Restraint, Active Head: Operation

The inertia-activated Active Head Restraint (AHR) units are deployed automatically by the mechanism contained within each front seat back assembly. During a rear impact, inertia drives the seat occupant rearward into the seat back, loading the seat lumbar assembly. The ramp brackets at the base of the lumbar assembly translate this rearward travel into a vertical motion. The vertical motion of the lumbar assembly is then transmitted to the armature bracket.

Through the rotation of the pivot links at each side of the armature bracket, the vertical motion of the lumbar assembly is converted to a slightly forward and upward arc of the armature bracket, headrest guide tubes and headrest that is designed to reduce the space between the back of the head of the seat occupant and the head restraint pad. Closing this space catches the head of the seat occupant during a low speed rear impact collision event and is important in reducing or eliminating potentially debilitating cervical (also known as whiplash) injuries.

Unless damaged following the rear impact, the inertia-activated AHR can be reset by simply pushing the front seat headrests rearward to their normal positions.