Active material actuated headrest assemblies

US7556313B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Alan L. Browne · Grosse Pointe, US
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• James Y. Khoury · Chesterfield Township, US
• Paul W. Alexander · Ypsilanti, US
• Michael G. Carpenter · Romeo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 2006
• Grant date: Jul 7, 2009
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2/888
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A headrest assembly for a seat includes a body portion having at least one padded surface positioned in substantial alignment with a seated occupant's head; and an active material in operative communication with the at least one padded surface of the body portion, the active material being operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein a space between the occupant's head and the at least one padded surface decreases with the change in the at least one attribute of the active material.