Folding head restraint mechanism

Abstract

A foldable head restraint assembly includes a mounting subassembly, a structural shell, and a locking plate. The mounting subassembly supports the structural shell and includes a first support post, a second support post, a cross member, and a latch rigidly. The cross member is attached to the first and second support posts and to the latch. The folding motion of the head restraint is initiated by movement of the locking plate which is positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch. The structural shell is pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the latch plate is in the second plate position

1 . A head restraint assembly comprising:
 a mounting subassembly comprising:
 a first support post; 
 a second support post; 
 a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post; and 
 a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and 
   a locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch; and   a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the locking plate is in the second plate position thereby allowing rear or forward folding of the head restraint assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the locking plate is movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting. 
     
     
         3 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the locking plate is movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by translation. 
     
     
         4 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 3  wherein the locking plate has a release slot that allows the latch to pass through when the locking plate is in the second plate position thereby allowing pivoting of the structural shell about the mounting subassembly. 
     
     
         5 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising one or more bearings, the cross member having a section positioned within the one or more bearings thereby allowing rotation of the cross member within the one or more bearings when the locking plate is in the second plate position, the one or more bearing being attached to the structural shell. 
     
     
         6 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein movement of the locking plate from the first plate position to the second plate position is initiated by a user pulling a cable in communication with the locking plate. 
     
     
         7 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 6  the cable passes through the first support post, the first support post having an open top section. 
     
     
         8 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein movement of the locking plate from the first plate position to the second plate position is initiated by the movement of a push rod. 
     
     
         9 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 8  wherein the push rod is in communication with a button positionable on either side of the head restraint assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 8  wherein movement of the locking plate from the first plate position to the second plate position is initiated by a user pressing a button, the button being in communication with the locking plate. 
     
     
         11 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein movement of the locking plate from the first plate position to the second plate position is initiated by an actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a head restraint biasing member that acts to move the head restraint assembly from a first head restraint position to a second head restraint position when the locking plate is in the second plate position. 
     
     
         13 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 12  wherein the head restraint biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a locking plate biasing member that acts to move the locking plate into the first locking plate position. 
     
     
         15 . A head restraint assembly comprising:
 a mounting subassembly comprising:
 a first support post; 
 a second support post; 
 a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post; and 
 a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and 
   a locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by translation; and   a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the locking plate is in the second plate position.   
     
     
         16 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 15  wherein the locking plate has a release slot that allows the latch to pass through when the locking plate is in the second plate position thereby allowing pivoting of the structural shell about the mounting subassembly. 
     
     
         17 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 15  wherein movement of the locking plate from the first plate position to the second plate position is initiated by a user pulling a cable in communication with the locking plate. 
     
     
         18 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a head restraint biasing member that acts to move the head restraint assembly from a first head restraint position to a second head restraint position when the locking plate is in the second plate position; and   a locking plate biasing member that acts to move the locking plate into the first locking plate position.   
     
     
         19 . A head restraint assembly comprising:
 a mounting subassembly comprising:
 a first support post; 
 a second support post; 
 a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post; and 
 a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and 
   a locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting; and   a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the latch plate is in the second plate position.   
     
     
         20 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a head restraint biasing member that acts to move the head restraint assembly from a first head restraint position to a second head restraint position when the locking plate is in the second plate position; and   a locking plate biasing member that acts to move the locking plate into the first locking plate position.