A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

A vehicle seat, which is provided with a collision prediction sensor and with a seat cushion having a seat cushion top face and a seat cushion frame, includes: a pelvis movement suppression member disposed along a seat width direction inside a front portion of the seat cushion; a vertical movement-enabling unit supporting the pelvis movement suppression member at the seat cushion frame and allowing vertical movement of the pelvis movement suppression member to follow vertical movement of the seat cushion top face; and a stopper unit attached to the seat cushion frame and, in a case in which a rapid deceleration of a vehicle is detected or a collision of the vehicle is predicted by the collision prediction sensor, restricting downward movement of the pelvis movement suppression member.

A system includes a body structure that defines a enclosure, a support system that is located in the enclosure, and a support structure that includes a top portion and an adjustable support assembly. The top portion is located adjacent to the support system, the adjustable support assembly includes actuators, and the adjustable support assembly is configured to move the top portion with respect to the support system. The system also includes sensors that are configured to generate sensor outputs regarding an environment outside of the system, and a controller that detects an event based on the sensor outputs. In response to the detection of the event, the controller outputs a control signal that controls the adjustable support assembly so that the adjustable support assembly moves at least part of the top portion away from the support system.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat pan operably coupled to a seatback. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a restraint bar coupled to the seatback and operable between a first position and a second position. The restraint bar is equipped with at least one deployable occupant restraint and the restraint bar is generally U-shaped.

A vehicle seat arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided. The vehicle seat arrangement comprises a vehicle seat, a pre-crash control unit which generates a control signal in the case of an impending collision of the motor vehicle, at least one pivoting element which is arranged in or on a backrest of the vehicle seat in order to move a vehicle occupant who is situated on the vehicle seat, and an actuator which, upon a control signal of the pre-crash control unit, which control signal indicates an impending collision, acts on a lever arm of the pivoting element in such a way that the latter performs a pivoting movement which leads to at least one region of the torso of the vehicle occupant being moved away from a possible collision region of the vehicle.

An armrest assembly for a vehicle includes a displaceable armrest element and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly is configured for translating the displaceable armrest element between a deployed configuration and a folded configuration. The linkage assembly includes a spring-actuated pivoting over-center link configured to disengage the linkage assembly to allow the displaceable armrest element to rotate. An actuator is provided which on sensing an impact ruptures a frangible fastener holding the over-center link in a substantially parallel orientation to at least one drive link, thereby allowing the spring-actuated over-center linkage to pivot relative to the at least one drive link.

A seat headrest assembly (16) includes a core (54) that includes a core bottom (56). A thermal conditioning device (22) includes a housing (26) that provides a fluid passage (28) that extends to a vent (62). A heating module (36) and a blower (38) are arranged in the fluid passage. The thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the core bottom.

A dynamic seating system includes one or more vehicle sensors that output information describing one or more operating characteristics of a vehicle; a calculation unit configured to determine a feedback level based on a degree of deviation of the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle from a predetermined state; and a seating assembly configured to actuate based on the feedback level.

An occupant restraining device for a vehicle has: a time to collision estimating section that estimates a time to collision, the time to collision being a time until a front collision with a vehicle ahead; a force imparting portion that imparts force toward a vehicle rear side to a vehicle occupant of an own vehicle; a gap enlarging portion that enlarges a gap between the vehicle occupant and a seatback of a vehicle seat; a gap estimating section that estimates a size of the gap between the vehicle occupant and the seatback; and a control section that, in a case in which the gap enlarging portion operates, controls a timing of a start of operation of the force imparting portion on the basis of the time to collision estimated by the time to collision estimating section and the size of the gap estimated by the gap estimating section.

A seat assembly includes a seatback, an elongated member, a pyrotechnic device, and a wire. The seat assembly may be in a vehicle. The elongated member is rotatably supported by the seatback. The pyrotechnic device is fixed relative to the seatback. The wire is connected to the elongated member and deployably attached to the pyrotechnic device.