An airbag system for repositioning a seat occupant in a moving vehicle during a crash event includes: a first inflatable airbag disposed proximate to a front portion of a seat pan; a second inflatable airbag disposed proximate to a rear portion of the seat pan; and inflation control device controlling deployment of the first and second inflatable airbags. The inflation control device includes a programmable controller controlling inflation parameters of the first and second inflatable airbags to achieve a desired lift, subject to monument constraints.

A vehicle seat that can suppress damage to an on-board object is provided. In each side frame of a cushion frame, an eccentric portion is eccentric outward in a right-left direction with respect to a base portion, and in each side frame of a back frame, an eccentric portion is eccentric inward in the right-left direction with respect to a base portion. Thus, when the load at the time of rear collision acts, each side frame of the cushion frame easily becomes deformed outward in the right-left direction, and each side frame of the back frame easily becomes deformed inward in the right-left direction. Accordingly, the deformation direction of each side frame of the cushion frame and the deformation direction of each side frame of the back frame can be easily made opposite to each other, and the deformations of the respective side frames and can be inhibited.

A seat cushion for a seat in a high performance off-road racing vehicle. The seat cushion includes two foam layers, namely, a top thin foam layer and a bottom thick energy absorbing foam layer that are secured together, where the combination of the layers are capable of absorbing high energy Z-direction forces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top layer is a methylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI) polyurethane foam and is 12 mm thick, and the bottom layer is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam and is 38 mm thick.

A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.

A system and method for delivering an axial compression load to a passenger during a frontal deceleration event is disclosed. The system includes a seat frame, a seat pan, and an impulse generator coupled to the seat pan configured to provide an axial compression load onto a spine of a sitting passenger during a forward deceleration event. The system further includes a controller configured to receive a forward deceleration signal from the inertial sensor and activate the impulse generator based on the forward deceleration signal. The impulse generator may generate a compressive force via a chemical reaction, via a mechanically stored energy, a solenoid switch, or via a rotating cam assembly.

A hinge arrangement may be used for a vehicle seat bottom to facilitate pivoting of the seat bottom to open a storage area below the seat bottom. The hinge arrangement may include at least one hinge having two plates connected by a pivot pin and a support structure separate from the at least one hinge. The support structure may be positioned adjacent to the at least one hinge to stop the hinge pin or pins from being ejected in the presence of an impact force.

A device for adjusting the length of the seating portion of a motor vehicle seat, the seating portion comprising a movable seating part, the adjustment device comprising a threaded rod, a rotating nut, and a housing receiving the nut and the threaded rod, the threaded rod comprising a first end in connection with the movable seating part and a second end opposite the first end, the threaded rod and the nut cooperating in rotation to move the movable seating part, wherein the nut comprises a nut weakness area for the breaking of said nut.

A supplemental passive safety apparatus is provided which benefits known technology for detecting traffic emergencies. The apparatus may contain a movable rectangular frustum which interacts with rigid crossbars to control middle pivot joints responsible for adjusting location of horizontal support bottom panels with a cushion. An alternative apparatus may contain a rope traveling through a double flanged wheel mounting to a pneumatic cylinder instead of a rigid crossbar interacting with a movable rectangular frustum. Simultaneously with an opening of an automatic valve, compressed air is transmitted from a cartridge to a pneumatic cylinder causing a piston with rod to move toward a front crossbar. The rigid crossbar in one version or rope in an alternative version release a pivot joint controlling location of horizontal support bottom seat panels with cushion.

A passive safety system is provided for a vehicle. The passive safety system includes a support frame configured to be secured on the vehicle in a fixed position and a support surface configured to support a payload carried by the vehicle. The support surface is configured to float with respect to the support frame. The passive safety system includes an energy conversion device between the support frame and the support surface, and includes a frictional surface configured to engage a portion of the support surface when the support surface tends to move in a predetermined direction with respect to the support frame to thereby convert kinetic energy of the support surface into frictional energy and increase the stopping/braking distance.

An occupant protection apparatus includes: a vehicle seat arranged in an inner space of a side wall of a vehicle; a side airbag device provided in the side wall or the vehicle seat and including a side airbag to be inflated and deployed between the side wall and the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes: a pressure-receiving portion to receive a load from an occupant seated on the vehicle seat; and a frame to support the pressure-receiving portion. The occupant protection apparatus further comprising an electronic control circuit configured to perform moving the pressure-receiving portion so that the occupant is pushed away from the side wall before the occupant comes into contact with the side airbag at an activation time when the side airbag device is activated by an impact acting on the side wall from an outside of the vehicle and the side airbag is inflated and deployed.