US Patent 11338755 Energy absorbing feature for seatback

A seat includes a seat bottom having an occupant support surface, a seatback connected to the seat bottom, the seatback having an occupant support side cooperating with the occupant support surface, and a rear side, and an energy absorbing feature including a rigid member connected to the rear side of the seatback. The rigid member is movable between a storage position adjacent the seatback, and a deployed position extending into a cargo space of a vehicle upon detection or occurrence of an impact event. In the deployed position, the rigid member is capable of interfacing with cargo, a cargo floor, or both, to reduce force imparted on and deflection of the seatback and deflect cargo from impacting the seatback.