Car Seats

The modest car seat has come of age, or has it. The average driver does not really appreciate the passive 1 and active 2 safety aspects of a vehicle, in modern vehicles there are many, the seat itself forms part of these. The seat consist of the following basic sections: frame, seat bracket, seatback, seat cushion and upholstery, there are other components such as arm rests, suspension, mechanical or electrical components and others, however these are the basics. There has been extensive development in the seat; arguably the most important is that of the move many years ago from the " bench seat " to individual seating, however there are many developments that have taken place over time that sees our vehicles now equipped with far safer seats. The seat forms a crucial role, it is designed to be comfortable however most importantly, it performs the dual role of allowing a driver to safely and correctly operate the vehicle, and likewise to provide as much safety as possible in the event of a crash. Considering the issue of vehicle operation, which is well researched and documented 3 , a vast number of drivers do not position themselves correctly. Advancements in the seat, such as individual seat positioning help to attain and maintain the drivers correct positioning during general driving; perhaps most importantly during harsh braking, cornering or evasive actions; through such advancements as bolstering the sides of the seatback and seat cushion, likewise, the " recessing " of the seat cushion as well as other factors such as tilt and height control, and even the fabric itself all assist in reducing the occupants movement from the ideal positioning during driving. The effects of the " safety " of the seat, in terms of its ability to reduce injuries to the occupant in a crash , is somewhat logically apparent from the effects offered as just mentioned, in that the effects offered by the seat in allowing greater control of the vehicle cross pollinate to serve as a reduction in physical injury. As an example of this, the inclusion of " side bolstering " and recessing of the seat cushion reduces lateral movement and forms, to some extent, a cushion against the contact of the body with structural intrusion during lateral impacts 4 , similar to that achieved by the side airbags. Similarly, the combination of the recessing of the seat …