Abstract: A seat assembly supports an occupant above a floor having a load floor and is stowable within a recess below the floor. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending between a seating surface and a bottom surface. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a seating position and a forwardly folded dump position overlying the seat cushion. A riser mechanism extends between the bottom surface of the seat cushion and the recess for allowing selective movement of the seat assembly between a seating position to support the occupant above the floor and a stowed position disposed within the recess in the floor. The riser mechanism includes a pair of front legs having a lower end pivotally coupled to the recess within the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion, and a pair of rear legs having a lower end pivotally coupled to the recess within the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A seat frame assembly is provided for compactly folding a motor vehicle seat. The seat frame assembly includes at least one side frame member. An actuator is operatively coupled to the side frame member. An elongated control arm includes a first end pivotally coupled to the side frame member and an opposite distal end. A control link includes one end pivotally coupled to the side frame member and an opposing end operatively coupled to the distal end of the control arm. A seat cushion linkage assembly is operably coupled between one of the control arm and control link and the actuator for moving each of the control arm and control link between a stowed position generally parallel with and adjacent to the side frame member and a support position spaced from the side frame member in response to actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A seat frame assembly is provided for compactly folding a motor vehicle seat. The seat frame assembly includes a pair of spaced apart and parallel side frame members defining a vertical plane, and a lower cross member extending between the pair of side frame members. An actuator is pivotally secured to one of the pair of side frame members. A linkage assembly includes first and second link members, which are pivotally secured to one another. The first link member extends between the actuator and the second link member. A control arm is fixedly secured to the second link member and pivotally secured to the lower cross member. When the actuator is pivoted, the control arm moves between a support position extending away from the side frame members and a stowed position co-planar with the side frame members.

Abstract: A lateral translating seat assembly and a method and system for lateral seat translation. The assembly includes a seat attached to a vehicle mount and having a seat position and a stow position. A lateral forcing element is operably attached to the vehicle mount and seat so that rotation of the seat about a horizontal axis with respect to the vehicle results in lateral translation of the seat. The method includes the steps of rotating the seat between seat position and stow position, and laterally translating the seat based on the rotation. The method further includes the step of stopping the lateral translation at one of a seat location or the stow location. The system includes means for rotating a seat between a seat position and a stow position and means for laterally translating the seat based on the rotation.

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor of an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion extending laterally between spaced apart side members. The seat cushion includes a front cross member extending between the side members. Inboard and outboard front legs are each pivotally assembled at one end to the front cross member for pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs between a seating position and forwardly dumped positions. A boss protrudes outwardly from the front cross member for pivotal movement therewith relative to the front legs. A guide flange is fixedly secured to one of the front legs and has a cam surface cammingly engagable with the boss for automatically laterally displacing the seat cushion in response to pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs between the seating and forwardly dumped positions.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a recliner mechanism interconnecting the seat back and the seat cushion for selective adjustment of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded position. A riser assembly extends between the seat cushion and the floor of the vehicle. The riser assembly includes front and rear legs arranged as a four bar linkage between the seat cushion and the floor for selectively moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position. The rear legs are fixedly secured to a control rod pivotally supported by the seat cushion. Levers extend between the seat back and the control rod for automatically moving the seat cushion between the seating and stowed positions in response to a movement of the seat back between the respective seating and stowed positions.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending laterally between spaced apart side members. The seat cushion includes a front cross member extending between the side members. Front legs are pivotally assembled at one end to the front cross member for pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front leg between a seating position and a forwardly dumped positions. A rod is connected at a first end to a spaced side member and at a second end to the front leg. The seat cushion is automatically laterally displaced relative to the front legs in response to pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs due to changes in the effective length of the rod.

Abstract: A headrest support system comprises a seatback support frame having an upper cross member adapted to support a headrest. The cross member has opposite top and bottom surfaces with axially aligned holes formed therethrough. A headrest guide sleeve is received through each of the axially aligned holes formed in the cross member to coupled the headrest to the support frame. The holes include outward extending flanges defining an inner contact surface for engaging and supporting the headrest guide sleeve.

Abstract: A seat assembly (10) supports an occupant above a floor (7) having a load floor and a recess (6) extending therebelow. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion (12) extending between a seating surface (15) and a bottom surface (17). A riser mechanism (20) extends between the bottom surface (17) of the seat cushion and the floor (7) for allowing selective movement of the seat assembly between a seating position to support the occupant above the load floor and a stowed position disposed within the recess in the floor. A panel (70) is operatively coupled to the riser mechanism (20) for movement with the seat assembly between the seating position, wherein the panel (70) conceals the recess (6) in the floor, and said stowed position, wherein the panel is disposed within the recess to provide access thereto allowing the seat assembly to be stowed in the recess.