A side member (10) for a vehicle seat (1), in particular motor vehicle seat, includes a metallic frame section (12). The frame section (12) has an exposed supporting section (14) for supporting a padding of the side member (10), wherein the supporting section (14) is flexurally elastic and, in a normal position, protrudes from the frame section (12) in order to support the padding, wherein at least one electrically controllable actuator (20) is provided, which, by generating a force, transfers the supporting section (14) from the normal position into a retracted position. The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle seat (1) having at least one side member (10).

A central electronic control unit (ECU, Ref. 14) is provided for controlling at least one bi-directional direct current (DC) motor (106) attached to a first vehicle seat and at least one electronic device attached to a second vehicle seat. The central ECU includes a micro-controller configured to receive feedback on a positional status of the bi-directional DC motor from a Hall Effect sensor (130). The micro-controller is configured to receive input instructions for the bi-directional DC motor and the electronic device. The micro-controller creates command instructions based in part on the received feedback and received input instructions. The central ECU selectively provides pulse width modulated (PWM) power to the bi-directional DC motor attached to the first vehicle seat and selectively provides power to the electronic device attached to the second vehicle seat in response to the command instructions from the micro-controller.

Provided is a belt assist device having a compact configuration and being configured to move a seatbelt to an easily reachable position. A vehicle seat includes a belt assist device attached to a lateral portion of a seat back and configured to move a portion of a seatbelt placed on the lateral portion to the easily reachable position. The belt assist device includes a rotary member attached to a recessed housing portion of the lateral portion via a rotary shaft and configured to rotate up and down between a housing position at which the rotary member is housed in the seat back and a protruding position at which the rotary member rotates to protrude forward of the seat back to push out a portion of the seatbelt. The rotary member is disposed forward of a belt guide provided at the periphery of an upper end of the seat back.

A vehicle seat includes a movable portion, a first spring, a second spring, and a preloading device. The first spring is capable of exerting an elastic force to displace the movable portion, which is displaced in a first direction, toward the neutral position. The second spring is capable of exerting an elastic force to displace the movable portion, which is displaced in a second direction, toward the neutral position. The preloading device is capable varying at least one of an elastic force applied by the first spring to the movable portion placed in the neutral position or an elastic force applied by the second spring to the movable portion placed in the neutral position.

Provided is a structure of a leg-rest which is switchable at a front lower end of a seat between a receiving position where a support panel is folded on the seat and a deploying position where the support panel is drawn out to support the leg of a seated person. The structure of the leg-rest can include a fixing bracket which is fixed to the seat; a rotary arm of which one end is rotatably connected to the fixing bracket; a base slider which is slidably coupled to the rotary arm in a longitudinal direction; an extending slider which is slidably coupled to the base slider in a longitudinal direction and mounted with the support panel; and a rotary assist arm of which one end is separated from the rotary arm to be rotatably connected to the fixing bracket and the other end is rotatably connected to the base slider.

A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat comprises a seat body, a fan, a duct, a mounting bracket, and a holder. The fan blows air out or draws air in. The duct couples between the seat body and the fan, and is flexible. The mounting bracket is to be mounted to a panel provided in the seat body and supports the duct. The holder is provided in at least a first one of the duct and the mounting bracket. The holder is configured to be abutted against a second one of the duct and the mounting bracket in a state where the mounting bracket is not mounted to the panel, thereby holding a mounting surface of the mounting bracket and a mounting surface of the panel such that the mounting surface of the mounting bracket and the mounting surface of the panel are approximately parallel to each other.

A pitch assembly for a vehicle seat includes a drive pinion having a slot, a pinion actuator having a key positioned within the slot, a cam fixedly coupled to the pinion actuator by a drive shaft, a drive motor operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft, and an actuator lever operatively coupled to the cam and operatively coupled to a disc mechanism. The drive motor rotates the drive shaft causing the cam to move the actuator lever to an actuated position causing the disc mechanism to be unlocked prior to the key engaging with the slot. Additional rotation of the drive shaft after the key is engaged with the slot rotates the drive pinion causing the vehicle seat to be pivoted between a first and second position.

Provided is a structure of a leg-rest which is switchable at a front lower end of a seat between a receiving position where a support panel is folded on the seat and a deploying position where the support panel is drawn out to support the leg of a seated person. The structure of the leg-rest can include a fixing bracket which is fixed to the seat; a rotary arm of which one end is rotatably connected to the fixing bracket; a base slider which is slidably coupled to the rotary arm in a longitudinal direction; an extending slider which is slidably coupled to the base slider in a longitudinal direction and mounted with the support panel; and a rotary assist arm of which one end is separated from the rotary arm to be rotatably connected to the fixing bracket and the other end is rotatably connected to the base slider.

Provided is a belt assist device having a compact configuration and being configured to move a seatbelt to an easily reachable position. A vehicle seat includes a belt assist device attached to a lateral portion of a seat back and configured to move a portion of a seatbelt placed on the lateral portion to the easily reachable position. The belt assist device includes a rotary member attached to a recessed housing portion of the lateral portion via a rotary shaft and configured to rotate up and down between a housing position at which the rotary member is housed in the seat back and a protruding position at which the rotary member rotates to protrude forward of the seat back to push out a portion of the seatbelt. The rotary member is disposed forward of a belt guide provided at the periphery of an upper end of the seat back.

A seat including an exterior seat surface. The exterior seat surface is movable inward and outward relative to an interior of the seat. A flexible material overlays the exterior seat surface. The flexible material is lockable to restrict movement of the flexible material towards the exterior seat surface. Movement of the exterior seat surface into the seat defines a gap between the exterior seat surface and the flexible material to permit air to circulate between the exterior seat surface and the flexible material to cool an occupant of the seat.