Powered headrest assembly with side wings

Abstract

A new and improved powered headrest assembly comprises a centrally located main/primary headrest section, a pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections hingedly attached to opposite sides of the centrally located main/primary headrest section, and at least one actuator operatively connected to the pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections for moving the pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections from retracted positions to extended positions with respect to the centrally located main/primary headrest section. In a first embodiment, a single bidirectional/dual-directional linear actuator is used. In a second embodiment, a pair of oppositely disposed linear actuators are used. In a third embodiment, a single linear actuator is used along with a rotary clutch mechanism to achieve the movements of the pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections. In fourth and fifth embodiments, unidirectional linear actuators are used and springs return the pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections to their original positions.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A powered headrest assembly, comprising:
 a centrally located main/primary headrest section;   a pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections hingedly attached to opposite sides of said centrally located main/primary headrest section; and   at least one actuator operatively connected to said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections for moving said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections from retracted positions to extended positions with respect to said centrally located main/primary headrest section.   
     
     
         2 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one actuator comprises a linear actuator.   
     
     
         3 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said linear actuator comprises a bidirectional/dual-directional linear actuator for moving said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections between said retracted and extended positions.   
     
     
         4 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said linear actuator comprises a bidirectional/dual-directional linear actuator for simultaneously moving said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections between said retracted and extended positions.   
     
     
         5 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one actuator comprises a pair of actuators.   
     
     
         6 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said pair of actuators comprise linear actuators.   
     
     
         7 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said pair of linear actuators comprise a pair of oppositely disposed linear actuators mounted upon said centrally located main/primary headrest section.   
     
     
         8 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said pair of linear actuators are actuated independently such that said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections are actuated and moved independently with respect to said centrally located main/primary headrest section.   
     
     
         9 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 a casing/housing is provided upon component parts of said powered headrest assembly so as to prevent fabric materials, comprising a headrest, from becoming entangled with said component parts of said powered headrest assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a pair of drive shafts are respectively connected to said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections; and   a clutch mechanism operatively connects said at least one actuator to said pair of drive shafts such that when said at least one actuator is actuated, said at least one actuator can actuate said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections so as to move said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections between said retracted and extended positions.   
     
     
         11 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said at least one actuator comprises a linear actuator.   
     
     
         12 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a rotary clutch mechanism which will rotate such that when a first one of said pair of drive shafts is moved in a first direction, said clutch mechanism will cause a second one of said pair of drive shafts to move in a second opposite direction such that said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections are moved to said retracted and extended positions substantially simultaneously.   
     
     
         13 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 a casing/housing is provided upon component parts of said powered headrest assembly so as to prevent fabric materials, comprising a headrest, from becoming entangled with said component parts of said powered headrest assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said at least one actuator comprises a pair of linear actuators.   
     
     
         15 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said pair of linear actuators comprise unidirectional actuators.   
     
     
         16 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a pair of coiled springs operatively connected to said pair of drive shafts for returning said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections to said retracted positions when said pair of unidirectional actuators are deactivated.   
     
     
         17 . The powered headrest assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a pair of coiled springs operatively connected to said centrally located main/primary headrest section and said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections for returning said pair of secondary/auxiliary headrest sections to said retracted positions when said pair of unidirectional actuators are deactivated.