Headrest for vehicle seats

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest ( 10 ) for a motor-vehicle seat that is fixed on the backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at least one support rod and that has a head cushion ( 13 ), the headrest being provided with a base element ( 15 ) on which the support rod ( 11 ) is provided. Object of the invention is to provide a headrest ( 10 ) that allows movable adaptation to the adjustment and equipment requirements of the individual vehicle types. A solution to this object is provided by the fact that the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44 ) that are independent of each other and can be optionally used in a module-like manner for a respective application which allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element ( 11 a , 11 b ) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements ( 22, 34, 35 ), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.

1 . A headrest ( 10 ) for a motor-vehicle seat that is fixed on the backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at least one connecting element ( 11 ), such as headrest support rod, and possibly has a cushion support ( 13 ) as well as a cushion ( 12 ) for the passenger's head, the headrest ( 10 ) being provided with a base element ( 15 ) on which is provided the connecting element ( 11 ) and possibly the cushion support ( 13 ), characterized in that an identical structure of the base element ( 15 ) is suitable for different applications, the base element having holding means ( 16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  23 ,  32 ,  33 ,  44 ) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element ( 11   a ,  11   b ) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements ( 22 ,  34 ,  35 ), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.  
   
   
       2 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has additional holding means for fixing functional elements such as headrest-airbag or loudspeaker.  
   
   
       3 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has a supporting device ( 16   a ,  16   b ) for the connecting element ( 11   a ,  11   b ) that simultaneously allows a rigid holding as well as a movable holding of the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) within the base element ( 15 ) for the height adjustment of the headrest ( 10 ).  
   
   
       4 . The headrest according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the supporting device is formed by at least one supporting bush ( 16   a ,  16   b ) that is formed on the base element ( 15 ) as one piece.  
   
   
       5 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 23 ) for first latch means ( 24 ,  26 ,  25 ,  27 ) by means of which the cushion support ( 13 ) can be locked in a desired height on the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ).  
   
   
       6 . The headrest according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the latch means ( 24 ,  26 ,  25 ,  27 ) are formed by snap-in elements ( 24 ,  25 ) that interact with snap-in notches ( 26 ,  27 ) of the support rods.  
   
   
       7 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has positive latch means ( 36 ,  37 ) that prevent twisting of the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) within the base element.  
   
   
       8 . The headrest according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the positive latch means are formed by a groove/spring connection ( 36 ,  37 ).  
   
   
       9 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 17 ,  18 ) for support of at least one part of the cushion support ( 13 ) that is rigid as well as movable in a seat direction.  
   
   
       10 . The headrest according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the holding means are formed by at least one opening ( 17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ) in the base element, the opening being surrounded in coaxial direction by a supporting device ( 18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ) for a columnar holding rod ( 14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ).  
   
   
       11 . The headrest according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the supporting device is formed by a supporting bush ( 18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ) that is formed on the base element ( 15 ).  
   
   
       12 . The headrest according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the cushion support has holding means ( 23 ) for second latch means ( 21 ) by means of which the cushion support piece can be blocked in a desired position in a seat direction on the base element ( 15 ).  
   
   
       13 . The headrest according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the second latch means are formed by snap-in elements ( 21 ) that interact with snap-in notches ( 20 ) of the columnar holding rods ( 14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ).  
   
   
       14 . The headrest according to  claim 5  characterized in that the first ( 24 ,  25 ) and/or the second ( 21 ) latch means are assigned to a snap-in slide ( 22 ).  
   
   
       15 . The headrest according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the base element ( 24 ) has a receiving device ( 23 ) in which the snap-in slide ( 22 ) is received in a guided manner.  
   
   
       16 . The headrest according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the holding device ( 23 ) in the base element ( 15 ) is designed such that the snap-in slide ( 22 ) is movable between three positions in the base element ( 15 ), wherein in a first position the snap-in means ( 24 ,  26 ) for latch the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) and the snap-in means ( 21 ,  20 ) for latch the holding rods ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are engaged and wherein in a second position the snap-in means ( 24 ,  26 ,  25 ,  27 ) for latch the support rods are not engaged and the snap-in means ( 21 ,  20 ) for latch the holding rods ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are engaged and wherein in a third position the snap-in means ( 25 ,  27 ) for latch the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) are engaged and the snap-in means ( 21 ,  20 ) for latch the holding rods ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are not engaged.  
   
   
       17 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) has seat means ( 32 ,  33 ) for at least one adjusting device ( 34 ,  35 ) that allow an automatic adjustment of the headrest in height, seat direction or an angle of the headrest ( 10 ).  
   
   
       18 . The headrest according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the adjusting device ( 34 ) has means for latch the base element ( 15 ) in the desired height.  
   
   
       19 . The headrest according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the adjusting device comprises a pinion gear that is driven by an electric motor ( 34 ,  35 ) that interacts with an array of teeth that is provided at least indirectly on the driven element, such as support rod ( 11   a ,  11   b ) or guide rod ( 14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ).  
   
   
       20 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) are formed by a composite of materials, each of the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) having a metal core ( 46 ) that is enclosed by a plastic sleeve ( 47 ).  
   
   
       21 . The headrest according to  claim 20 , characterized in that between metal core ( 46 ) and plastic sleeve ( 47 ) an antitwist latch is provided.  
   
   
       22 . The headrest according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the antitwist latch is formed by complementary, interacting structures within metal core ( 46 ) and plastic sleeve ( 47 ).  
   
   
       23 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the support rods ( 11   a ,  11   b ) are supported in the holding means ( 16   a ,  16   b ) of the base element ( 15 ) via a three-point bearing.  
   
   
       24 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) is formed by a component that is rigid and has a substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       25 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base element ( 15 ) is designed as plastic or plastic composite formed piece.  
   
   
       26 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that for different applications, an identical structure of the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  23 ,  32 ,  33 ,  44 ) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element ( 11   a ,  11   b ) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements ( 22 ,  34 ,  35 ), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, at least one holding means remaining empty.  
   
   
       27 . The headrest system for a headrest according to  claim 1 , characterized in that for different applications, an identical structure of the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  23 ,  32 ,  33 ,  44 ) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like, manner that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element ( 11   a ,  11   b ) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements ( 22 ,  34 ,  35 ), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, in a first headrest of the headrest system all holding means being used and in a second headrest of the headrest system at least one holding means remains empty.