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 bladder containing a dielectric fluid. A first and second conductor can be operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. When electrical energy is supplied to the first and second conductors, they can have opposite charges. As a result, the first and second conductors can be electrostatically attracted toward each other to cause at least a portion of the dielectric fluid to be displaced to an outer peripheral region of the bladder, which bulges as a result and increases an overall height of the actuator.

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.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat having a backrest which comprises a backrest part and a backrest base element, the backrest part comprising a middle backrest element which is arranged pivotably on the backrest base element, wherein the backrest part comprises two lower backrest side elements and two upper backrest side elements, which are each mechanically coupled to the middle backrest element, wherein the two lower backrest side elements are arranged pivotably on the backrest base element, wherein at least one joint device is provided in each case between a lower backrest side element and an upper backrest side element, wherein a lower backrest side element and an upper backrest side element are each arranged at an angle α.sub.L, α.sub.R to one another, wherein pivoting of the middle backrest element causes a change in the angle α.sub.L, α.sub.R, wherein the joint device comprises at least one first elastic element.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat having a backrest which comprises a backrest part and a backrest base element, the backrest part comprising a middle backrest element which is arranged pivotably on the backrest base element, wherein the backrest part comprises two lower backrest side elements and two upper backrest side elements, which are each mechanically coupled to the middle backrest element, wherein the two lower backrest side elements are arranged pivotably on the backrest base element, wherein at least one joint device is provided in each case between a lower backrest side element and an upper backrest side element, wherein a lower backrest side element and an upper backrest side element are each arranged at an angle α.sub.L, α.sub.R to one another, wherein pivoting of the middle backrest element causes a change in the angle α.sub.L, α.sub.R.

A backrest of a vehicle seat comprises a backrest armature, at least one central upholstery module and two side upholstery modules each arranged on a respective side of the central upholstery module. Each of the at least three upholstery modules is fixed to the backrest armature independently of the other two upholstery modules.

A backrest of a vehicle seat includes an armature and an upholstery fixed to the armature. The upholstery has a slit for accommodating a headrest support rod by relative movement of the upholstery with respect to the armature in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat. The backrest further includes first and second trim elements. Each trim element forms a notch. The notches of the first and second trim elements define a passage for a headrest support rod. The second trim element partially covers the slit in the upholstery. The first and/or the second trim elements is/are in contact with the upholstery.

A seat assembly may include a seat, a seat actuator, a sensor assembly, and an electrical control unit (ECU). The seat actuator may be configured to adjust the seat. The sensor assembly may be connected to the seat and may be configured to detect a pressure applied to the seat. The ECU may be operatively connected to the seat actuator and the sensor assembly. The ECU may be configured to reduce soft tissue stress in soft tissue of a user via adjusting the seat with the seat actuator.

A functional apparatus for a vehicle seat having at least one expansion member having at least one cavity, the volume of which can be changed, at least in part, by a fluid which can flow into and out of said cavity, a fluid reservoir comprising at least one cavity being provided, which cavity is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the cavity of the expansion member. The fluid reservoir cooperates with an actuator assembly by means of which the cavity of the fluid reservoir can be actively compressed, with at least partial displacement of the fluid contained therein into the cavity of the expansion member.

A power seat operating device for a vehicle has a switch module for operating a power seat of the vehicle. In particular, the switch module includes a plurality of seesaw type switches to control operation directions of the power seat, and the operation directions of the power seat according to the operation of each switch is displayed with arrows on a display, thereby improving the switch operating convenience of the user such as accurately controlling the operation direction of the power seat according to the switch operation by the user, and accurately recognizing a selection state and an operation direction of the switch desired by the user.

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%.