EP-4740795-A1 - CHAIR HEADREST ASSEMBLY

EP4740795A1EP 4740795 A1EP4740795 A1EP 4740795A1EP-4740795-A1

Abstract

A chair headrest assembly (100) comprising a headrest body (120) that can be vertically adjusted as a single unit relative to a support frame (100, 110) attached to the chair back. The headrest body (120) is pivotally connected to the top of the support frame (100, 110) via a pivot (1122) that passes through slightly curved openings (1226) extending vertically on both sides of the rear portion (122) of the headrest body (120). A track (140) with teeth (142, 1322) is mounted on the inner surface (1221) of the rear portion (122), and a damping gear mechanism (130) is pivotally connected to the pivot (1122) and meshed with the track (140). This meshing allows controlled vertical and angular adjustment of the headrest body (120), providing smooth movement and maintaining the headrest position without the need for additional locking mechanisms. The simplified structure enhances user comfort by eliminating interference with the user's neck and reduces manufacturing complexity.

Inventors

CHEN, TE-CHUN

Assignees

ATEC International Team Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20250210

Claims (10)

A chair headrest assembly, comprising: a support frame configured to be connected to a chair back, the support frame comprising a pivot located at an upper end thereof; a headrest body, comprising: a rear portion; and a front portion connected to the rear portion; at least one track installed on an inner surface of the rear portion of the headrest body, the track having a series of teeth along its length; at least one damping gear mechanism pivotally connected to the pivot of the support frame and enclosed within the headrest body, the damping gear mechanism meshing with the teeth of the track; wherein the rear portion of the headrest body has vertically extending openings on both sides, each opening configured to receive a corresponding end of the pivot; wherein the meshing of the damping gear mechanism with the track allows the headrest body to be vertically adjusted relative to the support frame in a controlled manner.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the track comprises two parallel toothed tracks installed on an inner bottom surface of the rear portion, and the damping gear mechanism comprises two gears, each meshing with a respective toothed track.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the track is integrally formed on the inner surface of the rear portion of the headrest body.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the openings on the rear portion of the headrest body are vertically extending slots with a predetermined curvature, configured to guide ends of the pivot during vertical adjustment and correspondingly tilt the headrest body forward or backward.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the damping gear mechanism provides resistance during vertical movement, requiring manual force to adjust the headrest body, and maintains the position of the headrest body upon release.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear portion and the front portion of the headrest body are ergonomically contoured to support the user's head and neck, and do not interfere with the user's neck during use.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover that encloses the damping gear mechanism and the pivot within the headrest body.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the damping gear mechanism includes a biasing element that applies force to maintain meshing between the damping gear and the track, and the biasing element is disposed on the protective cover.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the damping gear mechanism includes a biasing element that applies force to maintain meshing between the damping gear and the track.
The chair headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a central support column connected to the chair back, and the pivot is located at a top end of the central support column.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to ergonomic furniture, particularly to an adjustable chair headrest. More specifically, the invention pertains to a chair headrest with vertical and angular adjustability to enhance user comfort and provide improved support for the head and neck. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Adjustable chair headrests are commonly integrated into office chairs, gaming chairs, and other seating solutions to provide support and comfort to users during prolonged periods of sitting. Traditional headrest designs typically feature fixed or limited adjustment structures, allowing the headrest to tilt to a certain angle or adjust vertically within a predefined range. A notable example of prior art is U.S. Patent No. 9,380,878, which discloses a chair headrest assembly comprising front components, intermediate components, and rear components. This design achieves vertical and angular adjustments through a combination of pivot mechanisms and fastening components, allowing users to customize the position of the headrest according to their preferences. Despite advancements in existing designs, several limitations remain that affect user comfort and the overall functionality of chair headrests. For instance, the design disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,380,878 includes multiple interconnected front, intermediate, and rear components. This complexity increases manufacturing costs, assembly time, and the potential risk of mechanical failures. Additionally, the increased number of components necessitates more complicated maintenance procedures, which may shorten product lifespan and increase the likelihood of wear and tear. Moreover, the integration of multiple components may result in a headrest design that is overly bulky, failing to meet modem ergonomic aesthetics or space-saving requirements. Furthermore, the complex assembly restricts easy customization or adjustment of the headrest design to accommodate different chair models or user preferences, limiting its applicability across various seating solutions. The precision alignment and complex assembly of numerous components require higher production costs, potentially translating to higher retail prices and reduced market competitiveness. Additionally, the precise alignment and complex assembly processes of numerous components may lead to higher defect rates and lower overall product reliability. Moreover, in the adjustment process, the design in U.S. Patent No. 9,380,878 keeps the rear components stationary, which may cause interference between the user's neck and the rear portion of the headrest, particularly during extended use. The static rear portion could press against the user's neck, causing discomfort. Furthermore, in existing office chair designs, although some headrests offer vertical and angular adjustments, the range and smoothness of these adjustments are often limited. Users of varying heights and seating postures may find it difficult to achieve an optimal headrest position that provides adequate support without causing pressure. Given the above limitations, there is a clear need for a more simplified and ergonomically compliant chair headrest design. For example, reducing the number of components to enhance manufacturing efficiency, lower costs, and minimize maintenance requirements; additionally, providing interference-free vertical and angular adjustments to improve overall user comfort during use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved chair headrest assembly that addresses the ergonomic and structural limitations of traditional headrest designs. Specifically, the invention introduces a simplified and streamlined headrest structure, enhancing user comfort, adjustment convenience, and manufacturing efficiency. Unlike existing technologies that include multiple interconnected front, intermediate, and rear components, the proposed headrest design omits the intermediate component. This reduction in component complexity achieves a more streamlined assembly, lowers manufacturing costs, and simplifies the assembly and maintenance processes. In this embodiment, the headrest body comprises an integrated rear portion and front portion. The rear portion serves as the support framework for the front portion, ensuring structural stability while allowing smooth adjustments. This integrated design eliminates static components that could cause ergonomic issues, such as interference with the user's neck, thereby enhancing overall user comfort. Additionally, the track mechanism installed on the inner surface of the rear portion features a series of teeth. These tracks provide precise and controlled pathways for vertical adjustment of the headrest. In the present invention, the number of tracks in the track mechanism can be adjusted as needed, accommodating one, two, or even three or more tracks. The chair headrest assembly of the present invention also includes a damping gear mechanism, which is pivotall