Adjustable lateral-support headrest for a vehicle seat

A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

• a seat cushion;
• a backrest;
• and
• an adjustable side-support head restraint assembly mounted to the backrest and configured to limit rearward movement a head relative to a torso of a vehicle seat occupant;
• wherein the head restraint assembly includes:
• a center section mounted to the backrest;
• a first wing rotatably mounted to the center section and thereby provided to adjust an angle of the first wing between an unfolded position and a folded position relative to the center section and support the vehicle seat occupant's head in a first lateral direction;
• and
• a second wing rotatably mounted to the center section and thereby provided to adjust an angle of the second wing between an unfolded position and a folded position relative to the center section and support the vehicle seat occupant's head in a second lateral direction;
• a first ratcheting mechanism configured to selectively lock the first wing in distinct positions relative to the center section;
• a second ratcheting mechanism configured to selectively lock the second wing in distinct positions relative to the center section;
• and
• a head restraint frame;
• wherein each of the first and second ratcheting mechanisms is mounted to the head restraint frame and each of the first and second ratcheting mechanisms includes:
• a respective gear mounted to the head restraint frame;
• a latch configured to engage the corresponding gear to selectively lock the corresponding first or second wing relative to the center section;
• and
• a respective latching spring configured to preload the corresponding latch into engagement with the corresponding gear.

An adjustable side-support head restraint assembly for mounting to a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and backrest and configured to limit rearward movement of a head relative to a torso of a vehicle seat occupant, the head restraint assembly comprising:

• a center section configured to be mounted to the backrest;
• a first wing rotatably mounted to the center section and thereby provided to adjust an angle of the first wing between an unfolded position and a folded position relative to the center section and support the vehicle seat occupant's head in a first lateral direction;
• a second wing rotatably mounted to the center section and thereby provided to adjust an angle of the second wing between an unfolded position and a folded position relative to the center section and support the vehicle seat occupant's head in a second lateral direction;
• a first ratcheting mechanism configured to selectively lock the first wing in distinct positions relative to the center section;
• and
• a second ratcheting mechanism configured to selectively lock the second wing in distinct positions relative to the center section;
• wherein the head restraint assembly additionally includes a head restraint frame, each of the first and second ratcheting mechanisms is mounted to the head restraint frame;
• and each of the first and second ratcheting mechanisms includes:
• a respective gear mounted to the head restraint frame;
• a latch configured to engage the corresponding gear to selectively lock the corresponding first or second wing relative to the center section;
• and
• a respective latching spring configured to preload the corresponding latch into engagement with the corresponding gear;
• and
• wherein each latch is defined by a first and a second end and includes a latching pin, and wherein the latching pin is arranged proximate the first end of the latch and the corresponding latching spring is arranged proximate the second end of the latch.