Occupant protection apparatus

An occupant protection apparatus configured to be applied to a vehicle seat including a cushion portion designed to be seated by an occupant, the occupant protection apparatus comprising a driver configured to be arranged below the cushion portion, wherein

• the occupant protection apparatus is configured to protect the occupant from a frontal impact on a vehicle through the cushion portion by driving the driver when the impact is detected or predicted,
• the driver includes:
• a drive unit;
• a support shaft;
• a movable seat pan supported by the support shaft such that the movable seat pan is inclinable in a front-rear direction;
• a guide groove;
• a movement pin that is movable along the guide groove;
• a link that is swingingly coupled to a portion of the movable seat pan and that couples, to the movement pin, the portion of the movable seat pan, which portion of the movable seat pan is located away from the support shaft;
• and
• an energy absorber,
• the movable seat pan includes a wall that defines an outer shape of the movable seat pan, the support shaft being arranged on the wall,
• the movable seat pan is configured to:
• be inclined at an inclined position before the impact is detected or predicted;
• be inclined rearward so as to be standing upright in an upright position when receiving a rearward force from the drive unit in response to a detection or prediction of the impact;
• and
• be inclined forward by a forward load from the occupant when the rearward force is reduced or eliminated,
• the guide groove includes:
• a first guide groove portion in which when the movement pin moves rearward, the movable seat pan moves rearward and upward;
• and
• a second guide groove portion which is connected to the first guide groove portion and in which when the movement pin moves forward, the movable seat pan moves forward and downward, wherein the first guide groove portion and the second guide groove portion generally form a V-shape, and
• the energy absorber is configured to absorb at least part of the load when the movement pin moves in the second guide groove portion.