Abstract: A rear vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion member supported by a support sub-assembly having downwardly extending front and rear seat legs. Each front seat leg includes a forked leg member co-operable with an attachment rod on a vehicle floor. Each rear seat leg includes a forked leg portion co-operable with a attachment rod on the vehicle floor. A first moveable lock member mounted on each of the rear seat legs permits selective locking of the respective one of the rear seat legs on the corresponding attachment rod. A biasing spring urges each lock member to a locked position. A manually operable handle is mounted on each of said rear seat legs to provide for selective manipulation of each lock member into an unlocked position, in order to release the rear seat legs with respect to the corresponding attachment rod, thereby to allow the vehicle seat assembly to be pivotal about the attachment rods associated with the front seat legs, between a lowered position and an uptilted position.

Abstract: A backlash reduction mechanism for incorporation into a selectively latchable vehicle seat hinge assembly for reducing the backlash between a plurality of interconnecting movably operative latch members positioned seriatim with respect to one another in the vehicle seat hinge assembly and method for producing the mechanism are disclosed. The latch members are retained in interposed relation between first and second hinge plates. One of the latch members, a manually operable lever means, is rotatably mounted about a second pivot axis on an eccentrically operative rotatably adjustable backlash reduction means, which is in turn rotatably mounted on the first and second hinge plates about a first pivot axis.

Abstract: An actuating device has an arm which controls the movement of a track locking mechanism for use in conjunction with a vehicle seat assembly adapted for installation in a vehicle. The seat assembly has a first track member, fixed to the vehicle, and a second track member, secured to the vehicle seat, which track members can be locked in position with respect to one another. A cable is attached to a vehicle seatback, and when the seatback is moved from an upright position to a forwardly folded position, the cable moves the arm of the actuating device from a rest position to a cocked position. When the vehicle seat is moved forward to allow access to the rear seat area of the vehicle, the arm of the actuating device correspondingly moves a cam follower from a raised position to a lowered position. The cam follower restrainingly engages the arm in the cocked position against the biasing of a spring member.

Abstract: A mechanism for selectively locking a stationary element and a movable element mounted on the stationary element. The mechanism comprises a pawl block mounted within a casing for sliding movement in opposite first and second directions along a first axis substantially transverse to an engagement surface on the stationary element. The pawl block has a substantially "V"-shaped cavity defined by two ramp surfaces which, together with the engagement surface, define a substantially triangular recess. A striated roller member is mounted within the recess for simultaneous circumferential engagement with the engagement surface and at least one of the inclined ramp surfaces when the pawl block is in its locking configuration.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is connected between the seatback member and the seat cushion member of a vehicle seat assembly to selectively control pivotal movement of the seatback member relative to the seat cushion member. A mounting mechanism is associated with each of the front and rear seat legs of the seat assembly and each such mounting mechanism is co-operable with a respective attachment member affixed to the vehicle floor to permit movement of the seat cushion member from a first in-use position within the vehicle to a second forwardly translated stowed position within the vehicle. The mounting member associated with at least one of the rear seat legs further comprises a lock mechanism that is selectively movable to restrainingly engage or disengage its respective attachment member.

Abstract: A seatback latching mechanism for use in a vehicle seat assembly having a seatback member pivotally tiltable over a seat cushion member is disclosed. The latching mechanism is used to secure the seatback member against pivotal movement in a forward angular direction relative to the seat cushion member, when the seatback member in its relatively upright angular orientation, by latching first and second hinged members. There are first and second stop means securely affixed to the first hinged member, first and second abutment means securely affixed to the second hinged member, and a selectively positionable latch member rotatably mounted on the first hinged members for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position.

Abstract: A selectively latchable vehicle seat hinge assembly has a first hinge arm and a first hinge plate each pivotally mounted about a common pivot axis for relative pivotal movement with respect to each other in first and second angular directions. A stop mechanism is mounted on the first hinge plate in interfering relation with the first hinge arm so as to limit the relative pivotal movement of the first hinge arm and the first hinge plate in the first angular direction. A latch plate is mounted on the first hinge plate. A latch pawl is pivotally mounted on the first hinge arm by way of an eccentrically operative, rotatably adjustable, backlash reduction mechanism for pivotal movement about a separate pivot axis distinct from the common pivot axis and for selective latching contact with the latch plate, so as to limit the relative pivotal movement of the first hinge arm and the first hinge plate in the second angular direction.

Abstract: A latchable track assembly for use with a seat in a vehicle, is disclosed. The assembly comprises first and second generally U-shaped slidably engaged track members adapted for relative sliding movement with respect to each other along a first longitudinal axis. The first track member has a first row of consecutive teeth on the first track member with the first row in aligned, generally parallel relation to the first axis, the consecutive teeth defining interstices positioned one between each pair of the consecutive teeth. There is a locking member having a least one detent portion dimensioned to be positionable within at least one of the interstices in transverse intruding relation to the first row of consecutive teeth and a bracket member rigidly attached to the second track member and adapted to laterally support the locking member in juxtaposed pivotable relation to the first track member.

Abstract: A low cost, light-weight inertial latching mechanism for use in latching an automotive vehicle seatback member with respect to a cooperating seat member under collision or collision-like conditions wherein high acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle occurs, is disclosed. The latching mechanism has first and second hinged members pivotally mounted on the seat and seatback members about a common first pivot. The first hinged member has a gear rack adapted to engage a pawl means that is mounted on the second hinged member. The pawl means moves between a first latched position, a second transitional position, and a third unlatched position. A spring means is operationally interconnected between the second hinged member and the pawl means and is adapted to bias the pawl means toward said third unlatched position until forces of acceleration or deceleration above a design threshold value occur.

Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge assembly having first and second generally opposed and parallel hinge plates rigidly connected in spaced relation to one another, and a central third hinge plate partially sandwiched between the first and second hinge plates is disclosed, together with a process for assembling the hinge assembly. The third hinge plate is connected in hinged relation to the first and second hinge plates by a pivot pin, which pin has a longitudinal axis and first and second shoulder portions extending in opposite axial directions from a centrally disposed annular hub portion, which shoulder portions each contain an amount of plastically deformable shoulder material.

Abstract: A vehicular seat back recliner hinge comprises first and second hinged members that are mutually rotatably arranged about a common pivot. The first member has a gear rack arranged thereon which is adapted to be engaged by a pinion spur gear. The pinion spur gear is fixed on an adjacent ratchet wheel spur gear in mutually dependent rotatable relation about a common concentric shaft secured on a second hinged member. A selected one of the above-mentioned shaft and pivot are eccentrically mounted on a rotatable bushing arranged on a corresponding one of the members. The bushing is operable to selectively position the pinion gear and the rack in first mutually proximal and second mutually spaced positions.

Abstract: An automobile seatback subassembly for mutually securing an automobile seat and seat back, and comprising a complimentary pair of mutually interlocking members including an elongated member having a slide with a notched profile intermediate leading and trailing ends thereof, and a channel member comprising a wall arrangement defining an open ended channel for receiving a predetermined maximum length of the mounting member, in axial inter-fitting relation therein. The channel member includes a rotationally biased eccentric cam arranged on a pivot located adjacent the channel with a radially outermost extent of the cam normally biased into inter-fitting relation within the channel in transverse register with the notched profile of the elongated mounting member when the latter is inter-fittingly arranged within the channel. The cam is operably rotatable out of that interfering relation in order to permit the insertion and the withdrawal of the mounting member in the manner described below.

Abstract: A vehicular seat back recliner hinge comprises first and second hinged members that are mutually rotatably arranged about a common pivot. The first member has a gear rack arranged thereon which is adapted to be engaged by a pinion spur gear. The pinion spur gear is fixed on an adjacent ratchet wheel spur gear in mutually dependent rotatable relation about a common concentric shaft secured on a second hinged member. A selected one of the above-mentioned shaft and pivot are eccentrically mounted on a rotatable bushing arranged on a corresponding one of the members. The bushing is operable to selectively position the pinion spur gear and the rack in first mutually proximal and second mutually spaced positions. A locking pawl arranged on a second of the members is adapted to lockingly engaged with and unlockingly disengage from the ratchet wheel spur gear.

Abstract: A releasably lockable hinge device comprises a pair of hingably connected hinge members rotatable about a common pivot and mutually positionable in an at least one mutually releasably locked position by a locking pawl selectively movable between locking and unlocking positions. First and second longitudinally spaced toothed portions of the locking pawl, when biased into a locking position, are interferingly wedgingly engaged with respective corresponding surfaces of the pair of hinge members, in rigidly, bridging interlocking relation therebetween.