General Motors patent provides for seats with air pockets capable of changing shape and firmness according to the occupant
General Motors has filed a curious patent for a new generation of variable seats. The document, published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, describes a technology capable of physically altering the dimensions of the seat, surpassing the current lumbar and side adjustments offered by luxury competitors such as Lincoln.
The innovation proposes that the seat adapts to the passenger’s morphology, inverting the current logic where the occupant needs to accommodate the predefined shape of the foam.
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The system is based on a “comfort layer” installed between the metal structure of the seat and the outer covering. This layer houses multiple independent air pockets, connected to a central pump. Unlike the massage systems found in models like the Kia EV9 or Hyundai Palisade, which only inflate and deflate cyclically, GM’s patent focuses on sustained structural change.
These inner tubes allow you to control not only the size, but the density of the support. When inflated, they provide stiffer support, which is ideal for long journeys — helping to maintain correct posture and avoid fatigue — or for sporty riding, where firmness is required. By deflating the bags, the seat becomes softer and more compliant, prioritizing the absorption of irregularities in the asphalt on urban routes.
The patent also provides for the integration of biometric sensors that automatically detect the weight and position of the occupant, performing calibration adjustments without human intervention. The document suggests that the application of the technology can extrapolate the automotive sector, being licensed in the future for the high-performance office chair market. For now, there is no confirmed date for the system’s debut in production models from Chevrolet or Cadillac.
