# US 11,440,453 B2 · Vehicle head restraint with tuned damper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,453 B2 - Document ID: US11440453B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/074,913 - Filed: 2020-10-20 - Published: 2022-04-21 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Sangram Tamhankar; Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar; Chaitanya Nimmagadda; Cindy Sofia Barrera-Martinez; John Edward Huber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440453B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/879: with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers - B60N 2205/20: Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An article, such as a vehicle seat, includes a one-piece vehicle head restraint structure that defines a frame and a plurality of receptacles. There are metallic resonators disposed in the receptacles. Polymeric dampers line the receptacles and circumscribe the metallic resonators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article comprising: a one-piece vehicle head restraint structure defining a frame and a plurality of receptacles; a plurality of metallic resonators, each said metallic resonator being disposed in one of the receptacles; and a plurality of polymeric dampers, each said polymeric damper lining one of the receptacles and circumscribing one of the metallic resonators, the polymeric dampers defining damper walls having a plurality of elongated cavities therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles includes at least first and second receptacles, and the first and second receptacles share a common receptacle wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the elongated cavities, and the adjacent ones of the damper walls have unequal numbers of the elongated cavities. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the elongated cavities, and the elongated cavities are of unequal volumes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated cavities are of uniform cross-sectional areas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated cavities taper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the polymer dampers are formed of rubber, and the metallic resonators are metallic blocks. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein a damping response of the polymer dampers and the metallic resonators is tuned to a resonant vibrational frequency of a vehicle seat. ### Claim 9 An article comprising: a headrest including a cushion; a one-piece vehicle head restraint structure supporting the headrest and defining a frame and a plurality of receptacles; a plurality of metallic resonators, each said metallic resonator being disposed in one of the receptacles; and a plurality of polymeric dampers, each said polymeric damper lining one of the receptacles and circumscribing one of the metallic resonators, wherein the polymer dampers are formed of rubber, the metallic resonators are metallic blocks, and a damping response of the polymer dampers and the metallic resonators is tuned to a resonant vibrational frequency of a vehicle seat, and the plurality of receptacles includes at least first and second receptacles, the first and second receptacles share a common receptacle wall, and the polymeric dampers define damper walls having at least one of a plurality of elongated cavities therein or a plurality of through-holes therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article as recited in claim 9, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the elongated cavities, and the adjacent ones of the damper walls have unequal numbers of the elongated cavities or the elongated cavities are of unequal volumes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The article as recited in claim 9, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the through-holes, and the adjacent ones of the damper walls have either unequal numbers of the through-holes or the through-holes are of unequal sizes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame includes first and second ribbed trusses connected by a cross-beam and at least two elongated armatures extending from the first and second ribbed trusses, the plurality of receptacles extending off of the cross-beam between the first and second ribbed trusses. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article as recited in claim 12, wherein the one-piece vehicle head restraint structure is formed of a polymeric material, and each said receptacle is defined by receptacle side walls, a receptacle bottom wall, and an open top. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, further comprising a headrest including a cushion, the one-piece vehicle head restraint structure supporting the headrest. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the one-piece vehicle head restraint structure includes first and second ribbed trusses that are connected by a cross-beam and at least two elongated armatures extending from the ribbed trusses, the plurality of receptacles extending off of the cross-beam between the ribbed trusses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The article as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles is defined by receptacle side walls, a receptacle bottom wall, and an open top. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article as recited in claim 16, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the elongated cavities, and the adjacent ones of the damper walls have unequal numbers of the elongated cavities. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The article as recited in claim 16, wherein adjacent ones of the damper walls each have the elongated cavities, and the elongated cavities are of unequal volumes.