Support member for vehicle seat head restraint

Abstract

A head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat has a head restraint post adapted to be mounted to the vehicle seat. A support member is coupled to the head restraint post. The support member having a plurality of attachment receptacles to mount the head restraint post to one of the plurality of attachment receptacles. A compressible pad member is mounted to the support member. A convex outer surface provides support for a head of an occupant. The support member is mounted to head restraint post at one of the plurality of attachment receptacles positions the compressible pad at a distance from the convex outer surface.

1 . A head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat, the head restraint assembly comprising:
 a head restraint member adapted to be mounted within a vehicle proximate a vehicle seatback;   a support member coupled to the head restraint post, the support member having a plurality of attachment receptacles to mount the head restraint post to one of the plurality of attachment receptacles; and   a compressible pad member mounted to the support member and a convex outer surface to provide support for a head of an occupant such that mounting the support member to head restraint post at the one of the plurality of attachment receptacles positions the convex outer surface of the compressible pad a distance from a front wall of the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member further comprises a longitudinal portion extending along a fore/aft direction from the front wall of the support member having at least one attachment receptacle provided therein to receive the head restraint post. 
     
     
         3 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 2  wherein the at least one attachment receptacle is provided proximate a lower section of the front wall to receive the head restraint post. 
     
     
         4 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 3  wherein the longitudinal portion is provided at an upper section, opposite to the lower section to receive the head restraint post. 
     
     
         5 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 3  wherein the at least one attachment receptacle provided in the longitudinal portion further comprises:
 a first attachment receptacle formed therein; and   a second attachment receptacle formed therein and spaced apart longitudinally from the first attachment receptacle.   
     
     
         6 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 5  wherein the upright portion and the longitudinal portion integrally form the support member. 
     
     
         7 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the distance from the front wall of the support member is approximately twenty millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the distance from the front wall of the support member is approximately ten millimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a base member such that the support member is mounted to the base member. 
     
     
         10 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a support rod mounted to the support member and the head restraint post. 
     
     
         11 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a hinge mounted to the support member such that the support member is moveable about the hinge to position the support member the distance from the convex outer surface of the compressible pad member. 
     
     
         12 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support member further comprises a moveable portion connected to a fixed portion with the hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 12  wherein the fixed portion of the support member defines at least one receptacle sized to receive the moveable portion to retain the moveable portion therein. 
     
     
         14 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member further comprises a support wire mounted thereon to support the compressible pad member and allow movement thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 14  wherein the support member further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall defining an aperture therebetween such that the support wire is mounted across the aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1  wherein the head restraint post further comprises a pair of substantially upright portions adapted to be mounted to the vehicle seat and a crossbar portion interconnecting the upright portions. 
     
     
         17 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 16  wherein the crossbar portion of the head restraint post includes a serpentine shape. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a head restraint assembly comprising:
 providing a head restraint post adapted to be mounted to a vehicle seat;   providing a support member having a plurality of attachment receptacles at various locations within the support member;   providing a compressible pad member has a convex outer surface to provide support for a head of an occupant;   coupling the head restraint post to the support member within at least one of the plurality of attachment receptacles; and   mounting the compressible pad member to the support member such that the convex outer surface of the compressible pad is positioned a distance from a front wall of the support member;   wherein the support member can be employed in various head restraints having various thicknesses.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprises providing the support member with a first attachment receptacle formed therein and a second attachment receptacle formed therein and spaced apart from the first attachment receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . A head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat, the head restraint assembly comprising:
 a head restraint post including a pair of upright portions and a crossbar portion interconnecting the upright portions, the pair of upright portions adapted to be mounted to the vehicle seat;   an integrally formed support member coupled to the crossbar portion of the head restraint post, the support member having a front wall and an upright portion with at least one attachment receptacle provided in a lower section of the upright portion to receive the head restraint post and a longitudinal portion provided at an upper section of the upright portion and having a plurality of attachment receptacles provided therein to receive the head restraint post; and   a trim cover mounted directly to the support member.