Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a headrest mounted on the seatback frame so as to be movable in a front-and-back direction, a cushion plate mounted on the seatback frame, and a collision detector provided at back side of cushion plate. The headrest is connected to the collision detector by way of a active headrest mechanism. When the collision detector is moved backward, the headrest is moved forward. A space part is formed between an upper edge of the cushion plate and an upper frame of the seatback frame. The space part is enlarged by forming the upper frame by a pipe frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat control apparatus includes an adjusting device that adjusts a reclining angle of a seat back of a vehicle seat, and a control portion that controls the adjusting device. When adjusting the reclining angle, the control portion controls the adjusting device to start adjusting the reclining angle at a first speed, and then after a predetermined period of time passes, the control portion controls the adjusting device to adjust the reclining angle at a second speed that is faster than the first speed. The invention also relates to a control method of this vehicle seat control apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with a pair of discontinuous reclining mechanisms on opposite sides of the seat that are connected by a connecting rod. A pair of torque transmission joints are provided on opposite ends of the connecting rod. The torque transmission joints connect the opposite ends of the connecting rod to the reclining mechanisms. The torque transmission joints permit torque to be transmitted by manipulation of a handle to adjust the vehicle seat. Loads applied from the rear to the vehicle seat back are prevented from transmitting torque to the connecting rod by a lost motion connection provided by the torque transmission joints.

Abstract: A juvenile motion-inhibitor system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat including a seat bottom and a seat back that is arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile motion-inhibitor system also includes one or more cushions to assist in cushioning a child in the event an external force is applied to the seat bottom or back.

Abstract: An automobile seat includes a swinging motion restraint mechanism for restraining a swinging motion of a sub-frame relative to side frames. The swinging motion restraint mechanism includes a swing axis mounted on the sub-frame, a swinging motion restraint member rotatably mounted on one of the side frames and having a first contact portion and a second contact portion, both of which are brought into contact with the swing axis one at a time, and an elastic member for biasing the swinging motion restraint member toward the swing axis.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seatback including a seatback frame skeleton member covered by a seatback pad cushion member on at least a front side of the seatback frame; a headrest including a headrest frame skeleton member disposed above the seatback; and a shock absorbing member disposed further to the front side than the headrest frame and being at a top portion of the seatback, attached to the seatback frame and absorbing impact energy by plastic deformation when an impact is imparted to the top portion of the seatback from the front side.

Abstract: A seat having a seat structure, a cover, and a back panel having at least one lateral wall covering a receiving space in a side wall of a backrest in which a side airbag module is arranged. An airbag will deploy between cover and free end of the lateral wall in a deployment direction. The lateral wall is fastened within the receiving space with at least one wall fastener arranged on an inner surface of the lateral wall.

Abstract: A seat cover for use with vehicle seats with or without side deployed airbags. In an example, the seat cover is made of a uni-body construction with upper and lower sections for respectively covering a seat back and seat cushion. Openings are provided in the upper and lower sections for insertion of the seat back and seat cushion. A side panel is disposed on each lateral side of the upper section that aligns with an expected path of the airbag when deployed. A frangible seam couples the panel to the remaining portion of the seat cover. The frangible seam fails at a force sufficiently less than the force of a deploying airbag. Thus when the airbag is deployed the force consumed by cleaving the frangible seam panel does not impede airbag deployment. Also included is an alignment member to position the panel in the expected path of the deploying airbag.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a rectangular-shaped seat back frame having right and left side frames; a flexible plate member provided between the right and left side frames; a seat back cushion provided in front of the flexible plate member; a mechanism for pushing the seat back cushion to a front direction by forwardly protruding the flexible plate member that results from the flexible plate member being bent; a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant, wherein the headrest is forwardly movably connected to the right and left side frames via right and left link members; and a rear-end collision detecting plate disposed at a portion of the seat back frame behind the seat occupant, wherein the rear-end collision detecting plate detects rearward movement of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that supports the body of the occupant and moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and can move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The entirety of the pressure receiving member moves toward the rear of the vehicle under a predetermined impact load that is greater than a normal seating load.

Abstract: One aspect according to the invention can include a headrest operating device including a backside collision detecting device that can produce an operational force upon detection of occurrence of backside collision. The operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to an operation member via an interlocking member. A switching device can switch a path of movement of the interlocking member between an inoperative path and an operative path. When no backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the inoperative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device cannot be transmitted to the operation member. When the backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the operative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to the operation member.

Abstract: A 4-point occupant restraint belt system for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a back rest. A one-piece belt is connected to the vehicle at upper and lower attachment points disposed adjacent a first side of the vehicle seat, and a buckle is disposed adjacent an opposite second side of the vehicle seat. A latch is slidingly mounted on the belt and engagable with the buckle to secure the belt around a seat occupant in a three-point configuration. A lifting arm has a lowered position wherein it is beneath the belt and adjacent the latch when the latch is engaged with the buckle, and the lifting arm is movable to a raised position wherein it raises a portion of the belt to a position adjacent the back rest above the buckle, thereby creating a 4th belt attachment point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle seat that receives by a seatback a load that is input from the side of a vehicle, the vehicle seat including a plate member that has a plurality of uneven portions in which a ridgeline portion extends along the vehicle width direction and is attached to a seatback frame.

Abstract: A seat system has separate air bladders in the seat bottom and seat back. The seat bottom bladder is in fluid communication with the seat back bladder through a plurality of rigid interconnecting tubes, and valves in the tubes or orifice size can control flow rate of air exchange between the seat bottom bladder and the seat back bladder. A panel of resilient, compressible open cell foam extends in each of the seat bottom bladder and the seat back bladder. Through-holes in the foam panel permit accelerated air evacuation to the other bladder when the seat withstands a significant shock event. The vibration and shock attenuation characteristics of the seat are jointly provided by the panel spring force and the bladder air pressure.

Abstract: An occupant protection device includes a seat belt that restrains an occupant, an adjusting device that relatively adjusts a positional relationship between the seat belt and the occupant, a collision predicting portion that predicts a collision, and a control portion that controls the adjusting device when the collision is predicted by the collision predicting portion. The control portion first operates the adjusting device at a first speed to restrain the occupant by the seat belt, and then operates the adjusting device to increase the distance between the seat belt and the occupant at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

Abstract: A vehicle seat for use in military vehicles provides increased protection for a helmeted or unhelmeted combatant soldier. The seat includes a seat portion having a layer of high impact energy absorbing material. A back support portion adjoined to the rear of the seat portion extends upwardly for supporting the rearward side of the seated soldier. The back portion has a lower section for supporting the thorax and lower back, and two overlying sections which are positionable for supporting and restraining rearward movement of the helmeted or unhelmeted head and the neck. The overlying sections are moveable toward and away from the soldier and together define a surface and contour which interacts with the seated soldier during rear end impact to maintain the pre-collision shape of the soldier's supported spinal curves, to aid in avoidance of whiplash and similar injuries. Swivelable side portions actuated by sensors flank the sides of the soldier for further protection.

Abstract: A restraint system for may include a vehicle seat suspended above a floor of a vehicle and a restraint harness coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to restrain an occupant of the seat. The restraint harness may include at least one shoulder web configured to extend over a shoulder of an occupant of the seat and at least one lap web configured to extend over a lap of the occupant. At least one deformable member may be attached to the vehicle seat and configured to deform and dissipate energy when a force is applied thereto by the at least one shoulder web in response to an upward transient force of sufficient magnitude applied to the vehicle seat. A restraint harness pre-tensioning system may be responsive to a signal produced by a vehicle event sensor to tighten the at least one lap web about the occupant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of impact absorption blocks and vehicle seatbacks and seats comprising impact absorption blocks. One embodiment of a vehicle seatback assembly comprises a seatback frame, a seat pad and an impact absorption block. The seatback frame comprises a first side member having an upper end and a lower end, a second side member spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first side member and having an upper end and a lower end and a cross-member extending between the first and second side members. The seat pad overlies the seatback frame to define a forward surface. The impact absorption block is positioned between the seat pad and the cross member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorption device making it possible to tilt the back of a seat frontward in case of a shock greater than a predetermined value, the device including a plate and an absorbing shaft, the plate including a brake cavity and a hole through which the absorbing shaft passes, the hole and the brake cavity being separated by a bridge, and the dimensions of the bridge being such as to break when the stress exerted on the back is greater than a predetermined value. The invention also relates to a seat for a passenger vehicle and, more particularly, an aircraft, the pivotal rotation of which is provided with such a device.

Abstract: A reduced thickness vehicle seat is provided with an active headrest, including a transmission assembly for transmitting a load received by a pressure receiving part to the headrest side, and a mechanism for moving the headrest when a rear end collision occurs. The transmission assembly has a lower link movably installed in the lower part of the seat back frame of the vehicle seat and connected to the pressure receiving part; an upper link disposed in the upper part of the seat back frame and movably connected with the headrest; and a connecting link connecting the lower link and the upper link to each other and operating in association with the operation of the lower link. The connecting link has a bent part bent along the lengthwise direction in the direction to separate from the backrest surface of the seat back.

Abstract: A vehicle seat 1 includes a seat back 3, a seat unit 2 for supporting the seat back 3, and a rotary damper 5 for interconnecting the seat back 3 and the seat unit 2, and for tilting the seat back 3 backward while absorbing energy generated by a load when the load is applied to the seat back 3 backward, the load having a predetermined strength or more.

Abstract: A continuous side airbag seam for use in a seat of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The seam includes a first material and a second material or a combination of materials joined to one another. The seam further may include any known thread member used to join the first material to the second material. The seam will extend from a portion near the top of the side panel of the seat cover to a portion near the back of the side panel of the seat cover. The seam will be continuous from the top portion to the back portion of the side panel cover of the seat. The continuous seam will have a predetermined shaped curve therein. The predetermined shaped curve will allow for quicker deployment of both the thorax section and pelvis section of an advanced two part side airbag to deploy both downward and forward in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat back frame having a pair of side frames, a seat spring mounted between the side frames, a single plate-shaped flexible cushion plate mounted to the seat spring, a seat back cushion provided in front of the cushion plate, a single plate-shaped flexible auxiliary plate mounted on the cushion plate. The auxiliary plate is located between the cushion plate and the seat back cushion. The auxiliary plate pushes the seat back cushion to the front by being forwardly bent in response to an operation member. A collision detector is located on the rear side of the cushion plate having a predetermined distance therebetween.

Abstract: Hinge mechanism comprising first and second frames connected together by an adjustment device comprising a first set of gear teeth integral with the first frame and a first mobile toothed component engaging with the first set of gear teeth. The second frame comprises a second set of gear teeth, which interferes with the first frame when the torque applied between the first and second frames exceeds a predetermined threshold, in order to immobilize the frames rotatably in relation to each other.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided for passengers in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat bottom an a seat back. The seat back includes a backrest arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom and a headrest couple to the backrest and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the seat bottom. The backrest includes an upwardly extending support frame and a cushion mounted on the support frame and adapted to support the back of a passenger seated on the seat bottom.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat back frame having a pair of side frames, a seat spring mounted between the side frames, a single plate-shaped flexible cushion plate mounted to the seat spring, a seat back cushion provided in front of the cushion plate, a single plate-shaped flexible auxiliary plate mounted on the cushion plate. The auxiliary plate is located between the cushion plate and the seat back cushion. The auxiliary plate pushes the seat back cushion to the front by being forwardly bent in response to an operation member. A collision detector is located on the rear side of the cushion plate having a predetermined distance there between.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a backrest which has a middle part laterally confined by side walls; an airbag module arranged in one of the side walls; adjusting means for adjusting the width of the backrest. The adjusting means have an adjusting element, which is arranged together with the airbag module in the side wall and movable relative to the middle part, via which the position of the side wall is changeable relative to the middle part. The adjusting element is connected to a section of the module housing of the airbag module so that the module housing is moved by moving the adjusting element.

Abstract: A vehicle system for aiding in the protection of a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system includes a seat assembly having a seat base and a seat back and a pelvic bolster rotatably attached to the seat back of the seat assembly. The pelvic bolster is rotatably movable between a first stowed position and a second deployed position. A reversible motor drives the pelvic bolster between its stowed position and its deployed position. The system further includes a threat condition sensor operatively associated with the reversible motor.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a seat bottom and a seat back rotatably coupled to the seat bottom. The seat bottom can selectively rotate about a rotational axis in forward rotation for absorbing energy from an impact of an occupant seated behind the seat back striking the seat back from behind. An extension is fixed relative to the seat back is spaced about the rotational axis from the seat back and a member is coupled to the extension and to the seat bottom. The extension selectively supports the seat back in the upright position. The extension is deformable relative to the member when the seat back rotates in the forward rotation so that the extension deforms to absorb energy in forward rotation.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat back including an actuatable back panel. The back panel of the seat back may be moved between a normal, or flush position, and an actuated, or spaced position, relative to the seat back assembly. The back panel may be provided with connectors that may be used to connect the back panel to the seat assembly. The back panel is actuated in the event of a rear end collision to provide added clearance for penetration of an occupant's torso into the seat back without interference by seat accessories, such as an adjustable lumbar system, a bolster assembly, massage assembly, or a heating/cooling system. The seat accessories may be secured to the back panel as a sub-assembly to facilitate manufacture. A resilient member biases a linkage or torsion bar to automatically reset the back panel.

Abstract: In a vehicular seat 10 according to this invention, since a back shell 32 covers a back frame 31, as in the case where the shape of a seat back is formed of the urethane pad, the shape of the seat back is not easily changed. Thus, the passenger can be surely held. Further, since the back shell 32 is displaceably supported for the back frame 31, the back shell 32 is displaced according to the figure or posture of the passenger. This permits the passenger to sit with good riding comfort.

Abstract: An occupant restraint device for a motor vehicle includes a supporting structure of the motor vehicle. The supporting structure includes an outer side facing an exterior of the vehicle and an inner side facing an interior of the vehicle. A vehicle seat includes an outer side facing the inner side of the supporting structure. A receptacle for an airbag is arranged on the outer side of the motor vehicle seat. An openable region is included on the receptacle such that the airbag can be deployed into the interior of the vehicle. A pre-crash detection device identifies an imminent application of force on the outer side of the supporting structure. The pre-crash detection device triggers a shifting of the receptacle from an inoperative position into an operative position along a direction of movement between the outer side of the vehicle seat and the inner side of the supporting structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear-seat occupant protection apparatus, which is designed to protect, during a frontal collision of a vehicle, a rear-seat occupant (B) seated in a rear seat (5) located behind a front seat (3) equipped with a seat belt (7) having a load limiter function. The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus comprises a collision detection device (25) adapted to detect the frontal collision of the vehicle, and a seat-back displacing mechanism adapted, when the frontal collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection device, to permit a seat back (12) of the front seat (3) to be displaced frontwardly at a given timing consecutive with a frontward displacement of a front-seat occupant (A) seated in the front seat (3). The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus of the present invention can adequately protect a head of the rear-seat occupant during the frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a casing for a hinge attachment of a car seat and to a method for its manufacture, the height of a toothed element is significantly larger than the thickness of walls of the hinge parts and the hinge parts and the toothed element form a statically compact casing unit, which has a distinctly reduced weight and simultaneously has distinctive flexible assembling characteristics, high stability under load and high accuracy. The casing and toothed element are separately produced by fine blanking and both parts are connected through a material connection or an form-fit connection.

Abstract: A seat back has a seat back frame, a plane spring structure, and a headrest provided at the upper end of a seat back frame. The plane spring structure has left and right side wires, and horizontal wires extending in the horizontal direction. Connection wires are provided between the seat back frame and plane spring structure. First end portions and second end portions of the connection wires function as detachable portions. At least one of these detachable portions is detached from the seat back frame or plane spring structure by the load applied to the seat back, when a vehicle is bumped from behind.

Abstract: A seat apparatus includes a seat adapted to be arranged on a floor of a vehicle, a motor driving the seat to move, and a control unit supplying electric power to the motor by controlling a duty ratio with duty cycle control. The control unit determines an initial start-up time in which the duty ratio is defined as a first duty ratio over a period between the time the motor is started up after being powered by the control unit and the time before the seat driven by the motor starts moving. The control unit reduces the duty ratio when the initial start-up time elapses and sets the duty ratio to a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the seat starts moving.

Abstract: A carrier element for an object. The carrier element has an essentially u-shaped form and includes two side pieces, which are interconnected by a bridge.

Abstract: A seat structure of a vehicle, comprising a seatback frame which is provided on a vehicle-inside of a seatback which is provided at a rear portion of a seat cushion and supports a back of a passenger, a side frame which extends vertically beside the seatback frame, and a pad member which covers the side frame, the pad member forming a shape of the seatback, wherein an impact reduction portion to reduce an impact from a vehicle side is provided at the side frame. Accordingly, the seat structure of a vehicle which can reduce the impact load from the vehicle side portion at the vehicle side collision and thereby properly decrease the load inputting to the passenger's chest portion can be provided.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an impact on a vehicle includes: a load detecting portion attached to an end portion of a seat portion of a seat for the vehicle, and detecting a compressing-direction load, and a pulling-direction load; and an impact determining portion determining that the impact is applied on the vehicle in a case where the compressing-direction load, which is equal to or larger than a first predetermined value, is detected and subsequently the pulling-direction load, which is equal to or larger than a second predetermined value, is detected within a first predetermined time period, or in a case where the pulling-direction load, which is equal to or larger than a third predetermined value, is detected and subsequently the compressing-direction load, which is equal to or larger than a fourth predetermined value, is detected within a second predetermined time period.

Abstract: A vehicle seat back includes a frame and back support member. The back support member can connect with the frame at a first location and at a second location. The back support member can include a breakaway connection configured to rupture during a crash event to increase an operative length of the back support member.

Abstract: A vehicle seat cushion structure whereby even when a steering wheel or other object is pushed closer toward a vehicle occupant after a vehicle is involved in a head-on collision and little space is left in front of the vehicle occupant, the space can be readily enlarged. The cushion structure comprises a supporting member provided on a seat frame and a cushion member disposed in a folded state on the supporting member. The folded cushion member is capable of being withdrawn from a cushion removal opening formed on a side of a seat. Space is provided between the vehicle occupant and the steering wheel or the like when the cushion member is removed via the cushion removal opening.

Abstract: To provide a seat device that can provide a smooth and stable deployment performance of an airbag. A seat device includes a backrest 1B, an airbag 11, and an upper guide member 41 and a lower guide member 42. The backrest 1B includes a tear line at an upper portion thereof. The airbag 11 is formed of a bag member, in which base cloths are joined to each other, and is provided in an interior of the backrest 1B so that, during inflation, the airbag 11 cleaves the tear line 44 and is deployed to an upper side of the head of an occupant. The upper guide member 41 and the lower guide member 42 are provided in the interior of the backrest 1B so as to guide a deployment direction of the airbag 11 towards the vicinity of the tear line 44 while restricting the deployment direction during the inflation of the airbag 11.

Abstract: An energy absorber system for aircraft survivability. The energy absorber system includes energy absorbers providing energy absorption in a plurality of occupant weight ranges, said system providing a controlled range of dynamic response index (DRI) and of lumbar load level in one of said occupant weight ranges and greater energy absorption stroke distance in one of said occupant weight ranges as the occupant weight increases toward its maximum value for the weight range.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat back and a head restraint coupled to the seat back. The seat includes a lumbar support movably coupled to the seat back so that when a force is applied to the seat back by an occupant of the seat moving rearwardly relative to the seat back the lumbar support moves rearwardly and absorbs energy associated with an occupant's rearward movement.

Abstract: A seat back support mechanism supports the back of a seat in a motor vehicle. One component of the mechanism (15) is effectively connected to the seat of the motor vehicle and another component (32) is connected to the back (44) of the motor vehicle optionally by means of a recliner mechanism. The support mechanism comprises a connection between the components. The connection comprises two pivot links (27,33). One pivot link (33) is of arcuate form with a central “V” notch so that when the back of the seat is subjected to a predetermined force, the back of the seat is permitted about a pivot axis (30) while the arcuate pivot link (33) is deformed, thus absorbing energy.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with a frame, a seat pad, and an air bag assembly housing an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflated by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat through the air bag release seam when the air bag seam is in an opened position. The vehicle seat assembly has an improvement comprising a tear strap secured to the frame and a second end portion secured to the release seam, a guide member through which the tear strap may slidingly pass; and a tether having a first stationary end secured to the frame and a second end that engages the guide member so that movement of the guide member is constrained thereby. The tear strap is movable in response to inflation of the air bag with sufficient force to rupture the release seam, thereby allowing the tear seam to open and allowing the air bag to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A seat arrangement for an aircraft seat includes a seat frame for mounting the seat on a cabin floor and a seat region. The seat arrangement has a backrest unit and is designed to improve stiffness of the backrest unit against one-sided torsional load. The backrest unit is coupled to the seat frame by a kinematic unit having at least first and second kinematic parts coupled to a first side and a second side of the backrest unit, respectively. A stiffening member is located in the seat region that couples the first and second kinematic parts and is provided for transmitting a torsional moment from the first side of the backrest unit to the second side of the backrest unit.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat cushion, a seat bag, a lock mechanism and a belt anchor. The seat cushion has a cushion frame. The seat bag has a back frame that is rotatably connected to the cushion frame. The lock mechanism is provided on each of the frames, and latch-connected to a striker at a vehicle side. The belt anchor is provided on one of the two frames, and is fastened with a seat belt. A force transmission structure is provided between the two frames, in which when the seat belt is pulled forward, so that a member between the belt anchor and the striker is deformed, a member at a side of the one frame pushes a member at a side of the other frame, thereby force is transmitted from the one frame side to the other frame side.