Abstract: A pneumatic seat adjuster for moving a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle includes a body having a bore formed therein. The body is adapted to be connected to one of a floor and a vehicle seat. A piston is slidably disposed in the bore of the body. The piston and the body define first and second chambers. The piston is adapted to be connected to the other one of the floor and the vehicle seat. The seat adjuster further includes a source of pressurized gas and a valve for selectively supplying pressurized gas from the source into the first and second chambers for altering the pressure differential between the first and second chambers, thereby moving the piston relative to the body.

Abstract: A restraint apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a seat back for supporting an occupant. The seat back defines a generally vertical axis and a generally horizontal axis. The apparatus further includes a guide for directing a restraint which is adapted to pass over a shoulder of an occupant of the seat. The guide is movably mounted relative to the seat back such that the guide is movable to alter the distance from the shoulder of the occupant relative to both of the vertical and horizontal axes, thereby adjusting the position of the restraint relative to the shoulder of a seat occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back having a frame, and the frame has first and second bolster mounting portions. Each bolster mounting portion has first, second and third receptacles. The seat assembly also includes first and second bolsters selectively engageable with the first and second bolster mounting portions, respectively. Each bolster has first and second posts and is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the seat back between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. When each bolster is in the first longitudinal position, the first and second posts of the first bolster are respectively engaged with the first and second receptacles of the first bolster mounting portion, and the first and second posts of the second bolster are respectively engaged with the first and second receptacles of the second bolster mounting portion.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes a housing and a bladder mounted relative to the housing. The bladder has at least one flexible wall and defines a chamber having an electrorheological or magnetorheological fluid disposed therein. The apparatus further includes a device for creating an electrical or magnetic field about a volume of the fluid to alter the effective viscosity of the fluid when the flexible wall is moved relative to the housing, thereby altering the acceleration rate of the flexible wall relative to the housing.

Abstract: A pneumatic seat adjuster for moving a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle includes a body having a bore formed therein. The body is adapted to be connected to one of a floor and a vehicle seat. A piston is slidably disposed in the bore of the body. The piston and the body define first and second chambers. The piston is adapted to be connected to the other one of the floor and the vehicle seat. The seat adjuster further includes a source of pressurized gas and a valve for selectively supplying pressurized gas from the source into the first and second chambers for altering the pressure differential between the first and second chambers, thereby moving the piston relative to the body.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes a housing and a bladder mounted relative to the housing. The bladder has at least one flexible wall and defines a chamber having an electrorheological or magnetorheological fluid disposed therein. The apparatus further includes a device for creating an electrical or magnetic field about a volume of the fluid to alter the effective viscosity of the fluid when the flexible wall is moved relative to the housing, thereby altering the acceleration rate of the flexible wall relative to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle, such as a vehicle seat, includes a vehicle component having a first portion fixed relative to the vehicle, and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. An energy management device is connected to the first and second portions. The device controls the motion of the second portion relative to the first portion through a duration of time during rapid acceleration of the vehicle component to reduce peak acceleration forces acting on the vehicle component.