A system and method for positioning a seat arrangement in a vehicle having a front seat arrangement and a rear seat arrangement includes moving the rear seat arrangement rearward relative to the vehicle when a plurality of criteria are met, including at least one criterion related to occupancy of the rear seat arrangement and at least one criterion related to a likelihood of impact into the vehicle from behind the vehicle. The rear seat arrangement is not moved rearward when at least one of the criteria is not met.

A sideseat includes a sideseat base, turntable, posterior frame and backrest frame. The sideseat posterior frame is rotatably coupled to the sideseat base through the turntable. The turntable is positioned so that the sideseat turntable and combined frame components move from a deployed position to a locked position in response to an applied force.

A system and method for positioning a seat arrangement in a vehicle includes moving the seat arrangement forward by a first amount when a certain criteria are met. The criteria may include at least one criterion related to occupancy of a seat directly behind the seat arrangement and at least one criterion related to a likelihood of an impact into the vehicle from behind the seat arrangement. The method may also include not moving the seat arrangement forward by the first amount when at least one of the criteria is not met.

An apparatus or front row vehicle seat having portions A, B, C and D. The apparatus is adjustable by an occupant in its normal motionless position. When a vehicle electronic control unit senses a hazardous traffic situation, it causes activation of a seat actuator. In response, each of seat portions A, B, C, and D is simultaneously altered, without an occupants' action, to a new deployed position. The new deployed positions of the seat portions A, B, C, and D inhibit occupant ejection from a vehicle. The portions A, B and D of the apparatus are supported by front and rear stationary pillars and a middle movable pillar. The pillars project from a related unit seat height adjuster. The interaction of the rear stationary pillars with the portion D helps keep various seat components in the same orientation and position with respect to each other before and after deployment.

A system includes a shear member and an energy absorber. The shear member is configured to couple a seat portion to a base structure of a vehicle. The shear member is configured to sustain a first load without fracture and configured to inelastically deform under a second load. The second load is greater than the first load. The energy absorber is coupled to the seat portion and coupled to the base structure. The energy absorber is configured to absorb the energy following deformation of the shear member.

Methods and apparatus are provided for a vehicle electronic power system. In one exemplary embodiment an energy harvesting device is configured to generate electricity in response to vibration of the vehicle occurring during normal vehicle operation. The energy harvesting device may be tuned to a frequency that falls within a peak energy region in a vibration profile of the vehicle. The power system may further include a charging circuit connecting the energy harvesting device to a rechargeable battery provides electrical power to an electro-mechanical vehicle component or system.

Methods and apparatus are provided for a pivot arm mounted energy attenuating vehicle seating system. In one exemplary embodiment the vehicle seating system includes a seat with a pair of left upper and lower seat pivots, and a pair of right upper and lower seat pivots; and apart from the seat a pair of left upper and lower stationary pivots, and a pair of right upper and lower stationary pivots. A pair of left and right upper pivot arms are connected at one end to a respective upper seat pivot, and at the other end to a respective upper stationary pivot; and a pair of left and right lower pivot arms are similarly connected at one end to a respective lower seat pivot, and at the other end to a respective lower stationary pivot. The seating system may further include an energy attenuating member with a first end attached to the seat and a second end configured for attachment to a vehicle compartment.

Disclosed is a seat rail pair (2) for adjustment of a vehicle seat (8), in particular of a motor vehicle seat, in an adjustment direction (x), comprising a guide rail (10) extending parallel to the adjustment direction (x) for fastening to a vehicle floor, and a fastening rail (21), which is adjustably guided on the guide rail (10) in the adjustment direction (x) for fastening the vehicle seat (8), wherein an energy absorber element (5) is provided in a path, which introduces the force acting on the vehicle seat (8) into the vehicle structure, which energy absorber element permits a movement of the vehicle seat in the adjustment direction (x) under plastic deformation when a predetermined value of the force is exceeded.

In a vehicle, an occupant is suitably protected even when the occupant is seated in the vehicle with the seat inclined and facing a direction different from the advancing direction of the vehicle. A system for protecting an occupant boarding on a seat in a vehicle, where a seat back of the seat is configured to be inclinable with respect to a seat cushion of the seat. The system includes an acquiring unit that acquires environment information related to the vehicle in traveling or the surrounding environment thereof; and a control unit that, when the seat is facing a direction different from an advancing direction of the vehicle and the seat back is in an inclined state with respect to the seat cushion by greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, executes a support control to support the occupant in the seat to resist an inertial force that is assumed to act on the occupant boarding on the seat, based on the environment information.

A raisable seat for a vehicle, comprising a frame for a seating portion, a rail, a raising mechanism suitable for moving the seating portion frame relative to the rail between a lowered position and a raised position, said raising mechanism comprising on each side of the seat at least one connecting rod, said connecting rod having a rod body with an upper end connected to the frame and a lower end connected to the rail, at least one connecting rod also comprising a protuberance extending from the lower end, the protuberance extending facing the rail, said connecting rod being adapted to deform, in the event of an impact, between a first state in which a gap separates the rail and the protuberance regardless of the position of the seating portion frame between the lowered position and the raised position, and a second state in which the protuberance is in contact at least locally with the rail.