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A seat system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat spaced longitudinally of the vehicle in a row. A first seat of the plurality of seats having a passive passenger restraint for restraining a passenger occupying a second seat located behind the first seat and having an active passenger restraint

A seat system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat spaced longitudinally of the vehicle in a row. A first seat of the plurality of seats having a passive passenger restraint for restraining a passenger occupying a second seat located behind the first seat and having an active passenger restraint comprising a seat belt system mounted on a movable frame mounted to a frame of the seat for restraining a passenger occupying the first seat.

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What is claimed is: 1. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of seats arranged in a row, one behind another, within the vehicle, the row positioned generally parallel with a direction of travel of the vehicle, at least one of the plurality of seats having a frame fixedly mounted t

What is claimed is: 1. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of seats arranged in a row, one behind another, within the vehicle, the row positioned generally parallel with a direction of travel of the vehicle, at least one of the plurality of seats having a frame fixedly mounted to the vehicle, the frame supporting a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back member movably mounted to the frame and a second seat back member fixedly mounted to the frame, the second seat back member having a front surface extending upwardly away from the seat bottom and a rear surface, and a restraint member configured to restrain an occupant in the at least one of the plurality of seats, the first seat back member configured to move relative to the frame and the restraint member in a direction away from the front surface of the second seat back member upon application of at least a first force by the occupant on the restraint member, and the second seat back member configured to deform in a manner that absorbs at least some energy resulting from application of at least a second force to the rear surface thereof wherein the second seat back member comprises: first and second posts extending away from the frame adjacent opposite ends of the seat bottom, and a panel defining first and second channels adjacent opposite edges thereof, the first and second posts received within the first and second channels respectively. 2. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the second seat back member includes a bottom end fixedly mounted to the frame and a top end extending away from the bottom end, the second seat back member configured to deform by yielding, relative to the bottom end thereof, in a direction toward a next seat in the row. 3. The seating system of claim 1, wherein first seat back member includes a bottom end pivotably mounted to the frame adjacent to the seat bottom and a top end extending away from the bottom end of the first seat back member, the top end of the first seat back member pivoting away the front surface of the second seat back member upon application of the at least a first force by the occupant on the restraint member. 4. The seating system of claim 1, further comprising means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame, the means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame being overcome by application of the at least a first force by the occupant on the restraint member to allow movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 5. The seating system of claim 4, wherein the means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame is frangible to permit movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 6. The seating system of claim 1, further comprising a stop for limiting the extent of movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 7. The seating system of claim 6, wherein the stop is defined by cooperating elements on the frame and the first seat back portion. 8. The seating system of claim 7, wherein the cooperating elements comprise a stop flange. 9. The seating system of claim 1, wherein the restraint member comprises a restraining web having a first end mounted to either of the frame and the vehicle and a second end, and a buckle member mounted to either of the frame and the vehicle, the second end of the web configured for releasable engagement with the buckle member to releasably restrain the occupant in the at least one of the plurality of seats. 10. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the first and second seat back members are sized such that the first seat back member is, in the absence of at least the first force, received within the second seat back portion. 11. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the second seat back member comprises an elongated support member having a first end extending from a first end of the frame adjacent to a corresponding first end of the seat bottom and a second end extending from a second end of the frame adjacent to a corresponding second end of the sea bottom, the elongated support member between the first and second ends thereof defining a support structure of the second seat back portion. 12. The seating system of claim 11 wherein the elongated support member is deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 13. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the panel is formed of a lightweight plastic material. 14. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the panel is deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of at least the second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 15. The seating system of claim 14 wherein the first and second posts are deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 16. The seating system of claim 15 wherein the panel and the first and second posts are together sufficiently deformable to satisfy a predefined deformability standard. 17. The seating system of claim 14 wherein the panel has a front surface adjacent to the seat bottom and a rear surface, the panel defining a number of recesses and protrusions along the front and rear surfaces thereof, and wherein one or more of the number of recesses and protrusions define in the rear surface of the panel at least one energy absorbing crush zone. 18. The seating system of claim 17 wherein the panel defines a panel bottom adjacent to the seat bottom and an opposite panel top, and wherein at least a first one of the number of recesses and protrusions adjacent to the panel bottom define in the rear surface of the panel a knee crush zone having a first energy absorbing characteristic. 19. The seating system of claim 18 wherein at least a second one of the number of recesses and protrusions adjacent to the panel top define in the rear surface of the panel a head crush zone having a second energy absorbing characteristic. 20. The seating system of claim 19 wherein at least a third one of the number of recesses and protrusions between the panel top and the panel bottom define in the rear surface of the panel a chest crush zone having a third energy absorbing characteristic. 21. The seating system of claim 20 wherein the first, second and third energy absorbing characteristics are defined by an established motor vehicle safety standard. 22. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the first and second posts are deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 23. The seating system of claim 1 wherein the seat bottom is formed of a lightweight plastic material. 24. A seating system for a vehicle comprising: plurality of seats arranged in a row, one behind another, with the row positioned parallel to a forward direction of the vehicle, at least one of the plurality of seats having a frame rigidly mounted to the vehicle, the frame supporting a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back member movable relative to the frame and a second seat back member rigidly mounted to the frame, the first seat back member movable in the forward direction away from the second seat back member, and a web restraining member configured to restrain an occupant in the at least one of the plurality of seats, the web restraining member engaging the first seat back member and moving the first seat back member in the forward direction away from the second seat back member when at least a first force is applied in the forward direction to the web restraining member, the second seat back member configured to deform when at least a second force is applied in the forward direction to a rear surface of the second seat back member. 25. The seating system of claim 24, wherein first seat back member includes a bottom end pivotably mounted to the frame adjacent to the seat bottom and a top end extending away from the bottom end of the first seat back member, the top end of the first seat back member pivoting away the second seat back member in the forward direction upon application of the at least a first force in the forward direction by the occupant on the restraint member. 26. The seating system of claim 24, further comprising means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame, the means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame being overcome by application of the at least a first force by the occupant in the forward direction on the restraint member to allow movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 27. The seating system of claim 26, wherein the means for initially restraining movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame is frangible to permit movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 28. The seating system of claim 24, further comprising a stop for limiting the extent of movement of the first seat back member relative to the frame. 29. The seating system of claim 28, wherein the stop is defined by cooperating elements on the frame and the first seat back portion. 30. The seating system of claim 29, wherein the cooperating elements comprise a stop flange. 31. The seating system of claim 24, wherein the restraint member comprises a restraining web having a first end mounted to either of the frame and the vehicle and a second end, and a buckle member mounted to either of the frame and the vehicle, the second end of the web configured for releasable engagement with the buckle member to releasably restrain the occupant in the at least one of the plurality of seats. 32. The seating system of claim 24 wherein the first and second seat back members are sized such that the first seat back member is, in the absence of at least the first force, received within the second seat back portion. 33. The seating system of claim 24 wherein the second seat back member comprises an elongated support member having a first end extending from a first end of the frame adjacent to a corresponding first end of the seat bottom and a second end extending from a second end of the frame adjacent to a corresponding second end of the seat bottom, the elongated support member between the first and second ends thereof defining a support structure of the second seat back portion. 34. The seating system of claim 33 wherein the elongated support member is deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 35. The seating system of claim 24 wherein the second seat back member comprises: first and second posts extending away from the frame adjacent opposite ends of the seat bottom, and a panel defining first and second channels adjacent opposite edges thereof, the first and second posts received within the first and second channels respectively. 36. The seating system of claim 35 wherein the panel is formed of a lightweight plastic material. 37. The seating system of claim 35 wherein the panel is deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of at least the second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 38. The seating system of claim 37 wherein the first and second posts are deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 39. The seating system of claim 38 wherein the panel and the first and second posts are together sufficiently deformable to satisfy a predefined deformability standard. 40. The seating system of claim 37 wherein the panel has a front surface adjacent to the seat bottom and a rear surface, the panel defining a number of recesses and protrusions along the front and rear surfaces thereof, and wherein one or more of the number of recesses and protrusions define in the rear surface of the panel at least one energy absorbing crush zone. 41. The seating system of claim 40 wherein the panel defines a panel bottom adjacent to the seat bottom and an opposite panel top, and wherein at least a first one of the number of recesses and protrusions adjacent to the panel bottom define in the rear surface of the panel a knee crush zone having a first energy absorbing characteristic. 42. The seating system of claim 41 wherein at least a second one of the number of recesses and protrusions adjacent to the panel top define in the rear surface of the panel a head crush zone having a second energy absorbing characteristic. 43. The seating system of claim 42 wherein at least a third one of the number of recesses and protrusions between the panel top and the panel bottom define in the rear surface of the panel a chest crush zone having a third energy absorbing characteristic. 44. The seating system of claim 43 wherein the first, second and third energy absorbing characteristics are defined by an established motor vehicle safety standard. 45. The seating system of claim 35 wherein the first and second posts are deformable to absorb at least some of the energy resulting from application of the at least second force to the rear surface of the second seat back member. 46. The seating system of claim 24 wherein the seat bottom is formed of a lightweight plastic material.