Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally supported with respect to a seat bottom and is attached to the vehicle by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a locking device mounted on an upper track that moves relative to a lower track. The locking device includes at least one locking tooth that engages one or more slots on the lower track so that the upper track and the seat are maintained in a fixed position relative to the lower track. The locking device includes a first release member for disengaging the locking device and adjusting the position of the seat. The locking device also includes a second release member which is responsive to pivotal movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom or is responsive to some other type of actuation member. As the seat back is pivoted toward the seat bottom, the second release member rotates with respect to the upper track and engages the locking device causing it to move from a locked position to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A vehicle fold-and-flip seat assembly includes a first track and a second track supported for movement relative to the first track for horizontal seat adjustment. A seat bottom is supported on the second track for movement with the second track and is movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. A seat back is supported on a pivot bracket mounted to the second track and pivots relative to the seat bottom between an upright position and a folded position. A first lever is rotatably supported on the second track to control the movement of the seat back between the upright and folded positions when selectively actuated by a control assembly. A latch mechanism is used to secure a rear portion of the first track to the vehicle structure and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position.

Abstract: A door check for holding a door in an open position is disclosed, which is particularly useful for thin doors. The door check comprises a check body attached to the door and having an opening. The door check pivots with the door about a first axis. A main link is slidable through the door check opening as the door pivots. A second link is pivotably attached to the main link, and pivotably about a second axis with respect to a rigid member. As the check body pivots about the first axis, the second link pivots about the second axis and the main link translates through the opening in the check body. The main link may have an irregular surface so that a large force may be required to move the door back from the open position to a closed position.

Abstract: A linkage assembly is used to vertically adjust the position of a seat. The linkage assembly includes a first link that is connected to a second link without the use of fasteners. The first link has a first mounting portion and the second link has a second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is deformed into engagement with the second mounting portion to rotatably connect the first link to the second link. In one embodiment, the first mounting portion is an extrusion that extends through an aperture in the second link. An end of the extrusion is deformed into engagement with the second link to form a lip to lock the first link to the second link and allow relative rotational movement between the first and second links while eliminating relative linear movement therebetween. In an alternative embodiment, portions of the first and second links are deformed into locking engagement.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back supported with respect to a seat bottom and is attached to the vehicle by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly has an inboard track assembly and an outboard track assembly that are both mounted to a vehicle structure with the track assemblies being spaced apart from one another. Each track assembly includes a first track and a second track supported for movement relative to the first track. The first and second tracks are preferably mounted in a vertical configuration. The seat bottom is supported on the second track for horizontal movement with the second track as seat position is adjusted. A single drive mechanism is supported on one of the inboard or outboard track assemblies. The drive mechanism includes a single drive member that is mounted between the inboard and outboard track assemblies. A truss structure extends between the inboard and outboard track assemblies to provide structural support for the seat assembly as seat position is adjusted.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back supported for pivotal movement relative to the seat bottom such that seat back position can be adjusted to a variety of reclined positions with respect to the seat bottom. The seat includes a manual or electrical actuator which provides input to a control assembly that pivots the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. The control assembly includes an epicycloide gear mechanism with a first gear supported on the first seat member and a second gear supported on the second seat member. The second gear has a plurality of gear teeth that selectively mesh with a plurality of gear teeth on the first gear. The first gear teeth have a non-epicycloide tooth profile and the second gear teeth have an epicycloide tooth profile. An input member defines an axis of rotation and provides rotational input to the second gear. The input member is an eccentric input shaft having a geometric center that is spaced apart from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back supported for movement relative to the seat bottom such that seat position can be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the vehicle. The seat assembly is mounted to a vehicle structure and includes a first track and a second track supported for movement relative to the first track with the seat bottom being supported on the second track for movement with the second track. An actuator selectively controls the movement of the second track with respect to the first track. The assembly also includes at least one torque tube for providing vertical seat adjustment. The torque tube presents a bearing surface for rotatably supporting a bearing surface located on the second track.

Abstract: A manual adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of a vehicle seat includes mounting brackets for supporting a seat bottom that is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. Separate adjustment assemblies can be installed at the front and rear portions of the seat for adjusting the height of the front portion independently from the rear portion. Or, a single adjustment assembly can be used to adjust the height of either the front or rear portion where the adjustment assembly includes a connecting linkage assembly to correspondingly adjust the height of the other portion of the seat bottom. The adjustment assembly includes a torque tube extends between the mounting brackets and is actuated by an actuator that selectively supplies rotational input to the torque tube. A drive link is supported on one end of the torque tube and is fixed for rotation with the torque tube as the tube receives input from the actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back supported with respect to a seat bottom and is attached to the vehicle by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly has an inboard track assembly and an outboard track assembly that are both mounted to a vehicle structure with the track assemblies being spaced apart from one another. Each track assembly includes a first track and a second track supported for movement relative to the first track. The seat bottom is supported on the second track for horizontal movement with the second track as seat position is adjusted. A single locking mechanism is supported on one of the inboard or outboard track assemblies. The locking mechanism moveable between a locked position where the locking mechanism maintains the second track in a selected position relative to the first track and an unlocked position where the second track is moves with respect to the first track to a desired seat position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back and a seat bottom and is attached to a vehicle support structure by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a first track and a second track supported for movement relative to the first track; the seat bottom being supported on the second track for axial movement with the second track. This allows the seat assembly to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly by a seat occupant. The seat back can also be moved relative to the second track between an upright position and a recliner position. The seat assembly receives a seat load resulting from the seat occupant sitting in the seat with the seat back in the reclined position and/or from a forward movement of the seat occupant during a deceleration of the vehicle when the seat occupant is belted into the seat. First and second support members or mounting brackets are attached to the second track. A structural support beam is supported on the second track by the first and second mounting brackets.