Abstract: A modular seat back system for a vehicle, including a type-A seat back frame having a center shoulder seatbelt anchorage, and a type-B seat back frame having a smaller width. The left edges of the seat back frames are substantially similar in shape and size, and the right edges of the seat back frames are substantially similar in shape and size. The symmetry between the edges allows the modular seat back system to form a “40/40 configuration” with two type-B seat back frames in smaller vehicles, a “40/60 configuration” with one type-A and one type-B seat back frame in medium-sized vehicles, and a “60/60 configuration” with two type-A seat back frames in larger vehicles. Further, the dual-nature of the center seatbelt anchorage allows the modular seat back system to form a “40/60 configuration” in left-hand-drive versions of a particular vehicle line, and a “60/40 configuration” for the right-hand-drive versions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a fixed seat portion which is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and a movable seat portion which is mounted on the fixed seat portion and adapted to be moved between a normal use or drive position and an access position where the front edge of the movable seat portion overlies the sill of the vehicle to facilitate egress from the vehicle, the movable seat portion providing substantial support for the occupant at the drive position and during its movement to the access position, the vehicle seat assembly including mechanisms for pivoting and/or sliding movement of the movable seat portion relative to the fixed seat portion and for locking the movable seat portion to the fixed seat portion to prevent unwanted movement of the movable seat portion.