A passenger seat having improved backrest comfort features. The passenger seat has a backrest with a movable portion. In one example, the movable portion is defined by an upper backrest portion that can slide up and away from a lower backrest portion to provide a gap between the two portions. The gap 5 may provide an arm or elbow rest for a seat occupant. The movability of the backrest can also provide enhanced comfort for the seat occupant by allowing adjustability of the head rest portion. In other examples, the movable portion comprises the entire backrest of the seat. When in a raised position, the backrest may also provide enhanced privacy to the seat occupant.

A shape adapting system of a cushion assembly and method of forming a shape adapting system of a cushion assembly include an array of cells that retain a fluid, a fluid exchange sub-system coupled to the cells, wherein the fluid exchange sub-system fluidly connects the cells together, and at least one valve coupled to the fluid exchange sub-system. The valve(s) is configured to move between an open position in which the fluid is able to migrate among the cells to change a shape of the support base, and a closed position in which the shape of the support base is maintained.

The present invention provides an array type automobile seat profile adaptive-adjusting apparatus, comprising a seat back plate, a seat bottom plate, a seat profile layer covered thereon and a plurality of shape memory material actuators which are arranged in a rectangular array and are disposed between the seat profile layer and the seat back plate and between the seat profile layer and the seat bottom plate, wherein each of the shape memory material actuators comprises a plurality of sequentially nested sleeves, a return spring through which an outwardly extending elastic force is applied to the sleeves, a pulley block fixedly arranged in the sleeve located at a tail end, and a memory alloy wire which is in a shape of filament and is wound on the pulley block.

A method of manufacturing a bolster section for a seating assembly of a vehicle comprising: presenting a first metallic support element that includes a tubular portion; and overmolding the tubular portion of the first metallic support element with foam. The tubular portion of the first metallic support element is bent to a predetermined shape before overmolding the tubular portion of the first metallic support element with foam. A second layer of foam can be applied over the foam overmolded over the tubular portion of the first metallic support element. The second layer of foam can be a different type of foam than the foam overmolded over the tubular portion of the first metallic support element. A first end of the tubular portion can be flattened and an aperture formed therein, to allow the bolster section to be attached to a structural support of a seating assembly of a vehicle.

Described are ergonomic passenger seats that may include monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs, cellular suspension cushions, and tray tables with support arms that may be located within the interior volume of the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs when in their stowed positions. The passenger seats offer enhanced passenger comfort and space while providing a lightweight, simple to manufacture design. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may form integral parts of passenger seats to support additional loads without need for heavy, complex structures. The space within the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat back may then be used for storage or suspension cushions that offer improved comfort with a lighter seat frame. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may also facilitate the adoption of several other seating mechanisms, such as new seat mounts that allow for improved seat motion that allows for passenger recline with reduced impingement on other passengers' space.

A seat back pad 70 has a groove 73 for tucking a skin material therein, formed at borders between a central portion 71 and side portions 72. A hole (slot hole 74) is formed in a bottom of the groove 73 along the groove 73. A tuck-in wire 76 for tucking the skin material in includes a plurality of tuck-in portions 76A provided along the groove 73, and a connecting portion (detour portion 76B) detouring around the hole and connecting the tuck-in portions 76A. With this configuration, when an upper body of an occupant P subsides into a seat back S2 in a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the central portion 71, defined by the groove 73 as a border, is easily and sufficiently moved rearward relative to the left and right side portions 72. Furthermore, the tuck-in wire 76 is not exposed through the hole, and thus adhesion between the seat back pad 70 and the tuck-in wire 76 can be improved.

A vehicle seating unit comprising a seat frame, a back panel, and a seat panel, the seat frame has a horizontal portion adapted to receive the seat panel and a vertical portion adapted to receive the back panel. The seat panel and the back panel are attached to the horizontal portion and the vertical portion by a plurality of panel fasteners and seat frame fasteners. The back panel top edge is secured to the vertical portion by a retaining cap, while the seat panel front edge is secured to the seat frame by a retaining hook. The back panel and seat panel are positioned in an interlocking arrangement whereby the back panel lower edge pushes downwardly against the seat panel, preventing the seat panel rear edge from being detached. The panel and seat frame fasteners prevent disengagement by hand, but can be overcome by a lever to facilitate maintenance.

An ISS is a seating system that actively adjusts to improve an occupant's comfort, performance, and safety in a specific driving environment. The ISS determines the occupant's posture, position on the seat surface, and/or physiological state, for example, by applying a machine vision process. The ISS can further determine a driving environment. The ISS adjusts its settings and settings of the vehicle according to one or more factors such as an occupant's posture, the occupant's physiological state, the occupant's preferences, and/or the driving environment. The ISS can include a state machine that determines a current state and determines if a change has occurred such that the system should shift to another state that best suits this change. The ISS makes adjustment according to system settings associated with the best suitable state.

Structures of seating systems for human users are disclosed. In one embodiment, the structure comprises: a frame; a seat structure supported by the frame; and a back rest structure supported by the frame. The seat structure comprises a thigh support region and a pelvic support region where the pelvic support region defines a pelvic well for receiving an ischial tuberosity of the user and also provides a fulcrum to assist in rotating the pelvis of the user. The back rest structure comprises a gluteal panel for supporting a gluteal mass of the user and a posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) panel disposed above the gluteal panel. The PSIS panel is adjustable to cause movement of a PSIS of the user and cooperate with the pelvic well to cause rotation of the pelvis of the user about the fulcrum provided by the pelvic well.

A component of a vehicle seat and method for the production thereof includes a cover having a plurality of panels with each panel including a peripheral mating surface. The plurality of panels are mated together at the peripheral mating surfaces to form a cavity and foam is injected into the cavity of the cover.