Abstract: An instrument panel system. The instrument panel system provides an aesthetically appealing instrument panel by including a number of concealed switches. The switches are concealed such that an area proximate the switch on the surface of the instrument panel appears to be uninterrupted by the switch. In operation, the position of the switches is revealed by illuminating a switch display.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly that is disposable in a vehicle rearward of a front seat includes a seat bottom, a seat back attached to the seat bottom, and a head restraint attached to the seat back and having a head restraint body that is moveable from a raised position to a lowered position. The seat assembly further includes an actuator associated with the head restraint for enabling movement of the head restraint body from the raised position to the lowered position. The actuator is located proximate a front portion of the seat bottom such that the actuator is accessible by an occupant of the front seat when the seat assembly is installed in the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back that is pivotable from an upright use position to a stowed position. A head restraint includes first and second portions, each of which are movable from a respective upright use position to a respective stowed position. Each of the portions includes a respective contact surface for contacting an occupant of the seat assembly. A release mechanism is configured to facilitate movement of the first and second portions from their respective upright use positions to their respective stowed positions. An automatic return mechanism is provided to automatically return the first and second portions from their respective stowed positions to their respective upright use positions when the seat back is pivoted from its stowed position to its upright use position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes an elongated continuous frame member having an upper portion and a lower portion. A mounting assembly is attached to the lower portion of the frame member and is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle. A back support structure is attached to the upper portion of the frame member. A bottom support structure is attached to the lower portion of the frame member.

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 occupant seat of a motor vehicle includes a backrest, and a headrest mounted atop the backrest on a pair of posts. The headrest includes a base portion supported by the posts, and an occupant-engaging contact portion that is supported by the base portion for relative translational movement along a pair of tracks defined on the base portion. In response to a suitable control signal, such as the tensioning of a Bowden cable in response to an applied force, the contact portion moves under the control of an articulated linkage against a return spring bias and away from the base portion. The translational movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion serves to control contact surface inclination throughout the range of movement of the contact portion relative to the base 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 headrest assembly including a headrest pad having a front surface and side portions that are movable between a first position and a second position wherein the side portions are forward of the front surface of the headrest pad. A shift mechanism is provided for moving the side portion to the second position. A trigger is actuated in response to an impact that causes the shift mechanism to move the side portion from the first position to the second position. The headrest pad preferably has a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions. The side portions pivot on a shaft or hinge mechanism that includes a spring that biases the side portions toward the second position. The trigger is preferably a hook that is mounted on a slide secured to the headrest pad. A torsion spring is secured between the hook and the slide so that the hook may be displaced relative to the headrest pad when the impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes an elongated continuous frame member having an upper portion and a lower portion. A mounting assembly is attached to the lower portion of the frame member and is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle. A back support structure is attached to the upper portion of the frame member. A bottom support structure is attached to the lower portion of the frame member.

Abstract: An occupant seat of a motor vehicle includes a backrest, and a headrest mounted atop the backrest on a pair of posts. The headrest includes a base portion supported by the posts, and an occupant-engaging contact portion that is supported by the base portion for relative translational movement along a pair of tracks defined on the base portion. In response to a suitable control signal, such as the tensioning of a Bowden cable in response to an applied force, the contact portion moves under the control of an articulated linkage against a return spring bias and away from the base portion. The translational movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion serves to control contact surface inclination throughout the range of movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion.

Abstract: A head restraint assembly includes a curved support member for upwardly and forwardly deploying a headrest. The support member is selectively locked and unlocked to alternately maintain the headrest in a retracted position or deploy the headrest. A vehicle impact sensor signals the release of the support member when a vehicle impact is sensed. The headrest is deployed quickly and effectively until it reaches its potential full deployment, or until an occupant's head contacts the headrest.

Abstract: A headrest assembly including a headrest pad having a front surface and side portions that are movable between a first position and a second position wherein the side portions are forward of the front surface of the headrest pad. A shift mechanism is provided for moving the side portion to the second position. A trigger is actuated in response to an impact that causes the shift mechanism to move the side portion from the first position to the second position. The headrest pad preferably has a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions. The side portions pivot on a shaft or hinge mechanism that includes a spring that biases the side portions toward the second position. The trigger is preferably a hook that is mounted on a slide secured to the headrest pad. A torsion spring is secured between the hook and the slide so that the hook may be displaced relative to the headrest pad when the impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level.

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.

Abstract: A head restraint assembly includes a curved support member for upwardly and forwardly deploying a headrest. The support member is selectively locked and unlocked to alternately maintain the headrest in a retracted position or deploy the headrest. A vehicle impact sensor signals the release of the support member when a vehicle impact is sensed. The headrest is deployed quickly and effectively until it reaches its potential full deployment, or until an occupant's head contacts the headrest.

Abstract: A vehicular seat assembly (28), fixedly secured to a floor (24) of a vehicle (10), is movable between a seat forming position (FIG. 1), a storage access position (FIG. 3) and a load floor position (FIG. 5). The seat frame structure (30) includes a front member (38) and a back member (40), both of which are slidable along a track (32). The seat cushion (42) pivots about the front member (38) when it is released from the back member (40). This rotational movement allows a safety lock lever (60) to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in the Figures) forcing a cam pin (64) downwardly. The cam (62) also pivots downwardly disengaging itself from its follower (66). Because the follower (66) cannot force the cam (62) downwardly, the seat adjustment mechanism (53) is prevented from moving to its release position to unlocking the vehicular seat assembly (10) from the track (32).

Abstract: A vehicular seating assembly (14) includes a seat cushion (20) and a seat back (22). The seat back (22) is locked in the seat forming position when the pawl (46) is locked into the seat back notch (54) by the bell crank (34). When the seat cushion (20) is moved out of the seat forming position, the spring (52) forces the bell crank (34) to rotate (counter clockwise in the Figures) unlocking the pawl (46) from the seat back notch (54). The torsion bar (32) receives the seat cushion (20) when the seat cushion (20) is returned to the seat forming position rotating the bell crank (34) back into locking engagement with the pawl (46) via a linkage (36).

Abstract: An occupant seat of a motor vehicle includes a backrest, and a headrest mounted atop the backrest on a pair of posts. The headrest includes a base portion supported by the posts, and an occupant-engaging contact portion that is supported by the base portion for relative translational movement along a pair of tracks defined on the base portion. In response to a suitable control signal, such as the tensioning of a Bowden cable in response to an applied force, the contact portion moves under the control of an articulated linkage against a return spring bias and away from the base portion. The translational movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion serves to control contact surface inclination throughout the range of movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion.