Patent ID: 8267471

Claim:
A vehicle seat back comprising: a rigid frame; a first back support member connected with the frame at a first location and at a second location, the first back support member being formed of a single piece of material and including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface; and a second back support member connected to the forward facing surface of the first back support member at first and second breakaway connections, respectively, on the first back support member between the first location and the second location, the second back support member including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface, the forward facing surface of the first back support member and the forward facing surface of the second back support member together defining a substantially continuous support surface spanning between the first location and the second location of the frame, each breakaway connection being configured to rupture during a crash event to increase an operative length of the first back support member, the operative length being a length of the first back support member carrying a tensile load being applied by an associated occupant of a vehicle seat that includes the vehicle seat back.