Patent ID: 7040696

Claim:
A seating system for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of seats arranged in a row, one behind another, within the vehicle, the row positioned generally parallel with a direction of travel of the vehicle, at least one of the plurality of seats having a frame fixedly mounted to the vehicle, the frame supporting a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back member movably mounted to the frame and a second seat back member fixedly mounted to the frame, the second seat back member having a front surface extending upwardly away from the seat bottom and a rear surface, and a restraint member configured to restrain an occupant in the at least one of the plurality of seats, the first seat back member configured to move relative to the frame and the restraint member in a direction away from the front surface of the second seat back member upon application of at least a first force by the occupant on the restraint member, and the second seat back member configured to deform in a manner that absorbs at least some energy resulting from application of at least a second force to the rear surface thereof wherein the second seat back member comprises: first and second posts extending away from the frame adjacent opposite ends of the seat bottom, and a panel defining first and second channels adjacent opposite edges thereof, the first and second posts received within the first and second channels respectively.