WO2004056607A1

WO2004056607A1 - Headrest for a vehicle seat and method for mounting said headrest

Info

Publication number: WO2004056607A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/002026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per-Olof Blomqvist; Mikael Rehn
Original assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2003-12-19
Publication date: 2004-07-08
Also published as: SE0203802L; SE524845C2; AU2003292899A1; SE0203802D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a front (12) and a rear part (1) and a connecting part (11) for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat, which connecting part has a first section (15) for connection to the front (12) and the rear part (1) and a second section (16) for connection to the vehicle seat, the front part (12) and/or the rear part (1) having a first recess (7) for the accommodation of the first section (15) of the connecting part and being joined together around the connecting part (11), wherein the front (12) and/or the rear part (1) has or have a second long and narrow recess (8) for the accommodation of a cable.The invention further relates to a method for mounting 20 a headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising the following steps: the moulding of a front part (12) and a rear part (1); the creation of a first recess (7) in the front (12) and/or rear part (1), intended for the accommodation of a connecting part (11) for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat; the creation of a second long and narrow recess (8) for the accommodation of a cable; the arrangement of the cable in the second recess; the joining together of the front (12) and the rear part (1) and the connecting part (11).

Description

TITLE

Headrest for a vehicle seat and method for mounting said headrest

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a front and a rear part and a connecting part for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat, which connecting part has a first section for connection to the front and the rear part and a second section for connection to the vehicle seat, the front part and/or the rear part having a first recess for the accommodation of the first section of the connecting part and being joined together around the connecting part.

The invention further relates to a method for mounting a headrest for a vehicle seat.

PRIOR ART

Vehicle seats, for vehicles such as passenger cars, are usually provided with headrests. The purpose of headrests is to support the heads of the passengers during travel and to protect the neck in the event of a collision.

More recently, a desire has arisen for back seat passengers to be able to be entertained during travel through the placement of a monitor in front of the back seat. One problem herein is to be able to integrate a monitor somehow into the back seat environment.

This problem has been solved by incorporating the monitor into the headrest on the front seats of the vehicle, as described in DE 201 19 410 Ul . One problem associated with said method is, however, that the cables which supply the monitor with current will run freely between the frames securing the headrest in the vehicle seat, from the headrest and to the connection in the vehicle seat. Having a loose- running cable in this region entails a number of drawbacks. The cable generates a noise which can be disturbing. In this region, it can also be easy for someone accidentally to touch the cable and dislodge it. Furthermore, there is also an aesthetic aspect to having loose-running cables.

Thus a number of problems remain to be solved with the above-stated method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-stated problems are solved by virtue of the invention by the front and/or the rear part having a second long and narrow recess for the accommodation of a cable.

According to one embodiment, the second recess is arranged in the rear part of the headrest. The headrest can further have a third recess for the accommodation of a loudspeaker and a fourth recess arranged in the rear part for the accommodation of a monitor. All the necessary components for an entertainment appliance, such as a TV or a computer, can thereby be integrated in the headrest. Other parts, such as hard disk or receiving equipment, can be disposed elsewhere in the vehicle.

The recesses can be configured in the front or the rear part or in both parts.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the front and the rear part comprise a substantially rectangular part. By rectangular shape is meant the cross section of the parts, viewed from the front or rear, when mounted on the vehicle seat. Viewed three- dimensionally, the parts have substantially the shape of a cuboid. The parts further comprise a first and a second leg intended for placement against the vehicle seat when the headrest is mounted on the latter, the second recess being arranged partially in the one leg.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the second recess is arranged running from the middle of the front and/or the rear part to the edge of the one leg.

The invention further comprises a method for mounting a headrest, comprising the following steps: the moulding of a front part and a rear part; the creation of a first recess in the front and/or the rear part, intended for the accommodation of a connecting part for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat; the creation of a second long and narrow recess for the accommodation of a cable; the arrangement of the cable in the second recess; the joining together of the front and the rear part and the connecting part.

One way of realizing the invention is for the moulding of the rear part and the creation of the first and second recess to be effected in one and the same production stage.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method is characterized by the creation of a third^" recess in the front part for the accommodation of a loudspeaker. The method can also be supplemented by a step involving the creation of a fourth recess in the rear part for the accommodation of a monitor. The recesses can be created in the front or the rear part or in both parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a rear part of a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention, before being joined together with the front part.

Figure 2 shows a connecting part of a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention, for connecting the headrest to a vehicle seat.

Figure 3 shows a front part of a backrest according to one embodiment of the invention, before being fitted to the rear part.

Figure 4 shows a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a rear part 1 of a headrest according to the invention, before being joined together with the front part. The front part 1 is shown here from a perspective view. The front part 1 is viewed from the side la which is intended to be joined together with the front part. The side la will be referred to as the inner side and the opposite side lb as the outer side. The rear part 1 consists of a substantially cuboid section 2 and a first 3 and a second leg 4, which are intended to bear against the top edge of a vehicle seat once the headrest is mounted.

The front part has a U-shaped first recess 5, which extends from the one leg 4 through the cuboid section 2 and down into the second leg 4. The recess 5 is led through right down to the edges 6, 7 of the legs 3, 4. The front part 1 further has an arched second recess 8, which runs from the edge 6 of the one leg to a centre region 9 of the rear part 1. In this centre region 9, disposed in the middle of the rear part 1, there is an opening 10, for feeding a cable through to the other side, the outer side, lb of the rear part 1. The opening 10 connects to the second recess 8.

In Figure 2 is shown a connecting part 11 for a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention, for connecting the headrest to a vehicle seat.

The connecting part 11 is here shown in a perspective view. The connecting part 11 is constituted by a frame, normally configured in metal. The connecting part, in the assembly, will be fitted into the first recess 5 in the rear part 1. The connecting part is provided with a reinforcing element 17 in the form of a plate which has been welded to the frame. The reinforcing element 17 has three openings 18. The number of openings can, of course, be varied within the scope of the invention. The purpose of the reinforcing element 17 is, in the event of a collision, to support the monitor and the loudspeaker mounted in the headrest. The reinforcing plate also constitutes an attachment base for a microphone, should one be required to be fitted.

In Figure 3 is shown a front part 12 of a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention, before being fitted to the rear part 1. The front part 12 is viewed here in a perspective view and from the side 12a which, when the front part 12 is joined together with the rear part 1, will face away from the rear part. This side will be referred to as the outer side 12a of the front part. The opposite side, which will fit together against the rear part 1, will be referred to as the inner side 12b. The front part 12 has a through recess 13, which is intended to accommodate a loudspeaker. The connecting part 11 has a first section 15 for connection to the front 12 and the rear part 2 and a second section 16 for connection to the vehicle seat. The first section 15 consists of a U-shaped part. The second section 16 consists of two legs 16a and 16b for connection to the vehicle seat. The first 15 and the second section 16 are parts of one and the same frame .

In Figure 4 is shown a headrest according to one embodiment of the invention. The headrest is shown here in perspective view. The headrest is viewed from the side of the headrest which exhibits the rear part 1 and its outer side lb. The front part 12, the connecting part 11 and the rear part 1 are joined together and together form the headrest.

In the rear part 1 of the headrest, a recess 14 is made. The recess 14 is made from the outer side lb of the rear part and does not pass through the whole of the rear part 1. The recess 14 is intended to accommodate a monitor. Also visible in Figure 4 is the opening 10 for feeding cables through to the monitor.

The shown figures are schematic and do not show all details. For example, the cable is fitted into the recess 8 before the headrest is joined together. The cable is not, however, shown in the figures.

The mounting or joining together of the headrest is usually effected such that the rear part 1 and the front part 12 are injection-moulded in a plastics material, with the required recesses. The frame 11 is formed. The cable is fitted in the recess 8 and is drawn through the opening 10. After this, the frame is fitted against the recess 7. Finally, the rear part 1 and the front part 12 are joined together.

The shown embodiment is only one example of possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments, too, can be covered by the invention. For example, the cable drawing can be realized for purposes other than supplying power to a monitor. For example, the recess and the cable drawing could be provided to supply heat to the headrest.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a front

(12) and a rear part (1) and a connecting part (11) for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat, which connecting part has a first section (15) for connection to the front (12) and the rear part (1) and a second section (16) for connection to the vehicle seat, the front part (12) and/or the rear part (1) having a first recess (7) for the accommodation of the first section (15) of the connecting part and being joined together around the connecting part (11), characterized in that the front (12) and/or the rear part (1) has or have a second long and narrow recess (8) for the accommodation of a cable.

2. A headrest according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second recess (8) is disposed in the rear part (1) of the headrest.

3. A headrest according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the headrest has a third recess

(13) for the accommodation of a loudspeaker.

4. A headrest according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the headrest has a fourth recess (14) disposed in the rear part (1) for the accommodation of a monitor.

5. A headrest according to any one of the above claims, the front (12) and the rear part (1) comprising a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and a first (3) and a second leg (4) intended for placement against the vehicle seat when the headrest is mounted on the latter, characterized in that the second recess (8) is arranged partially in the one leg (3) .

6. A headrest according to Claim 5, characterized in that the second recess (8) is arranged running from the middle of the front (12) and/or rear part (1) to the edge (6) of the one leg (3) .

7. A method for mounting a headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising the following steps: the moulding of a front part (12) and a rear part (1) ; the creation of a first recess (7) in the front (12) and/or the rear part (1), intended for the accommodation of a connecting part (11) for connecting the headrest to the vehicle seat; the creation of a second long and narrow recess (8) for the accommodation of a cable; the arrangement of the cable in the second recess; the joining together of the front (12) and the rear part (1) and the connecting part (11) .

8. A method for mounting a headrest, according to Claim 7, which method comprises the following step: realization of the moulding of the rear part (1) and the creation of the first (7) and the second recess (8) in one and the same production stage.

9. A method for mounting a headrest, according to Claim 7 or 8, which method comprises the following step: the creation of a third recess (13) in the front part (12) for the accommodation of a loudspeaker.

10. A method for mounting a headrest, according to Claim 7, 8 or 9, which method comprises the following step: the creation of a fourth recess (14) in the rear part for the accommodation of a monitor.