Bench Integrated Structural Seat
Johnson Controls introduces new bench seat design
January 7, 1994 (PD: 201401)
On January 7, 1994, Johnson Controls’ Briefing newsletter reported that Automotive Systems Group engineers had designed a new bench seat system for second- and third-row passenger seats in vans, mini-vans, and extended-cab pickup trucks.
Johnson Controls engineer Joanne Cole led the team that developed the integrated seat system
The new Bench Integrated Structural Seat (BISS) design incorporated the lap and shoulder belts into the seat structure anchored to the vehicle’s frame, rather than anchored to the vehicle’s ceiling and floor. The system also provided each seat position with three-point passenger restraint.
For the first time, passengers in the middle seat were protected with shoulder belts. These features of the BISS provided additional safety, comfort, and convenience for passengers.
Jay Schultz, Automotive Systems Group vice president of Worldwide Technology, stated that the bench seat system, the first of its kind, was generating great interest from a number of OEM customers.
The BISS was to be included on vehicle models beginning in 1996.
