Abstract: A vehicle seat has an energy-absorbing device connected to a transverse support member of the seat frame. The device has a plurality of rib members configured to plastically deform in response to an impact between an object and the device, thereby absorbing energy from the object. The device has a shell portion with a pair of intersecting side walls having a generally U-shaped profile defining a recess, and the rib members are connected to each of the side walls within the recess. The shell portion is one piece, and the shell portion and rib members are formed of molded plastic. Each rib member is equally spaced within the recess.

Abstract: A shoulder- and/or neck-holder, seat-belt, seat and sets of vibration-dampening energy-absorbers are integrated into an energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety-seat in order to restrain the shoulders and/or neck of a belted passenger, dampen vibrations and gradually absorb subenergies, resulting from a subdivision of the total energy, just below the respective injury-irrelevant threshold-values in any real-world accident of a transport-system, submarining or during in-flight turbulence. The conversion of an adult-seat into a child-seat or a baby-cot or vice-versa is simple. A rotatable device makes the holder easy to use. Neck- and/or shoulder-shaped, height-, width-adjustable holders and/or neck- and/or shoulder-shaped energy absorbers, attached thereto, ensure complete restraint of the shoulders and necks of passengers with different weights and body-proportions.

Abstract: A light alloy seat back frame for a vehicle seat, including a pair of spaced apart side sections, an upper section interconnecting the side sections, a lower section formed into a substantially plate-shape having a width, the lower section extending between lower regions of rear sides of the side sections and interconnecting the side sections, the upper, side and lower sections being integrally made of light alloy, and a belt-shaped metal plate fixed onto a surface of the lower section. The seat back frame further includes a recliner mechanism for allowing a seat back of the vehicle seat to be pivoted with respect to a seat cushion of the vehicle seat. The recliner mechanism comprises cam devices mounted onto lower regions of outer surfaces of the side sections, and an actuating shaft extending along the lower section and interconnecting the cam devices. A metal pipe member for reinforcing a lower part of the seat back frame is mounted around an axial portion of the actuating shaft.

Abstract: An energy absorption device including an elastic core. The elastic core includes an elastic material, a covering enclosing the elastic core, and at least one flow device. Air contained in the elastic core may escape through the flow device into the space outside the covering when the elastic core is compressed. Additionally, air flows through the flow device into the space enclosed by the covering when the elastic core expands. The covering is constructed of a flexible, expansion-resistant material. The flow device is designed in the form of at least one connecting point between the covering elements of the covering such that air can escape from the elastic core or can flow into the elastic core through the connecting point.

Abstract: There is provided a car seat, including a seat body having a seat back and a headrest having a pair of legs for connecting the headrest to the seat back at the upper side; a load detecting section provided in the seat back, including a movable portion that moves in a predetermined direction when receiving a load from the seat front side; an elevating mechanism including a moving body that moves in a predetermined direction by interlocking with the movement of the movable portion, and a pair of interlocking members that respectively engage and interlocking with the moving body, one leg elevating due to the movement of one interlocking member, and the other leg elevating due to the movement of the other interlocking member; and a forward shifting section that shifts the headrest side of the pair of legs forward as the pair of legs elevates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle seat that receives by a seatback a load that is input from the side of a vehicle, the vehicle seat including a plate member that has a plurality of uneven portions in which a ridgeline portion extends along the vehicle width direction and is attached to a seatback frame.

Abstract: In a vehicle to which a side airbag apparatus is applied, a rear frame portion of a seat frame is arranged near a rear end of an intermediate portion in a seat back, and an intermediate pad portion of a seat pad is arranged near a front end of the intermediate portion. An airbag is provided with a main airbag and an auxiliary airbag. The main airbag is inflated between a body side portion of the vehicle and an occupant by shooting out forward from an outer side portion of the seat back by a gas jetted out of an inflator. The auxiliary airbag presses a position near the outer side portion of the intermediate pad portion forward by being inflated between the rear frame portion and the intermediate pad portion by the gas jetted out of the inflator.

Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular functioning as a rear vehicle seat having a seat element provided at the free end of the backrest, and a vehicle with such a seat are specified in which the seat element is pivotably linked to a backrest structure of the vehicle seat and the seat element acts at the same time as a headrest and as protection against rollover.

Abstract: An occupant restraint device for a vehicle, including a side cheek protruding from a backrest of a vehicle seat. A supporting structure of the vehicle has an outer side facing an exterior space of the vehicle and an inner side facing away from the exterior space of the vehicle and facing the outer side of the side cheek. An airbag arranged in the vehicle seat is supported on the inner side of the supporting structure and exerts an opposing force on the outer side of the side cheek when the airbag is inflated, the force being directed onto the outer side of the side cheek. A pre-crash detection device for identifying an imminent application of force on the outer side of the supporting structure from the exterior space, the pre-crash detection device activating an expansion of the side cheek in an expansion direction along the supporting structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for impact dispersal of a force applied to a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle or other carrier. The apparatus includes a hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication with a relief valve and a flow restrictor connected in series. The piston rod of each cylinder receives the force of an impact, which causes the fluid in the cylinder to undergo an increase in pressure, which is relieved by multiple relief valves and serially connected flow restrictors. In one embodiment, the relief valves and the flow restrictors are incorporated into a single valve. The system responds to an amount of force caused by an impact and disperses the force accordingly at a controlled rate. Applications for such an embodiment include connection to vehicle bumpers, to a seat back where the cylinder is double-acting, and to landing feet for air-drop carriers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat, having a covering secured to a supporting structure aligned with a central region by anchoring components located essentially along the perimeter of a base of a positioning recess.

Abstract: A headrest and upper torso restraint relates to a vehicle seat having a pivoted head rest and a pivoted seat back that follows a human head and torso forward during the accident of the vehicle, but prevents backwards motion. A U-shaped air bag, the head rest, and scat back prevent whip-lash and also side-impact whip-lash by immobilizing the head and torso during a frontal or side impact crash.

Abstract: A back support mechanism for a vehicle seat is provided with a track mounted to a seat back of the vehicle seat. A carriage is mounted to the track for linear translation along the track between a first position and an actuated position. A support member is connected to the carriage for supporting a back portion of an occupant of the vehicle seat. A biasing member cooperates with the carriage to urge the carriage to the first position. If the occupant back portion imparts a load to the support member exceeding a predetermined force, the support member and the carriage translate along the track over a range of translation. The range of translation is sized to accommodate a corresponding translation of a head of the occupant to a head restraint of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: In an automobile seat provided with a seatback having a metal-made seatback frame of a substantially quadrilateral shape, the seatback frame comprising a pair of spaced apart left and right side frame sections 10a, 10b, an upper frame section 11 interconnecting upper end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, and a lower frame section 12 interconnecting lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, the lower frame section comprises a horizontally extending body arranged between the lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, side bracket portions 12a, 12b provided at left and right ends of the horizontally extending body so as to project forward from the horizontally extending body, the side bracket portions 12a, 12b being applied and fixed to the lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, and a structure for serving to facilitate deformation of the seatback in the event of a car crash or the like in order to absorb impact caused by the car crash or the like, the stru

Abstract: A frame structure of a seatback for a vehicle includes a first frame including at least two panels and a divided portion therebetween and a second frame including tubing and bonded to the first frame substantially along a periphery of the first frame. The second frame includes an elongation deformation allowing portion for allowing a portion of the second frame to be elongated over the divided portion of the first frame in an upper side portion when a predetermined load is exerted on the seatback toward a rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: My invention is a new forward or moveable seat and a new aft or fixed seat designed to absorb FAA required horizontal and vertical crash loads without depending on the fuselage crumpling to absorb the energy.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has seating components, such as a seat piece (20), a backrest (22) and a leg-rest (24), which are adjustable as to their positions, particularly in their relative inclination, by at least one operating device (26, 44). A monitoring device monitors all the boundary geometries (50, 52) of the moving seat components which may cause collisions and which have given spatial constraints (54). The monitoring device controls the operating devices (26, 44) at all points to guarantee a collision-free movement of all seat components within the spatial constraints. The vehicle seat considered as a total system can undergo adjustment processes without a damaging collision occurring.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a support structure and a seat bottom mounted to the support structure. A seatback is coupled to the support structure and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a first collision position when applying a first force to the seatback and a second collision position when applying a second force to the seatback. A first energy absorbing member is mounted to the seat bottom for absorbing energy when the seatback rotates to the first collision position. A second energy absorbing member includes a first end coupled to the first energy absorbing member and a second end coupled to the seatback for absorbing energy when the seatback rotates to the second collision position after the first energy absorbing member absorbs energy in the first collision position.

Abstract: A seat (1), in particular a backrest (2) comprises a seat structure (3), a cover (4), and a back panel (5), which back panel (5) has at least one lateral wall (6) covering a receiving space (7) formed in a side wall (8) of the backrest (2), in which a soft cover side airbag module SAM (9) is arranged, wherein the airbag of the SAM (9) will deploy between cover (4) and a free end (10) of the lateral wall (6) in a deployment direction (11).

Abstract: A back support mechanism for a vehicle seat is provided with a track mounted to a seat back of the vehicle seat. A carriage is mounted to the track for linear translation along the track between a first position and an actuated position. A support member is connected to the carriage for supporting a back portion of an occupant of the vehicle seat. A biasing member cooperates with the carriage to urge the carriage to the first position. If the occupant back portion imparts a load to the support member exceeding a predetermined force, the support member and the carriage translate along the track over a range of translation. The range of translation is sized to accommodate a corresponding translation of a head of the occupant to a head restraint of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat 1 includes a seat back 3, a seat unit 2 for supporting the seat back 3, and a rotary damper 5 for interconnecting the seat back 3 and the seat unit 2, and for tilting the seat back 3 backward while absorbing energy generated by a load when the load is applied to the seat back 3 backward, the load having a predetermined strength or more.

Abstract: A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, including a seat portion, a backrest and side supports. A second backrest is disposed on the safety seat and is comprised of two backrest parts, the position of which relative to one another is adjustable to thereby achieve a varying spacing from the front edge of the seat portion. The backrest parts have a curved configuration to rest against a person seated on the seat, and outer side edges of the backrest parts are respectively attached to the side supports of the safety seat. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the position of the backrest parts.

Abstract: A device for maintaining height of a headrest relative to a seatback frame includes: a suspension disposed in the seat back frame, configured to be pushed by a passenger during a crash; a linkage rotatably coupled to the seat back frame and rotatably supporting the suspension; and a fixing link inside the seat back frame for maintaining a rotational position of the linkage so as to maintain a height of the suspension.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat back including an actuatable back panel. The back panel of the seat back may be moved between a normal, or flush position, and an actuated, or spaced position, relative to the seat back assembly. The back panel is provided with clips that may be used to connect the back panel to the vehicle seat assembly or suspension. The back panel is actuated in the event of a rear end collision to provide added clearance for operation of an active head restraint system. Seat accessories, such as an adjustable lumbar system or heating/cooling system may be secured to the back panel as a sub-assembly to facilitate manufacture.

Abstract: A structural member for a removable vehicle seat provides integrated attachment features for a flex-mat, risers, and restraint system.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for reducing acceleration transmitted to a seated occupant in a vehicle as a result of a high energy impact. The device comprises a first energy absorbing mechanism having a first dimension in the impact direction and capable of undergoing predetermined elastic deformation in that direction; and a second energy absorbing mechanism having a second dimension in the impact direction, which is smaller than the first dimension by a distance corresponding to that elastic deformation. The second mechanism is loaded with the impact force after the first mechanism has undergone elastic deformation; the second mechanism comprises a material capable of progressive deformation. The device may comprise a restriction mechanism connecting the two plates, adapted to restrict displacement of the first plate relative to the second plate in any direction different from the impact direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seatback frame and an active head restraint system. The active head restraint system includes a head restraint adapted to move between an upright position and an operative position relative to the seatback frame in response to an input force applied to the active head restraint system. The head restraint is biased to resist movement away from the upright position and toward the operative position. Also, the resistance to movement of the head restraint decreases as the head restraint moves away from the upright position and toward the operative position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of safety system that is designed to protect a vehicle occupant during a rollover crash. The safety system will generally include a vehicle seat and a sensor. The sensor is designed to sense the occurrence of a rollover crash. The safety system also includes a support member that has an undeployed mode and a deployed mode. The support member converts from the undeployed mode into the deployed mode when a signal is received from the sensor indicating a rollover. The support member will generally be housed within the vehicle seat when the support member is in the undeployed mode. The support member is also anchored to the floor pan of the vehicle. When the support member is deployed into the deployed mode, the support member is disposed in effective engagement with the vehicle roof to limit movement of the roof toward the vehicle seat during rollover conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides a seat for a bus that has a movable front frame or seat back that a seat occupant rests his or her back against normally. The front frame is the mounting point for the upper portion of a three-point seat belt. The seat frame contains a rear passenger support wall or rear frame to protect a passenger of rearward seat from moving out his safety zone in a forward direction in the event of a rapid deceleration. The rear frame is part of the seat frame and only moves upon initial contact by a rearward-unbelted passenger impact. A rotation guide slot defines the amount of rear frame movement. The front frame is limited in the amount of its forward pivoting movement by a tether, spring or fluid dampener that is engaged to an immovable portion of the frame and thereby limits forward travel of the front frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with a frame, a seat pad, and an air bag assembly housing an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflated by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat through the air bag release seam when the air bag seam is in an opened position. The vehicle seat assembly has an improvement comprising a tear strap secured to the frame and a second end portion secured to the release seam, a guide member through which the tear strap may slidingly pass; and a tether having a first stationary end secured to the frame and a second end that engages the guide member so that movement of the guide member is constrained thereby. The tear strap is movable in response to inflation of the air bag with sufficient force to rupture the release seam, thereby allowing the tear seam to open and allowing the air bag to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A seat reclining device is comprised of a base member connected to one of a seat back and a seat cushion; a rotating member connected to the other of the seat back and the seat cushion; a lock tooth having an external gear engageable with the internal gear of the rotating member; a shaft portion having an inner-periphery guiding surface for swinging the lock tooth on the shaft portion; and a weak portion formed at an end portion of the lock tooth opposite to the external gear across the shaft portion.

Abstract: A bus seat comprising an aisle support having a first hexagonally shaped aperture or cavity and a window side support having a second hexagonally shaped aperture or cavity. A seat is hinged to the aisle support and the window support. A seat back is employed which has hexagonally shaped apertures or cavities which each interengage hexagonal shaped torsion members which in turn interengage the cavities in the aisle and window supports. The first and second hexagonally shaped torsion members in combination with the apertures inhibit rotation of the seat back with respect to the aisle and the window side supports and absorb energy when the seat back is rotated relative to the aisle and window supports. The hexagonally shaped cavities are manufactured without significant knit lines formed as the flowability of fiber reinforced polymeric material is enhanced.

Abstract: An automobile seat possesses a seat back that includes a seat back frame to which an restraining device for a headrest is mounted. The headrest may be displaced from an initial position into an extended position against the head of the seat occupant. A locking process is provided by means of which the restraining device may be maintained in its extended position with respect to the seat back frame. The locking process device includes an engaging element pre-tensioned by a spring that may engage with the engagement recess formed on the restraining device. The locking process device includes a disengaging element to be operated by the seat occupant or other person that brings the engaging element out of engagement with the engaging recess in the maintained condition of the restraining device against the force of the spring.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger seat with an upholstery cover having a fabric seam designed to absorb energy from a seat occupant upon impact. Means for progressively absorbing energy from the seat belt occupant are disclosed. Use of the fabric seam to absorb vehicle passenger seat occupant energy increases the survivability of an impact for an occupant of a seat with a separate inner and outer seat frame, and relates to compliance with energy absorption requirements for seat-backs of 49 C.F.R. Section 571.222 (FMVSS 222) and seat belt anchorage loading strength requirements of 49 C.F.R. Section 571.209 and 571.210 (FMVSS 209 and FMVSS 210).

Abstract: A flat spring member (40) mainly serving as a vibration absorptive function at a normal use is engaged with a supporting frame member (130) which displaces backward along with deformation of a seat back (20) by backward moment applied to the seat back (20), and the other end is engaged with a front edge frame (102) disposed in the vicinity of the front edge of a cushion frame. Therefore, when an impact force from front or back equal to or more than that prescribed is applied, the flat spring member (40) increases in tension by backward moment applied to the seat back (20), and serves as a function to increase again the intensity of the backward moment of the seat back (20), which was once lowered by deformation of the side frame (101) of the cushion frame.

Abstract: A fitting includes a movable locking device connected to a lower fitting part for engaging an upper fitting part and thereby locking the fitting, a control cam for engaging with a control element of the upper fitting part and thereby controlling the engagement of the locking device and the upper fitting part, and a spring-loaded clamping eccentric that acts on the locking device for securing its engagement with the upper fitting part. For unlocking the fitting, the spring-loaded clamping eccentric is moved with an actuating force in a first unlocking step, so that the engagement of the locking device and the upper fitting part is removed. In the first unlocking stage, the control cam and the control element still engage. In a second unlocking stage, which is attainable with a higher actuating force, the engagement of control cam and control element is at least to a large extent is removed.

Abstract: A seat back frame of automotive seat, which has an armrest connection point in one of the two side frame members thereof, to which an armrest may be mounted. A reinforcing element is removably secured between such one of the two side frame members and a lower frame member of the seat back frame. The reinforcing element is so formed to have a long portion and a short vertical portion extending vertically and continuously from the long portion. Such long portion and short vertical portion are removably secured to the foregoing lower frame member and the foregoing one of the two side frame members, respectively.

Abstract: A seat back comprises a support bracket in which a stay of a head rest is inserted, a guide bracket for supporting a rear surface of a vertically intermediate portion of the support bracket on the seat back frame, a head rest tilt mechanism, and a pressure receiving member which moves rearward when pushed by the body of an occupant. The head rest tilt mechanism includes slotted brackets each having a guide hole and slide members which individually movably engage the respective guide holes of the slotted brackets along the longitudinal direction thereof. The head rest tilt mechanism drives the sub-frame so that the head rest body tilts forward while moving upward as the slide members are moved upward along the guide holes when the pressure receiving member is moved rearward.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a controller for controlling a reversible occupant restraint so as to restrain an occupant when three conditions are met, i.e., a first condition that the steering angle of a steering wheel has exceeded a steering angle threshold, a second condition that the steering angle speed has exceeded a steering angle speed threshold, and a third condition that the steering angle acceleration has exceeded a specific steering angle acceleration threshold.

Abstract: A reclining seat includes a first locking mechanism for locking a first backrest frame at a sloping position, and a second locking mechanism for locking a second backrest frame at the sloping position. The reclining seat further includes a first shaft for releasing the first backrest frame locked by the first locking mechanism, a second shaft for releasing the second backrest frame locked by the second locking mechanism, and a disengaging unit for transmitting only one-directional rotation of the first shaft to the second shaft. The disengaging unit includes a first plate mounted on the first shaft, and a second plate mounted on the second shaft. The second plate is engaged by the first plate when the first shaft rotates in one direction and is disengaged from the first plate when the first shaft rotates in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including an arrangement for resisting loads applied to the vehicle seat which comprises a seat base and a seat back; said arrangement including a link mechanism connected between the seat back and a support member connected to the vehicle. The link mechanism is arranged to prevent motion of the seat back beyond a predetermined position. There is also provided an adjustable tether arrangement including a tether means, the tether means being arranged to be mounted between the seat back and a vehicle body and the tether means including a tether strap and a retractor mechanism enabling the tether strap to extend or retract in accordance with allowed motion of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: The automobile vehicle seat features a seat back hinged on the seat pan and device for blocking the seat back with respect to the seat pan in the event of forward impact. The automobile vehicle seat features a height adjustment mechanism. The device for blocking the seat back includes a cam pivot-mounted on the shaft, and a weight joined to the cam, with the cam arranged so upon impact the cam, pivots by the inertia of the weight and the cam engages with a lower edge of the seat back frame, such that pivoting of the seat back is prevented by bracing of the cam against the lower edge and such that this produces a high radial force on the height adjustment shaft, thereby limiting the possibilities of rotation of the height adjustment shaft.

Abstract: When a vehicle is rear-ended and a seated user moves rearward in reaction to the rear-end collision, a load movement of a lumbar part of the seated user is sufficiently transmitted from a pressure plate of operating force generating means to an operating force generating mechanism, regardless of an amount of rearward tilting of a seat back. Then, a pressure roller serving as a driven member of the operating force generating mechanism largely deflects and sufficiently pulls inner cables of respective pulling cable devices, thereby smoothly moving both end portions of a headrest frame upward. As a result, the headrest frame is moved upward smoothly and reliably, and a headrest is moved in an upward-forward direction, that is, toward the head of the seated user smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle seat adjustment system for adjusting the position of a portion of a vehicle seat. The system comprises a hydraulic actuator, a primary activation system for operating the hydraulic actuator and adjusting the seat position, and a secondary activation system for the hydraulic actuator. The secondary activation system is arranged to be activated in the event of a detected crash, to provide for movement of the hydraulic actuator to automatically adjust the position of a portion of the seat towards a predetermined position. The secondary activation system comprises a chamber to allow fluid to be displaced from the hydraulic actuator into the chamber. The secondary activation system may additionally comprise a fluid injection unit which supplies a quantity of fluid, preferably gas, to the actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle seat system providing powered adjustment of the position of a seat or seat portion. The system comprises a pump, flow controller, and hydraulic actuator arranged in a hydraulic circuit. The actuator includes a first and second system protection valves for the respective inlet and outlet of the actuator. The system protection valves are adapted to be activated in response to pressure within the actuator exceeding a predetermined threshold level. When activated the system protection valves close off the respective inlet and outlets to hydraulically isolate the actuator and hydraulic fluid within the actuator from the remainder of the hydraulic circuit and adjustment system. This protects the remainder of the circuit and system from excessive pressures which may be generated within an by the actuators under crash loading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat for equipment with shoulder belts (24) connected to the seat backrest (21), comprising an energy absorbing device (1) acting on the seat backrest, wherein said energy absorbing device comprises deformable energy absorbing means (12), with at least one arcuate (13, 14) area of plastically fragmentable material, opposing the rotation of said seat backrest (21) with respect to a lower seat structure (20) in a first direction, corresponding to a forward-leaning movement of said seat backrest.

Abstract: The backrest (2) of an automobile vehicle seat includes a framework (21), a padding (3), a padding cover (4) covering the front face and the sides of the backrest and a padding screen (7) for the rear face of the backrest. It includes a rigid back panel shield frame (6) with at least two lateral sides (62) and a bottom side (63), the said shield frame being adapted to be attached to the framework (21) of the backrest to cover the lateral edges of the framework and a bottom part of the rear of the backrest, the shield frame (6) including towards an inner edge at least one groove (64) adapted to accommodate and hold an edge (44) of the cover and an edge (71) of the screen, the said cover covering the shield frame.

Abstract: This invention is vehicle seat, which provides enhanced occupant protection in the event of a vehicle rollover. The seat includes a rollover sensor and mechanisms compatible with manual reclining seats. These mechanisms allow for rapid reclining of the seat during a rollover, by unlocking the reclining mechanism and automatically reclining the seat.

Abstract: When a operation handle is operated so that one locking mechanism can be unlocked, one locking mechanism, the operation handle, the connecting mechanism and the other locking mechanism can be engaged each other and operate together, when the one seat back fixed to the seat belt is more deformed by tension of the seat belt than the other side of the seat back, any engagement among the one locking mechanism, the operation handle, the connecting mechanism and the other locking mechanism is disengaged each other so that the one locking mechanism cannot operate together with the other locking mechanism.