Seat with shape memory material member actuation

A seat comprising:

• a back portion, the back portion including a cushion portion,
• a plurality of shape memory material members extending laterally across the back portion, the shape memory material members having opposing ends, the opposing ends being operatively connected to a back portion structure, the plurality of shape memory material members being spaced from each other in an elevation direction;
• and
• a spacer located between at least one of the plurality of shape memory material members and the cushion portion, the spacer causing a curvature of the at least one of the plurality of shape memory material members,
• whereby the spacer causes the at least one of the plurality of shape memory material members to have a greater curvature, whereby, when activated, the shape memory material members contract and impart an increased push force on a seat occupant.

A seat comprising:

• a back portion, the back portion including a cushion portion;
• and
• an actuator operatively positioned on the back portion, the actuator including a movable structure and a shape memory material member attached to the movable structure, the movable structure being a four-bar linkage,
• whereby, when activated, the shape memory material member contracts and causes the movable structure to move so as to create a push force on the cushion portion, whereby a push force on a seat occupant is increased.

A seat comprising:

• a portion of the seat;
• and
• an actuator, the actuator being operatively positioned with respect to the portion of the seat to cause the portion to be adjusted, the actuator being configured as a mat, the actuator including:
• a shape memory material sheet;
• and
• a heating element extending on the shape memory material sheet,
• when heated by the heating element, the shape memory material sheet contracts and causes the actuator to morph from a substantially flat configuration to a non-flat configuration, whereby an overall height of the actuator increases.

A seat comprising:

• a back portion;
• a plurality of shape memory material members spanning laterally across the back portion, the shape memory material members having opposing ends, the opposing ends being operatively connected to a back portion structure;
• and
• a plurality of tubular members, the tubular members being hollow, the tubular members receiving a substantial majority of a respective one of the shape memory material members, a portion of the respective one of the shape memory material members being exposed outside of the tubular member, the tubular members being rigid, whereby, during normal operational conditions of the seat and/or the shape memory material members, the tubular members do not substantially change in shape,
• whereby, when activated, the shape memory material members contract such that an effect of the contraction is concentrated in the portion of the respective one of the shape memory material members that is exposed outside of the tubular member.