A seat cushion extension apparatus for a vehicle seat includes an extension unit slidable from a front end portion of a seat frame in a vehicle to a position disposed forwards of the front end portion of the seat frame, locking units for locking the extension unit with respect to the seat frame at a locking position, and allowing the extension unit to be slidable such that the extension unit protrudes forwards of the seat frame at a release position, and a lever for controlling the locking units between the locking position and the release position. The extension unit is supported by guide shafts to be movable forwards and rearwards in housings fixed to the seat frame. The guide shafts are locked in the housings at the locking position and are movable with respect to the seat frame at the release position.

A pneumatic pressure control method for a vehicle seat includes: repeatedly detecting an internal pressure of a bladder provided inside the vehicle seat at intervals; correcting the internal pressure of the bladder based on a differential pressure between a detection value and a target value; and lengthening a detection interval to detect the internal pressure depending on a time elapsing from starting of the vehicle.

A lateral brake assembly of a seat locking mechanism comprises: a first lateral brake including a first track bar and a first housing; a second lateral brake including a second track bar and a second housing; a carriage tube operably connected to the first lateral brake and the second lateral brake; a plurality of first slots located in the first track bar; and a first lateral lock pin operably connected to the carriage tube. The first housing in operation moves over the first track bar and locks onto the first track bar. The second housing in operation moves over the second track bar and locks onto the second track bar. The carriage tube in operation moves the first lateral brake and the second lateral brake to at least one of a locked position and an unlocked position, when the carriage tube rotates.

A seat having a backrest and a seat cushion includes rows of adjusting elements, respectively, which adjusting elements are arranged above one another, on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the seat. By alternately applying the adjusting elements mutually arranged in a vertically staggered manner in the two halves of the seat, a rotational movement can be actively applied to a seat user's back and possibly pelvis, which rotational movement corresponds to the rotational movement of the back, and possibly of the pelvis, when walking.

A utility vehicle is provided with a hip guard member disposed adjacent to a seat for a crew member and guarding the crew member sitting on the seat from outside in a vehicle width direction. The utility vehicle includes: a seat frame provided below the seat and supporting the seat; and a seatbelt apparatus configured to hold the crew member sitting on the seat. The seatbelt apparatus includes a retractor supporting an end of webbing so as to freely wind the webbing. The retractor is attached to the seat frame, and the retractor projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the hip guard member.

A torque transfer control mechanism that suppresses output-side displacement, and including a rotation control unit that maintains a locked state when an input torque rotating a transfer mechanism is not applied, and releases the locked state when the transfer mechanism rotates. The rotation control unit includes an internal gear and lock plates that include outer teeth that can engage with inner teeth of the internal gear. When an input torque is not applied, the inner teeth of the internal gear engage with the outer teeth of the lock plates, and when the transfer mechanism is rotated, engagement between the inner teeth and the outer teeth is released. Thus, even when torque is applied from the output unit side, engagement between the inner teeth and the outer teeth is not released by the torque.

A distributed control system for a vehicle seat includes a control module for communicating on a single communication bus and a plurality of nodes connected to the control module via the communication bus, wherein each of the plurality of nodes are associated with a load device and each of the plurality of nodes comprises a logic component specific to the load device.

A seat bottom includes a frame, a first thigh support, a second thigh support, and a controller. The first thigh support and the second thigh support are each supported by the frame and are independently movable relative to the frame to adjustable positions. A first deployable device is coupled to the first thigh support, and a second deployable device is coupled to the second thigh support. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second deployable devices. The controller is programmed to independently inflate the first and second deployable devices based at least on the adjustable positions of the first and second thigh supports in response to a sensed vehicle impact.

A seat includes a back part and a seat part having a seat cover, padding, and a support structure. The seat cover delimits a seat area, which is divided into a central bearing area and two side support areas. An air bladder is located in each of the side support areas. The air bladders can be inflated or deflated for changing the vertical position of the seat area on the side support areas. A bearing part is arranged between the support structure and the air bladder. A fastener constructed as a latching connection is configured to fix the bearing part on the support structure.

The present disclosure provides an inflatable air cushion system of a vehicle seat. The inflatable air cushion system includes an inflatable air cushion positioned within a side supporting portion of the seat and configured to expand away from a middle supporting portion of a cushion substantially in a widthwise direction, an inflator connecting to the inflatable air cushion, and a controller for controlling the inflator to inflate the inflatable air cushion in response to a passenger occupancy signal.