A vehicle seat can be configured to selectively provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. An actuator can be located within the vehicle seat. When activated, the actuator cause a portion of the seat to morph into an activated configuration. The actuator can be activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration. The actuator can include end members connected by a shape memory material connecting member. Actuator blocks with sliding surfaces can be located between the end members. The actuator can be configured such that, in response to an activation input, the shape memory material connecting member contracts, which draws the end members toward each other and causes corresponding sliding surfaces of the plurality of actuator blocks to engage and slide relative to each other. In this way, the actuator morphs into an activated configuration in which its overall height increases.

Actuators can be used in controlling a seat surface of a vehicle seat. The actuators can have an outer skin in connection with a hinge assemblies. The actuators can include a shape-memory material (SMM) member operatively connected to the hinge assemblies. The SMM member can be a shape-memory alloy (SMA) wire. The SMM member can change from a first configuration to the second configuration in response to an activation input, such as heat. The input can be delivered to the SMM member upon detecting an activation condition, such as detection of lateral acceleration. The actuators are operatively positioned relative to a seat surface such that, when the SMM member changes configuration, actuator causes the seat surface to morph.

A support device configured to overlay a seating assembly and configured to support the torso, neck, and head of a user is provided. The support device has a first elongated bolster cushion configured to support a first thoracic side of the user, a second elongated bolster cushion configured to support a second thoracic side of the user, a first adjustable strap coupled to a upper portion of the first elongated bolster cushion and an upper portion of the second elongated bolster cushion such that the strap connects each of the first and second elongated bolster cushions on their respective lower portions, a second adjustable strap coupled to a lower portion of the first elongated bolster cushion and a lower portion of the second elongated bolster cushion such that the strap connects each of the first and second elongated bolster cushions on their respective lower portions, wherein when the first adjustable strap is tightened the upper portions of the first and second elongated bolsters move towards each other such that the first and second elongated bolsters for a tapered shape with respect to the other to support the user's thoracic sides, neck, head of the user or any combination thereof.

A seat includes a seat back frame and a mounting plate fixed to the seat back frame. A deployable plate is movably engaged with the mounting plate and is moveable away from the seat back frame from an undeployed position to a deployed position. An actuator is coupled to the deployable plate.

A vehicle seat is provided with a side support device configured to assist vehicle exit behavior of an occupant while stably securing a holding property for the sitting occupant. The vehicle seat includes a side support device configured to support a cushion side portion of a seat cushion to be switchable between a seating available position and a vehicle exit assist position, a lock device configured to lock the cushion side portion in the seating available position, and a lock release device configured to release a lock state of the lock device. The lock release device includes a first lever configured to detect sitting of the occupant on a cushion center portion and a second lever configured to detect sitting of the occupant on the cushion side portion. The lock state is released when the detection by the second lever occurs while the detection by the first lever continues.

A method for adjusting a vehicle seat includes moving each of a set of first valves respectively associated with ones of a group of first bladders into an open position allowing the receipt of air into and fluidic communication among the group of first bladders, inflating the first group of bladders to a predetermined pressure, and closing each of the set of first valves to maintain an inflation level of each of the first bladders.

A vehicle is adapted for movement along a roadway. A cabin of the vehicle is adapted for surrounding and supporting an occupant with movement of the vehicle. Systems of the vehicle control an environment within the cabin.

One example of a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back, a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, and a bladder support system coupled to at least one of the seat back and the seat bottom. The bladder support system includes air cells and a pump fluidly connected to the air cells to selectively inflate the air cells when the pump receives an activation signal. A valve system defining flow paths fluidly connected between the pump and the air cells. The valve system includes at least three control valves, with each control valve generating a control valve output when receiving the activation signal. The valve system also includes passive valves movable to an open position to inflate the corresponding air cell when receiving at least three control valve outputs. A controller is configured to send the activation signal to the control valves and the pump.

A vehicle seat can be configured to selectively provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. An actuator can be located within the vehicle seat. When activated, the actuator cause a portion of the seat to morph into an activated configuration. The actuator can be activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration. The actuator can include a main body member, a first end member pivotably connected to a first end region of the main body member, and a second end member pivotably connected to a second end region of the main body member. The actuator can include shape memory material connecting members. The actuator can be configured such that, in response to an activation input, the shape memory material connecting members contract, causing the first and second end members pivot, which causes the actuator to morph into an activated configuration.

Provided is a support device including a flexible air-tight membrane, defining an internal volume and including a connection valve configured to allow introduction or extraction of air into/from the internal volume, and a compressible solid body housed in the internal volume and made of a material which, when said membrane is placed under vacuum, has a volume that decreases by at least 5%.