Arrangement for Securing the End Position of a Guided Support Rod of a Headrest

This application is related to commonly assigned application Ser. No. 784,051, filed on even date herewith and based on German Priority Application P 34 36 541.9, filed in Germany on Oct. 5, 1984.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for releaseably holding a vehicle passenger head rest, at a vehicle seat back or the like. Preferred embodiments of the invention relate to an arrangement for securing the end position of a guided support rod of a headrest, wherein a recess is provided at the free end of the support rod into which a spring-loaded catch engages when the maximum pull-out length of the headrest is reached, this catch being releasable via a remote control device extending from the upper side of the backrest.

A securing arrangement for the end position that is releasable in this way is known from DE-OS 21 38 078. In that case, the remote control device is comprised of a strap that is applied to the spring. However, the released position is only maintained as long as the strap is pulled, so that only one hand is available for the pulling-out of the headrest. This restriction makes the headrest removal process difficult.

It is an objective of the invention to create a possibility of being able to remove the headrest with both hands when the catch is released without sacrificing safety. Thus, the release means remains in a released position without requiring the operator to manually exert a force on the said release means in the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In an advantageous development of the preferred embodiments of the invention, an operating rod of the locking release means tapers off into a slider equipped with a control path, and a catch with a feeler portion that is assigned to the control path in such a way that when the maximum pull-out length of the headrest is reached, the feeler portion comes to rest against a section of the control path that is close to the support rod, and when the spring-loaded operating rod is pressed down, the feeler portion moves up an inclined surface of the control path and engages into a notch that is spaced further from the support rod, such that the catch is lifted far enough out from the free end of the support rod that the recess and head sections of the support rod can be moved past the catch.

A further advantageous development of the invention is that by means of the design of the support rod and catch, when the headrest is reinserted after removal, the support rod clears the catch until the inclined recess passes the catch, wherein the catch engages the surface of the control rod and subsequently disengages the remote control release means.

In certain preferred embodiments, the operating rod of the catch release mechanism is spring biased toward a position permitting the catch to lock the support rod at its desired extreme in use end position with reinsertion of the supported operating to automatically reset the catch to serve its locking function.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional schematic view showing a guided support rod having an arrangement for securing the end position at the end of the sliding phase, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the operational parts in a position corresponding to pulling out of the support rod shortly before engagement of the end position securing mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing the operational parts in a position corresponding to release of the end securing mechanism to permit removal of the headrest, with the operating rod pushed in and the slider locked.

A support rod 1 of a headrest that is not shown in detail can be continuously vertically adjustably slid in a guide 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The support rod 1 has a recess 4 and at its free end 3, which ends in a head 5 having a diameter that is smaller than that of the support rod 1.

A catch 7 that is loaded by a spring 6, during the sliding phase of the support rod 1--as shown in FIG. 1--supports itself on the shaft of the support rod 1. According to FIG. 2, when the maximum extension length of the headrest is reached, the catch moves into a recess 4 located at the free end 3 of the support rod. When the support rod 1 is moved further up, the catch places itself against the head 5 in a locking manner.

A feeler portion 8 is connected with the catch 7, the feeler portion 8 being assigned to a control path 9 of a slider 10. This slider 10, together with an operating rod 12 that forms its extension and is guided approximately in an axial direction of the support rod 1 to the indicated upper side 11 of the backrest, forms a remote control 13.

When the catch 7 moves into the recess 4, as shown in FIG. 2, the feeler portion 8 at the same time moves in the direction of the control path 9. When the catching position is reached, the feeler portion comes to rest against a section 14 of the control path 9 that is close to the support rod. This feeler portion 8 connected with the latch 7 biased by a spring 6, which engages the recess 4 of the head 5 of the support rod 1, forms the locking mechanism. When the operating rod 12 is pressed downward against the force of a spring 15, the feeler portion 8 moves upward on an inclined surface 16 connected to the section 14 and engages in a notch 17 on the remote control 13. In this position, which is shown in FIG. 3, the catch 7 just barely releases the head 5 so that the headrest can be pulled off with both hands. The release mechanism comprises the spring 15 biasing an operating rod 12 having a slider 10 with a notch 17 and a control path 9 including an inclined surface 16 and a section 14.

When the support rod 1 is reinserted, after the passing of the head 5, the catch 7 comes to rest at the sloping section of the recess 4 which has a larger diameter than the head 5 and which guides the tip 18 of the feeler portion 8 out of the ntoch 17, whereupon the spring 15 is unloaded and the slider 10 is returned into its starting position shown in FIG. 1. This sloping section of the recess 4 and the catch 7 form the triggering mechanism whereby when the sloping section displaces the catch 7, the tip 18 is pushed out of the notch 17 and the starting (locking) position is attained.

From the preceding description of the preferred embodiments, it is evident that the objects of the invention are attained, and although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.