HOLDER FOR MOUNTING A HEADREST

Abstract

There is shown and described, inter alia, a holder for supporting a headrest, which holder can be fixed in a retaining structure of a vehicle by insertion in a first mounting direction, wherein the holder is formed with a guide passage for receiving a retaining rod of the headrest, and wherein the holder has fixing means for fixing to a retaining structure of the vehicle.

The particular feature consists in that the fixing means have at least one deflection device, having at least one movable element that is supported on the holder so as to be movable from a first position in which the movable element is in the movement path of the retaining rod inserted into the guide passage, and a second position in which the movable element is outside the movement path, wherein the element has a region that is suitable for cooperating with an abutment surface of the retaining structure, in moving between the first position and the second position, such that the retaining element is loaded in a mounting direction relative to the retaining structure.

Claims

1. A holder for supporting a headrest in a retaining structure of a vehicle by insertion in a first mounting direction, the holder comprising: a guide passage a retaining rod of the headrest fittable in the guide passage; fixing means for fixing to the retaining structure; and at least one deflection device having at least one movable element supported on the holder so as to be movable from a first position in which the movable element is in the movement path of the retaining rod that can be inserted into the guide passage, and a second position in which the movable element is outside the movement path, the movable element having a support region cooperating with an abutment surface of the retaining structure in moving between the first position and the second position such that the holder is loaded in a mounting direction relative to the retaining structure.

2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is configured such that it is movable from the first position into the second position as a result of a force applied by the retaining rod.

3. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the movable element has latching structures that are suitable for locking the holder on the retaining structure in the second position at least with respect to a dismounting direction.

4. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is configured such that in the second position a return movement of the movable element is prevented when the retaining rod is in the guide passage.

5. The holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one compensation structure formed on the holder has an interference fit in relation to surfaces of a mounting seat of the retaining structure.

6. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is supported on the holder so as to be movable in a translatory manner or pivotable.

7. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is a lever having one lever arm cooperating with the retaining rod and another lever arm cooperating with the retaining structure.

8. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder has at least one cut-out in a wall and through which the movable element can pass.

9. The holder according to claim 1, further comprising: first locking means of a fixing device movable in order to lock the retaining rod into at least one position relative to the holder into engagement with second locking means of the retaining rod.

10. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder is a sleeve.

11. A headrest assembly having a headrest with a head part that can be supported by means of at least one retaining rod, in a holder, wherein the holder can be supported on a retaining structure of the vehicle, wherein the holder is configured in accordance with the features of claim 1.

12. A method of mounting a holder of a headrest assembly on a retaining structure of the vehicle, comprising the following method steps: inserting the holder into a pre-mounting posture relative to a retaining structure of the vehicle, moving the retaining rod of a headrest of the headrest assembly relative to the holder in a guide passage of the holder, at least over a specific length, in a mounting direction, at least one movable element of the holder being movable from a first position into a second position, the movable element being supported on an abutment surface of the retaining structure so that a force loads the holder in the mounting direction.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the retaining rod is first mounted in the guide passage, and then the assembly consisting of the headrest with the retaining rod and the holder is in the retaining structure in a pre-mounting position.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the holder is in the retaining structure in the pre-mounting position, and subsequently the retaining rod of the headrest is inserted into the guide passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0042] In the figures:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a side view of the holder,

[0044] FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views according to section line A-A in FIG. 1,

[0045] FIG. 3 is a side view of the holder, wherein the holder is mounted in a retaining structure of the vehicle,

[0046] FIG. 4 is a sectional view according to section line B-B in FIG. 3,

[0047] FIG. 5 is a front view of a headrest assembly, wherein the holder is in a seat of a retaining structure and wherein the holder is in a pre-mounting position,

[0048] FIG. 6 is a sectional view according to section line C-C in FIG. 5,

[0049] FIG. 7 is a front view based on FIG. 5, wherein the holder is in an intermediate position between the pre-mounting position and the final mounting position,

[0050] FIG. 8 is a sectional view according to section line D-D in FIG. 7,

[0051] FIG. 9 is a front view of the headrest assembly based on FIG. 7, wherein the holder is in the end position, and

[0052] FIG. 10 is a sectional view according to section line E-E in FIG. 9.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] According to FIG. 1, the holder 10 comprises an upper end region 11 and a lower end region 12. The holder 10 forms a guide passage 13 that is accessible via an opening 14. A wall 15, forming the guide passage 13, of the holder 10 has cut-outs 16a and 16b, of which only the cut-out 16b is visible in FIG. 1. As will be explained further below, the cut-outs 16a and 16b are provided for locking the holder 10 to a retaining structure (likewise not shown in FIG. 1).

[0054] Via the opening 14, a retaining rod (not shown in FIG. 1) of a headrest can be arranged in the guide passage 13. Adjacent to the opening 14 is an upholstery cover 43 that is in the form of a radially extending annular web.

[0055] A bolt 17 that is movable through a cut-out 18 between a first position and a second position, is part of a locking device 19 for locking the retaining rod of the headrest relative to the holder 10.

[0056] In FIGS. 2A and 2B guide structures 21 are visible that project inwards radially to a center axis m with respect to an inner surface 22 of the holder 10 and project into the guide passage 13. A compensation structure 33 projects beyond an outer surface 41 of the holder 10. The compensation structure 33 has an insertion slope 44 that slopes such that the insertion of the holder 10 in the mounting direction z.sub.2 is facilitated. An outer surface 42 of the compensation structure 33 has a radius D1 relative to the center axis m. The radius D1 is such that the outer surface 42 abuts the retaining structure with a slight interference fit or a clearance fit. Adjacent to the outer surface 42 there is formed an outer surface 45 that forms a radius D2 with the center axis m. The radius D2 is such that there is a significant interference fit relative to the retaining structure.

[0057] In FIGS. 2A and 2B the cut-outs 16a and 16b and movable elements 23a and 23b are visible. The movable elements 23a and 23b are in the present example mounted on the wall 15 of the holder 10 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis with center point M, but they could alternatively also be supported so as to be movable in a translatory manner. The movable elements 23a and 23b are part of a deflection device 20. According to FIG. 2, the movable elements 23a and 23b are so arranged in a first position. Each latch element 23a and 23b is in the form of a two-armed lever, wherein a contact region 24 forms one lever arm and a support region 39 forms a further lever arm. In the first position, the contact regions 24 are arranged in the movement path of a retaining rod inserted into the guide passage 13.

[0058] The movable elements 23a and 23b are formed of a rigid material, for example of a rigid plastics material, in particular of a fiber-reinforced plastics material.

[0059] In FIG. 3, the holder 10 is in a pre-mounting position on a retaining structure 25. The retaining structure 25 is of sleeve-like form and has an opening 28 or 29 at both end regions 26 and 27. Cut-outs 35a and 35b are formed in opposite walls 34 of the retaining structure 25, of which only the cut-out 35b is visible in FIG. 3. The retaining structure 25 is made of metal, for example, and is welded to a structure of the backrest of a vehicle seat (not shown). However, other suitable methods of fixing come into consideration.

[0060] According to FIG. 3, the holder 10 is held in the retaining structure 25 with play or a slight oversize that is necessary for mounting and dismounting. That is to say, in the pre-mounting position, the surface 42 abuts an inner surface 31 of the retaining structure 35 with play or a slight oversize, while the surface 45 that projects further radially with respect to the center axis m, is not yet in contact with the inner surface 31 or is in contact therewith only with a part-region.

[0061] As can be seen in FIG. 4, opposite walls 34 of the retaining structure 25 have cut-outs 35a and 35b that serve for locking the holder 10 on the retaining structure 25 that will be discussed in greater detail below.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a headrest assembly 50 that comprises a headrest 30 with a head part 36 and with retaining rods 37a and 37b. The headrest assembly additionally comprises the holder 10. The retaining rods 37a and 37b can be individual rods or ends of a hoop-shaped retaining rod. For the sake of clarity, a retaining device 40, having the holder 10 and the retaining structure 25, is shown only in relation to the retaining rod 37b. However, the retaining rod 37a is supported in a retaining device 40 in the same way.

[0063] The mounting of the holder 10 and of the headrest 30 will be described below.

[0064] The holders 10 are first arranged on the holding structures 25 in the pre-mounting position according to FIGS. 3 and 4. End regions 38a and 38b of the retaining rods 37a and 37b are then inserted through the opening 14 into the respective guide passage 13. The end regions 38a and 38b are thereby arranged in the upper end region 26 of the retaining structure 25 and are guided by the guide structures 21.

[0065] Only the insertion of the retaining rod 37b into the retaining device 40 will be described hereinbelow, although both retaining rods 37a and 37b are simultaneously inserted into separate holding devices 40.

[0066] According to FIG. 6, the holder 10 is in the pre-mounting position. The end region 38b has been inserted into the guide passage 13 so that it abuts the movable elements 23a and 23b but has not pivoted them or has pivoted them only insignificantly.

[0067] When, starting from the position of the retaining rod 37b according to FIG. 6, the retaining rod 37 is moved further into the guide passage 13 in direction z.sub.1, the end region 38b exerts a force on the contact regions 24 of the movable elements 23a and 23b that are in the form of free end regions. The latch elements 23a and 23b, owing to the contact of the retaining rod 38b with the contact regions 24, are thereby pivoted, wherein the latch element 23a pivots in direction p1 and the latch element 23b pivots in direction p2. The support regions 39 of each latch element 23a and 23b are supported on an abutment surface 32 of the retaining structure 25. The abutment surface 32 can absorb forces acting in direction z.sub.2.

[0068] In the present exemplary embodiment, the abutment surface 47 is formed by an intrados 47 of the cut-outs 35a and 35b. However, it can also be formed by other structures.

[0069] As a result of the pivot movement of the latch elements 23a and 23b that are supported on the wall 15 of the holder 10, the holder 10 is moved further in direction z.sub.1 into its seat. The seat is reached when a stop surface 48 of the holder abuts an end face 46 of the retaining structure 25. The holder 10 is then in the end position.

[0070] As the holder moves in direction z.sub.1, the outer surface 45 of the compensation structure 33 is deformed such that it abuts the inner surface 31 with an interference fit when the holder 10 is located in its seat.

[0071] As the end region 38b moves further in direction z.sub.1, movable elements are moved into the second position according to FIGS. 9 and 10. According to FIGS. 9 and 10, the holder is in the end position in its seat of the retaining structure 25, wherein the end face 46 of the upper end region 26 of the retaining structure 25 is in contact with the stop surface 48 of the holder 10. In the second position according to FIG. 10, the latch elements 23a and 23b have been pivoted through about 90° from the retaining rod 37b in relation to the pre-mounting position according to FIG. 6. Each movable element 23a and 23b on the one hand abuts the retaining rod 37b with the contact region 24 and abuts the abutment surface 47 of the retaining structure 25 with a support surface of the support region 39.

[0072] Because the support region 39 abuts the abutment surface 47, a movement of the holder 10 in direction z.sub.2, that is to say in the dismounting direction, is prevented. In addition, compensation for play is provided by means of the compensation structures 33, so that the retaining rod 37b is held without play relative to the retaining structure 25.