Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly comprises a body with a center portion and four corner portions and a seating surface. A supporting layer is disposed below the body. A thermal transfer node is disposed in the body. The thermal transfer node includes a heat sink and a thermoelectric device. The heat sink is located between the seating surface and the thermoelectric device. The heat sink and the thermoelectric device are configured to draw heat away from the heating surface. A fluid moves proximate the thermal transfer node and into the supporting layer to draw heat away from the thermal transfer node. A phase change material is disposed between the seating surface and the heat sink.

Abstract: A massage system includes a seat having a first surface, a first massage assembly beneath the first surface and including a first matrix of inflatable bladders, and an interface including a touchscreen. The system further includes a controller displaying an image of the matrix on the touchscreen, receiving a touch input from the touchscreen, interpreting the touch input as an indication of a desired massage sequence, and causing the first massage assembly to implement the desired massage sequence.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a cushion and a seatback coupled with the cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a first set of independently inflatable massage bladders coupled within the seatback. The massage bladders of the first set are arranged to extend diagonally from adjacent a center line of the seatback at a first vertical location toward a first lateral side of the seatback at a second vertical location above the first location.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a tilt plate rotationally coupled at a first horizontal axis to a front of a base. A cushion spring extends from a rear of the base to the tilt plate. Rotation of the tilt plate rotates the cushion spring about a second horizontal axis. A thigh support is rotationally coupled to the tilt plate. A dynamic spring biases the thigh support away from the tilt plate.

Abstract: A method for selecting and controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a control system comprising the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; providing a menu list having options for querying the user's requirements during the massage; selection of an option by the user and providing predefined responses to the respective query and selection of the response by the user and if necessary repeating the steps for further queries; and terminating the selection mode and automatically determining suitable massage settings on the basis of the user's selection and controlling the massage actuators in the motor vehicle seat on the basis of determined massage settings to perform the massage function.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly comprises a body with a center portion and four corner portions and a seating surface. A supporting layer is disposed below the body. A thermal transfer node is disposed in the body. The thermal transfer node includes a heat sink and a thermoelectric device. The heat sink is located between the seating surface and the thermoelectric device. The heat sink and the thermoelectric device are configured to draw heat away from the heating surface. A fluid moves proximate the thermal transfer node and into the supporting layer to draw heat away from the thermal transfer node. A phase change material is disposed between the seating surface and the heat sink.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a tilt plate rotationally coupled at a first horizontal axis to a front of a base. A cushion spring extends from a rear of the base to the tilt plate. Rotation of the tilt plate rotates the cushion spring about a second horizontal axis. A thigh support is rotationally coupled to the tilt plate. A dynamic spring biases the thigh support away from the tilt plate.

Abstract: A massage system includes a seat having a first surface, a first massage assembly beneath the first surface and including a first matrix of inflatable bladders, and an interface including a touchscreen. The system further includes a controller displaying an image of the matrix on the touchscreen, receiving a touch input from the touchscreen, interpreting the touch input as an indication of a desired massage sequence, and causing the first massage assembly to implement the desired massage sequence.

Abstract: A method for customizing a vehicular massage function includes providing massage element indicia, creating massage subroutines using the massage element indicia, selecting a vehicle that includes a seat having a massage element configuration, placing the massage subroutines in communication with the vehicle, adapting the massage subroutines to be compatible with the massage element configuration and activating the seat to perform at least one massage subroutine.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a tilt plate rotationally coupled at a first horizontal axis to a front of a base. A cushion spring extends from a rear of the base to the tilt plate. Rotation of the tilt plate rotates the cushion spring about a second horizontal axis. A thigh support is rotationally coupled to the tilt plate. A dynamic spring biases the thigh support away from the tilt plate.

Abstract: A method for customizing a vehicular massage function includes providing massage element indicia, creating massage subroutines using the massage element indicia, selecting a vehicle that includes a seat having a massage element configuration, placing the massage subroutines in communication with the vehicle, adapting the massage subroutines to be compatible with the massage element configuration and activating the seat to perform at least one massage subroutine.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a tilt plate rotationally coupled at a first horizontal axis to a front of a base. A cushion spring extends from a rear of the base to the tilt plate. Rotation of the tilt plate rotates the cushion spring about a second horizontal axis. A thigh support is rotationally coupled to the tilt plate. A dynamic spring biases the thigh support away from the tilt plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for customizing a vehicle seat includes a seat having a cushion and a back coupled thereto and a plurality of force sensors in respective locations along the cushion and the back. The apparatus further includes electronic circuitry coupled with the plurality of sensors and programmed to associate forces sensed by ones of the plurality of force sensors with the respective locations thereof and to output the sensed forces and associated areas.

Abstract: A headrest assembly is removeably supported on a vehicle seat having a seatback with a seatback frame. The headrest assembly includes a headrest bun operably coupled to a housing via a powered linkage system for driving the headrest bun between extended and retracted positions. A temperature control system is disposed in the housing and configured to provide treated air to a conditioning area disposed below the headrest bun at a vehicle occupant's neck. The temperature control system includes a blower operably coupled to duct assembly for blowing air treated by a thermoelectric module along the duct assembly. One or more vents are disposed at a downward angle on a front portion of the housing. The one or more vents are operably coupled to and in communication with the duct assembly.

Abstract: A headrest assembly is removeably supported on a vehicle seat having a seatback with a seatback frame. The headrest assembly includes a headrest bun operably coupled to a housing via a powered linkage system for driving the headrest bun between extended and retracted positions. A temperature control system is disposed in the housing and configured to provide treated air to a conditioning area disposed below the headrest bun at a vehicle occupant's neck. The temperature control system includes a blower operably coupled to duct assembly for blowing air treated by a thermoelectric module along the duct assembly. One or more vents are disposed at a downward angle on a front portion of the housing. The one or more vents are operably coupled to and in communication with the duct assembly.

Abstract: The present invention includes a vehicle seat having a seat portion and a seatback. The vehicle seat further includes a plurality of air bladders disposed in the seat portion and a plurality of air bladders disposed in the seatback. The air bladders are configurable between fully inflated condition, fully deflated condition, and plurality of semi-inflated conditions. A controller is configured to control air bladder inflation, wherein the air bladders deflate to the fully deflated condition in response to an access signal received by the controller. The controller is further configured to control the seat position with regards to vertical and horizontal positions to provide greater access to the vehicle interior when entering or exiting the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for selecting and controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a control system comprising the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; providing a menu list having options for querying the user's requirements during the massage; selection of an option by the user and providing predefined responses to the respective query and selection of the response by the user and if necessary repeating the steps for further queries; and terminating the selection mode and automatically determining suitable massage settings on the basis of the user's selection and controlling the massage actuators in the motor vehicle seat on the basis of determined massage settings to perform the massage function.

Abstract: A method for selecting and controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a control system comprising the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; providing a menu list having options for querying the user's requirements during the massage; selection of an option by the user and providing predefined responses to the respective query and selection of the response by the user and if necessary repeating the steps for further queries; and terminating the selection mode and automatically determining suitable massage settings on the basis of the user's selection and controlling the massage actuators in the motor vehicle seat on the basis of determined massage settings to perform the massage function.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle has a lower seat with a center seat cushion and a forward thigh supporting portion having a first refracted position and a second extended position. A leading edge of the forward thigh supporting portion is longitudinally displaced forward of the lower seat in the second extended position relative the first retracted position. A seat bolster is coupled with the forward thigh supporting portion extending laterally from at least one side of the seat, wherein the seat bolster has a first retracted position and a second extended position. A user control is operational to move the forward thigh supporting portion between the first retracted position and the second extended position, which simultaneously moves the seat bolster relative to the center seat cushion, respectively, between the first retracted position and a second extended position of the seat bolster.

Abstract: A lane departure warning system for a vehicle includes a positional input device and a seat having an inflatable bladder therein and a vibrational unit coupled with the bladder. A controller is communicatively coupled with the positional input device and with the vibrational unit and includes electronic circuitry programmed to detect a lane departure based on a signal from the positional input device and to cause the vibrational unit to vibrate in response thereto.