Universal head restraint assembly for motor vehicle seats

Abstract

An adjustable head restraint assembly and method for enabling a head restraint pad ( 18 ) to be adjustably and lockably positioned with respect to a motor vehicle seatback ( 14 ) so that the head restraint pad remains in an adjusted position during a crash sequence after being set by a user. Associated with the head restraint pad ( 18 ) is a pair of posts ( 20 ). A tubular bushing subassembly ( 22 ) is mounted within the seatback ( 14 ). It has an inside bore ( 54 ) sized for receiving one of the at least one posts ( 20 ). The tubular bushing subassembly ( 22 ) has an upper separable portion ( 26 a ) with a customizable head ( 36 ), and a universal lower portion ( 26 b ).

1 . An adjustable head restraint assembly for enabling a head restraint pad to be lockably positioned with respect to a motor vehicle seatback, the assembly comprising: 
 at least one post extending from and supporting the head restraint pad to permit the pad to be locked in one of several height positions in relation to the seatback;    a tubular bushing subassembly mounted at least partially within the seatback and having an inside bore sized for receiving one of the at least one posts, the tubular bushing subassembly having an upper separable portion with a customizable head, and a universal lower portion.    
   
   
       2 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a latching mechanism and a means for registration.  
   
   
       3 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a latching mechanism that is received within an inner diameter of the upper portion of the bushing subassembly.  
   
   
       4 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , further including an orientation locator projection formed on the upper portion of the tubular bushing subassembly.  
   
   
       5 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a head having a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, hexagonal, rectangular and square.  
   
   
       6 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , further including an inter-portion latching mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , further including means for registration.  
   
   
       8 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper separable portion includes a means for registration comprising a detent.  
   
   
       9 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper separable portion receives a protrusion that extends from the lower portion.  
   
   
       10 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a protrusion.  
   
   
       11 . The head restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a detent that receives the protrusion.  
   
   
       12 . A method of attaching a head restraint assembly having a head restraint pad to a seatback, comprising the steps of: 
 moving an upper portion including a detent of a tubular bushing subassembly into registration with a lower portion of the tubular subassembly to form an integrated tubular bushing subassembly; and    inserting the integrated tubular bushing subassembly into a vehicle seatback.    
   
   
       13 . A method of attaching a head restraint assembly having a head restraint pad to a seatback, comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a lower portion of a tubular bushing subassembly into a vehicle seatback;    moving an upper portion of the tubular bushing subassembly into registration with the lower portion thereof;    engaging a latching mechanism so that the upper and lower portions become secured in relation to each other; and    inserting a post into within the tubular bushing subassembly.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a step of: 
 locking the lower portion of the tubular bushing assembly in relation to the vehicle seatback.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 engaging a latching mechanism upon insertion of the post so that the lower and upper portions of the tubular bushing assembly are latched together.