Abstract: A vehicle hood covering an underhood object includes an inner surface of the vehicle hood facing the underhood object and spaced from the underhood object, and an outer surface of the vehicle hood opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the vehicle hood. The local energy absorber is a multiply-connected structure. The local energy absorber includes a wall defining an interior surface having symmetry about a central plane normal to the inner surface of the vehicle hood. A plurality of apertures is defined in the wall symmetrically about the central plane to initiate buckling and fracture in the wall during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.

Abstract: A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may include a fabric shell disposed about an exterior surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to an interior surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element restrains the shape of the bladder to contour the bladder into a desired shape and increase the load carrying capacity of the bladder.

Abstract: An occupant support structure and a method of customizing an occupant support structure. The occupant support structure may comprise a base and a reconfigurable cushion carried by the base. The reconfigurable cushion may include an occupant support surface and a bladder. The bladder may include an outer wall that defines an inner cavity underlying the occupant support surface and two or more overlapping material layers disposed within the cavity. The overlapping material layers may be adapted to selectively transition from a compliant state to a rigid state and vice versa by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder to reconfigure or conform the occupant support surface of the cushion to a contour of a portion of an occupant supported by the cushion.

Abstract: An inflatable system includes a bladder configured to contain fluid, a first plurality of tethers disposed within a first region of the bladder, and a second plurality of tethers disposed within a second region of the bladder. The first plurality of tethers has a first tether length, a first tether spacing, a first tether angle relative to one wall of the bladder, and a first tether stiffness. The second plurality of tethers has a second tether length, a second tether spacing, a second tether angle relative to the one wall, and a second tether stiffness. At least one of: the second tether length is different than the first tether length; the second tether spacing is different than the first tether spacing; the second tether angle is different than the first tether angle; and the second tether stiffness is different than the first tether stiffness.

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle includes a cushion and a suspension. The cushion has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to engage the occupant. The second surface is disposed opposite the first surface. The suspension includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a third surface. The third surface engages the second surface of the cushion. The second portion includes a fourth surface. The fourth surface defines a first depression. The first depression opens toward the cushion. The first depression is configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

Abstract: Products and methods are provided for inflatable structures. In various exemplary embodiments, an inflatable structure is provided with multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber. A first boundary envelope defines the first variable chamber and a second boundary envelope defines the second variable chamber. The first and second boundary envelopes separate the first chamber from the second chamber. The first and second variable chambers are defined by an operative scale that may differ by an order of magnitude between the first and second variable chambers.

Abstract: A fluid bypass valve includes a valve member disposed within a valve chamber of a housing. A temperature based actuating mechanism moves the valve member between a first position and a second position in response to a temperature change. A temporary flow control device undergoes a one-time only shape change between a first shape and a second shape. The temporary flow control device enables fluid communication between a first port and a second port when exhibiting the first shape, and does not enable fluid communication between the first port and the second port when exhibiting the second shape. The temporary flow control device exhibits the first shape when having an initial temperature less than or equal to a second pre-defined temperature, and exhibits the second shape in response to a first heating of the temporary flow control device to a temperature that is greater than the second pre-defined temperature.

Abstract: A seat cushion is provided. The seat cushion includes a first cushion comprising a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side or the top side includes a contoured area and the contoured area has a convex or a concave shape.

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle includes a cushion and a suspension. The cushion has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to engage the occupant. The second surface is disposed opposite the first surface. The suspension includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a third surface. The third surface engages the second surface of the cushion. The second portion includes a fourth surface. The fourth surface defines a first depression. The first depression opens toward the cushion. The first depression is configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

Abstract: A seat cushion includes a cushion body defining a first body surface and a second body surface opposite the first body surface, wherein the first body surface is configured to face the seat occupant, and the second body surface is configured to face away from the seat occupant. The cushion body defines a plurality of holes extending into the second body surface or columns extending from the second body surface. The holes or columns are arranged on a pattern to allow the cushion body to passively conform to the seat occupant, thereby enhancing comfort.

Abstract: A seat cushion is provided. The seat cushion includes a first cushion comprising a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side or the top side includes a contoured area and the contoured area has a convex or a concave shape.

Abstract: A haptic device includes a first signal generator embedded in a host and configured to generate a first haptic signal. A first waveguide is operatively connected to and configured to transmit the first haptic signal away from the first signal generator. A first integrator is operatively connected to the first waveguide and configured to receive the first haptic signal. The first waveguide and the first integrator are in mechanical communication with the host. The first waveguide may include a first bent portion characterized by a first bend angle. An additional waveguide may be configured to transmit the first haptic signal to the first integrator. The additional waveguide may include an additional bent portion characterized by a second bend angle. The haptic device may be part of a seat assembly, where the host is at least one of a seat bottom, a seat back and a head rest.

Abstract: A suspension member for a seat assembly includes a plurality of zones which define spatially varying properties of the suspension member. Each of the zones produces a response to an occupant load imposed on the seat assembly by a seated occupant, where the response includes one or more of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response. The response produced by each zone is different from the response produced from any other of the zones. The suspension member can be made of a homogenous material or made of a combination of materials such that each zone is made of a different material. The suspension member can include a textile material formed by weaving, knitting or crocheting. At least one zone of the suspension member can include one or more apertures.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a rotor having a stack of laminations positioned axially relative to one another. The stack of laminations includes a first rotor lamination that is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first rotor lamination is configured to have an asymmetric mass distribution such that the first portion has a first mass and the second portion has a second mass, with the first mass being different from the second mass. The electric motor is configured to selectively generate an unbalanced force during operation (i.e., when the rotor is spinning). The electric motor may include a stator configured to have an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. The electric motor may be employed in a haptic assembly and eliminates the need for a separate eccentric mass to generate a haptic signal.

Abstract: A seat structure is configured to support an occupant. The seat structure includes a suspension. A seat cushion is arranged adjacent to the suspension. The seat cushion defines a plurality of variable effective property regions. At least one of the plurality of variable effective property regions includes a regular periodic lattice structure.

Abstract: A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may include a fabric shell disposed about an exterior surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to an interior surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element restrains the shape of the bladder to contour the bladder into a desired shape and increase the load carrying capacity of the bladder.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a first knitted fabric layer defining an outer surface and a second knitted fabric layer defining an inner surface. The inner surface is opposite the outer surface. The vehicle seat further includes a knitted spacer fabric interconnecting the first knitted fabric layer and the second knitted fabric layer. The knitted spacer fabric resiliently biases the first knitted fabric layer and the second knitted fabric layer away from one another. The knitted spacer fabric is configured to buckle when a seated occupant exerts an occupant load on the vehicle seat. The first knitted fabric layer is more elastic than the second knitted fabric layer to conform to the seated occupant when the seated occupant exerts the occupant load on the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A haptic device includes a first signal generator embedded in a host and configured to generate a first haptic signal. A first waveguide is operatively connected to and configured to transmit the first haptic signal away from the first signal generator. A first integrator is operatively connected to the first waveguide and configured to receive the first haptic signal. The first waveguide and the first integrator are in mechanical communication with the host. The first waveguide may include a first bent portion characterized by a first bend angle. An additional waveguide may be configured to transmit the first haptic signal to the first integrator. The additional waveguide may include an additional bent portion characterized by a second bend angle. The haptic device may be part of a seat assembly, where the host is at least one of a seat bottom, a seat back and a head rest.

Abstract: A knitted structure is configured for heat generation and distribution. In some embodiments, the knitted structure includes a knitted fabric including a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer opposite the first knitted layer. The first knitted layer has a first thermal conductivity. The second knitted layer has a second thermal conductivity. The second thermal conductivity is greater than the first thermal conductivity to faciliate heat transfer toward the first knitted layer. The knitted structure may further include a plurality of electrodes at least partially disposed inside the knitted fabric. Each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to generate heat within the knitted fabric upon receipt of electrical energy in order to distribute heat along the knitted structure and toward the first knitted layer.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a rotor having a stack of laminations positioned axially relative to one another. The stack of laminations includes a first rotor lamination that is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first rotor lamination is configured to have an asymmetric mass distribution such that the first portion has a first mass and the second portion has a second mass, with the first mass being different from the second mass. The electric motor is configured to selectively generate an unbalanced force during operation (i.e., when the rotor is spinning). The electric motor may include a stator configured to have an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. The electric motor may be employed in a haptic assembly and eliminates the need for a separate eccentric mass to generate a haptic signal.