A modular monocoque backrest is provided. The modular monocoque backrest may comprise a front shroud, a back shroud, and an at least one back spar. The front shroud may be coupled to the back shroud, and the back spar may be configured as a mounting point, enabling the modular monocoque backrest to mount to an aircraft floor. The front shroud and the back shroud may comprise a carbon fiber composite material, allowing the modular monocoque backrest to be modular in nature. The carbon fiber composite material may enable the modular monocoque backrest to have a lightweight design while also maintaining resistance to dynamic crash loads.

In order to improve steering operation operability during cornering while maintaining a driver holding property, a seat apparatus is provided with: a seat back frame; a cornering sensor for detecting a cornering direction of a vehicle; and a control unit that controls the seat back frame on the basis of the result of detection by the cornering sensor. The seat back frame is provided with: left and right side frames disposed on both sides of the seat back frame; a back plate disposed between the left and right side frames; and a swinging mechanism for swinging the back plate with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle. The control unit controls the swinging mechanism such that, upon detection of a cornering direction of the vehicle by the cornering sensor, the inner one of the sides of the back plate with respect to the cornering direction is positioned rearward of the outer one of the sides with respect to the cornering direction.

In order to improve steering operation operability during cornering while maintaining a driver holding property, a seat apparatus is provided with: a seat back frame; a cornering sensor for detecting a cornering direction of a vehicle; and a control unit that controls the seat back frame on the basis of the result of detection by the cornering sensor. The seat back frame is provided with: left and right side frames disposed on both sides of the seat back frame; a back plate disposed between the left and right side frames; and a swinging mechanism for swinging the back plate with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle. The control unit controls the swinging mechanism such that, upon detection of a cornering direction of the vehicle by the cornering sensor, the inner one of the sides of the back plate with respect to the cornering direction is positioned rearward of the outer one of the sides with respect to the cornering direction.

A modular monocoque backrest is provided. The modular monocoque backrest may comprise a front shroud, a back shroud, and an at least one back spar. The front shroud may be coupled to the back shroud, and the back spar may be configured as a mounting point, enabling the modular monocoque backrest to mount to an aircraft floor. The front shroud and the back shroud may comprise a carbon fiber composite material, allowing the modular monocoque backrest to be modular in nature. The carbon fiber composite material may enable the modular monocoque backrest to have a lightweight design while also maintaining resistance to dynamic crash loads.

A seatback includes a pressure-receiving member and a drive mechanism. The pressure-receiving member includes a first pressure-receiving portion configured to support a lumbar region of an occupant, and a second pressure-receiving portion joined to an upper part of the first pressure-receiving portion and configured to support a back of the occupant in cooperation with the first pressure-receiving portion. The drive mechanism is configured to displace the pressure-receiving member between a support position and a non-support position, which is a position rearward of the support position. The pressure-receiving member is configured, when in the support position, to be bent at a joining portion where the first pressure-receiving portion and the second pressure-receiving portion are joined together to become convex toward a seat front side.

The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle seat which can improve degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat with a seat cushion and a seat back includes: right and left side frames 20 constituting right and left frames of the seat back; a pressure-receiving member 40 disposed between the right and left side frames 20 and configured to receive a load from an occupant; and a driving mechanism 50 disposed at each of right and left sides of the pressure-receiving member 40 and configured to cause a right end portion or a left end portion of the pressure-receiving member 40 to move from an initial position to an advanced position that is located frontward of the initial position or to move from the advanced position to the initial position, wherein the driving mechanism 50 includes a linkage (drive link member 100 and contact link member 200) configured to be connected to the pressure-receiving member 40 and a driving source 52 configured to actuate the linkage, and wherein the linkage is configured to operate when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is input from the occupant to the pressure-receiving member 40 to cause the pressure-receiving member 40 to move to a backward position that is located rearward of the initial position.

A seatback pad that configures a pad member of a seatback of a vehicle seat and that is covered by a cover. The seatback pad includes plural grooves that extend along a seat left-right direction formed at a lower portion of a back face of the seatback pad facing toward a lumber support device installed at the seatback, with the plural grooves being formed in a row along a seat up-down direction.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback frame and a seat frame defining a seating frame. A plurality of distinct assembly modules are configured for attachment with the seating frame. The plurality of distinct assembly modules include a back cushion module, a hard back module, a headrest module, and a seat cushion module. The seat cushion module includes a composite cushion pan having a rearward support defining an intermediate open area. A forward support is pivotally coupled to the rearward support. A suspension assembly is disposed in the intermediate open area. A cushion extends over the composite cushion pan. A coverstock covers the cushion.

An article of vehicle furniture includes one or more adaptive support elements. Each of the adaptive support elements includes a carbon fiber layer operable between support and configurable conditions and a heating element in thermal communication with the carbon fiber layer. The heating element is configured to heat the carbon fiber layer from the support condition to the configurable condition. Each of the adaptive support elements further includes a thermal barrier layer, wherein the heating element is disposed between the thermal barrier layer and the carbon fiber layer.

One or more actuators can be used to provide a substantially continuous level of lumbar support to a seat occupant. An actuator can be operatively positioned relative to a lumbar region of a seat. The actuator can be caused to morph into an activated configuration to support a lumbar region of a seat occupant. The activated configuration of the actuator can be maintained to provide a substantially continuous level of lumbar support.