EP2531373A1

EP2531373A1 - Device constituting a lateral headrest for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2531373A1
Application number: EP10812871A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Launay
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2010-02-02
Filing date: 2010-12-21
Publication date: 2012-12-12
Also published as: FR2955809A1; CN102712273A; FR2955809B1; WO2011095701A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device serving as a lateral headrest for a vehicle comprising a headrest body (23) mounted on an inner sidewall (9) of the vehicle so as to move between a stowed position (E) and a deployed position (D) offset along the wall. According to the invention, the headrest body (23) can pivot about an axis orthogonal (AA') to the inner wall such that one of the edges thereof travels in a circular arc on the vehicle wall. The invention is used in particular in the field of vehicle headrests.

Description

DEVICE FORMING SIDE HEAD SUPPORT

FOR VEHICLE

[1] The invention relates to a lateral headrest device for a vehicle movably mounted on a lateral inner wall of the vehicle.

[2] Motor vehicles are generally equipped with headrests arranged in the extension of the seat back. This type of headrest has a function related to passenger safety because it allows to retain the head of the latter when the vehicle is shocked in an accident. This type of headrest also has a function related to passenger comfort because it allows the latter to rest his head. Nevertheless, the position in which a passenger who wishes to rest his head back is not very comfortable. A more natural and comfortable rest position is to rest the head on its side. But on the side of a vehicle is the side window which offers a cold and hard rest surface because of the material. In addition, relative to the position of the passenger, this surface is relatively far from the trunk of the passenger and does not offer an ergonomic rest position.

[3] According to a first prior art, there are headrests fixed on the seat and movable between a position in the extension of the backrest and a position on the side. But in this case, when the headrest is arranged on the side, the function related to the safety of the passenger is no longer assured. Conversely, if one wishes to keep the headrest in the extension of the seat back, the function related to comfort and rest of the passenger can no longer be assured.

[4] According to a second prior art, there are head restraints having a portion adapted to extend laterally beyond the headrest by sliding so as to allow a passenger to rest his head on the side. This complicates the realization of the headrest by involving adding to the headrest at least one additional part allowing a lateral support and a retraction and deployment mechanism by sliding comprising for example slides. In addition, the lateral part, when extended, is maintained only by one of its ends: it is then weakened and lacks stability. Therefore, when it is extended and the passenger presses his head on the side part, it may move or even disengage from the headrest.

[5] Finally, according to a third prior art, there are lateral headrests, that is to say formed along the side wall of the vehicle. These headrests can be movable between a retracted position against the rear quarter of the vehicle and a deployed position protruding from the rear quarter. Nevertheless, in the deployed position, they remain at the rear side wall of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and do not come to offer a rest area at the side window. These side headrests offer a support that is on the side and back at the rear quarter, this forces the passenger to have his head back offering less comfort than when the head rests only on the side. [6] The object of the present invention is to provide a device forming a simple and compact headrest lateral.

[7] For this purpose, the invention relates to a lateral headrest device for a vehicle comprising a headrest body movably mounted on a lateral inner wall of the vehicle between a retracted position and an extended position offset along the length of the vehicle. the wall characterized in that the headrest body is pivotable about an axis orthogonal to the inner wall so that one of its edges describes a circular arc on the wall of the vehicle. [8] Advantageously, the axis is further orthogonal to the mean plane of the headrest.

[9] Preferably, the headrest body is movable in translation on the axis so as to be able to move away from the wall inside to unfold and to be able to get closer to retract.

[10] The headrest in the deployed position is advantageously opposite the side window. [11] The axis is preferably located at an edge of the headrest.

[12] Advantageously, the device comprises an arm fixed on the headrest and a tube fixed on the inner wall adapted to cooperate by interlocking to allow pivoting of the headrest about the axis relative to the inner wall.

[13] Preferably, the tube is hollow and comprises a guide path in which can pass a lug formed on the arm so as to guide the headrest.

[14] The guide path advantageously comprises at its ends stops capable of immobilizing the headrest in one or other of its positions and between its ends a central portion adapted to move the headrest away or closer. of the inner wall.

[15] The central portion is preferably rectilinear. [16] The tube advantageously comprises a spring whose force has a direction parallel to the axis.

[17] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description which is given below, for information only and in no way limitative, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the passenger compartment of a vehicle with a rear seat equipped with a lateral headrest in the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the passenger compartment of a vehicle with a rear seat equipped with a lateral headrest in the deployed position; - Figure 3 is a sectional view from above of the support of the headrest;

- Figure 4 is a front sectional view of the headrest support; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the support of the headrest;

- Figure 6 is a sectional view from above of the headrest;

- Figure 7 is a front sectional view of the tube of the headrest.

[18] Figure 1 shows a portion of the passenger compartment 1 of a motor vehicle in which there is a rear seat 3.

[19] This rear seat 3 comprises a backrest 5 and a first headrest 7 in the extension of the backrest 5. [20] The passenger compartment 1 of the vehicle also comprises a side interior wall 9 located on the side of the seat 3. This wall 9 comprises in particular the quarter-window 11, the rear door 13 provided with a window 15 and the central pillar 17. The quarter-window 11 comprises a second headrest 19 which is placed laterally with respect to the first headrest 7.

[21] The lateral headrest 19 is fixed on the rear quarter panel 11 and movable in rotation relative to the latter between two positions. A first retracted position E against the rear quarter panel 11 is shown in FIG. 1. A second extended position D in which the lateral headrest 19 is opposite the window 15 of the door 13 is illustrated in FIG.

[22] The assembly constituted by this second headrest and the elements connecting the lateral headrest 19 to the inner wall 9 of the vehicle constitutes a device forming a lateral headrest. [23] The device forming a lateral headrest comprises, on the one hand, the support 21 of the headrest visible in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and, on the other hand, the body 23 of the support-head The head 21 is fixed on the wall 9. The body 23 of the headrest can pivot and translate relative to the support 21.

[24] According to Figure 3, the support 21 of the headrest comprises a plate 25 on which a hollow tube 27 is fixed.

[25] The plate 25 has a substantially rectangular shape and can be made of metal or plastic material. The plate 25 is intended to be fixed to the vehicle body by screwing for example. According to Figure 4, the plate 25 comprises two holes 31. In Figure 3, two screws 29 pass through the plate to cooperate with the holes 31 of the plate 25 and with a thread not visible in the figures made in the vehicle body .

[26] According to Figures 4 and 5, the tube 27 has a circular section. The material used may be the same as that used for the plate 25. The tube 27 is secured at one of its ends to the plate 25. At its free end, the tube 27 comprises a rim 33 wider than the thickness of its wall. The wall 35 of the tube 27 has a thickness sufficient to allow to dig a guide path 37 therein.

[27] The guide path 37 is hollowed out on the inner surface 39 of the tube 27. According to FIG. 5, the guide path 37 comprises two stops 41 and 43 at its ends and a central portion 45.

[28] The path formed at the ends of the guide path 37 is substantially orthogonal to the path formed at the central portion 45. This path is particularly visible in FIG. 4.

[29] The central portion 45 is shown in Figures 3 and 5 as straight. This portion could also be curvilinear on the height of the tube 27 and be helical. [30] The joining of the tube 27 on the plate can be achieved by welding for example. The tube 27 may also have been molded together with the plate 25 and thus be integral with the latter. [31] According to Figure 3, the support 21 of the headrest further comprises a spring 47. The spring 47 is fixed on the plate 25 and disposed within the tube 27. The restoring force s' is applied perpendicular to the plane of the plate 25. The spring 47 is preferably a compression spring. [32] According to Figure 6, the body 23 of the headrest comprises an arm 49 and a cushion 51. The arm 49 is fixed perpendicularly to the average plane of the cushion 51. It can be secured irremovably for example by gluing or welding or removable manner for example by clipping. According to Figures 1 and 2, the arm 49 is fixed near one of the edges of the cushion 51 headrest. The cushion 51 having a rectangular shape, the arm 49 is fixed near a small side of the cushion. This makes it possible to go from a retracted retracted position E at the rear quarter panel 11 to an extended position D advanced facing the window 15 of the vehicle door. In this way, the lateral headrest does not interfere with the passenger when it is in the retracted position E and is however at the level of the passenger's head in the deployed position D. The passenger then only has to tilt your head to the side when you want to rest.

[33] The headrest cushion 51 shown in the figures has a parallelogram shape, preferably rectangular. The cushion could also have other suitable shapes such as an oval shape for example. [34] The headrest pad 51 comprises a rigid base 53 which may be made of metal or plastic. The base 53 is covered with a flexible layer 55 of foam for a better comfort. The foam layer is covered with a coating 57 such as fabric or leather depending on the finish coating chosen in the vehicle. [35] According to Figure 7, the arm 49 has a circular section. The diameter of the arm is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 27 to be inserted into the latter. The arm 49 is fixed at one of its ends to the base of the headrest, its other end being free and intended to be introduced into the hollow tube 27 of the support 21 so as to allow the cooperation by pivoting and by translation of the headrest body and headrest support.

[36] The arm 49 comprises a lug 59 formed on its surface, according to Figure 7, the lug 59 is stationary on the arm 49 and is located on the side of the free end of the arm.

[37] When the arm 49 is engaged in the tube 27, the lug 59 is in the guide path 37. The lug 59 has a suitable length which allows the arm 49 not to disengage from the tube 27 when the arm slides in the tube. The arm 49 can pivot along the arrow F1 in the tube about its axis AA '(Figure 6). The arm can also translate according to the arrow F2 in the tube 27 along its axis AA '.

[38] According to an embodiment not shown, the lug could also be retractable. In this case, one could possibly dispense with the central portion of the guide path, the lug being retracted when the arm is in translation. The lug then protrudes only at the stops at the ends of the guide path. [39] The body 23 of the headrest also comprises a washer 61 flexible compensation made of rubber for example. This washer serves to compensate for the play and to promote a better bearing surface between the washer 61 of the arm 49 and the rim 33 of the tube 27, that is to say more generally between the body 23 and the support 21 of head support.

[40] We will now describe the method of retraction of the lateral headrest according to the embodiment shown in the figures. [41] The lateral headrest can move from a retracted position E to an extended position D and vice versa.

[42] In the retracted position E, the cushion 51 of headrest is against the surface of the inner wall 9 of the rear quarter panel 11 (Figure 1). The arm 49 of the headrest body 23 is pushed as far as possible into the tube 27 of the support 21 of the headrest. For this purpose, the lug 59 of the arm 49 is at the end 41 of the guide path 37, in abutment.

[43] When the user wishes to deploy his lateral headrest, he pulls the edge of the headrest cushion 51 furthest away from him in the direction of the door window 15 so as to rotate it around the door. 'Axis AA' of the arm 49 in the direction of clockwise. The headrest cushion 51 then sweeps the surface of the interior wall 9 of the vehicle and performs about a quarter of a turn. The lug 59 passes through a first stop 41 and then arrives in the central portion 45 of the guide path 37. The arm 49 has made a quarter turn in the tube about its axis in the direction of clockwise. The headrest is then approximately in an intermediate position at 90 degrees with respect to the retracted position E.

[44] The headrest cushion 51 then automatically moves away from the inner wall 9 by a distance equal to the length of the central portion 45 of the guideway 37. The arm 49 of the headrest slides along the tube 27 of the support 23. Under the impetus of the spring 47, the lug 59 transits rectilinearly along the central portion 45 to the beginning of the second stop 43.

[45] Finally, the user rotates the headrest cushion a quarter of a turn clockwise until it is in the extension of the headrest support. head in retracted position E. The headrest is then in its extended position D (Figure 2). The arm 49 of the headrest pivots a quarter turn in the tube 27 of the support 23 about the axis AA '. The lug 59 passes through the second end 43 from the guide path 37 to the end of the latter. The headrest is then locked in the deployed position D.

[46] To return the headrest to its retracted position E, the user performs the same steps as before in reverse order. Thus, it turns the cushion 51 of headrest a quarter of a turn in the opposite direction of clockwise. The user then presses the headrest so as to exert a pressure in the opposite direction of the force exerted by the spring 47 and towards the inner wall 9. The arm 49 then slides in the tube 27 and the pin 59 transits into the central portion 45 of the guide path 37. Finally, the user rotates the headrest a quarter of a turn counterclockwise until the edges the headrest cushion are horizontal and the headrest is in its retracted position E.

[47] According to an embodiment not shown, the headrest could also be in a different position when it is retracted than the position in which its long edges are horizontal. The headrest could for example be in a position in which its long edges are vertical. In this case, it is preferable that the headrest is fixed to the wall closest to the window such that in the deployed position, the headrest is facing the window. It is then necessary to adapt the route of the guide path to this new kinematics.

[48] According to another embodiment not shown, the guide path may have other shapes. For example, in the case cited above in which the lug is retractable, the guide path is not continuous: in fact, in this case, the central portion is not hollowed, the guide path comprises only the stops at its ends.

Claims

R EV ENDI CATI ONS

A vehicle headrest device comprising a headrest body (23) movably mounted on a lateral interior wall (9) of the vehicle between a retracted position (E) and an extended position (D) offset along of the wall characterized in that the headrest body (23) is pivotable about an orthogonal axis (ΑΑ ') to the inner wall so that one of its edges describes an arc of a circle on the wall of the vehicle.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the axis (ΑΑ ') is further orthogonal to the mean plane of the headrest.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the body (23) headrest is movable in translation on the axis (ΑΑ ') so as to move away from the inner wall ( 9) to deploy and to be able to get closer to retract.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the headrest in the deployed position (D) is opposite the side window (15).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the axis (ΑΑ ') is at an edge of the headrest.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the device comprises an arm (49) fixed on the body

(23) and a tube (27) fixed on the inner wall (9) adapted to cooperate by interlocking to allow the pivoting of the headrest about the axis (ΑΑ ') relative to the inner wall.

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the tube (27) is hollow and comprises a guide path (37) in which can pass a lug (59) formed on the arm (49) so as to guide the body of 'head support.

8. Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the guide path (37) comprises at its ends stops (41, 43) adapted to immobilize the headrest in one or other of its positions (E , D) and, between its ends, a central portion (45) adapted to move the headrest away from or closer to the inner wall (9).

9. Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the central portion (45) is rectilinear.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the tube (27) comprises biasing means (47) whose force has a direction parallel to the axis (ΑΑ ').