Energy absorbing seat recliner assembly

An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom, the energy absorption system comprising:

• a first housing plate including a first elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end;
• a second housing plate including a second elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end coaxially aligned with said first elongate aperture;
• a torsion bar slidably received within said first elongate aperture and said second elongate aperture and fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback;
• a biasing member biasing said torsion bar toward said first ends of said elongate apertures;
• wherein the seatback is configured to move linearly along a first axis when a first predetermined force is applied to the seatback;
• and
• wherein the seatback is configured to move rotationally when a second predetermined force is applied to the seatback.

An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom comprising:

• a guide bracket fixed to said seat bottom and including an elongate aperture;
• a recliner bracket fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback and including a first projection extending therefrom and disposed within said elongate aperture of said guide bracket to guide movement of the seatback relative to the seat bottom;
• a link having a first end and a second end, said first end rotatably attached to said recliner bracket;
• and
• a torsion bar fixedly attached to said second end of said link at a first end and attached to said guide bracket at a second end, said torsion bar deformed when a predetermined force is applied to the seatback due to movement of said recliner bracket and rotation of said link.