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#21 ·
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/2/97
Quote from the above website:
Optimal position was defined as having the head restraint above the ears with the back of the head touching the head restraint.
Interesting reading, also from neurosurgeons.

The following came from Progressive Car Insurance and seems to dovetail with the above:

Next time you get in the car, follow these simple steps to help protect yourself from neck injuries:

1. Whether you're the driver or passenger, check out your head restraint before getting into the car. Get to know how it works. Does it adjust up and down? Does it tilt? Does it lock into place? Knowing how your head restraint works will help you find the best position for you.
2. Once you're in the car, be sure your seat back is in an upright and comfortable driving or sitting position.
3. Face forward and reach behind you to adjust the height of your head restraint. In the optimal position, the top of the head restraint should be as high as the top of your head and no lower than 2.5 inches below the top of your head. If your restraint locks into position, make sure it is locked in after you've found the right height for you.
4. Still facing forward, feel how close the head restraint is to your head. In the optimal position, it should be as close as possible to the back of your head, no farther than 2.5 inches away. If your restraint tilts, this can help you find the right distance. Adjusting the height of your seat can help, too.
5. To be sure you've positioned your head restraint properly, you or someone in the car with you can use a ruler to measure the height and distance from your head.

Dunno about you guys, but that tells me that I need to be using the top of the headrest (since there is no middle to ours) for measuring purposes.
And as an aside: they may be the best for crash considerations but they still don't have to be rock hard. SOME cushion would be nice since the framework of the restraint would be doing it's job in case of an accident.

Sorry this was so long but I thought it was useful to the discussion here.

Hope this helps a little.
 
#23 ·
Seems Jeep is just trying to keep us safe. Maybe cuzz they care or maybe so we can survive to buy another jeep when we get rear ended. :)
 
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#24 ·
Dmentd_Dan said:
Seems Jeep is just trying to keep us safe. Maybe cuzz they care or maybe so we can survive to buy another jeep when we get rear ended. :)
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HA! Dan, you may have uncovered their nefarious scheme! Keep us safe so we'll BUY another Jeep from them. Of all the dirty tricks...

BTW..can I say nefarious in here??:wow: :D
 
#25 · (Edited)
Randoo-N-CJ said:
We just got back last night from our first long(ish) trip and I have to say I think the headrests suck.
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AGREED. I took both an '08 Sport 4x4 and an '08 Limited 4x4 for test drives at my local dealership shortly after they were unloaded from the truck and the first thing I noticed almost immediately was that there's simply no way to get comfortable with the headrests.

I played with different combinations of headrest height and seatback rake to see if I coulld find a setting to upgrade them from downright annoying to use to just tolerable without a smidgen of success or improvement. As designed now the things are just plain uncomfortable, not to mention cheap looking.

Perhaps the interior engineering group was called upon to design a headrest that would provide protection against whiplash, neck and upper spinal injuries in accidents rather than be comfortable to use (although one would think both safety & reasonable comfort could be accommodated in a single package rather than be mutually exclusive). In any case calling them 'headrests' seems to me to be a misnomer, as it would be more accurate to refer to them as 'head restraints'.

Irish Waif ;)​
 
#26 · (Edited)
I have never even considered laying my head against a headrest while driving. My headrest is about 1 to 2 inches from the back of my head when I am driving. I agree that the term headrest is a misnomer - at least in my case. My wife props a small pillow on the headrest when we go for long jaunts. But then again, she is not driving.
 
#27 ·
Irish and Quasi, I should have been a little more specific (a fault I've had forever). IMHO, it's a restraint while you're driving because your head should never really be on it for safety's sake. With the head against the rest-err..restraint- your ability to turn your head is severely reduced and peripheral vision is somewhat reduced also. BUT!!..that's not the same issue for the passenger who shouldn't suffer as well. We now have a small pillow for the passenger and it has made a world of difference in their comfort levels. We argue a lot as to who drives and who gets to relax. :p
The upside to driving..the driver (also the Captain of the ship) gets to choose the tunes being played! :smiley_thumbs_up:
 
#28 ·
I totally agree that the ergonomics of that head restraint are kinda "off". For the first few days after I took delivery of mine, it bugged the crap out of me. I played around with the seatback rake and fore-aft adjustment to get the best combination, and that (together with more time behind the wheel) took care of the problem.

All I'm suggesting is that, before considering any mods, allow some time for getting used to the seat and take the time to find the best combo of seat adjustments. It shouldnt have to be this way - I'm sure a lot of potential buyers were turned off to the Pat after 1 drive because of those angled head restraints.
 
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#29 ·
At first I thought the head restraint was pretty 'off' but after a few weeks of driving around I just simply didn't notice it anymore.

As I see it - It's not there for you to rest you head on while driving a car in traffic. It's there as a protective gear to keep you from braking your neck if you crash. Anyhow resting my head anywhere gets me sleepy, and that's not something I wanna be while operating a moving vehicle...
 
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#30 ·
WARNING:

I was just informed of a member who purchased a set of cloth headrests from a 1st gen GC Laredo and he informed me that they DO NOT FIT. Now I test fit my GC Limited headrests in my Patriot and they fit fine for me so maybe there is a difference in headrest shape, or maybe the seller misled our fellow member, but either way this idea won't necessarily work!
 
#31 ·
Airline Seats

I wonder if the folks who designed the seats use to work for Airbus?? I am thinking some 90 year old guy did the testing for comfort. I seem to remember from somewhere that you need to be comfortable in long flights or drives. If you are not comfortable and safe you will not buy an other Jeep. :pepper:
 
#32 ·
i have head rests from a 95 gc limited that will probably fit our patriots and would be willing to sell them along with the rest of the Jeep -package deal- for 900 bucks. I like the headrests, I think theyre sloped like that so you have them high enough to protect you. in my gc they were all the way down not doing much
 
#33 ·
The headrest angle and backset distance can be attributed to FMVSS 202A. For one thing, its to minimize the distance that one's head travels rearward in the event of a rear collision to reduce whiplash injuries.

Thanks Federales.
 
#34 ·
dime86 said:
The headrest angle and backset distance can be attributed to FMVSS 202A. For one thing, its to minimize the distance that one's head travels rearward in the event of a rear collision to reduce whiplash injuries.

Thanks Federales.
Click to expand...
All,

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's document about Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 202A can be found by visiting this URL:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/HeadRest/PEA/Index.html

More information about Head Restraint Testing can be found at the following URL: http://www.mgaresearch.com/products...com/products_and_services/Testing_Services/FMVSS_Testing/FMVSS_202A_Testing.htm

Dime86,

Very nice post for your first post as a member! Welcome to JeepPatriot.com! Now we want to know more about your Patriot, with pictures please.
 
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#35 ·
Wade said:
All,

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's document about Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 202A can be found by visiting this URL:
More information about Head Restraint Testing can be found at the following URL: Dime86, Very nice post for your...e design/engineering side. Don't hold it against me!:D Great info on this site.
Click to expand...
 
#36 ·
dime86 said:
Thanks Wade! I should have added a link, my bad.
I wish pics were possible. I'll be getting one soon as the current vehicle (Ranger) doesn't fit well with the upcoming family expansion. Though I do have a bit of experience with the Patriot on the design/engineering side. Don't hold it against me!:D
Great info on this site.
Click to expand...
dime86, your avatar disturbs me... lol I saw that episode of South Park...:puke:
 
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#37 ·
why don´t you replace backseat headrests with original Jeep Patriot ones?
Image
 
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#40 ·
dime86 thx for clarifying.

One question:
How do you raise or lower the headrests? I think manual says pull up to raise and press button and push down but i´ve never seen a button on a Patriot headrest?
 
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