Adjustable headrest for an aircraft seat

1. An adjustable headrest for use with an aircraft seat including a seatback, comprising:

a headrest configured to move by way of combined horizontal translation and rotation relative to the seatback;

an actuating element adapted to urge against the seatback to drive the horizontal translation and rotation of the headrest, the actuating element positioned behind the seatback and below the headrest; and

linkage interconnecting the headrest with the actuating element and driving movement of the headrest in response to movement of the actuating element relative to the seatback.

2. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the headrest simultaneously horizontally translates and rotates relative to the seatback.

3. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the linkage is symmetrically arranged about a back of the headrest.

4. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises:

a headrest support arm attached to the headrest;

an actuating element support arm attached to the actuating element;

a first link linking movement of the headrest support arm with movement of the actuating element support arm, the first link being pivotally connected to each of the seatback and the headrest support arm; and

a second link linking movement of the headrest support arm with movement of the actuating element support arm, the second link being pivotally connected to each of the actuating element support arm and the headrest support arm.

5. The adjustable headrest according to claim 4 , wherein the pivotal connection of the headrest support arm and the first link is guided within a slot defined by the actuating element support arm spaced apart from the attachment point of the actuating element and the actuating element support arm.

6. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element comprises a pneumatic bladder that inflates to urge the actuating element apart from the seatback and the headrest to move forward and rotate downward relative to the seatback, and deflates to move the actuating element toward the seatback and the headrest to move rearward and rotate upward relative to the seatback.

7. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element comprises spaced apart elongate pneumatic bladders supported on a frame.

8. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein movement of the actuating element relative to the seatback producing an angle therebetween produces an equal and opposite angle between the seatback and the headrest.

9. The adjustable headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the headrest is selectively moveable relative to the seatback between a first position substantially flush and at the same angle as the seatback, and a second position forward of the seatback and at an angle thereto.

10. The adjustable headrest according to claim 9 , wherein the headrest is biased toward the first position.

11. An aircraft passenger seat, comprising:

a seatback selectively adjustable between upright and reclined positions; and

a headrest moveable relative to the seatback, the headrest configured to simultaneously horizontally translate and rotate relative to the seatback, the headrest moveable via an actuating element positioned behind the seatback that urges against the seatback to drive the simultaneous horizontal translation and rotation of the headrest, the actuating element and the headrest interconnected through linkage.

12. The adjustable headrest according to claim 11 , wherein the headrest is selectively moveable relative to the seatback between a first position substantially flush and at the same angle as the seatback, and a second position forward of the seatback and at an angle thereto, and wherein the headrest is biased toward the first position.

13. The adjustable headrest according to claim 11 , wherein movement of the actuating element relative to the seatback producing an angle therebetween produces an equal and opposite angle between the seatback and the headrest.

14. The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11 , wherein the linkage is arranged symmetrically adjacent sides of the seatback.

15. The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11 , wherein the linkage comprises:

a headrest support arm attached to the headrest;

an actuating element support arm attached to the actuating element;

a first link linking movement of the headrest support arm with movement of the actuating element support arm, the first link being pivotally connected to each of the seatback and the headrest support arm; and

a second link linking movement of the headrest support arm with movement of the actuating element support arm, the second link being pivotally connected to each of the actuating element support arm and the headrest support arm.

16. The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 15 , wherein the pivotal connection of the headrest support arm and the first link is guided within a slot defined by the actuating element support arm spaced apart from the attachment point of the actuating element and the actuating element support arm.

17. The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11 , wherein the actuating element comprises a pneumatic bladder that inflates to urge the actuating element apart from the seatback and the headrest to move forward and rotate downward relative to the seatback, and deflates to move the actuating element toward the seatback and the headrest to move rearward and rotate upward relative to the seatback.

18. The adjustable headrest according to claim 11 , wherein the actuating element comprises spaced apart elongate pneumatic bladders supported on a frame that seat against the seatback.