Headrest retractor

The invention relates to an actuating apparatus for a headrest, the holder of which is movably mounted in a receptacle within a vehicle seat back that can be folded down, with a traction device that acts on the holder and serves to pull the headrest back into a retracted position. Preferably, a headrest is attached to such a seat back by a mechanical actuating apparatus that is of simple construction and enables the headrest to be completely retracted from any pre-adjusted position when the seat back is folded down, and when the seat back is raised upright returns the headrest to the original, pre-adjusted position. This is achieved by an actuating apparatus for a headrest that is disposed in the region of the axis of rotation of the seat back; the retraction device of which comprises a Bowden cable the traction wire of which is attached at one end to the holder and at its other end to a reel plate, so that it can be unrolled and rolled up again; in which the seat back comprises a stopping or driving device that rotates together with the seat back and during its rotational movement permits or causes a rotation of the reel plate, as a result of which the traction wire is rolled up or unrolled; and in which the traction wire is under tension generated by an energy storage device connected to the holder.