Vehicle seat having an anti-submarining device and method

A vehicle seat having a restraint device for preventing submarining of a passenger on the vehicle seat during an accident-induced deceleration comprising:

• a seat section having a seat side section extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the seat section has a padding which defines a seat surface and a padding support disposed beneath the padding,
• a restraint device disposed between the padding support and the padding and located a predetermined distance from the seat side sections, the restraint device is moveable between a retracted, inactive position and an extended, active position, wherein the restraint device includes a locking device which locks the restraint device in the active position, and the locking device includes a moveable lever connected to a positioning element and the lever is driven by the positioning element to locate a latching bolt within a latching recess formed in the restraint device, such that a spring element adjacent the latching bolt provides a blocking action by retaining the latching bolt in the latching recess to lock the restraint device in the extended position.