[0052] FIG. 7 is a section like FIG. 6, where the latch assembly is in the release position,

[0053] FIG. 8 is, like FIG. 2, a sectional view of the headrest, where rotation of the mounting rod and the latch element relative to the seat has taken place,

[0054] FIG. 9 is a section along line F-F in FIG. 8,

[0055] FIG. 10 is a section along line G—G in FIG. 8.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] In the figures, the vertical directions are denoted by z.sub.1 and z.sub.2, the horizontal directions parallel to a sagittal axis of a seat occupant are denoted by x.sub.1 and x.sub.2, and the horizontal directions parallel to a front axis are denoted by y.sub.1 and y.sub.2. Due to the inclined position of the backrest of vehicle seat, the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 may differ from the directions z.sub.1 and z.sub.2.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a headrest that is denoted as a whole with reference character 10. The headrest 10 has a head part 11 with a head support surface 23, a retaining device 12 with mounting rods 13a and 13b and mounting assemblies 19a and 19b for supporting the mounting rods 13a and 13b on a vehicle seat (not shown). Only the mounting assembly 19a is shown in the figures, while the mounting assembly 19b is merely indicated using dashed lines.

[0058] The mounting assemblies 19a and 19b can be fastened to a structure of the vehicle seat. The mounting assemblies 19a and 19b each have an insertion opening 24 that merges into a passage 25. The respective mounting rod 13a or 13b can be inserted into the passage 25 in the direction p.sub.2 via the insertion opening 24. The passage 25 limits the degrees of freedom of the mounting rods 13a and 13b in such a way that they are only movable in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 when the respective mounting rod 13a and 13b is in the passage 25. Each mounting assembly 19a and 19b has a seat 14 and a panel part 37.

[0059] As the mounting assemblies 19a and 19b are configured the same, in the following only the mounting assembly 19a is described.

[0060] The insertion opening 24 is configured by the panel part 37 that, in the present embodiment, forms an annular collar 27 intended to engage over the upholstery of the vehicle seat. A lower area of the mounting assembly 19a (see FIG. 2) is formed by the seat 14. The wall of the seat 14 has an opening 20. Web structures 28 and 29 are formed on the opening 20 at spaced intervals with respect to a longitudinal central axis m of the seat 14 and the mounting rod 13a, wherein the web structure 28 forms a support surface 30 and the web structure 29 forms a support surface 31. The function of the support surfaces 30 and 31 is explained below.

[0061] A latch assembly 15 (see FIG. 2) is movable between a latching position and a release position to releasably latch the movement of the mounting rod 13a relative to the seat 14. In the present embodiment, the latch assembly 15 is shown only with respect to the seat 14 of the guide device 14a, but it is provided on both mounting assemblies 19a and 19b, and each latch assembly 15 cooperates with one of the mounting rods 13a and 13b.

[0062] In this embodiment, the latch assembly 15 is a safeguard that prevents the mounting rods 13a and 13b from moving out of the mounting assemblies 19a and 19b in the direction p.sub.1 or from moving in the opposite direction p.sub.2. Alternatively or additionally, however, the latch assembly 15 could also be a height adjustment element for adjusting the mounting rods 13a and 13b in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 relative to the respective seat 14 or in the context of a horizontal adjustment element for adjusting and latching a head support part that can be adjusted relative to a base part in the directions x.sub.1 and x.sub.2.

[0063] The latching device 15 has a latch element 16 held on the seat 14 that is movable in the directions y.sub.1 and y.sub.2. The latch assembly 15 further has at least one retaining structure 17 of the mounting rod 13a, in this area two retaining structures 17, with which the latch element 16 is releasably in engagement in the latching position (see FIG. 2). The latch element 16 is loaded in the latching position by a spring 18.

[0064] In the latching position, the latch element 16 is in engagement with the retaining structure 17 of the mounting rod 13a, and in the release position, the latch element 16 is disengaged from the retaining structure 17. In the latching position, the mounting rod 13a cannot be moved in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2. In the release position, movement in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 is possible. In FIGS. 1 to 6, the latch element 16 is in the latching position and in FIG. 7 the latch element 16 is in the release position.

[0065] Alternatively, however, the retaining structure 17 could also be designed such that in the latching position movement in the direction p.sub.2 is possible, but movement in the direction p.sub.1 is prevented.

[0066] In the area of the latch element 16, the seat 14 has the opening 20 that enables the latch element 16 to be moved between the latching position and the release position and the spring 18 that is mounted on an outer surface 26 of the seat 14, to load the latch element 16 into the latching position in the direction y.sub.1.

[0067] The latch element 16 is plate-shaped, i.e. its thickness is low in relation to its height and width. A guide moveably guides the latch element 16 between the latching position and the release position.

[0068] In the latching position, latch surfaces 22 and 44 of the latch element 16 prevent movement of the mounting rod 13a in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 relative to the seat 14a. The latch surface 22 cooperates with a first retaining surface of the retaining structure 17 and with the support surface 30. In addition, the latch surface 44 cooperates with a second retaining surface of the retaining structure 17 and with the support surface 31. In this way, forces acting in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 can be transmitted from the mounting rod 13a to the seat 14.

[0069] Actuator 40 movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position moves the latch assembly 15 between the latching position and the release position. According to FIG. 2, the actuator 40 has an operating part 36 with which a user can operate the actuator 40 from outside of the vehicle seat. In the present example, the operating part 36 is formed from the panel part 37. Alternatively, however, it could also be formed as a separate part. The operating part 36 cooperates with an actuating element 38. The actuating element 38 is guided on the seat 14a so as to be movable in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2. When actuating the operating part 36 in the direction p.sub.2, the actuating element 38 is adjusted in the direction p.sub.2 by the control part.

[0070] With movement of the actuating element 38 in the direction p.sub.2, the latch element 16 is moved from the latching position into the release position. The movement of the latch element 16 in the direction y.sub.2 is carried out via an actuating surface 39 of the actuating element 38 that cooperates with an outer surface 41 of the latch element 16 facing the mounting rod 13a. A limit of the movement of the latch in the direction y.sub.2 is formed by two pins 47, each providing a limiting surface 48.

[0071] In the present embodiment, the actuating surface 39 is inclined to the movement direction of the actuating element 38 and forms a movement converter with the outer surface 41 of the latch element 16 that is slanted in a complimentary manner in this area. The movement converter converts forces acting in the direction p.sub.2 into forces acting in the direction y.sub.2. The direction y.sub.2 is oriented approximately at right angles to the direction p.sub.2. In this way, the latch element 16 can be moved against the force of the spring 18 from the latching position into the release position from the engagement with the retaining structure 17.

[0072] If the operating part 36 is unloaded, the spring 18 moves the latch element 16 again in the direction y.sub.1 into the latching position.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the spring 18 is formed by an elastically deformable band, e.g. made of rubber, or a plastic, e.g. a silicone that loads the latch element 16 into the latching position and loads the actuating element 38 and thus, due to the movement connection, the actuator 40 into the unactuated position. Alternatively, two separate springs could also be provided, wherein one loads the latch and the other loads the actuating element 38. The at least one spring could also be formed from another material, e.g. as a metal spring.

[0074] As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 4a, the latch element 16 has a latch formation 21 that cooperates with the retaining structure 17. The latch formation 21 provides mating surfaces 32 and 33. The retaining structure 17 has driving surfaces 34 and 35, wherein the driving surface 34 cooperates with the mating surface 32 and the driving surface 35 cooperates with the mating surface 33. The driving surfaces 34 and 35 and the mating surfaces 32 and 33 form an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle, for example.

[0075] The latch formation 21 of the latch element 16 is able to absorb forces transmitted from the retaining structure 17 to the latch element 16 when the mounting rod 13a is rotated in the rotational directions u.sub.1 and u.sub.2 (see FIG. 5) about the central axis m. Forces can be transmitted to the mating surfaces 32 and 33 via the driving surfaces 34 and 35 when the mounting rod 13a rotates in both rotational directions, so that the latch element 16 moves along in the rotational direction of the mounting rod 13a.

[0076] In this way, the latch element 16 is prevented from disengaging from the retaining structure 17 and the mounting rod 13a is no longer securely held to the vehicle seat. As explained above, the latch element 16 continues to transmit forces to the seat 14 after rotation that forces act in the direction p.sub.1 or p.sub.2 from the mounting rod 13a to the latch element 16. In FIG. 5, stop surfaces 45 and 46 of the seat 14 can be seen, against which the latch element 16 can strike during a maximum rotation in one of the directions u.sub.1 or u.sub.2.

[0077] In the present embodiment, the driving surfaces 34 and 35 and the mating surfaces 32 and 33 are each approximately V-shaped and complementary to one another. However, other shapes can also be used that prevent the mounting rods 13 from rotating. A rectangular shape, a U-shape or a semicircular shape transmits forces acting in the rotational direction from the mounting rod 13a to the latch element 16. The latch formation 21 must be designed in such a way that forces acting in the aforementioned directions can be transmitted from the mounting rod 13a to the latch element 16. In addition, the movement of the latch element 16 between the latching position and the release position should be easy to perform.

[0078] FIGS. 4, 4a, 5 and 6 show the latch element 16 in the latching position. Movement of the mounting rod 13a in the directions p.sub.1 or p.sub.2 is not possible. The mounting rod 13a is in an unrotated position.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section to the longitudinal axis m and shows the mounting rod 13a, the seat 14 and the latch element 16 in the latching position. It can be seen that the latch element 16 engages in a central area in the retaining structure 17 and projects beyond it with side areas 42 and 43, so that it can bear against the surfaces 30 and 31 of the seat 14 to transmit forces to the seat 14 acting in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2.

[0080] The longitudinal section parallel to the longitudinal axis m shows the latch element 16 according to FIG. 6 in the latching position in engagement with the mounting rod structure 17. Forces acting in the directions p.sub.1 or p.sub.2, which are transmitted from the mounting rod 13a to the latch element 16, are deflected from the latch element 16 to the support surfaces 30 and 31 in the latching position.

[0081] In FIG. 7, the latch element 16 is moved into the release position and is disengaged from the mounting rod structure 17. The mounting rod 13a can be moved in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2.

[0082] FIGS. 8 to 10 show a mounting rod 13a rotated in the direction u.sub.2 relative to the seat 14a. The latch element 16 is on the stop surface 46. FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the latch element 16 has been entrained by the mounting rod 13a in the direction u.sub.2 due to the driving surface 34 and continues to be in engagement with the mounting rod structure 17 in the latching position. In addition, the latch element 16 also cooperates with the support surfaces 30 and 31 in the rotated position. It thus prevents movement in the directions p.sub.1 and p.sub.2.