Head restraint system for a vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat 10 is disclosed with a seatback frame 18 and an actuator 20 for supporting an occupant. A head restraint 16 extends from the seatback frame 18 for supporting the head of the occupant. The head restraint 16 is movable from a rest position 24 to a deployed position 26 . In one embodiment, a two-bar mechanism 22 is housed partially within the head restraint 16 . A linkage 30 extends between the mechanism 22 and the actuator 20 . When the actuator 20 receives an input force from the occupant in response to an impact, the linkage 30 actuates the head restraint 16 to the deployed position by cooperative movement of the two-bar mechanism 22.

1 . A vehicle seat comprising:
 a seatback frame with a lumbar support for supporting a back of an occupant;   a head restraint extending from the seatback frame for supporting the head of the occupant;   a mechanism having one or more bars that is housed at least partially within the head restraint so that the head restraint is movable from a rest position to a deployed position;   an actuator; and   a linkage extending between the mechanism and the actuator so that when the actuator receives an input force from the occupant in response to an impact, the linkage actuates the mechanism to the deployed position.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism moves to the deployed position in response to the input force exerted by the seatback against the occupant. 
   
   
       3 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises:
 a slider plate that can move upwardly or downwardly in relation to a pair of posts that extend from the seatback frame;   a first bar having a lower end pivotably connected to the slider plate;   a second bar having a lower end pivotably connected to the slider plate;   a support plate that is pivotably connected between upper ends of the first and second bars; and   an arm having a lower end that is pivotably connected to the first bar for limiting arcuate displacement of the first and second bars.   
   
   
       4 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the linkage includes a connector. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member cooperating with the mechanism for maintaining the head restraint in a rest position in the absence of an impact that exceeds a predetermined load. 
   
   
       6 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is operatively connected via the linkage to the mechanism for actuating the mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the head restraint is slidably connected to the seatback frame. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle seat of  claim 3  wherein the first bar and the second bar cooperate with the slider plate for displacing the support plate forwardly and downwardly, and for actuating the head restraint to the deployed position. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle seat of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a detent mechanism located between the slider plate and at least one of the pair of posts which allows manual forward adjustment of the headrest by pulling it to a desired position.   
   
   
       10 . The vehicle seat of  claim 9  further including:
 a release button that is located adjacent to the detent mechanism, the release button permitting disengagement from the detent thereby permitting movement of the headrest to a rearward position.   
   
   
       11 . A vehicle seat comprising:
 a seatback frame with a lumbar support for supporting a back of an occupant;   a head restraint extending from the seatback frame for supporting the head of the occupant, the head restraint being movable from a rest position to a deployed position;   a mechanism that is housed partially within the head restraint and is biased to an actuated position but is releasably secured in a design position before impact;   an actuator; and   a linkage extending between the mechanism and the actuator so that when the actuator receives an input force from the occupant in response to an impact, the linkage actuates the head restraint to the deployed position by cooperative movement of the mechanism.