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.

In embodiments, an aircraft passenger seat assembly includes a seatback assembly including one or more lateral seatback sections. In embodiments, at least one lateral seatback section includes a base seatback panel coupled to a seatback frame, a first set of segmented seatback panels coupled to the base seatback panel, and a second set of segmented seatback panels coupled to the first set of segmented seatback panels. In embodiments, the aircraft passenger seat assembly further includes a plurality of actuatable assemblies, wherein the plurality of actuatable assemblies include a first set of actuatable assemblies configured to selectively actuate the first set of segmented seatback panels relative to the base seatback panel, and a second set of actuatable assemblies configured to selectively actuate the second set of segmented seatback panels relative to the first set of segmented seatback panels.

An extensively reconfigurable seat design can include a vehicle seat system including: a vehicle seat defining a vehicle occupant accommodating space, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion portion including multiple individually adjustable bladders, where each of the multiple individually adjustable bladders has a connected valve that controls fluid communication with an internal space of the individually adjustable bladder to adjust a pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder, and an associated sensor configured to detect the pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder. A computer can actively sense and control the pressure levels within the bladders, using the sensors and valves, to provide customization, adaptive, ride-active and intelligent control over a reconfigurable cushion for a vehicle.

A shock mitigation seat 10 including a plurality of individual shock absorbing members 16 resilient to compression from a shock impact, the shock absorbing members 16 being positioned one adjacent another and such that at a certain stage of compression an individual shock absorbing member 16 resiliently deforms and comes into contact with one or more adjacent individual shock absorbing members 16 which thereby increases resistance to further compression.

A shock mitigation seat 10 includes a plurality of individual shock absorbing members 16 resilient to compression from a shock impact. The shock absorbing members 16 are positioned one adjacent another and such that at a certain stage of compression an individual shock absorbing member 16 resiliently deforms and comes into contact with one or more adjacent individual shock absorbing members 16 which thereby increases resistance to further compression. The seat may be incorporated in a shock mitigation system 50 which has at least one sensor operable to detect a force and to provide a feedback signal indicative of the nature of the force and a memory record the incidence and severity of these forces and provides an indication of cumulative forces absorbed

A shock mitigation seat 10 including a plurality of individual shock absorbing members 16 resilient to compression from a shock impact, the shock absorbing members 16 being positioned one adjacent another and such that at a certain stage of compression an individual shock absorbing member 16 resiliently deforms and comes into contact with one or more adjacent individual shock absorbing members 16 which thereby increases resistance to further compression.

An extensively reconfigurable seat design can include a vehicle seat system including: a vehicle seat defining a vehicle occupant accommodating space, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion portion including multiple individually adjustable bladders, where each of the multiple individually adjustable bladders has a connected valve that controls fluid communication with an internal space of the individually adjustable bladder to adjust a pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder, and an associated sensor configured to detect the pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder. A computer can actively sense and control the pressure levels within the bladders, using the sensors and valves, to provide customization, adaptive, ride-active and intelligent control over a reconfigurable cushion for a vehicle.

An extensively reconfigurable seat design can include a vehicle seat system including: a vehicle seat defining a vehicle occupant accommodating space, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion portion including multiple individually adjustable bladders, where each of the multiple individually adjustable bladders has a connected valve that controls fluid communication with an internal space of the individually adjustable bladder to adjust a pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder, and an associated sensor configured to detect the pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder. A computer can actively sense and control the pressure levels within the bladders, using the sensors and valves, to provide customization, adaptive, ride-active and intelligent control over a reconfigurable cushion for a vehicle.

In embodiments, an aircraft passenger seat assembly includes a seatback assembly including one or more lateral seatback sections. In embodiments, at least one lateral seatback section includes a base seatback panel coupled to a seatback frame, a first set of segmented seatback panels coupled to the base seatback panel, and a second set of segmented seatback panels coupled to the first set of segmented seatback panels. In embodiments, the aircraft passenger seat assembly further includes a plurality of actuatable assemblies, wherein the plurality of actuatable assemblies include a first set of actuatable assemblies configured to selectively actuate the first set of segmented seatback panels relative to the base seatback panel, and a second set of actuatable assemblies configured to selectively actuate the second set of segmented seatback panels relative to the first set of segmented seatback panels.

A seat device includes a seat cushion where a sitting person is seated, and a seatback configured to support the upper body of the sitting person. The seatback includes a seatback frame, a seatback pad placed on a front face of the seatback frame, and a seatback cover covering a surface of the seatback pad. A plurality of stretch airbags is provided in a part of the seatback at a position corresponding to the lumbar part of the sitting person, and the stretch airbags are configured to inflate and press a surface of the seatback to a direction approaching the sitting person. The stretch airbags are placed to overlap each other in a thickness direction of the seatback such that the seatback pad is sandwiched between the stretch airbags.