A vehicle seat having an adaptable lateral support and method of adapting lateral support are provided. The seat has a seat frame on which a seat cushion and/or a backrest cushion and at least one actuator is retained, wherein the seat cushion and/or the backrest cushion has at least one laterally arranged, resiliently deformable side wall cushion for the lateral support of a person sitting on the vehicle seat and the actuator is operationally connected to the side wall cushion and configured to apply a deformation force for the resilient deformation of the side wall cushion. The vehicle seat has a cable element which connects the side wall cushion to the actuator in a force-transmitting manner so that the actuator introduces the deformation force by tensioning the cable element directly from the cable element into the side wall cushion to deform the side wall cushion to change the lateral support.

A vehicle seat includes a seat part, a back part, and an armrest pivotally supported by the seat part. The armrest includes an armrest body and a position adjustment mechanism that is capable of adjusting the armrest body between at least two positions including a deployment position in which the armrest body is deployed above the seat part and a retraction position in which the armrest body is retracted to be positioned adjacent to the seat part. An upper surface of the armrest body in the retraction position is coplanar with an upper surface of the seat part.

A vehicle seat includes a seat part, a back part, and an armrest pivotally supported by the seat part. The armrest includes an armrest body and a position adjustment mechanism that is capable of adjusting the armrest body between at least two positions including a deployment position in which the armrest body is deployed above the seat part and a retraction position in which the armrest body is retracted to be positioned adjacent to the seat part. An upper surface of the armrest body in the retraction position is coplanar with an upper surface of the seat part.

A vehicle seat includes a seat part; a back part; a drive unit configured to adjust at least; one of a position of the seat part or a position of the back part; and operation switches via which the drive unit is driven, the operation switches being arranged adjacent to the seat part and face upward with respect to the seat part. The operation switches may be arranged on a side of the seat part, the side being adjacent to a door of a vehicle. The drive unit may disable an input from the operation switches if a door detection switch for detecting opening of the door detects that the door is open.

A vehicle seat having an adaptable lateral support and method of adapting lateral support are provided. The seat has a seat frame on which a seat cushion and/or a backrest cushion and at least one actuator is retained, wherein the seat cushion and/or the backrest cushion has at least one laterally arranged, resiliently deformable side wall cushion for the lateral support of a person sitting on the vehicle seat and the actuator is operationally connected to the side wall cushion and configured to apply a deformation force for the resilient deformation of the side wall cushion. The vehicle seat has a cable element which connects the side wall cushion to the actuator in a force-transmitting manner so that the actuator introduces the deformation force by tensioning the cable element directly from the cable element into the side wall cushion to deform the side wall cushion to change the lateral support.

An armrest includes an armrest arm having an upper support surface forming a support for the forearm of an occupant of the vehicle seat, and a user interface having at least one display portion of flattened shape, having a front face comprising a screen and a rear face formed by a shell. The user interface is mounted on the armrest arm so as to be movable between a retracted position where the screen is inaccessible and an extended position where the screen is accessible. In the retracted position of the user interface, the shell is integrated with the upper support surface of the armrest arm, and in the extended position of the user interface, the screen is at least partially projecting above the upper support surface of the armrest arm.

Seat assemblies and methods for making seat assembly are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat base and a seat backrest. An armrest is disposed adjacent to the seat base and has an upper armrest section that extends towards a forward armrest section for supporting an arm of a seat occupant. A lever handle is disposed within a hand-length below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle is accessible to a hand of the seat occupant while at least a portion of the arm of the seat occupant is supported on the upper armrest section. A lever arm has a first end coupled to the lever handle and a second end pivotally coupled to a part of the armrest that is disposed below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle moves in an arcuate upward direction when actuated.

Seat assemblies and methods for making seat assembly are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat base and a seat backrest. An armrest is disposed adjacent to the seat base and has an upper armrest section that extends towards a forward armrest section for supporting an arm of a seat occupant. A lever handle is disposed within a hand-length below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle is accessible to a hand of the seat occupant while at least a portion of the arm of the seat occupant is supported on the upper armrest section. A lever arm has a first end coupled to the lever handle and a second end pivotally coupled to a part of the armrest that is disposed below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle moves in an arcuate upward direction when actuated.

An inertial latch for a motor vehicle armrest is rotatably connected to a a bracket mounted to a support structure; an armrest interfacing component is disposed in an arcuate slot in the bracket, the slot extending from a first to a second end; a primary pawl rotatable from a first to a second position and limiting motion of the interfacing component in the slot; a secondary pawl rotatable from a third position to a fourth position and limiting motion of the primary pawl; a stop limits motion of the secondary pawl. The armrest articulates from a closed to an open position, the interfacing component moves through the entire slot when the primary pawl is in the first position, the interfacing component is held within a portion less than the entire slot when the primary pawl is in the second position, and the interfacing component is releasable from the portion.

An inertial latch for a motor vehicle armrest is rotatably connected to a a bracket mounted to a support structure; an armrest interfacing component is disposed in an arcuate slot in the bracket, the slot extending from a first to a second end; a primary pawl rotatable from a first to a second position and limiting motion of the interfacing component in the slot; a secondary pawl rotatable from a third position to a fourth position and limiting motion of the primary pawl; a stop limits motion of the secondary pawl. The armrest articulates from a closed to an open position, the interfacing component moves through the entire slot when the primary pawl is in the first position, the interfacing component is held within a portion less than the entire slot when the primary pawl is in the second position, and the interfacing component is releasable from the portion.