Head restraint

Abstract

A head restraint assembly for use with a vehicle seat, the head restraint assembly having a head restraint armature that is adapted to be attached to a seat back, including two spaced apart support posts, a cushion surrounding the head restraint armature and a strap that is affixed to the head restraint armature, the strap extending between the two spaced apart support posts. The strap is also surrounded by the cushion.

1 . A head restraint assembly for use with a vehicle seat, the head restraint assembly comprising:
 a head restraint armature adapted to be attached to a seat back, the head restraint armature including two spaced apart support posts;   a cushion surrounding the head restraint armature; and   a strap affixed to the head restraint armature, the strap extending between the two spaced apart support posts, and the strap being surrounded by the cushion.   
   
   
       2 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the strap defines a closed loop having opposing sides and wherein the strap is affixed to the head restraint armature such that the strap wraps around at least a portion of each support post. 
   
   
       3 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the support posts has a notch and wherein the strap has a protrusion that cooperates with the notch to secure the strap. 
   
   
       4 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 2  wherein the armature includes an adjoining portion that adjoins the two spaced apart support posts, and wherein the strap has a saddle portion extending between the opposing sides of the strap, an underside of the saddle portion resting against a top portion of the adjoining portion of the armature when the strap is affixed to the head restraint armature. 
   
   
       5 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 4  wherein the saddle portion includes a protrusion that holds the strap in place on the armature. 
   
   
       6 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the strap is made from a material comprising plastic. 
   
   
       7 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 6  wherein the plastic comprises polypropylene. 
   
   
       8 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 6  wherein the plastic comprises glass filled polypropylene. 
   
   
       9 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 8  wherein the ratio of polypropylene to glass is approximately 4 to 1. 
   
   
       10 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the strap is in the general shape of a crescent when viewed from above a top portion of the strap prior to mounting the strap to the two support posts, and wherein the strap is in tension when the strap is mounted to the two support posts. 
   
   
       11 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 10  wherein the strap is oriented so as to be concave with respect to a front portion of the cushion. 
   
   
       12 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the strap has a thickness of approximately 2 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the armature includes an adjoining portion that adjoins the two support posts and wherein a top portion of the strap is positioned approximately 50 mm below the adjoining portion. 
   
   
       14 . A strap for use with a vehicle seat head restraint assembly having an armature, the armature having two spaced apart support posts and an adjoining portion that adjoins the two support posts, the strap comprising:
 a band generally defining a closed loop having opposing sides, the band being made from a material comprising plastic, the band having a protrusion, the band being mountable to the two posts and the band being securable on the head restraint assembly by cooperation of the protrusion with the armature.   
   
   
       15 . The strap of  claim 14  wherein the band has a saddle portion extending between a top portion of the opposing sides of the band. 
   
   
       16 . The strap of  claim 15  wherein the protrusion is disposed on the saddle portion, the protrusion being capable of cooperation with the adjoining portion to secure the band to the adjoining portion when the band is mounted to the two posts. 
   
   
       17 . The strap of  claim 16  wherein the band is made from a material comprising polypropylene. 
   
   
       18 . The strap of  claim 16  wherein the band is made from a material comprising glass filled polypropylene wherein the ratio of polypropylene to glass is 4 to 1. 
   
   
       19 . A strap in combination with an automotive seat head restraint assembly comprising:
 a head restraint assembly having two posts that are substantially upright, substantially rigid, spaced apart and oriented along substantially parallel axes, and a rigid joining member that is oriented substantially transverse to the two posts, the rigid joining member rigidly connecting the two posts;   a band generally defining a closed loop having opposing sides, the band being made from a material comprising plastic, the band having a top portion and an integral saddle portion extending between the top portion of the opposing sides of the band, the band being mounted to the head restraint assembly such that the band wraps around a portion of each of the two posts and the saddle portion wraps around a portion of the rigid joining member, the saddle portion including a plurality of protrusions that cooperate with the rigid joining member to hold the band in place on the rigid joining member; and   a foam cushion having a front portion, the foam cushion enveloping the band and the rigid joining member.   
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 19  wherein the band is generally in the shape of a crescent when viewed from above the top portion prior to mounting the band to the head restraint assembly, wherein the band is placed in tension when the band is mounted to the two posts, and wherein the band and the extension are made from a material comprising glass filled polypropylene wherein the ratio of polypropylene to glass is 4 to 1.