Headrest system for a vehicle seat

Abstract

In a headrest system ( 11 ) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having at least one headrest bushing ( 15 ) that comprises at its upper end a visible surface ( 29 ), at least one headrest rod ( 12 ) that can be inserted into the headrest bushing ( 15 ), a headrest ( 6 ) arranged on the headrest rod ( 12 ), a first contacting element ( 31 ) assigned to the headrest bushing ( 15 ) and a second contacting element ( 50 ) assigned to the headrest rod ( 12 ), between which an electrical contact is established when the headrest rod ( 12 ) is inserted, the headrest bushing ( 15 ) comprises a lower bushing ( 17 ) supporting the first contacting element ( 31 ) and a separately formed upper bushing ( 19 ) bearing the visible surface ( 29 ).

1 . A vehicle seat, comprising: 
 at least one headrest bushing having an upper end and a visible surface at the upper end;    at least one headrest rod, wherein the headrest rod is at least partially disposed in the headrest bushing;    a headrest mounted to the headrest rod;    first and second contacting elements, which are respectively operatively associated with the headrest bushing and the headrest rod, for being in electrical contact with one another while the headrest rod is sufficiently disposed in the headrest bushing; and    a backrest including a support structure and upholstery, wherein    the upholstery is mounted to and at least partially covers the support structure,    the headrest bushing comprises a lower bushing and an upper bushing formed separately from one another, with the upper bushing being mounted to the backrest, and with the lower bushing at least being mounted to the support structure in a manner for facilitating said lower bushing being mounted to the support structure prior to said upper bushing being mounted to the backrest,    the upper bushing comprises the visible surface, and    the lower bushing carries the first contacting element.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower bushing being mounted to the support structure comprises a flange of the lower bushing engaging the support structure.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper bushing being mounted to the backrest comprises a flange of the upper bushing at least partially covering an outer surface of a portion of the upholstery.  
   
   
       4 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower bushing being mounted to the support structure comprises the lower bushing being attached to the support structure by a clip.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper bushing being mounted to the backrest comprises the upper bushing and the lower bushing being connected to one another by way of an interference fit between the upper bushing and the lower bushing.  
   
   
       6 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the first contacting element is configured for moving in an axial direction of the lower bushing.  
   
   
       7 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower bushing guides movement of the first contacting element through cooperative interaction between at least one guide projection and at least one groove, wherein the groove extends in the axial direction of the lower bushing and laterally to the axial direction of the lower bushing, and wherein the guide projection extends into the groove.  
   
   
       8 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 6 , wherein a spring biases the first contacting element in a manner that urges the first contacting element upwards in the axial direction of the lower bushing.  
   
   
       9 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a lower wire is connected to the first contacting element;    an upper wire is connected to the second contacting element; and    the lower wire, the first contacting element, the upper wire and the second contacting element are insulated from the headrest bushing and the headrest rod.    
   
   
       10 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said lower bushing being mounted to the support structure comprises a flange of the lower bushing engaging a portion of the support structure;    said upper bushing being mounted to the backrest comprises a flange of the upper bushing at least partially covering an outer surface of a portion of the upholstery;    the outer surface of the portion of the upholstery and the support structure are spaced apart from one another in the headrest bushing's axial direction;    the outer surface of the portion of the upholstery is located at a position that is between the flange of the upper bushing and the flange of the lower bushing; and    the portion of the support structure is located at position that is between the flange of the upper bushing and the flange of the lower bushing.    
   
   
       11 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 10 , wherein said lower bushing being mounted to the support structure further comprises: 
 the lower bushing being attached to the support structure by a clip.    
   
   
       12 . The vehicle seat according to  claim 10 , wherein said upper bushing being mounted to the backrest comprises: 
 the upper bushing and the lower bushing being connected to one another by way of an interference fit between the upper bushing and the lower bushing.    
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a backrest, wherein the providing of the backrest comprises mounting upholstery over a support structure of the backrest to at least partially cover the support structure with the upholstery;    proving at least one headrest bushing having an upper end and a visible surface at the upper end, wherein the proving of the headrest bushing is carried out so that the headrest bushing comprises a lower bushing and a separately formed upper bushing, with the upper bushing comprising the visible surface;    mounting the headrest bushing on the backrest, wherein the mounting of the headrest bushing comprises 
 (a) mounting the lower bushing on the support structure of the backrest before the mounting of the upholstery over the support structure, and  
 (b) mounting the upper bushing on the backrest after the mounting of the upholstery over the support structure;  
   establishing an electrical contact between a first contacting element, which is associated with the headrest bushing, and a second contacting element, which is associated with the headrest rod, wherein the establishing of the electrical contact comprises inserting the headrest rod into the headrest bushing after the mounting of the headrest bushing.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting of the lower bushing comprises attaching the lower bushing to the support structure with a clip.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting of the upper bushing comprises connecting the upper bushing and the lower bushing to one another by way of an interference fit between the upper bushing and the lower bushing.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the inserting of the headrest rod into the headrest bushing comprises: 
 the first contacting element being moved in the lower bushing's axial direction against a pretension, and    the lower bushing guiding the first contacting element through the cooperative interaction between at least one guide projection and at least one lateral groove.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 connecting a lower wire to the first contacting element;    connecting an upper wire to the second contacting element; and    insulating the lower wire, the first contacting element, the upper wire and the second contacting element from the headrest bushing and the headrest rod.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting of the lower bushing comprises: 
 engaging a flange of the lower bushing against a portion of the support structure.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting of the upper bushing comprises: 
 engaging a flange of the upper bushing against an outer surface of a portion of the upholstery.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the mounting of the lower bushing comprises engaging a flange of the lower bushing against a portion of the support structure;    the outer surface of the portion of the upholstery and the support structure are spaced apart from one another in the headrest bushing's axial direction;    the outer surface of the portion of the upholstery is located at a position that is between the flange of the upper bushing and the flange of the lower bushing; and    the portion of the support structure is located at position that is between the flange of the upper bushing and the flange of the lower bushing.