Folding headrest assembly

Abstract

The foldable headrest assembly ( 20 ) includes a first support ( 22 ) extending from a first distal end ( 24 ) and a second support ( 28 ) spaced from the first support ( 22 ) and extending from a second distal end ( 30 ) for supporting a headrest between the supports ( 22, 28 ). The headrest assembly ( 20 ) further includes a first plate ( 34 ) extending from the first distal end ( 24 ) and a second plate ( 36 ) extending from the second distal end ( 30 ). A seat frame ( 38 ) portion presents a first and second paddle ( 40, 42 ) for rotatably supporting the first and second plate ( 34, 36 ) for rotation in unison about an axis (A) between an upright and a forwardly folded position. The headrest assembly ( 20 ) includes a latch lever ( 52 ) rotatably supported on either the first plate ( 34 ) or the first paddle ( 40 ) engaging the opposite to lock the first and second plates ( 34, 36 ) in the upright position. The latch lever ( 52 ) is rotated by a release mechanism ( 54 ) between a latched position and an unlatched position.

1 . A foldable headrest assembly ( 20 ) for a seat comprising; 
 a first support ( 22 ) extending from a first distal end ( 24 ) to a first support end ( 26 ),    a second support ( 28 ) spaced from said first support ( 22 ) and extending from a second distal end ( 30 ) to a second support end ( 32 ) for supporting a headrest between said support ends ( 26 ,  32 ),    a first plate ( 34 ) extending from said first distal end ( 24 ),    a second plate ( 36 ) extending from said second distal end ( 30 ),    a seat frame ( 38 ) presenting a first paddle ( 40 ) and a second paddle ( 42 ) spaced from said first paddle ( 40 ),    said first plate ( 34 ) being rotatably supported by said first paddle ( 40 ) for rotation about an axis,    said second plate ( 36 ) being rotatably supported by said second paddle ( 42 ) on said axis for movement in unison with said first plate ( 34 ) between an upright and a forwardly folded position,    and a latch lever ( 52 ) rotatably supported on one of said first plate ( 34 ) and said first paddle ( 40 ) for movement between a latched position engaging the other of said first plate ( 34 ) and said first paddle ( 40 ) for preventing folding movement from said upright position toward said forwardly folded position and for movement of said latch lever ( 52 ) to an unlatched position allowing such folding movement.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a coil spring ( 56 ) reacting between said latch lever ( 52 ) and said one of said first plate ( 34 ) and said first paddle ( 40 ) on which said latch lever ( 52 ) is rotatably supported for biasing said latch lever ( 52 ) toward said latched position.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a release mechanism ( 54 ) for rotating said latch lever ( 52 ) to said unlatched position allowing said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) to rotate about said axis to said forwardly folded position.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  further including a first insert ( 84 ) supported by said first plate ( 34 ) for attaching a first end ( 66 ) of a motion transmitting cable ( 62 ) and a second insert ( 86 ) supported by said second plate ( 36 ) for supporting a second end ( 68 ) of the motion transmitting cable ( 62 ).  
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said release mechanism ( 54 ) includes a motion transmitting cable ( 62 ) sheath ( 64 ) having a first and second ends ( 66 ,  68 ) and a first fitting ( 70 ) on said first end ( 66 ) and a second fitting ( 72 ) on said second end ( 68 ) and a core ( 74 ) movably disposed within said sheath ( 64 ) for transmitting a force to rotate said latch lever ( 52 ).  
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said first insert ( 84 ) supports both of said first fitting ( 70 ) and said second fitting ( 72 ) whereby said cable ( 62 ) may be manipulated on the same side as said latch lever ( 52 ).  
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said core ( 74 ) includes a first terminal ( 76 ) connected to said latch lever ( 52 ) and a second terminal ( 78 ) for manually applying said force.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said cable ( 62 ) includes a release strap ( 80 ) connected to said second terminal ( 78 ) of said core ( 74 ).  
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein at least one of said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) includes a first stop ( 44 ) for engaging the associated one of said first paddle ( 40 ) and said second paddle ( 42 ) in said upright position and a second stop ( 46 ) for engaging the associated one of said first paddle ( 40 ) and said second paddle ( 42 ) in said forwardly folded position.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set for in  claim 7  wherein one of said first plate ( 34 ) and said first paddle ( 40 ) defines an arcuate slot ( 82 ) and said first terminal ( 76 ) extends into said arcuate slot ( 82 ) for guiding said latch lever ( 52 ) between said latched position and said unlatched position.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said latch lever ( 52 ) is generally L-shaped and defines a generally C-shaped pocket ( 58 ) for receiving said first terminal ( 76 ) of said core ( 74 ).  
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11  further including a shield wire ( 88 ) connected to one of said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) for guiding said pull strap ( 122 ) when said pull force is applied.  
   
   
       13 . An Assembly as set forth in  claim 3  further including a shaft ( 90 ) extending between and supported by said first paddle ( 40 ) and said second paddle ( 42 ) on said axis.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said shaft ( 90 ) includes an ear ( 96 ) extending from said shaft ( 90 ) in a transverse direction to said axis and said ear ( 96 ) defines a hole ( 98 ).  
   
   
       15 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 14  further including a rod ( 100 ) connected to and extending between said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) said rod ( 100 ) is spaced a distance from and parallel to said shaft ( 90 ).  
   
   
       16 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 15  further including a spring ( 102 ) having a first end ( 104 ) and a second end ( 106 ) wherein said first end ( 66 ) engages through said hole ( 98 ) of said ear ( 96 ) and said second end ( 68 ) engages said rod ( 100 ) for biasing said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) toward said forwardly folded position.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) have a tab ( 108 ) extending inward and parallel to said axis for supporting a trim piece ( 110 ).  
   
   
       18 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said seat frame ( 38 ) presents a flange ( 118 ) extending upward from said seat frame ( 38 ) spaced from and parallel to said first paddle ( 40 ).  
   
   
       19 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said release mechanism ( 54 ) includes a latch handle ( 120 ) extending between and rotatably supported by said first paddle ( 40 ) and said flange ( 118 ) and said latch handle ( 120 ) defines a U-shaped bow.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said latch handle ( 120 ) rotatably supports said latch lever ( 52 ).  
   
   
       21 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said release mechanism ( 54 ) further includes a pull strap ( 122 ) that is connected to said latch handle ( 120 ) at said U-shaped bow and a pull force on said pull strap ( 122 ) rotates said latch handle ( 120 ) thereby said latch lever ( 52 ) to said unlatched position.  
   
   
       22 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 21  further including a torsional spring ( 126 ) supported on one of said first paddle ( 40 ) and said second paddle ( 42 ).  
   
   
       23 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said torsional spring ( 126 ) reacts between said first paddle ( 40 ) and said first plate ( 34 ) for biasing said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) toward said forwardly folded position.  
   
   
       24 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said torsional spring ( 126 ) reacts between said second paddle ( 42 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) for biasing said first plate ( 34 ) and said second plate ( 36 ) toward said forwardly folded position.