Systems and methods for limiting rearward motion of a seatback in a rear-impact collision

A vehicle seat system, comprising:

• a vehicle seat including a seat bottom frame and a seatback frame secured to the seat bottom frame;
• and
• a seatback deformation limiting system including:
• a frame assembly configured to selectively allow the seatback frame to yield and also selectively limit or inhibit the seatback frame from yielding;
• and
• a computer system including one or more sensors configured to detect a rear-impact collision in a vehicle, wherein the frame assembly is operably coupled to the computer system and, responsive to the computer system detecting the rear-impact collision in the vehicle, configured to limit or inhibit the seatback frame from yielding towards a rearward seat in the vehicle directly behind the vehicle seat,
• wherein the frame assembly of the seatback deformation limiting system includes:
• a detent structure having a first region secured to the seat bottom frame and a second region secured to the seatback frame, the first region and a second region defining a slot therebetween;
• an insert sized and dimensioned to fit at least partially within the slot between the first region and the second region of the detent structure;
• and
• an actuator secured to the insert and configured to selectively deploy the insert at least partially into the slot,
• wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the computer system and configured to deploy the insert at least partially into the slot responsive to the computer system detecting the rear-impact collision in the vehicle effective to limit or inhibit the seatback frame from yielding towards the rearward seat in the vehicle directly behind the vehicle seat.