Active head restraint systems for vehicle seats

A vehicle seat comprising:

• a seatback frame for supporting a back of an occupant, the seatback frame having a lower cross member extending transversely across the seatback, a pair of transversely spaced upright side members extending from the lower cross member, and an upper cross member extending transversely between the side members;
• a head restraint extending from the seatback frame upper cross member for supporting a head of the occupant;
• a linkage operably connected to the seatback frame lower cross member, the seatback frame side members, and the head restraint for actuating the head restraint to an actuated position, the linkage comprising:
• a first link pivotally connected to the lower cross member,
• a second link pivotally connected to the first link, and
• a third link pivotally connected to the second link and one of the side members;
• a torso support having a translatable connection with the seatback frame, and another translatable connection with the linkage for supporting a torso of the occupant, for receiving an input force from the occupant during an impact condition, and for distributing the input force to the linkage for actuating the linkage and consequently actuating the head restraint;
• and
• an upright wire extending from the torso support with a transverse portion extending across the seatback and pivotally connected with the third link.

A vehicle seat comprising:

• a seatback frame for supporting a back of an occupant, the seatback frame having a lower cross member extending transversely across the seatback, a pair of transversely spaced upright side members extending from the lower cross member, and an upper cross member extending transversely between the side members;
• a head restraint extending from the seatback frame upper cross member for supporting a head of the occupant;
• a linkage operably connected to the seatback frame lower cross member, the seatback frame side members, and the head restraint for actuating the head restraint to an actuated position, wherein the linkage further comprises:
• a first link pivotally connected to the lower cross member,
• a second link pivotally connected to the first link, and
• a third link pivotally connected to the second link and one of the side members;
• a torso support having a translatable connection with the seatback frame for translating relative to the seatback frame, and another translatable connection with the linkage for supporting a torso of the occupant and for translating relative to the linkage, for receiving an input force from the occupant during an impact condition, and for distributing the input force to the linkage for actuating the linkage and consequently actuating the head restraint;
• a pair of transversely spaced ramps mounted to the lower cross member, each ramp having a slot inclined in a rearward direction relative to the seatback frame and an aperture spaced apart from the slot;
• and
• an axle extending laterally from the torso support into the pair of ramps slots so that the torso support translates rearward and upward relative to the seatback frame;
• wherein the first link further comprises a transverse portion extending through the ramp apertures for pivoting relative to the ramp, and a pair of upright members extending from the transverse portion.