Lear Corporation

Dale Smallwood

Nagarjun Yetukuri

Mladen Humer

Gerald Steven Locke

Mark A Farquhar

Ken McQueen

Eric C Veine

Kenneth McQueen

Kar Keong Low

Thomas J Fowler

Paul Wier

Michael Phan

A vehicle seat assembly having a seatback frame, an upper armature that is movable relative to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted on the upper armature. A linkage assembly operatively interconnects the upper armature and an impact body such that movement of the impact body relative to the seatback frame acts on the linkage assembly to move the upper armature relative to the seatback frame to cause the head restraint to move toward the occupant. The linkage assembly includes a linkage and a coupler movably connected to the linkage. The coupler includes a first member movably connected to the seatback frame and a second member movably connected to the first member at a location below the upper end of the impact body.

Vehicle seat having active head restraint

Vehicle seat having active head restraint system

A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seatback frame and an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback frame. The active head restraint system includes an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted to the upper armature. The active head restraint system also includes a lower armature operatively attached to the upper armature. The lower armature is operable to move toward the upper armature in response to a predetermined force applied to the lower armature and act on the upper armature to move the head restraint toward the occupant.

An automotive seat assembly is provided including a left rear seat portion including a left rear seat base and a left rear seatback, a right rear seat portion including a right rear seat base and a right rear seatback, and a center rear seat portion including a center rear seat base and a center rear seatback. A head restraint assembly is mounted to the center rear seatback and defines a head restraint protrusion distance above the upper seatback surface. The head restraint assembly is movable between a head restraint operational position and a head restraint stowed position. The head restraint stowed position reduces the head restraint protrusion distance for improved visibility. A convenience feature assembly is formed within the center rear seatback and is movable between an convenience feature stowed position and an convenience feature deployed position. The convenience feature assembly is in communication with the head restraint assembly such that it is moved between the head restraint stowed position and the head restraint operational position in response to the armrest assembly moving between the armrest deployed position and the armrest stowed position.

Center occupant armrest actuated head restraint

A vehicle seat assembly including a seatback frame and a lumbar support system operatively mounted to the seatback frame. The lumbar support system includes a lower suspension mechanism that is generally aligned with the pelvic and lumbar regions of the occupant of the seat assembly. The lower suspension mechanism includes a pair of bands of flexible material that are stretched about a pair of upstanding support members so as to have a predetermined tension for providing support for the occupant of the seat assembly at the pelvic and lumbar regions.

Vehicle seat having a lumbar support system

A seat assembly includes a seat back that is pivotable from an upright use position to a stowed position. A head restraint includes first and second portions, each of which are movable from a respective upright use position to a respective stowed position. Each of the portions includes a respective contact surface for contacting an occupant of the seat assembly. A release mechanism is configured to facilitate movement of the first and second portions from their respective upright use positions to their respective stowed positions. An automatic return mechanism is provided to automatically return the first and second portions from their respective stowed positions to their respective upright use positions when the seat back is pivoted from its stowed position to its upright use position.

Seat assembly with folding head restraint and method for folding same

An infinitely adjustable head restraint assembly that includes a head restraint adapted for movement between a first position and a second position relative to a seatback of a vehicle seat assembly. The head restraint assembly also includes at least one biasing member that biases the head restraint away from the first position toward the second position. Furthermore, the head restraint assembly includes a retainer mechanism operable to retain the head restraint in any position between the first position and the second position and operable to release the head restraint for movement between the first position and the second position. The head restraint assembly can be incorporated in a vehicle seat assembly.

Infinitely adjustable head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat assembly

An automotive seat assembly is provided including a seatback assembly including an upper seatback surface and a guide stem positioned within. A head restraint post is positioned within the guide stem, and includes a head restraint mount end and a seatback insertion end. A head restraint element is mounted to the head restraint mount end. A roller guide is mounted in proximity to the upper seatback surface and comprises a bezel element inserted into the guide stem. A primary roller housing is mounted to said bezel element and forms a center cylindrical path through which the head restraint post passes. A primary roller element is rotatably mounted within the primary roller housing and is biased into communication with the head restraint post by way of a roller bias such that the head restraint post is restrained from motion absent the application of a vertical adjustment force. A housing cap is mounted over the bezel element.

Head restraint roller guide

A vehicle seat assembly including a seatback frame and a lumbar support system operatively mounted to the seatback frame. The lumbar support system includes a lower suspension mechanism that is generally aligned with the pelvic and lumbar regions of the occupant of the seat assembly. The lower suspension mechanism includes a band of flexible material that is stretched about a pair of upstanding support members so as to have a predetermined tension for providing support for the occupant of the seat assembly at the pelvic and lumbar regions.

An automotive seat assembly is provided including a seatbase defining a seatbase plane and a seatback defining a seatback plane. A head restraint support member is configured to extend vertically from the seatback. The head restraint support member has a vertical extension portion extending generally parallel to the seatback plane, at least one horizontal travel arm generally perpendicular to the seatback plane, and a horizontal base arm. A head restraint inner structure engages the at least one horizontal travel arm and is movable linearly to a plurality of positions along the at least one horizontal travel arm. An active head restraint element is mounted to the head restraint inner structure and the horizontal base arm and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The active head restraint element moves the head restraint inner structure to a head restraint forward position in response to moving into the deployed position. The active head restraint restraint element is biased towards the deployed position. A trigger element retains the active head restraint element in the stowed position and releases the active head restraint element during vehicle impact.

Linear adjustable active head restraint

An automotive seat assembly is provided including a seatbase defining a seatbase plane and a seatback defining a seatback plane. The automotive seat assembly includes an automotive head restraint assembly comprising a head restraint support member configured to extend vertically from the seatback. The head restraint support member has a vertical extension portion extending generally parallel to the seatback plane and at least one horizontal travel arm generally perpendicular to the seatback plane. The vertical extension portion positioned between the seatback and the at least one horizontal travel arm. A head restraint inner structure engages the at least one horizontal travel arm such that the head restraint inner structure is movable linearly to a plurality of positions along the at least one horizontal travel arm. A head restraint outer structure surrounds said head restraint inners structure to provide a comfortable outer surface.

Linear adjustable head restraint

A torqued, error proofed for installation, chuck free helical head restraint guide that includes a head restraint guide assembly with at least two stems, a button sub assembly, and a bezel. The stems include a helix at one end of each stem and a multi-point socket head, an open wrench flat, and/or an internal torx head and crush ribs at the other end. The head restraint guide also includes a motor vehicle passenger seat that includes an upper cross member of a back frame with upper and lower openings. The head restraint guide further includes a head restraint assembly with head restraint posts and a head restraint pad.

Helical head restraint guide

The present invention relates to a head restraint assembly providing four-way adjustment and having dual positive stops as well as a single ergonomic control. The present invention includes a frame and a housing that engages a portion of the frame. The present invention further includes a cam assembly disposed within the housing to provide fore/aft adjustment of the housing relative to the frame. The cam assembly includes a camshaft and at least two drum assemblies supported by the camshaft. The cam assembly further includes a contact plate extending parallel to the camshaft to releasably engage the drum assemblies. The camshaft is connected to the contact plate to provide releasable engagement between the contact plate and the drum assemblies. The present invention further includes a control member to engage the cam assembly and provide for fore/aft and vertical adjustment in response to user input.

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Dale Smallwood