# US 2010/0060066 A1 · Vehicular seat system and vehicular headrest > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0060066 A1 - Document ID: US20100060066A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/533,532 - Filed: 2009-07-31 - Published: 2010-03-11 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-01 - Assignees: Proprietect L.P. - Inventors: Henry E. HOJNACKI; George NG; Herbert SCHMIDT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100060066A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/80: Head-rests - B60N 2/809: vertically slidable - B60N 2/888: with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The invention relates to a vehicular seat system including a seat bottom and a seat back. The headrest is connected to the seat back. The headrest consists of a number of components. These components include: a non-foam frame element, a non-foam insert secured with respect to a portion of the frame element, and a resilient element in which at least a portion of the frame element and the entire insert are embedded. The resilient element consists essentially of a homogeneous foam material. The frame element comprises a pair of post elements for coupling to the vehicular seat back. The post elements are interconnected by a cross-piece element. The headrest is connected to the seat back such that the minimum distance between the outer surface of the headrest for contacting a head of an occupant and the insert is in the range of from about 10 mm to about 30 mm. The vehicular headrest useful in the present seat system is compliant with the FMVSS 202a backset retention requirement ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicular seat system comprising a seat bottom, a seat back and headrest connected to the seat back, the headrest comprising: a non-foam frame element; a non-foam insert secured with respect to a portion of the frame element; and a resilient element in which at least a portion of the frame element and the entire insert are embedded, the resilient element consisting essentially of a homogeneous foam material; wherein: (i) the frame element comprises a pair of post elements for coupling to a vehicular seatback, the post elements being interconnected by a cross-piece element; and (ii) the minimum distance between the outer surface of the headrest for contacting a head of an occupant and the insert is in the range of from about 10 mm to about 30 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the minimum distance between the outer surface of the headrest and the insert is in the range of from about 15 mm to about 25 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the homogeneous foam material has a compression force deflection at 50% when measured pursuant to ASTM D3574-05 in the range of from about 30 N to about 75 N. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the homogeneous foam material is polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicular seat defined in claim 4, wherein the polyurethane has a density in the range of from about 30 to about 80 kg/m3. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-piece element comprises a length greater than a distance between the post elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicular seat defined in claim 6, wherein the cross-piece element comprises a central portion interposed between a pair of connecting portions, each connecting portion connected to a post. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion comprises a U-shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion comprises a C-shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion comprises an undulating shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion is offset with respect to an axis midpoint between the post elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion is aligned with respect to an axis midpoint between the post elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The vehicular seat defined in claim 7, wherein the central portion is encompassed by an imaginary sphere having a diameter in the range of from about 15 mm to about 200 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein each post element comprises a first straight portion connected to a second straight portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicular seat defined in claim 14, wherein the first straight portion is connected to the second straight portion at a first obtuse angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicular seat defined in claim 14, wherein each post element further comprises a third straight portion connected to the second straight portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicular seat defined in claim 16, wherein the third straight portion is connected to the second straight portion at a second obtuse angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicular seat defined in claim 16, wherein the third straight portion is connected to the second straight portion at an acute angle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the minimum distance is comprised in a center line section between the posts of the headrest. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicular seat defined in claim 19, wherein the minimum distance is comprised in a first line contained in the center line section, the first line disposed at an angle in the range of from about 10° to about 40° with respect to a second line that is coplanar with the first line and a plane perpendicular to the center line section. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-piece element is fastened to the post elements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the insert is cavity-free. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the insert is constructed from a polymer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the insert has a thickness in the range of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 mm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The vehicular seat defined in claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a contoured configuration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The vehicular seat defined in claim 25, wherein the contoured configuration comprises an A-surface configured to face the head of a vehicle occupant and a B-surface configured to face the frame element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The vehicular seat defined in claim 26, wherein the B-surface comprises at least one receptacle element for receiving a portion of the frame element. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The vehicular seat defined in claim 26, wherein the B-surface comprises at least one post receptacle portion for receiving a portion of at least one of the post elements. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The vehicular seat defined in claim 26, wherein the B-surface comprises a first post receptacle portion for receiving a portion of one of the post elements and a second post receptacle portion for receiving a portion of the other of the post elements. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The vehicular seat defined in claim 28, wherein the B-surface comprises at least one cross-piece receptacle portion for receiving a portion of the cross-piece element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The vehicular seat defined in claim 28, wherein the B-surface comprises a first cross-piece receptacle portion for receiving a first portion of the cross-piece element and a second cross-piece receptacle portion for receiving a second portion of the cross-piece element. ### Claim 32 A vehicular headrest comprising: a non-foam frame element; a non-foam insert secured with respect to a portion of the frame element; and a resilient element in which at least a portion of the frame element and the entire insert are embedded, the resilient element consisting essentially of a homogeneous foam material; wherein: (i) the frame element comprises a pair of post elements for coupling to a vehicular seatback, the post elements being interconnected by a cross-piece element, and (ii) the insert is free of enclosed cavities.