Abstract: A vehicular seat assembly (28), fixedly secured to a floor (24) of a vehicle (10), is movable between a seat forming position (FIG. 1), a storage access position (FIG. 3) and a load floor position (FIG. 5). The seat frame structure (30) includes a front member (38) and a back member (40), both of which are slidable along a track (32). The seat cushion (42) pivots about the front member (38) when it is released from the back member (40). This rotational movement allows a safety lock lever (60) to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in the Figures) forcing a cam pin (64) downwardly. The cam (62) also pivots downwardly disengaging itself from its follower (66). Because the follower (66) cannot force the cam (62) downwardly, the seat adjustment mechanism (53) is prevented from moving to its release position to unlocking the vehicular seat assembly (10) from the track (32).

Abstract: The method of making a cushion assembly uses a trim layer and cushion pad with an adhesive therebetween. The adhesive is a hot melt adhesive applied to the contoured surface of the cushion pad and reheated on the cushion pad prior to use thereof in the subject process. An adhesive activator is applied to the trim layer, which had been previously placed on a mold. The cushion pad and trim layer are compressed against one another with the adhesive and activator therebetween to bond the cushion pad and trim layer together.

Abstract: A passenger seat assembly (10) for a motor vehicle which can be folded to a stowed position for increasing cargo capacity includes a seat cushion (12) and a backrest cushion (14). The seat cushion (12) can move between horizontal use and vertical stowed positions, and the backrest cushion (14) can similarly move between vertical use and horizontal stowed positions. A displacement cam (64) is connected to the seat cushion (12). A pawl (46) locks the backrest cushion (14) in its vertical use position. A flexible motion transmitting core element (52) is attached at one end to the pawl (46) and at the other end to a slug (70). The slug (70) rides in an arcuate receiver slot (68) of the displacement cam (64). When the seat cushion (12) is manually pulled from its horizontal use position, the displacement cam (64) is rotated, causing the receiver slot (68) to slide over the slug (70). This lost motion continues for approximately 30.degree.

Abstract: A pivotal support assembly (28) is used to pivot a vehicular seat (26) from an occupant seating position and a loading/unloading position. First (44) and second (46) links pivotally secure a secondary platform (48) to a support platform (24). The first link (44) is longer than the second link (46) to force the front end (50) of the secondary platform (48) closer to the floor (14) of the vehicle (10). A swivel bearing (36) allows the vehicular seat (26) to swivel toward the sliding door (20) to further aid in the passenger entering the vehicle (10) and occupying the vehicular seat (26).

Abstract: A positioning strip (10) for positioning fabric covers (12, 14) to a cushion (16). The positioning strip (10) includes an extension (26) having a plurality of fracturable fingers (32) extending out therefrom. A detachable portion (38) is secured to all the fracturable fingers (32) at the ends (34) thereof. A notch (44) is formed in each of the ends (34) to insure the fracturable fingers (32) break away from the detachable portion (38) at the ends (34). A flange (42) supports the detachable portion (38) such that the detachable portion (38) maintains the same spatial orientation (through surface (A)) as the extension (26) of the positioning strip (10) is positioned through bends or curves in the design of the cushion (16).

Abstract: The seat assembly 10 with an inflatable air bag for protecting the occupant of the seat during a collision. More specifically, the air bag assembly, generally shown at 22, is, at least in part, formed integrally with one or both, of the seat frame members 12 and 14. Each of the load bearing frame members 12 and 14 has an integral section 24 thereof extending longitudinally along a portion of the length of thereof. In other words, the integral section 24 is shorter than the entire length of the associated frame member 12 or 14 and the integral section 24 defines an air bag storage pocket or recess 26 and an inflator housing 28. The integral section 24 includes a common wall 30 separating the bag storage pocket 26 from the inflator housing 28. The common wall 30 includes air holes 32 extending therethrough to convey expanding gas from the inflator housing 28 to the pocket 26 for inflating a bag.

Abstract: An integrated child seat includes a movable cushion insert (16) that is supported on a seat frame (12) for movement between a lower position, wherein the cushion insert is aligned with a seating surface (15), and a raised position, wherein the cushion insert is disposed above the seating surface. When the cushion insert is in the raised position, it is available for use by a small child. The cushion insert is supported in the raised position by a foldable support assembly (18). A latch member (20) engages the support assembly and maintains the cushion insert in the raised position. A locking member (22) locks the cushion insert in a lower position. A release (24) releases the locking member when the cushion insert is to be moved from the lower position and releases the latch member when the cushion insert is to be moved from the raised position. A single push button actuator (26) provides simple operation of the release.

Abstract: A headrest support assembly (24) provides for a headrest frame (14) to be pivoted relative to a seatback (10) along a single pivot axis (28). The headrest (12) is adjustable into a plurality of support positions (30) and foldable into a non-support position (32) to enhance a driver's ability to see out the windows of a vehicle. The mechanism (60, 62) for adjusting the orientation of the headrest in the support position acts independently of the mechanism (47) for moving the headrest into the non-support position.

Abstract: A seat (10) including a backrest portion (16) with seat back support (24) providing selective lumbar support to a user. The seat back support (24) includes a pair of clam-shell shaped air bladders (28, 30) with their movable, expanding ends (36, 38) facing one another. Divider members (42, 44) split each of the bladders (28, 30) into separate side-by-side air sections to maintain the clam-shell shape of the bladders (28, 30) preventing bowing in the center of the seat back (14). The bladders (28, 30) support and move a flexible plate (70) connected thereover to provide selective contoured adjustment to the lumbar region of a user.

Abstract: A vehicle seat and seat track assembly (10) provides both incremental fore and aft seat adjustment and full fore and aft seat placement to allow easy access to a location behind a vehicle seat. The assembly (10) comprises a vehicle seat (12) having a front side, a back side, an inboard side and an outboard side. A seat track mechanism (22) attaches to the seat (12) to provide incremental fore and aft seat adjustment along the length of the seat track (22). A floor track mechanism (24) slideably supports the seat track mechanism (22) for full fore and aft placement of the seat track mechanism (22) and the seat (12). The floor and seat track mechanisms (24,22) attach in non-parallel relationship to one another for moving the seat (12) laterally as the seat (12) moves forward along the floor track mechanism (24) to allow the seat to clear an obstacle (100) located in front and inboard of the seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat back cushion assembly having a lower end and an upper end, and a seat cushion assembly having one end adjacent the lower end of the seat back assembly and an opposite end. A mounting structure is provided and is constructed and arranged with respect to the upper end of the seat back cushion assembly to mount the same so that the upper end does not move appreciably in a horizontal direction but can have limited vertical movement.

Abstract: A vehicular seating assembly (14) includes a seat cushion (20) and a seat back (22). The seat back (22) is locked in the seat forming position when the pawl (46) is locked into the seat back notch (54) by the bell crank (34). When the seat cushion (20) is moved out of the seat forming position, the spring (52) forces the bell crank (34) to rotate (counter clockwise in the Figures) unlocking the pawl (46) from the seat back notch (54). The torsion bar (32) receives the seat cushion (20) when the seat cushion (20) is returned to the seat forming position rotating the bell crank (34) back into locking engagement with the pawl (46) via a linkage (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis, or H-point, including a vehicle seat assembly (10) supported on a support structure (30). The support structure (30) having x and z coordinate grid lines and an alignment pick-up bar (82) for aligning the seat (10) along predetermined x and z coordinate grid lines. A seat occupant simulating manikin (32) is positioned on the seat (10) for defining the vehicle seat hip pivot axis. Measuring device (92) for aligning and measuring the hip pivot axis, or H-point, includes a guide (120) fixedly supported at predetermined x,z coordinates on the support structure (30) for guiding a housing member (94) along an x-axis. A telescoping member (96) slidably extends from the housing member (94) along a y-axis and a measuring pointer (108) extends from the telescoping member (96) along a z-axis to align with and measure the hip pivot axis, or H-point, on the manikin.

Abstract: The present invention is a foldable vehicular seat assembly (14) for providing increased floor space within a vehicle (10). The seat assembly (14) includes a seat portion (16) and backrest (18) both movable between an occupant upright seating or receiving position and a folded position. A linkage (46) and latch assembly (40) unlock both the seat portion (16) and backrest (18) from the upright seating position while simultaneously initiating the movement of the backrest (18) toward the folded position thereby assisting in the folding of the seat assembly (14).

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly (10) includes a backrest member (14) pivotably coupled to a seat member (12) for enabling the seat to pivot between a generally upright design position (D) and a reclined position (R). An inertia responsive latch mechanism (18) is operative in response to the assembly (10) being subjected to sudden acceleration forces, as when the vehicle is involved in a rearend collision, for locking the back rest member (14) against rearward pivotal movement toward the reclined position (R).

Abstract: A child restraint seat (22) is disposed in a cavity (20) of the backrest (14) in an adult passenger seat (10) for restraining a child in a vehicle. The child seat (22) comprises a seat portion (24) pivotal between a folded position recessed in the cavity (20) forming a lower portion of the adult backrest (14) and an unfolded position resting against the adult seat portion (12). A child backrest (26) is disposed in the cavity (20) and pivotal between a first position parallel with the inclined position of the adult backrest (14) and a second child backrest inclined position. The child seat (22) further includes a headrest (54) pivotal in an arcuate path about an axis of the adult backrest (14) between a folded position forming the upper portion of the adult backrest (14) and an unfolded position raised above the backrest (14) and forming an extended child backrest portion (26).

Abstract: A seating assembly (10) including a hinge joint (30) rotatably connecting an articulated member (21) to a support member (28). The hinge joint (30) includes a cover (26) having a face plate (32) positioned adjacent to the hinge joint (30) for preventing ingress of foreign materials into the joint from an axial direction. The cover (26) further includes flexible strips (34, 34') extending circumferencially about the hinge joint (30). Channels (56, 56') are attached to the articulated member (21) at a location adjacent the hinge joint (30) and slidably receive and guide the strips (34, 34') circumferencially about the hinge joint (30) to prevent ingress of foreign materials into the hinge joint (30) from a radial direction.

Abstract: The assembly (10) includes a plurality of tubes (30) configured to fit into the trenches or indentations of a preformed seat cushion assembly (14). The plurality of tubes (30) rotate about pins (56) and force a fabric bag (12) and an adhesive layer located between the seat cushion assembly (14) and the fabric bag (12) into the trenches. Steam passes through the plurality of tubes (30) and out a plurality of holes (32) which are spaced along the plurality of tubes (30). The steam melts the adhesive layer which subsequently bonds the fabric bag (12) to the seat cushion assembly (14) within the trenches of the seat cushion assembly (14). A vacuum (40) is used to create a pressure differential between the passageways within the plurality of tubes (30) and the atmosphere, i.e., the seat cushion (15). The pressure differential is used to remove the steam and any water from the fabric bag (12) and seat cushion assembly (14) to prevent water damage thereto.

Abstract: A seat cover assembly (10) includes a seat envelope (14) surrounding a seat (12) with a drawstring sheath (18) attached to the seat envelope (14) and a slidable drawstring (20) therein. Front and rear attachment projections (38,40) are located on the seat (12) to facilitate attachment of the seat envelope (14) to the seat (12). The drawstring sheath (18) comprises a plurality of sheath sections (22) with openings (24) between adjacent sections (22) so that intermediate drawstring portions (62) may extend from the openings (24) and be secured to the rear attachment projections (40) on the seat (12).

Abstract: A child restraint seat (22) is disposed in a cavity (20) of the backrest (14) in an adult passenger seat (10) for restraining a child in a vehicle. The child seat (22) comprises a seat portion (24) pivotal between a folded position recessed in the cavity (20) forming a lower portion of the adult backrest (14) and an unfolded position resting against the adult seat portion (12). A child backrest (26) is disposed in the cavity (20) and pivotal between a first position parallel with the inclined position of the adult backrest (14) and a second child backrest inclined position. The child seat (22) further includes a headrest (54) pivotal in an arcuate path about an axis of the adult backrest (14) between a folded position forming the upper portion of the adult backrest (14) and an unfolded position raised above the backrest (14) and forming an extended child backrest portion (26).