Abstract: Energy absorption apparatus for protecting occupants from excessive G-force by absorbing energy during an explosion below the vehicle. A mitigating strip and an anvil are attached by first and second mounting members between the vehicle and the occupant's seat whereby an excessive G-force on the first mounting member bends the mitigating strip and pulls it over the anvil. A portion of gradually increasing resistance to bending is provided between one end of the strip and the portion of constant resistance to bending whereby the mitigating strip increasingly resists bending over the anvil as the portion of gradually increasing resistance is pulled over the anvil until the portion of constant resistance to bending reaches the anvil; the resistance to bending of the mitigating strip will then remain constant as it is pulled over the anvil.

Abstract: A reclining device capable of eliminating mechanical play in a front-rear direction of a seat back is provided. Particularly, a reclining device reliably capable of locking and releasing is provided at an inexpensive cost. Movable guides are slidably disposed respectively between lock gears and a fixed guide. Each of the movable guides is formed in a shape that the width thereof gradually decreases from the outer end toward the inner end. In the sliding faces of the respective movable guides, a sliding face on the lock gear side is arranged to be parallel to a movement direction of the lock gear and the sliding face at the fixed guide side is inclined with respect to the sliding face at the side of the lock gear. Each of the movable guides engages with a spring and the spring imparts a force to the movable guides in an inner direction of a base plate.

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: A frame of a motor vehicle seat for a motor vehicle including a hinge mounting having a hinge arm, and further including a structure part, said structure part being connected to the hinge arm in a connection region, the connection region being rigid when subjected to a load below a threshold value that occurs at accelerations in a normal driving condition of the motor vehicle and the connection region being compliant when subjected to bending loads at values occurring at accelerations of the motor vehicle occurring in an event of an accident, whereby the connection region includes a tongue that projects from one of the hinge arm and the structure part, and further includes a holding device that is provided on the one of the hinge arm and the structure part on which the holding device is not provided.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat element that forms a seat surface and has a seat back (10) or backrest. The seat back (10) has a frame (14) and an airbag (19). The airbag (19) has a gas-receiving element (20) and an inflating device (21) for the gas-receiving element (20). The gas-receiving element (20) is defined at one side by a portion (15) of the frame (14) and at the other side by a delimiting element (22) that is fastened to the frame (14) and that can be displaced as the airbag (19) inflates.

Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular motor vehicle seat, a backrest (4) extending in a longitudinal direction of the backrest includes at least a first backrest shell (10) and a second backrest shell (12) in a shell-type construction. The second backrest shell (12) is displaceable and/or pivotable relative to the first backrest shell (10).

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 occupant restraint device for a vehicle, including a side cheek protruding from a backrest of a vehicle seat. A supporting structure of the vehicle has an outer side facing an exterior space of the vehicle and an inner side facing away from the exterior space of the vehicle and facing the outer side of the side cheek. An airbag arranged in the vehicle seat is supported on the inner side of the supporting structure and exerts an opposing force on the outer side of the side cheek when the airbag is inflated, the force being directed onto the outer side of the side cheek. A pre-crash detection device for identifying an imminent application of force on the outer side of the supporting structure from the exterior space, the pre-crash detection device activating an expansion of the side cheek in an expansion direction along the supporting structure.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a first back support member connectable to a seat bottom, a second back support member pivotally connected above the first back support member, the second back support member being configured to receive a headrest, and a biasing member connected to the second back support member. The second back support member pivots with respect to the first back support member though a defined range. The first biasing member is configured to urge the second back support member towards a forward end of the defined pivot range.

Abstract: A locking device, such as a pawl and sector latch for a vehicle seat, is provided. The locking device includes a first fitting part having a body portion and an insert form-fitted in a recess in an outer periphery of the body portion. The insert has an outer contour having a plurality of teeth. The locking device further includes a second fitting part configured to be moved into a releasable form-fitting engagement with the first fitting part.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a support plate (7) mounted on the squab (2) of the seat, and a support plate (11) mounted on the back rest (3) of the seat. There is a pivotal interconnection (10) between the plates to enable the back rest to be reclined. The pivotal interconnection is initially retained by a spring (20), in a retaining part (15) of an elongate slot (14). When the back rest (3) is subjected to a rearward force, such as by a seat occupant in a rear impact situation, the spring is deformed and the pivot shaft moves along the slot (14), enabling the back rest (3) to move rearwardly. An energy absorbing element (17) is provided which deforms, whilst absorbing energy, during this second movement of the back rest.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided where an urging element(s) is engaged with a shock reducing member in an optimum state under a normal seating load or in a rear-end collision, a number of parts can be reduced without using a separate member to mount the urging element(s), and at the same time, a high degree of design freedom is created. The seat comprises a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member connected to the seat back frame via a connecting member to move independently from the headrest, a rotating member that is disposed on a side part on each side and is connected to the connecting member to rotate independently from the headrest, and a spring mounted to the rotating member and the seat back frame. At least one of mounting parts is formed integrally with the rotating member or the seat back frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a car seat. The car seat is a bucket seat having a bottom support section for supporting the bottom of a user, a back support section for supporting the back of the user, a shoulder support section for supporting the shoulders of the user, a head support section for supporting the head of the user, and a left flank support section and a right flank support section for protecting the left and right flank of the user. A substantial part of the bucket seat is constructed from aluminium sheet. The car seat further includes at least one composite reinforcement member which extends along a part of the bucket seat and is mounted to the bucket seat. The at least one composite reinforcement member is manufactured from a composite material. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the car seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided in which a shock reducing member provides an optimum state both under a usual (normal) seating load and in a rear-end collision load, the sinking (moving) amount of the passenger's body to the vehicle rear at the time of rear-end collision can be increased, and a shock applied to a passenger at the time of rear-end collision can be reduced effectively, independently from a headrest. A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member connected to the seat back frame via wires, and a rotating member disposed at least on one side of side parts on both sides of the seat back frame. The rotating member is rotated by a predetermined impact load applied to the pressure receiving member, and comes into contact with the seat back frame, whereby the rotating is inhibited.

Abstract: A seat-back frame of a seat-back comprises at least a pair of right and left side frames, a pressure receiving member disposed between the side frames, and wires for connecting the pressure receiving member to the side frames, respectively; wherein the wire is connected to the side frames through link members which are operable relative to the side frames, respectively, and wherein the link members are so configured that the wire is urged toward a forward side of the seat-back frame by tension springs.

Abstract: A frame structure of a seatback for a vehicle includes a first frame including at least two panels and a divided portion therebetween and a second frame including tubing and bonded to the first frame substantially along a periphery of the first frame. The second frame includes an elongation deformation allowing portion for allowing a portion of the second frame to be elongated over the divided portion of the first frame in an upper side portion when a predetermined load is exerted on the seatback toward a rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has an energy-absorbing device connected to a transverse support member of the seat frame. The device has a plurality of rib members configured to plastically deform in response to an impact between an object and the device, thereby absorbing energy from the object. The device has a shell portion with a pair of intersecting side walls having a generally U-shaped profile defining a recess, and the rib members are connected to each of the side walls within the recess. The shell portion is one piece, and the shell portion and rib members are formed of molded plastic. Each rib member is equally spaced within the recess.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a pedestal for mounting to the vehicle. A seat bottom is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a first axis between a seating position and a stowed position. A seat back is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis from an upright position to a forward position in response to a predetermined force from behind the seat back. A deformable extension is fixed to and extends between the seat back and the pedestal. The deformable extension is configured to deform to absorb energy when the seat back rotates from the upright position to the forward position.

Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle backrest has a resting element with a front surface shaped for supporting an area of the back of a user; the resting element is connected to a frame of the backrest via elastic elements, which are bistable for allowing the resting element to click from an advanced position to a rearward position when a thrust against the front surface exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular commercial vehicle seat, is provided with a framework, in particular scissors-type framework (3), a seat frame (10) which is articulated thereon via a pivot axis (B), and a backrest (20) which is attached to the seat frame (10) and by means of which a torque acts about the pivot axis (B) on the seat frame (10) in the event of a crash or misuse. The framework (3) has a first catch element (31) and the seat frame (10) has a second catch element (32) which normally do not interact. In the event of a crash or misuse, the catch elements approach each other and then interact creating a further path for the force flux.

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: At a side portion 22 of a seat back frame, not only does a rear first extending portion 52 bend and extend from a frame side plate portion 30 toward a seat back inner side at an obtuse angle, but also, in a vicinity of a central portion of a rear flange portion 50, a rear second extending portion 54 bends and extends from the rear first extending portion 52 further toward the seat back inner side. Therefore, even if a relatively large load toward a rear of a vehicle acts on the seat back frame and compressive stress is generated at an intermediate portion of the rear flange portion 50 in a heightwise direction of a seat back, it is difficult for cross-sectional collapsing to arise, and the load can be effectively supported at the frame side plate portion 30. There can be provided a seat back frame for a vehicle which can suppress an amount of bending deformation at the time of a rear collision, without leading to an increase in weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety apparatus in a motor vehicle having a sensor device in communication with an evaluation unit within which sensor data are evaluated. The evaluation unit is in communication with at least one drive device that can move at least one energy-absorbing element from a rest position to a working position next to the seat or next to an occupant and back again.

Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a cushion, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly, the side panel and front panel being joined to one another at a vertical extending seam. The side panel also has a lower horizontal extending separable seam, an upper horizontal extending separable seam, and a forward vertical seam that may or may not be sewn to the front panel. On inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and inflate forwardly, upwardly and downwardly through separable seams of the side panel. In addition, a rear vertical extending seam can be provided that would extend between the upper and lower horizontal extending separable seam.

Abstract: A reclining device capable of eliminating mechanical play in a front-rear direction of a seat back is provided. Particularly, a reclining device reliably capable of locking and releasing is provided at an inexpensive cost. Movable guides are slidably disposed respectively between lock gears and a fixed guide. Each of the movable guides is formed in a shape that the width thereof gradually decreases from the outer end toward the inner end. In the sliding faces of the respective movable guides, a sliding face on the lock gear side is arranged to be parallel to a movement direction of the lock gear and the sliding face at the fixed guide side is inclined with respect to the sliding face at the side of the lock gear. Each of the movable guides engages with a spring and the spring imparts a force to the movable guides in an inner direction of a base plate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed with a seat back frame with a pair of spaced apart linkages connected to side members of the frame. A horizontally actuatable lumbar mechanism is connected to the pair of linkages for providing lumbar support to the occupant and for receiving an input force for actuating the linkages. A head restraint extends from the seat back frame and is operably connected to the frame and the pair of linkages such that actuation of the linkages actuates the head restraint from a design position to an actuated position. A flexible band lumbar support mechanism is provided. Also, a lumbar mechanism is provided with a pair of upright wires and a series of transverse suspension wires for supplying the back of the occupant and for distributing the input force during an impact.

Abstract: Multiple vehicle seats are disclosed with active head restraint systems that receive an input force from an occupant during an impact by a torso support, which consequently actuates a linkage that translates a head restraint upward and forward to the head of the occupant. In one embodiment, the torso support has a translatable connection with the seatback frame and another translatable connection with the linkage. In another embodiment, a torso support is pivotally connected to a pair of links which are each pivotally connected to the frame. In yet another embodiment, the seatback frame includes a structural wire, which provides pivotal connections for two of the links of the linkage.

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: 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 vehicle seat assembly that includes a seatback frame and an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback frame. The active head restraint system includes an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted to the upper armature. The active head restraint system also includes a lower armature operatively attached to the upper armature. The lower armature is operable to move toward the upper armature in response to a predetermined force applied to the lower armature and act on the upper armature to move the head restraint toward the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a backrest, which has a backrest middle part and backrest side parts, which extend forward laterally from the backrest middle part and are provided for lateral body support is described. The backrest side parts each have an internal section connected to the backrest middle part and an external section connected thereto, which overlaps a forward area of the backrest side part. The backrest side parts are adjustable in relation to the backrest middle part so that the backrest width is changeable by fixing the backrest side parts. The internal section and the external section are produced in one piece from a foam material. A stiffening element is foamed into the internal section and into the external section in a transition area between the internal section and the external section, which is primarily provided to give the external section a certain rigidity.

Abstract: A headrest control apparatus includes: a headrest moving mechanism that supports a headrest in such a manner that at least one of a rotation of the headrest about an axis of the headrest, which extends in the vehicle-height direction, and a movement of the headrest in the vehicle-width direction is permitted; a drive unit that causes at least one of the rotation and the movement of the headrest; and a control unit that controls the drive unit.

Abstract: A vehicle seat component includes a side air bag module mounted on a frame within a trim cover that also covers a seat pad. An air bag guide includes flexible inner and outer panels that extend between a release seam of the trim cover and the air bag module to provide a guiding function to an inflating air bag. An inner extremity of the flexible outer panel is secured to frame by a connector including at least one lace secured to a single connection location of the frame. One embodiment has a single lace and another has a plurality of laces, specifically three, that converge toward the single connection location.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a foam cushion mounted on the frame, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover covers the cushion and conceals the air bag assembly, and includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly. The side panel and front panel are joined together at a vertical extending separable seam. The side panel has a lower portion and an upper portion joined together at a horizontal extending separable seam located adjacent to the lower edge of the air bag assembly. Upon inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and enabling the air bag to inflate both forwardly through the vertical extending separable seam and downwardly through the horizontal extending separable seam.

Abstract: A seat includes a back part frame which is elastically deformable in a direction such that right and left side part frames are brought closer to, or moved away from, each other, and a tensile structural element which is stretched between the right and left side part frames so as to configure a backrest. Further, a headrest is provided at an upper part of the back part frame. In addition, the tensile structural element is stretched over the back part frame so as to configure a backrest, and is configured such that the back part frame is deformed so that the headrest is moved forward due to a tensile force resulting from a load imparted on the backrest.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger-restraining device has a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle, a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle, and a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle.

Abstract: A reinforcement for rear seat backs is disclosed herein. The rear seat back reinforcement of the present invention includes a luggage bar, which is provided between a rear package tray and a floor panel and has a holding member and a mounting member, and a wire frame, which is held by the holding member of the luggage bar and is fastened at the lower end thereof to the floor panel by the mounting member.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger restricting system is provided to restrict passenger movement so that a space between a passenger's head and the ceiling of the vehicle is effectively enlarged when a rollover condition occurs. The vehicle passenger restricting system has a passenger seat, a rollover detector, a seat tilting device and a controller. The rollover detector detects a vehicle rollover condition. The vehicle passenger restricting device restricts passenger movement on the passenger seat. The seat tilting device tilts the seat in a backward direction. The controller activates the seat tilting device to recline the seat backwards when the rollover detector detects the vehicle rollover condition exists. Preferably, the controller also operates the restricting device when it determines that a rollover condition exists.

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: 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: A seat according to this invention comprises a seat part and a backrest attached to a rear side of the seat part. The seat part comprises a cushion attached to a pair of side supporting frame members connected with each other. The backrest comprises a cushion attached to an inverse U shaped back frame. Each end of the inverse U shaped back frame is connected to each rear end of the side supporting frame members of the seat part. The inverse U shaped back frame comprises side supporting parts that are positioned in parallel and a top supporting part that connects top ends of the side supporting parts. Lower ends of side supporting parts are connected to rear ends of the side supporting frame members of the seat part via lower attaching parts, respectively. Each lower attaching part has an ear part that projects frontward. Supporting members connect between the side supporting parts and the ear parts of the lower attaching parts, respectively.

Abstract: In an automobile seat provided with a seatback having a metal-made seatback frame of a substantially quadrilateral shape, the seatback frame comprising a pair of spaced apart left and right side frame sections 10a, 10b, an upper frame section 11 interconnecting upper end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, and a lower frame section 12 interconnecting lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, the lower frame section comprises a horizontally extending body arranged between the lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, side bracket portions 12a, 12b provided at left and right ends of the horizontally extending body so as to project forward from the horizontally extending body, the side bracket portions 12a, 12b being applied and fixed to the lower end portions of the side frame sections 10a, 10b, and a structure for serving to facilitate deformation of the seatback in the event of a car crash or the like in order to absorb impact caused by the car crash or the like, the stru

Abstract: In a seat back structure, an auxiliary frame having a pressure receiving portion and a headrest mounted thereon is movably provided in seat back frame via guide element and link element. The guide and link elements are respectively disposed in upper and lower portions respectively of the auxiliary and seat back frames. Biasing element is provided to the link element, such that a line of force of the former is positioned on one side of a pivotal point of the link element, thereby retaining the headrest at initial position, and that, when excessive backward load is applied to the pressure receiving portion, the link element is rotated to displace the line of force toward another side of the first pivotal point, whereby the auxiliary frame is displaced forwardly and upwardly of the seat back frame, thereby causing the headrest to move to a position for supporting a head of seat occupant.

Abstract: A cross member assembly for adjusting a reclinable vehicle seat includes a joint. The joint permits the cross member assembly to deflect during a vehicle impact if the reclinable vehicle seat is occupied.

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 vehicle seat (1) having an active headrest mechanism (20) actuated by a lower lumbar mechanism (30). A seat back frame (10) mounts the active headrest mechanism (20) and the lower lumbar mechanism (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat, in particular air passenger seat, with seat components, such as a seat part (10) and a backrest (12) with a housing shell (20), which is part of the backrest (12) or which at least partially includes the backrest (12) at the back and which comprises at least two shell parts which are connected to each other, at least in an initial state, via a fixing device and of which the one shell part is moved under a sudden introduction of force, such as, for example, in the event of a crash, relative to the other shell part in such a manner that an engagement space between the shell parts is opened up.

Abstract: A bus includes a plurality of bus seats with a side airbag module mounted to each of the plurality of bus seats. The bus includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a collision event and a side airbag control module configured to determine which side airbag modules to deploy based on information received from the plurality of sensors. The control module is configured to selectively deploy one or more of the side airbag modules.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has an energy-absorbing device connected to a transverse support member of the seat frame. The device has a plurality of rib members configured to plastically deform in response to an impact between an object and the device, thereby absorbing energy from the object. The device has a shell portion with a pair of intersecting side walls having a generally U-shaped profile defining a recess, and the rib members are connected to each of the side walls within the recess. The shell portion is one piece, and the shell portion and rib members are formed of molded plastic. Each rib member is equally spaced within the recess.