A vehicle seat includes a head restraint with a head restraint support connected to a vehicle seat back and the head restraint is configurable in a stowed configuration having a size that is smaller than a deployed configuration.

A vehicle seat includes a head restraint with a head restraint support connected to a vehicle seat back and the head restraint is configurable in a stowed configuration having a size that is smaller than a deployed configuration.

Apparatus and methods are provided for a modular vehicle seating system. In one embodiment the seating system has a universal center module that is mountable to a seating position in a vehicle and includes seat pan and seat back portions. The seating system may further include a matched pair of modular side bolsters selectable from an assortment of matched pairs of side bolsters, where each matched pair has a particular physical property defined by a unique value in a range of values of the physical property in the assortment. The side bolsters are detachably connectable to the to left and right sides of the universal center module with fasteners.

Arrangements for safety and comfort in vehicles.

Arrangements for safety and comfort in vehicles.

An audio system for a seat headrest includes N speaker(s), each configured to be integrated into a seat headrest, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and an audio processing device including an electronic transmission channel connected to the speaker(s) and configured to transmit at least one audio stream via the speaker(s). The audio system comprises P microphone(s), each configured to be integrated into the headrest, P being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The audio processing device further includes an electronic receiving channel connected to the microphone(s) and configured to receive at least one sound signal via the P microphone(s).

An audio system for a seat headrest includes N speaker(s), each configured to be integrated into a seat headrest, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and an audio processing device including an electronic transmission channel connected to the speaker(s) and configured to transmit at least one audio stream via the speaker(s). The audio system comprises P microphone(s), each configured to be integrated into the headrest, P being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The audio processing device further includes an electronic receiving channel connected to the microphone(s) and configured to receive at least one sound signal via the P microphone(s).

A headrest may be fixed relative to a seat or a bank of seats in a vehicle and can provide multiple stages of deformation in response to a collision event. The headrest can include a resilient member that deforms in response to a first force caused by the collision event. The headrest can also include a frame that deforms in a first manner in response to a second force greater than the first force and in a second manner in response to a third force greater than the second force. Such a headrest can provide improved impact mitigation for occupants, regardless of height and/or weight such that occupants ranging from the 5.sup.th to 95.sup.th percentile in height and/or weight are afforded similar impact mitigation despite a fixed headrest structure. In some examples, multiple such headrests may be conjoined.

Seat assemblies are provided which include a seat base structure, a seat cushion supported by the seat base structure and at least a lateral outboard seat lip positioned relative to the seat cushion so as to assist a passenger during seat entry and exit. The lateral outboard seat lip is preferably attached relative to the seat cushion for manual movements between an extended position wherein the outboard seat lip extends outwardly thereby increasing effective surface area of the seat cushion and a deflected position wherein the outboard seat lip extends upwardly or downwardly relative to the seat cushion so as to thereby decrease the effective surface area of the seat cushion.

An adjustment mechanism for a seat comprises at least one screw shaft (111, 112) and a motor for driving the at least one screw shaft (111, 112). Further, the adjustment mechanism comprises at least one nut element (121, 122) engaged with the at least one screw shaft (121, 122) in such a way that a rotation of the at least one screw shaft (111, 112) caused by the motor translates into a linear motion of the at least one nut element (121, 122). In a first range of the linear motion of the at least one nut element (121, 122) the linear motion translates into adjustment of the seat according to a first degree of freedom, and in a second range of the linear motion of the at least one nut element (121, 122) the linear motion translates into adjustment of the seat according to a second degree of freedom.