A pivoting system comprising a first hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a first hypocycloidal gear, the first gear comprising a first eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the first eccentric cam having a first eccentricity, a second hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a second hypocycloidal gear, the second gear comprising a second eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the second eccentric cam having a second eccentricity equal to the first eccentricity, a control shaft configured to drive the first eccentric cam and the second eccentric cam in rotation.

An occupant safety system and method includes identifying a potential impact of a vehicle with an external object utilizing an environment sensor. A position of an occupant of the vehicle is sensed by one or more position sensors. An advantageous position of the occupant is determined based on the identified potential impact. The occupant is then repositioned to the advantageous position in response to the identified potential impact.

A lining element for a backrest of a vehicle seat, in particular for the rear face of the back seat is provided. A number of soft lining parts, which are arranged on the front face, and two or more solid lining parts, which are arranged on the rear face and are connected to the soft lining parts, are provided. The degree of deformability of the lining elements towards the rear is preferably greater than the degree of deformability towards the front.

A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a seatback; an airbag having a stowed position and an inflated position, the airbag being configured to inflate from the stowed position to the inflated position in response to the vehicle impacting an object; a head restraint coupled to the seatback, the head restraint including a forward position, a rearward position, and a locking mechanism preventing the head restraint from moving from the forward position to the rearward position after taking the forward position; and as the airbag inflates from the stowed position to the inflated position, the airbag forces the head restraint from the rearward position to the forward position. As the airbag inflates from the stowed position to the inflated position and forces the head restraint to the forward position, the airbag does not contact the one or more support bars and does not force the seatback to change position.

A vehicle seat arrangement has a vehicle seat for attaching to a vehicle structure of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a lower seat part having a seat structure and with a seat back. The lower seat part is mounted or can be mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the vehicle structure by a seat console, wherein at least the seat back is adjustable from a sitting position into a resting or lying position, and wherein between the lower seat part and the vehicle structure an energy absorption device is provided. In the event of a collision of the vehicle with an obstacle, the energy absorption device permits a braked relative movement along a braking path between the vehicle seat, which persists in a forwards movement due to inertia, and the vehicle structure, which is braked due to the collision. In the normal state, the vehicle seat is locked relative to the vehicle structure by a locking device and the locking is released in the event of a collision. The locking device is designed such that the locking is released and the longitudinal displaceability of the vehicle seat is enabled before the mass-induced forces of inertia of the body of a person lying on the vehicle seat are completely supported on the seat structure of the lower seat part, and therefore the body only enters into force-transmitting contact with the seat structure when the vehicle seat is already moving forwards relative to the vehicle structure.

A method for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat from a reclined position to a pre-determinable safety position. The method includes detecting an imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision, pretensioning a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat, the seat belt being directly or indirectly attached to a backrest of the vehicle seat, and adjusting the position of the vehicle seat from the reclined position to the pre-determinable safety position by means of a seat adjustment means associated with the vehicle seat, the seat adjustment means being actuated by a collision force generated by the imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision and applied via a seat occupant and/or the seat belt to the vehicle seat. The present invention also relates to an occupant safety arrangement for a vehicle seat.

A restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. The restraint system includes a seat shaped to accommodate an occupant, wherein the seat includes a seat back and an energy absorption member that expands from a stowed position and into a deployed position. The energy absorption member fills a volume of space behind the seat back when in the deployed position to absorb energy that would otherwise be imparted towards an occupant of the seat during an impact involving the vehicle. The restraint system also includes an impact sensing device generating an impact signal in response to detecting the impact involving the vehicle is imminent. The impact signal indicates an orientation and magnitude of the impact involving the vehicle. The restraint system includes a control module in electronic communication with the energy absorption member and the impact sensing device.

A pivoting system comprising a first hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a first hypocycloidal gear, the first gear comprising a first eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the first eccentric cam having a first eccentricity, a second hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a second hypocycloidal gear, the second gear comprising a second eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the second eccentric cam having a second eccentricity equal to the first eccentricity, a control shaft configured to drive the first eccentric cam and the second eccentric cam in rotation.

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.

An assembly includes a seat bottom including a panel pivotable from a first position to a second position. The assembly includes a track supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes a spring in the track and urging the panel toward the second position. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic actuator maintaining the spring in compression and actuatable to release the spring.