Abstract: The present invention discloses a latch for securing a seatback to an elevated rear wall of a vehicle passenger compartment, and in which a striker having a crosswise engaging portion extends rearwardly from the seatback. The latch includes a fixed sector adapted to being mounted to the rear wall. A hook is pivotally supported to the sector, with a slide plate sandwiching the hook between the slide plate and the fixed sector such that upward displacement of the slide plate causes forward pivoting of the hook. Rearward pressing of the seatback and striker causes rearward rotation of the hook to receive the striker, the slide plate being upwardly displaced to cause forward rotation of the hook to disengage the striker.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a seatback latch assembly integrated into an interface between a seatback pivotally supported to a seat bottom. The assembly includes a pair of floor supported stanchions defining a package receiving space therebetween. A seatback sector forms a portion of the seatback and is pivotally secured between the stanchions within the package space for rotation between upright design and forward folded positions. A cam is pivotally supported within the package space between the stanchions and so that an abutment edge of the cam engages a shoulder location of the seatback sector in the upright design position. The cam is influenced to a disengaged position, resulting in rotation of the seatback to the folded position.

Abstract: A seatback assembly pivotally supported upon a seat bottom and including each of forward spring assisted dump, rewind and reset protocols. A stationary sector is affixed to the seat bottom and has an abutment edge. A seatback sector is pivotally secured to the stationary sector and is influenced relative thereto in a forward rotating dump direction. A cam is rotatably supported upon the pivoting seatback sector, the cam having an outer engaging edge in abutting contact with the abutment edge for maintaining the seatback sector in an upright design position. A rotating sector plate is arranged in stacked fashion with the stationary and pivoting seatback sectors, the sector plate exhibiting a plurality of outer circumferentially arrayed teeth. A pinion gear extends from a pivot axis established between the cam and seatback sector, the gear engaging the outer arrayed teeth of the sector plate.

Abstract: A headrest assembly having a bracket mount affixed to an upper portion of a seatback frame and at least one headrest bun supporting tube pivotally secured to the bracket mount. A spring biased cam is pivotally secured to the bracket mount and, in a normally biased position, engages an underside projection of a selected one of the supporting tubes, the cam also having an outwardly projecting pin. At least one wheel shaped component is rotatably mounted to an exterior of the bracket mount in proximity to the cam, the wheel having an outer circumferential location which, upon being rotated, contacts the projecting pin causing the cam to pivot in a downward unseating direction from the supporting tube, triggering release of the headrest and supporting tubes in a forwardly rotating and dump position.

Abstract: An assembly embedded into a headrest bun for permitting rotation of the bun between upright design and forward dump positions. The assembly includes a pair of tubes extending upwardly from a seatback frame and a fixed pivot rod extending between the tubes. A housing defines a package containing interior and including a pair of front and rear covers assembleable around the fixed pivot rod. A block shaped cam wedge is displaceably supported within the interior and biased in a first direction in seating fashion against an abutting location of the fixed rod. An actuating mechanism elevates the cam wedge to unseat from the pivot rod, the housing subsequently rotating from the design position to the forward dump position.

Abstract: A seat assembly having stanchions secured to a floor of a vehicle interior, a seatback pivotally secured between the stanchions. A seat bottom has an arm extending therefrom which is pivotally engaged to the seatback at a location offset from the seatback pivot with the stanchions. The seat bottom is pivotally connected at forward locations by a linkages extending to additional floor locations such that pivoting of the seatback results in slaved pivoting and combined displacement of the seat bottom between upright design and forward folded positions. A motor is pivotally secured to the vehicle interior, a rotatable screw extending from the motor and supporting an interiorly threaded collar in length displaceable fashion along the screw. A support arm is pivotally secured to the floor and to the screw supported collar. The support arm responds to actuation of the motor in at least a rewind direction in order to upwardly displace the seat bottom and slaved seatback to the upright design position.

Abstract: A deformable washer incorporated into a pivot assembly including a support sector and a rotatable sector pivotally mounted to the support sector by aligning apertures in the sectors which receive a widthwise inserting pin. The washer includes a disk shaped body defining an open interior and such that the body is supported by the pin in a desired sandwiching arrangement between the sectors. Protrusions extend from either or both of first and second annular extending faces of the body exhibiting deformable characteristics such that, a laterally applied compressive force associated with the stacking assembly results in collapse of the protrusions without otherwise affecting the structural integrity of the underlying body and allows for variations in material thickness resulting in a lateral gap at the pivot while reducing instances of lateral play.

Abstract: A latch triggering mechanism for actuating a rear interior row seatback dump including a first generally cylinder shaped module mounted within a trunk of a vehicle, the module including a downwardly extending and displaceable bracket. A latch assembly is secured to a package surface separating the trunk from a passenger interior of the vehicle. A release lever associated with the latch extends in abutting contact with the bracket such that, upon actuating the bracket into contact with the lever, the latch disengages a striker associated with a foldable seatback.

Abstract: A jig assembly and corresponding method for swage assembling a workpiece having first and second side components and a central component. A first pair of bi-directional traversable platforms are supported in inward and outward reciprocating fashion relative to a central support fixture, and upon which are mounted supporting structures for mounting the workpiece. A pair of engaging jigs are mounted to inner opposing sides of the pair of traversable platforms. Each of the engaging jigs includes a plurality of fingers which are adapted to seat within aperture locations associated with the workpiece side components and to facilitate loading and positioning the workpiece prior to swaging. A pair of opposing and synchronized inward compressing dies simultaneously swage locations associated with opposite edges of the central component which project through apertures defined in the side components.

Abstract: A rear row vehicle seat in which a pair of spaced apart and fixed supports are mounted upon a floor of a vehicle. A seat bottom exhibits a pair of side plates pivotally secured between said fixed supports. A seat back is pivotally mounted at its side ends to axially aligning locations of the side plates, offset from a pivot axis established between the seat bottom and the fixed supports, and such that upward pivoting of the seat bottom causes a combined pivotal and vertically induced displacement of the seatback. A latch is mounted to a rear facing location of the seatback and an elongated striker bar is mounted to a structurally supported and elevated location of the vehicle. The striker bar exhibits a combined arcuate and vertically extending profile for engaging the latch while accommodating vertical sliding of the seatback.

Abstract: A seat latch assembly for providing manual triggering and subsequent powered rewinding of a seatback. A vertical support stanchion is secured to a floor location of a vehicle frame. An arm is pivotally supported at a lower end to an upper location of the stanchion. The arm engages along a side location of a frame forming a portion of the seatback in a first upper design position. A lever and trigger initiates forward rotating dump of the seatback. An arrangement of linkage members are also located upon the inboard side of the stanchion for providing upright rewinding of the seatback and for subsequently resetting the linkage mechanism through the driving action of a motor operable drive shaft associated with lowermost pivotal mounting location of the stanchion support.

Abstract: A height compensating latch supported upon an underside of a rotatable vehicle seat and including a pair of spaced apart support plates, between which are pivotally supported a hook rotatable between a floor supported striker engaging position and a further position permitting rotation of the seat. A cam is also supported between the plates and triggers actuation of the hook. A pair of pliant and resilient portions are supported within mounting apertures associated with the plate, an open interior of each resilient portion receiving a mounting fastener for securing the plate to the seat and providing a degree of height compensation between the latch and striker. The pliant and resilient portions include a pair of rubberized bushings sandwiched between the support plates, each of the bushings further including an integrally formed grommet supported within first and second aligning pairs of mounting apertures associated with the plates.

Abstract: A rear row vehicle seat in which a pair of spaced apart and fixed supports are mounted upon a floor of a vehicle. A seat bottom exhibits a pair of side plates pivotally secured between said fixed supports. A seat back is pivotally mounted at its side ends to axially aligning locations of the side plates, offset from a pivot axis established between the seat bottom and the fixed supports, and such that upward pivoting of the seat bottom causes a combined pivotal and vertically induced displacement of the seatback. A latch is mounted to a rear facing location of the seatback and an elongated striker bar is mounted to a structurally supported and elevated location of the vehicle. The striker bar exhibits a combined arcuate and vertically extending profile for engaging the latch while accommodating vertical sliding of the seatback.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a high handle seat latch incorporated into a rotating seatback including a body integrated into the seatback and exhibiting a rear facing hook engaging a package shelf supported striker in an upright design position. A lift handle is supported at an upper end of the body and is accessible from a top of the seatback. A linkage interconnects the handle with the hook and is responsive to upward rotation of the handle to rotate the hook to a striker release and forward dump position. A cable actuates the linkage independent of the lift handle to actuate the hook to the release position.

Abstract: A transfer assembly incorporated into a part forming operation including a structure exhibiting a generally open interior. A pair of elongated pivotal supports extend in parallel fashion along inner facing sides of the structure and channel the received opposite edges of each part delivered from the part forming operation. A rotary actuating component is mounted at an intermediate end location of the structure between the sides and pivotally interconnects to the end supports via a pair of linkage arms. A proximity trigger switch determines delivery of a part from the out feed location and, upon being activated, actuates the rotary component to separate the side extending supports to release the part for stacking in plural fashion within the open interior, following which reverse actuation of the rotary component pivotally resets the supports for receiving a subsequent part.

Abstract: A seat assembly including a pair of spaced apart lower sectors, each exhibiting an annular extending inner surface defining first and second aligning apertures, and an upper sector interposed between the spaced apart lower sectors and exhibiting a further annular extending inner surface defining a further aperture positioned between the aligning apertures of the lower sectors and defining a pivot point of the upper sector. A bushing and collar spacer are incorporated into the pivot point to maintain a desired spacing between the upper and lower sectors. A bushing exhibits male and female subassemblies, each further exhibiting an outer annular projecting perimeter lip such that the male bushing is installed through the aligning apertures in the upper and lower sector plates from the exterior side of a first selected lower sector, whereas the female bushing is installed from an exterior side of the other lower sector.

Abstract: A seat latch assembly for providing manual triggering and subsequent powered rewinding of a seatback. A stanchion support is secured to a floor location of a vehicle frame. A seatback sector is pivotally supported at a lower end to an upper location of the stanchion. The sector engages along a side location of a frame forming a portion of the seatback in a first upper design position. A lever and trigger initiates forward rotating dump of the seatback. A plurality of four linkage members are also located upon the stanchion and, in combination with a motor, provide upright rewinding of the seatback and subsequent resetting of the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: An incrementally adjustable armrest associated with a seatback having an armrest supported in pivotal fashion to a frame location of the seatback. At least one sector is fixed to the seatback frame and supports a pivotal location associated with the armrest. A plurality of teeth are located along a circumferential edge extending location of the sector corresponding to a range of adjustment associated with the armrest. A plurality of pawls are arranged in a stacked relationship and are pivotally secured to the armrest at a location such that additional teeth associated with the pawls are biased in an engaging direction against the sector. A teethed pattern associated with a selected pawl individually seats within a circumferential location associated with the sector teeth.

Abstract: A seat latch assembly for providing manual triggering and subsequent powered rewinding of a seatback. A stanchion support is secured to a floor location of a vehicle frame. A seatback sector is pivotally supported at a lower end to an upper location of the stanchion. The sector engages along a side location of a frame forming a portion of the seatback in a first upper design position. A lever and trigger initiates forward rotating dump of the seatback. A plurality of four linkage members are also located upon the stanchion and, in combination with a motor, provide upright rewinding of the seatback and subsequent resetting of the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A seat latch assembly for providing manual triggering and subsequent powered rewinding of a seatback. A vertical support stanchion is secured to a floor location of a vehicle frame. An arm is pivotally supported at a lower end to an upper location of the stanchion. The arm engages along a side location of a frame forming a portion of the seatback in a first upper design position. A lever and trigger initiates forward rotating dump of the seatback. An arrangement of linkage members are also located upon the inboard side of the stanchion for providing upright rewinding of the seatback and for subsequently resetting the linkage mechanism through the driving action of a motor operable drive shaft associated with lowermost pivotal mounting location of the stanchion support.