The present disclosure describes vehicle seats having integral components for use with ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating systems. Air ducting can be incorporated into the seat base and the seat back. Further, air can be directed through a rear-facing outlet vent in the seat back, providing improved ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating for rear passengers of a vehicle.

A seat cushion for a seat in a high performance off-road racing vehicle. The seat cushion includes two foam layers, namely, a top thin foam layer and a bottom thick energy absorbing foam layer that are secured together, where the combination of the layers are capable of absorbing high energy Z-direction forces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top layer is a methylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI) polyurethane foam and is 12 mm thick, and the bottom layer is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam and is 38 mm thick.

A sensor disposition structure in a seat includes a cushion pad and a board-like member which is disposed under the cushion pad. A concave is formed in an upper surface of the board-like member, and a sensor is disposed in the concave.

A seat backrest is provided, comprising a framework (1) including an upper portion (10), a lower portion (20), a central support portion (40) and two side portions (30) formed integrally by injection molding a thermoplastic material; and an elongated reinforcement (60) embedded in the side portion (30) and the central support portion (40) by overmolding and extending along the side portion (30), the reinforcement (60) being configured to bend along a boundary (35) between the side portion (30) and the central support portion (40). A seat including the backrest is also provided.

The main cushion (3) of an automobile seat (e.g. the seat pan cushion, or a backrest cushion) is provided with a shield (2). The shield surrounds at least part of the lateral sides of the main cushion and is formed of a less compressible (i.e. harder) foam than the main cushion, such that when the seat is upholstered, creases in the upholstery are reduced/prevented and gapping is avoided.

A vehicle seat including a seat cushion, a seat back, a seat belt, and a seat belt retractor is provided. The vehicle seat includes: a seat back frame comprising: right and left side frames disposed at a distance away from each other in a lateral direction; an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the right side frame and the left side frame; a lower frame connecting lower end portions of the right side frame and the left side frame; and a connecting frame made of a pipe member and disposed at distances away from the right and left side frames and connecting the upper frame and the lower frame; and a first bracket by which the seat belt retractor is attached to the seat back frame. The first bracket is provided on the connecting frame at distances away from the upper frame and the lower frame.

Vehicle seat with seat cushion and seat back includes a seat frame, which comprises: first and second frames disposed at a distance away from each other in a predetermined direction; third frame connecting end portions of the first and second frames; fourth frame connecting another end portions of the first and second frames; and a connecting frame disposed at distances away from the first frame and second frame and connecting the third frame and fourth frame. The seat frame comprises: first pipe member having a U-shaped configuration and configured to form the first frame, the connecting frame, and part of the third frame by which the first frame and the connecting frame are connected; and second pipe member having a U-shaped configuration and configured to form the second frame, a remaining part of the third frame and the fourth frame, and connected to the first pipe member.

A seatback includes a trim cover/foam assembly including a foam cushion with a trim cover assembly disposed thereon. The trim cover/foam assembly has an occupant support side and a rear side opposite to the occupant support side, and defines an opening therethrough. The trim cover assembly includes a rear panel on the rear side for closing the opening. The seatback also includes an attachment member on the rear side of the trim cover/foam assembly configured to engage the rear panel and an armrest assembly including an armrest pivotally disposed on a frame at a rear portion of the armrest, with the armrest configured to pass through the opening. Upon installation of the armrest assembly, the rear panel is secured to the attachment member and sandwiched between the rear portion and the attachment member.

A vehicle structural element made of plastic has at least one carbon filler reinforced region and at least one fiberglass reinforced region. In a method for producing the vehicle structural element, a pre-heated carbon fiber reinforced region and a pre-heated fiberglass reinforced region are placed in a press and shaped.

In a vehicle seat frame, a connection member that connects left and right links together in a seat left-right direction is disposed below a rear portion of a cushion pan included in a seat cushion frame. A sloped surface sloped with a downward gradient toward a seat rear side is formed at a lower surface of the rear portion of the cushion pan. The sloped surface of the cushion pan slides in a seat rearward and diagonally downward direction relative to the connection member when the cushion pan deforms in a seat downward direction under load from the occupant during a head-on collision of the vehicle.