Headrest with passenger flaps

US11772535B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Zoox, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Nahuel Elias Battaglia · Stanford, US
• Anke Christine Bodack · Encinitas, US
• Felix Lorsignol · San Luis Obispo, US
• Andrew Frank Raczkowski · San Jose, US
• Herman Francisco Delos Santos · Redwood City, US
• Christopher John Stoffel · Menlo Park, US
• Bryan Thompson · Beverly Hills, US
• Timothy David Kentley-Klay · Stanford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 28, 2020
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2210/40
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for determining whether a passenger is seated in a seating area and, based at least in part on detecting the passenger, engaging or disengaging a flap in a headrest. Such a headrest may span multiple seats so that a single headrest is used by multiple passengers. Each of one or more flaps in the single headrest may then be configured by the passenger to provide each passenger with their own privacy and comfort. By actively controlling the state of the flap, a uniform passenger experience may be created so that the flap is in the same state upon a passenger entering the vehicle. Further, examples of the headrest are designed and configured to couple directly, or indirectly, to a vehicle body, such that the headrest does not couple directly to a seat or passenger seating area.