Powered mounting bracket assembly for furniture headrest

Abstract

A first embodiment of a powered mounting bracket assembly, for a furniture headrest, comprises a backrest assembly, a headrest assembly operatively mounted atop the backrest assembly, and a driving mechanism mounted upon the backrest assembly and operatively connected to the headrest assembly for adjustably moving the headrest assembly relative to the backrest assembly. As the driving mechanism is activated, the headrest assembly will be moved upwardly or downwardly as well as tilted forwardly and backwardly. As a result of these movements, the headrest can be moved within an angular range of 90° wherein, at a first extreme position, the headrest will be oriented vertically upwardly, whereas at a second extreme position, the headrest will be oriented horizontally forwardly. Depending upon the actuation of the linear actuator, the headrest can attain any angular position between its first and second extreme positions. A second embodiment of the assembly incorporates coiled springs for returning the headrest assembly to the retracted position so as to effectively provide a safe system against blockages between the headrest assembly and the backrest assembly.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by means of Letters Patent, is: 
     
         1 . A powered mounting bracket assembly for a furniture headrest of a furniture seat, comprising:
 a furniture seat;   a headrest assembly; and   a driving mechanism having a first end operatively connected to said furniture seat, and a second end operatively connected to said headrest assembly, such that as said driving mechanism is actuated, said headrest assembly can be moved between any one of a multiplicity of positions, relative to said furniture seat, so as to adjust the disposition of said headrest assembly, relative to said furniture seat, in accordance with a particular comfort desire of a person seated within said furniture seat.   
     
     
         2 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said driving mechanism comprises a linear actuator.   
     
     
         3 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said headrest assembly comprises:
 a headrest support base; and   a headrest mounting plate fixedly connected to said headrest support base.   
     
     
         4 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said headrest mounting plate fixedly connected to said headrest support base such that said headrest mounting plate is disposed perpendicular to said headrest support base.   
     
     
         5 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is pivotally mounted upon said furniture seat.   
     
     
         6 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is movable between two extreme positions located 90° apart from each other wherein, when said headrest support base is disposed at a first one of said two extreme positions, said headrest mounting plate will have a vertical orientation, whereas, when said headrest support base is disposed at a second one of said two extreme positions, said headrest mounting plate will have a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         7 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said linear actuator comprises a motor, a rotatable lead screw member, a sleeve member operatively connected to said rotatable lead screw member, and a link operatively connected to said sleeve member at a first end thereof, and to said headrest assembly at a second end thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said link comprises a vertically oriented, arcuately configured link such that when said linear actuator is actuated, said vertically oriented, arcuately configured link will cause said headrest assembly to move between two extreme positions located 90° apart from each other.   
     
     
         9 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is pivotally mounted upon said furniture seat by at least one hinge mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one hinge mechanism comprises:
 an upstanding mounting post fixedly mounted upon said furniture seat;   a first hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said upstanding mounting post;   at least one hinge plate fixedly mounted upon said headrest support base; and   a second hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said at least one hinge plate and rotatably engaged with said first hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said upstanding mounting post so as to permit said headrest support base to be pivotally mounted upon said furniture seat.   
     
     
         11 . A powered mounting bracket assembly for a furniture headrest of a furniture seat, comprising:
 a backrest assembly;   a headrest assembly; and   a driving mechanism having a first end operatively connected to said backrest assembly, and a second end operatively connected to said headrest assembly, such that as said driving mechanism is actuated, said headrest assembly can be moved between any one of a multiplicity of positions, relative to said backrest assembly, so as to adjust the disposition of said headrest assembly, relative to said backrest assembly, in accordance with a particular comfort desire of a person seated within said furniture seat.   
     
     
         12 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said driving mechanism comprises a linear actuator.   
     
     
         13 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said headrest assembly comprises:
 a headrest support base; and   a headrest mounting plate fixedly connected to said headrest support base.   
     
     
         14 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said headrest mounting plate fixedly connected to said headrest support base such that said headrest mounting plate is disposed perpendicular to said headrest support base.   
     
     
         15 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is pivotally mounted upon said backrest assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is movable between two extreme positions located 90° apart from each other wherein, when said headrest support base is disposed at a first one of said two extreme positions, said headrest mounting plate will have a vertical orientation, whereas, when said headrest support base is disposed at a second one of said two extreme positions, said headrest mounting plate will have a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said linear actuator comprises a motor, a rotatable lead screw member, a sleeve member operatively connected to said rotatable lead screw member, and a link operatively connected to said sleeve member at a first end thereof, and to said headrest assembly at a second end thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 said link comprises a vertically oriented, arcuately configured link such that when said linear actuator is actuated, said vertically oriented, arcuately configured link will cause said headrest assembly to move between two extreme positions located 90° apart from each other.   
     
     
         19 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said headrest support base is pivotally mounted upon said backrest assembly by at least one hinge mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The powered mounting bracket assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said at least one hinge mechanism comprises:
 an upstanding mounting post fixedly mounted upon said backrest assembly;   a first hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said upstanding mounting post;   at least one hinge plate fixedly mounted upon said headrest support base; and   a second hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said at least one hinge plate and rotatably engaged with said first hinge segment fixedly mounted upon said upstanding mounting post so as to permit said headrest support base to be pivotally mounted upon said backrest assembly.   
     
     
         21 . A powered mounting bracket assembly for a furniture headrest of a furniture seat, comprising:
 a furniture seat;   a headrest assembly;   at least one coiled spring assembly operatively interposed between said furniture seat and said headrest assembly; and   a driving mechanism having a first end operatively connected to said furniture seat, and a second end operatively connected to said headrest assembly, such that when said driving mechanism is actuated in a first direction so as to move said headrest assembly from a retracted position to an extended position, said headrest assembly can be moved between any one of a multiplicity of positions, relative to said furniture seat, so as to adjust the disposition of said headrest assembly, relative to said furniture seat, in accordance with a particular comfort desire of a person seated within said furniture seat, whereas when said driving mechanism is actuated in a second opposite direction, only said at least one coiled spring assembly will return said headrest assembly to said retracted position.