A linkage extension system and method for holding an extendable portion of a seat in a desired position while the extendable portion translates from a retracted to an extended position and any intermediate position. A coupled damper produces a holding force to counter gravity or other forces which cause the translation of the seat extension away from a desired position. The linkage extension system is self-powered and operates within the enclosed portion of the seat.

An occupant protection device including: a side support section; a lumbar support section that is provided to the width direction intermediate portion of the seatback, and that has a support face displaceable between an advanced position pressing the lumbar region and a retreated position further to a seatback rear side than the advanced position; a displacement mechanism that displaces the support face of the lumbar support section between the advanced position and the retreated position; a side collision prediction section; an actuation controller that, in a case in which a vehicle side-on collision has been predicted by the side collision prediction section in a state in which the support face of the lumbar support section is not at the retreated position, controls the displacement mechanism so as to displace the support face of the lumbar support section to the retreated position.

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 vehicle seat that includes a cushion frame, a seatback frame, and a pelvic restraining strap or a restraining member. The cushion frame is connected to the vehicle floor and has a first side member and a second side member that is disposed opposite to the first side member. The seatback frame is connected to the cushion frame. The pelvic restraining strap or the restraining member is connected to the cushion frame and extends towards and may or may not connect to the seatback frame.

A mechanism for adjusting a contour of a seat, and a seat with a contour-adjusting mechanism, may include a selectively fillable air cushion and a support arrangement including a support element on which the air cushion is mounted.

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 vehicle control system includes a driving controller that switches between autonomous driving an manual driving of a vehicle, a seat whose form is changed between a form during autonomous driving and a form during manual driving that are different from each other, and a seat controller that controls motion of the seat when a form of the seat is changed. If the seat is in a form during autonomous driving, the driving controller does not switch autonomous driving to manual driving when controlling the vehicle.

A vehicle seat may be used in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a frame for attachment to the vehicle and a seat module which secures to the frame to mount the seat module to the vehicle.

A vehicle passenger seat for side-by-side passenger seating in a vehicle includes a first seat defining a first seating position, and a raised section positioned laterally adjacent to the first seat. The raised section includes a vertical wall laterally facing and defining a lateral extent of the first seating position and the vertical wall is laterally extendable between a stowed position defining a first volume in the first seating position and a deployed position defining a second volume in the first seating position that is less than the first volume.

A seating system is provided which comprises a seat movable between a standard seating position, in which the seat faces frontwards and the seat backrest is in an upright position for conventional driving mode, and at least one non-standard seating position in which the seat is rotated around a vertical axis with respect to the standard seating position and the backrest is reclined rearwards by rotation around a first transverse horizontal axis from the standard seating position. The seat is equipped with at least one passive safety device switchable between a working or active state, in which the device is able to protect an occupant of the seat in case of an impact of the vehicle, and a non-working or inactive state.