US Patent 11407342 Seat back energy absorber

An energy absorber for the seat of a vehicle is designed to reduce the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of an abrupt movement or a collision involving a rear-facing passenger. The energy absorber may be disposed within a vehicle seat and may contain one or more crushable elements and/or pelvic support structures designed to minimize the impact of the collision on the rear-facing passenger. The energy absorber may contain one or more materials that plastically deform under a force imparted on the seat by the occupant accelerating relative to and toward the seat during the collision, while limiting or restricting deflection of the crushable elements in a lateral or vertical direction.