Abstract: A seatback assembly is provided having a thoracic support structure. The thoracic support structure includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are disposed adjacent to and connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness for providing support to the user's spine. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the thoracic support structure for positioning the support structure along the seatback so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Abstract: A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

Abstract: A method to adjust a seat assembly transmits input indicative of a seating position of an occupant to a health care provider. Input indicative of a prescribed seating position is received from the health care provider. The seat assembly is adjusted to the prescribed seating position. Makes, models and seat assemblies are stored for various vehicles. Ranges of adjustments permitted for the seat assemblies are stored. A selection of a vehicle seat assembly is received. The ranges of adjustments for the selected vehicle seat assembly are outputted. The occupant is evaluated by a medical professional. A prescribed seating position for the occupant is determined. The prescribed seating position is transmitted to a seat assembly controller to adjust the seat assembly.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seat back of a seat is provided. The thoracic support structure is pivotally attached to the seat back and pivots between a first position and a second position. In the second position the support structure supports at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine. An actuator disposed between a support surface and the support structure pivots the support structure from the first position to the second position upon actuation.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided, in at least one embodiment, comprising a seatback comprising a cushion having a first hardness, and a pneumatic thoracic support structure positioned adjacent the cushion. In at least one embodiment, the pneumatic thoracic support structure comprises a first bladder selectively inflatable to provide a first area having a second hardness higher than the first hardness, with the first area being disposed along a thoracic region of a user's spine when a user is seated in the seat to provide support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided, in at least one embodiment, comprising a seatback comprising a cushion having a first hardness, and a pneumatic thoracic support structure positioned adjacent the cushion. In at least one embodiment, the pneumatic thoracic support structure comprises a first bladder selectively inflatable to provide a first area having a second hardness higher than the first hardness, with the first area being disposed along a thoracic region of a user's spine when a user is seated in the seat to provide support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support has a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine and having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are each disposed on opposing lateral sides of the center portion. The side portions have a second hardness less than the first hardness of the center portion. The pair of side portions and the center portion to define a smooth forward support surface.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back. A first actuator is oriented in a lower lumbar region. A second actuator is oriented in an upper lumbar region. A controller is programmed to operate the first actuator to adjust the lower lumbar region, and operate the second actuator to subsequently adjust the upper lumbar region to provide a seat assembly motion pattern. A third actuator is oriented in a thoracic region or a seat bottom region. The controller operates the third actuator to adjust the thoracic region or the seat bottom region after adjusting the lumbar regions to provide a seat assembly motion pattern. A plurality of sensors is provided on the seat back and the seat bottom to initiate the pattern in response to a lack of detected occupant motion to induce muscle activation upon an occupant.

Abstract: An air bladder assembly for a seat is provided. The air bladder assembly includes a thoracic bladder assembly has an increasing width in the longitudinal direction. A pair of scapular bladders are each positioned on a lateral side of the thoracic bladder assembly and has a tapered width decreasing in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back mounted adjacent the bottom. The seat back and seat bottom are provided with an occupant seating surface. At least one air bladder is oriented in a sacral region the seat bottom or the seat back. The air bladder has a support surface defined by a enlarged width portion and extends to an elongated tapered portion. When the air bladder is inflated, the support surface is inclined from the taper portion to the enlarged width portion relative to the seating surface.

Abstract: A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion and a pivotal seat back. Sensors are connected to the seat cushion and/or the seat back to detect a seating position. An actuator is connected to the seat cushion and/or the seat back for adjustment. A controller is configured to receive data from the plurality sensors, compare the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly, and adjust the actuator to balance the occupant posture seating position. The controller is in electrical communication with an inflation device to inflate a first air bladder assembly in a thoracic region of the seat back. A second air bladder assembly oriented in a lumbar region, a sacrum region, and/or a scapular region of the seat back is inflated after initiating inflation of the first air bladder assembly for sequential posture alignment.

Abstract: A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat back, and with an actuator that is oriented in a region of the seat back to adjust a seating surface of the seat back. A controller is in electrical communication with the actuator. The controller is programmed to operate the actuator to partially adjust the seating surface toward a target position. Subsequently, the controller operates the actuator to further actuate the actuator after a predetermined delay to further adjust the seating surface toward the target position. The controller is programmed to receive input indicative of a selection of a mode of seat adjustment. The actuator is operated to gradually adjust the seating surface to a target position after a quantity of events associated with the selected mode of seat adjustment.

Abstract: An air bladder assembly for a seat comprising is provided. A central sacral bladder has a support surface defined by an enlarged width portion connected to an elongated tapered portion, wherein the tapered portion is defined by elongated lateral sides. A pair of side iliac bladders is provided so that one of the side bladders is positioned adjacent each of the elongated sides of the central bladder. A support surface of the central air bladder is not parallel to a support surface of the side air bladders when the air bladder assembly is inflated.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support has a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine and having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are each disposed on opposing lateral sides of the center portion. The side portions have a second hardness less than the first hardness of the center portion. The pair of side portions and the center portion to define a smooth forward support surface.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a front seat assembly having a front seat bottom adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body and a front seat back adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body adjacent to the front seat bottom. A sensor cooperates with at least one of the front seat bottom and the front seat back. An actuator is disposed on at least one of the seat bottom and seat back. The seat assembly includes a rear seat assembly behind the front seat assembly. A vehicle seat controller receives an input indicative of a rear occupant seated information and convey a signal to an actuator to move a front seat assembly to an accommodation position in response to the input.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat back, and first and second actuators oriented in first and second regions of the seat back. A safety restraint is connected to the seat back. A controller is programmed to operate the first and second actuators to adjust the first and second regions of the seat back. The controller may adjust the safety restraint in response to the adjustment of the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the safety restraint with the sequential posture alignment. The controller may also adjust a vehicle vision device concurrently with the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the vehicle vision device with the sequential posture alignment. The controller may also adjust a vehicle drive control manual input device concurrently with the adjustment of the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the vehicle drive control manual input device with the sequential posture alignment.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, a seat back, and a plurality of sensors operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition of a seated occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition of the seated occupant. The seating condition is compared to a predetermined seating condition. An output indicative of the predetermined seating condition is transmitted. An actuator is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. The actuator is adjusted to a predetermined setting corresponding to the predetermined seating condition.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and are connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.