Vehicle seat headrest adjustment apparatus

Abstract

A headrest assembly includes a first housing rotatably supporting a second housing, whereby the second housing is movable between a fully upright position and a fully dumped position. In addition, an adjustment mechanism is provided and includes a cross-member fixedly attached to the first housing and a lock member operable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock member engages the cross-member in the locked position and disengages the cross-member in the unlocked position. A lever is rotatably attached to the cross-member and is operable to selectively unlock the lock member and permit rotation of the second housing. Rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing allows the second housing to be rotated between the fully upright position and the fully dumped position.

1 . A headrest assembly comprising: 
 a first housing;    a second housing rotatably supported by the first housing, said second housing movable between a fully upright position and a fully dumped position; and    an adjustment mechanism including: 
 a cross-member fixedly attached to said first housing;  
 a lock member operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock member engaging said cross-member in said locked position and disengaging said cross-member in said unlocked position; and  
 a lever rotatably attached to said cross-member, said lever operable to selectively unlock said lock member and permit rotation of said second housing relative to said first housing between said fully upright position and said fully dumped position.  
   
   
   
       2 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein said lock member is a coil spring, said coil spring having an inner diameter axially surrounding an outer diameter of said cross-member.  
   
   
       3 . The headrest of  claim 2  wherein said inner diameter of said coil spring is less than said outer diameter of said cross-member, said inner diameter operable to engage said outer diameter in said locked position to restrict rotation of said second housing relative to said first housing.  
   
   
       4 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein said lever includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to fixedly receive a cable to transmit a force to said lever.  
   
   
       5 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein said second housing includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to receive a cable to transmit a force to said second housing.  
   
   
       6 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein said lever is biased into said locked position by a biasing member.  
   
   
       7 . The headrest of  claim 6  wherein said biasing member is a spring, said spring engaging said lever and said first housing to rotatably bias said lever into said locked position.  
   
   
       8 . The headrest of  claim 1  further comprising a coil spring, said coil spring operable to bias said second housing into said fully upright position.  
   
   
       9 . A seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seatback pivotably supported by said seat bottom;    a recliner mechanism operable between a locked position restricting rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom and an unlocked position permitting rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom; and    a headrest assembly supported by said seatback, said headrest assembly including: 
 a first housing;  
 a second housing rotatably supported by said first housing; and  
 a lock mechanism operable to restrict rotation of said second housing when said recliner mechanism is in said locked position and to permit rotation of said second housing when said recliner mechanism is in said unlocked position.  
   
   
   
       10 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein said lock mechanism includes a lever, said lever operable to toggle said lock mechanism between said locked and said unlocked positions.  
   
   
       11 . The seat assembly of  claim 10  wherein said lever includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to receive a cable.  
   
   
       12 . The seat assembly of  claim 11  wherein said cable is attached to said cable seat at a first end and to said recliner mechanism at a second end, said cable operable to transmit a force from said recliner mechanism when said recliner mechanism is in said unlocked position to rotate said lever and unlock said lock mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein said second housing includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to receive a cable.  
   
   
       14 . The seat assembly of  claim 13  wherein said cable is fixedly attached to said cable seat at a first end and to one of said recliner mechanism or said seat bottom at a second end, said cable operable to rotate said second housing relative to said first housing when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked position due to rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom.  
   
   
       15 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein said first housing plate is fixedly attached to said seatback.  
   
   
       16 . A seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seatback pivotably supported by said seat bottom;    a recliner mechanism operable between a locked position restricting rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom and an unlocked position permitting rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom; and    a headrest assembly supported by said seatback, said headrest assembly including: 
 a first housing attached to said seatback;  
 a second housing rotatably supported by the first housing, said second housing movable between a fully upright position and a fully dumped position  
 a cross-member fixedly attached to said first housing;  
 a lock member operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock member engaging said cross-member in said locked position and disengaging said cross-member in said unlocked position; and  
 a lever rotatably attached to said cross-member, said lever operable to selectively unlock said lock member and permit rotation of said second housing relative to said first housing between said fully upright position and said fully dumped position.  
   
   
   
       17 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein said lever includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to receive a cable.  
   
   
       18 . The seat assembly of  claim 17  wherein said cable is attached to said cable seat at a first end and to said recliner mechanism at a second end, said cable operable to transmit a force from said recliner mechanism when said recliner mechanism is in said unlocked position to rotate said lever and unlock said lock mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein said second housing includes a cable seat, said cable seat operable to receive a cable.  
   
   
       20 . The seat assembly of  claim 19  wherein said cable is fixedly attached to said cable seat at a first end and to one of said recliner mechanism or said seat bottom at a second end, said cable operable to rotate said second housing relative to said first housing when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked position due to rotation of said seatback relative to said seat bottom.  
   
   
       21 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a biasing member, said biasing member operable to bias said lever and urge said locking member into said locked position.  
   
   
       22 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a coil spring, said coil spring operable to bias said second housing into said fully upright position.