Occupant restraining head rest and seat belt

In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat movably mounted within an occupant compartment defined by a roof structure and a door, an occupant head restraint system comprising:

• a head rest having a frame and a cushion, pivot means mounting the head rest on the vehicle roof structure for forward and rearward movement, an occupant restraining shoulder belt having an upper end connected to the head rest and a lower end retractably mounted on the vehicle body by a locking retractor, said shoulder belt acting in response to movement of the seat to pivot the head rest forwardly and rearwardly upon corresponding movement of the seat to establish the head rest at a location appropriate to the location of the seat, said shoulder belt further acting upon locking of the shoulder belt locking retractor to tether the head rest against pivoting movement relative to the roof to thereby provide effective occupant head restraint.

In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat movably mounted for forward and rearward adjusting movement within an occupant compartment defined by a roof structure and a door, an occupant head restraint system comprising:

• a head rest having a frame and a cushion, pivot means mounting the head rest on the vehicle roof structure and defining an axis for forward and rearward pivotal movement of the head rest, and a spiral spring having an inner end spiraled around the axis of the head rest pivot means, an intermediate portion passing slidably through the head rest, and an outer end attached to the seat, whereby upon forward and rearward movement of the seat, the spiral spring is wound and unwound from the head rest and the headrest is pivoted forwardly and rearwardly upon corresponding movement of the seat to establish the head rest at a location appropriate to the location of the seat.

In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat movably mounted for forward and rearward adjusting movement within an occupant compartment defined by a roof structure and a door, an occupant head restraint system comprising:

• a head rest having a frame and a cushion, pivot means mounting the head rest on the vehicle roof structure and defining an axis for forward and rearward pivotal movement of the head rest, an occupant restraining shoulder belt having an upper end connected to the head rest and a lower end retractably mounted on the vehicle body by a locking retractor, and a spiral spring having an inner end spiraled around the axis of the head rest pivot means, an intermediate portion passing slidably through the head rest, and an outer end attached to the seat, whereby upon forward and rearward movement of the seat, the spiral spring is wound and unwound from the head rest and the headrest is pivoted forwardly and rearwardly upon corresponding movement of the seat to establish the head rest at a location corresponding to the adjusted position of the seat and upon locking of the shoulder belt locking retractor the shoulder belt tethers the head rest against pivoting movement relative to the roof to thereby provide effective occupant head restraint.

In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat movably mounted on the floor within an occupant compartment defined by a roof structure and a door, an occupant head restraint system comprising:

• a head rest having a frame and a cushion and a slot extending transversely through the head rest, pivot means mounting the head rest on the vehicle roof structure for forward and rearward movement, an occupant restraining shoulder belt having a lower end retractably mounted on the vehicle body by a locking retractor and an upper end passing slidably through the transverse extending slot of the head rest and attached to the seat, said shoulder belt acting in response to movement of the seat to pivot the head rest forwardly and rearwardly upon corresponding movement of the seat to establish the head rest at a location appropriate to the location of the seat, said shoulder belt further acting upon locking of the shoulder belt locking retractor to tether the head rest against pivoting movement relative to the roof to thereby provide effective occupant head restraint and the occupant restraint load imposed on the shoulder belt being transmitted partly to the vehicle roof by the head rest and partly to the floor by the seat.