Abstract: An occupant protection system may comprise an expandable curtain, expandable bladder and tether. The curtain may be configured to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the curtain may comprise a transverse portion having a support side face and a rear side face. The bladder may be configured to expand from a stowed state to a deployed, wherein in the deployed state, the bladder comprises an occupant facing surface and a rear surface configured to face the support side face of the curtain. The tether may be attached at a first location to the bladder and at a second location such that in the deployed state of the curtain and bladder, the tether extends behind the rear side face of the curtain and frictionally engages the rear side face of the curtain, thereby creating a resistance to lateral movement of the bladder.

Abstract: A safety system for vehicle may include a restraint surface adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a height or an angle of a restraint surface disposed under a vehicle seat during a collision and/or predicted collision in which the vehicle seat is facing in the direction of travel and/or the direction of the oncoming collision. The seat may comprise a bench seat including a first seating space and a second seating space. A first restraint surface adjustment mechanism may be associated with the first seating space and a second restraint surface adjustment mechanism may be associated with the second seating space. The restraint surface adjustment mechanism may include, for example, an inflatable bladder, a movable plate which rotates about an axis, or other restraint surface adjustment mechanisms that adjust at least one of the height, angle, or physical property (e.g., rigidity) of one or more restraint surfaces.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle may include a seatback including one or more inflatable bladders that may be configured to deploy in response to a triggering signal indicative of a change of velocity, collision, or predicted collision event. As at least a portion of the back of an occupant of the seat pushes against a front surface of the seatback due to the event, the one or more inflatable bladders compress at least partially the comfortable foam or comfort material in the seatback and expedite engagement of the energy absorbing material.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may comprise an initial expandable chamber, an occupant restraining expandable chamber and a releasable connection that is configured to connect the occupant restraining expandable chamber to the initial expandable chamber or to a vehicle. The vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may be configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state in a vehicle. The deployed state may comprise a first phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining expandable chamber is at least substantially restricted and a second phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining chamber is unrestricted. The releasable connection may be configured to release the connection in the deployed state.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle may include a seatback including one or more inflatable bladders that may be configured to deploy in response to a triggering signal indicative of a change of velocity, collision, or predicted collision event. As at least a portion of the back of an occupant of the seat pushes against a front surface of the seatback due to the event, the one or more inflatable bladders compress at least partially the comfortable foam or comfort material in the seatback and expedite engagement of the energy absorbing material.

Abstract: A side-impact crash structure for a vehicle seat may be positioned in the side wall of a passenger seat to reduce impact forces imparted to an occupant during a side collision. The side-impact crash structure for the vehicle seat may include energy absorbers positioned between the seating surface and the outer sidewall of the vehicle. The energy absorbers may be positioned to engage the shoulder and/or lower abdomen area of the passenger. The energy absorbers may be configured to absorb impact forces over a limited ride-down distance (the distance over which the deceleration occurs) to prevent injury to occupants.

Abstract: A safety system for vehicle may include a restraint surface adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a height or an angle of a restraint surface disposed under a vehicle seat during a collision and/or predicted collision in which the vehicle seat is facing in the direction of travel and/or the direction of the oncoming collision. The seat may comprise a bench seat including a first seating space and a second seating space. A first restraint surface adjustment mechanism may be associated with the first seating space and a second restraint surface adjustment mechanism may be associated with the second seating space. The restraint surface adjustment mechanism may include, for example, an inflatable bladder, a movable plate which rotates about an axis, or other restraint surface adjustment mechanisms that adjust at least one of the height, angle, or physical property (e.g., rigidity) of one or more restraint surfaces.