Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a floor and a structural pillar is provided, the seat assembly including a seat bottom frame attached to the floor and a seat back frame pivotally attached to the seat bottom frame. The seat back frame is capable of pivoting between a stowed position where the seat back frame is generally parallel to the seat bottom frame and an upright position where the seat back frame is generally perpendicular to the seat bottom frame. A striker mechanism is positioned on the seat back frame and is capable of assuming a normal position arranged to engage a latch located in the structural pillar of the vehicle when the seat assembly is in an upright position, and a refracted position where the striker mechanism is retracted towards the seat back frame as the seat assembly Is pivoted from the upright position to the stowed position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a floor and a structural pillar is provided, the seat assembly including a seat bottom frame attached to the floor and a seat back frame pivotally attached to the seat bottom frame. The seat back frame is capable of pivoting between a stowed position where the seat back frame is generally parallel to the seat bottom frame and an upright position where the seat back frame is generally perpendicular to the seat bottom frame. A striker mechanism is positioned on the seat back frame and is capable of assuming a normal position arranged to engage a latch located in the structural pillar of the vehicle when the seat assembly is in an upright position, and a refracted position where the striker mechanism is retracted towards the seat back frame as the seat assembly Is pivoted from the upright position to the stowed position.

Abstract: A folding seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat base pivotally mounted to the floor of the vehicle, and a seat back mounted to the seat base and pivotable from a perpendicular to a parallel orientation to the seat base. The seat back is retained in an upright orientation within the vehicle by a latch mechanism in an upper portion of the seat back connecting the seat back to the vehicle, and by a hook mechanism in a lower portion of the seat back, proximate the seat base. With the latch mechanism released, the seat back can pivot toward the parallel orientation, which causes the hook mechanism to disengage. With the hook mechanism disengaged, the parallel seat back and base can pivot together relative to the vehicle, such as to fold and tumble into a storage position.

Abstract: A folding seat assembly is provided for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat bottom pivotally mounted relative to the seat back and movable between a seating position and a folded upright position. A detent mechanism provides a resistance to movement of the seat bottom from the folded upright position and the seating position. An inertia latch mechanism is provided for engaging the seat bottom in the folded upright position in response to a rapid deceleration of the vehicle such as caused by a collision.

Abstract: A seat assembly with a fold-out armrest includes a generally horizontal seat portion and a generally upright back portion having a plurality of seat backs aligned in a row. One of the seat backs is rotatable from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position and has a padded portion on a forward, occupant facing side when the rotatable seat back is in the upright position and a base portion on a rearward side. An armrest has a first position disposed within the base portion of the rotatable seat back and a second position disposed above the base portion of the rotatable seat back.