A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle includes a cushion and a suspension. The cushion has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to engage the occupant. The second surface is disposed opposite the first surface. The suspension includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a third surface. The third surface engages the second surface of the cushion. The second portion includes a fourth surface. The fourth surface defines a first depression. The first depression opens toward the cushion. The first depression is configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

A seat suspension includes a base including a base hook and a seat platform provided with a seat. A first link couples a first rotational axis of the base and a third rotational axis of the seat platform and is configured to be rotatable about the first rotational axis and the third rotational axis. A second link couples a second rotational axis of the base and a fourth rotational axis of the seat platform and is configured to be rotatable about the second rotational axis and the fourth rotational axis. A link hook is provided on the second link. An elastic member is latched to the base hook and the link hook and is configured to pull the link hook toward the base hook. A first angle between a contracting direction of the elastic member and a rotation direction of the link hook increases as the elastic member expands.

An adequate mechanical stiffness and strength are afforded to a tumble seat or a vehicle seat having a latch mechanism provided in a rear end of the seat cushion. A cushion frame (F1) of the seat includes a side frame (5) extending in a fore and aft direction, and the side frame includes a first member (10) comprising a channel member having an open side facing sideways and a second member (11) attached to the first member so as to form a closed cross section jointly with the first member, and extending downward further than the first member. A latch mechanism is positioned under the first member and attached to the second member.

There is described a vehicle seat suspension mechanism, comprising a vehicle mount, a seat support linked to the vehicle mount by a suspension arrangement which allows the seat support to fall with respect to the vehicle mount under load and a shock strut arranged to resist the seat support falling with respect to the vehicle mount during a compression stroke. A control link is arranged to be driven about a control link pivot by the fall of the seat support. The control link is pivotally coupled to a first end of the shock strut to guide the first end with respect to a second end of the shock strut in a manner which causes a motion ratio of the suspension mechanism to increase during progression of the compression stroke. The ride will feel softer for smaller impacts and better damped later for larger impacts. The mechanism is arranged underneath a seat of a vehicle to provide additional comfort for the rider.

An adjustable firmness seat suspension includes a seat frame, first and second spring members, and an intermediate tensioning member. The seat frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member spaced apart from and opposite one another. The first spring member is attached to the first frame member, the second spring member is attached to the second frame member, and the intermediate tensioning member is attached to and extends between the first spring member and the second spring member. The intermediate tensioning member is formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) having a first length that provides a first spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members, and configured to alter its length to a second length that provides a second spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members in response to application of a tensioning signal thereto.

An adjustable firmness seat suspension includes a seat frame, first and second spring members, and an intermediate tensioning member. The seat frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member spaced apart from and opposite one another. The first spring member is attached to the first frame member, the second spring member is attached to the second frame member, and the intermediate tensioning member is attached to and extends between the first spring member and the second spring member. The intermediate tensioning member is formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) having a first length that provides a first spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members, and configured to alter its length to a second length that provides a second spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members in response to application of a tensioning signal thereto.

A vehicle seat mounting system includes a seat mount plate and a vehicle mount plate. A vertically operable scissor linkage assembly is disposed between the seat mount plate and the vehicle mount plate and is oriented such that respective opposing ends of a first scissor arm and a second scissor arm are each secured to a respective one of the seat mount plate and the vehicle mount plate. A spring assembly is disposed between the seat mount plate and the vehicle mount plate and is oriented to cooperate with the scissor linkage assembly to resist translation between the vehicle mount plate and the seat mount plate. An adjuster assembly cooperates with the spring assembly and is operable to manipulate the proportion of the spring assembly that is available to be engaged to resist motion of the mounting system.

A kinetic seat cushion assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat cushion assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame, a seat cushion tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat cushion frame to the primary seat cushion frame such that the secondary seat cushion frame is movable with respect to the primary seat cushion frame, and a front pivot mechanism that pivotally couples a front portion of the primary seat cushion frame to a front portion of the secondary seat cushion frame.

A seat suspension includes a frame fixedly securable to a structure. A suspension assembly is operably connected to the frame. A seat support is adapted to receive a seat, and the seat support is operably connected to the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes a first elongate suspension bar slidably disposed on a pivot surface. The first suspension bar has a first end slidingly secured to the seat support and a second opposed end secured to a shock compensating device. The suspension bar is translatable relative to the pivot surface, wherein moving the suspension bar changes the shock compensation of the suspension assembly.

A kinetic seat cushion assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat cushion assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame, a seat cushion tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat cushion frame to the primary seat cushion frame such that the secondary seat cushion frame is movable with respect to the primary seat cushion frame, and a front pivot mechanism that pivotally couples a front portion of the primary seat cushion frame to a front portion of the secondary seat cushion frame.