Abstract: A fastener is used to connect a first link to a second link in a vehicle seat assembly. The fastener has a head portion and a body portion extending outwardly from the head portion and defining an external diameter. The body portion is generally cylindrical and has a central bore with an internal diameter that is less than the external diameter. The method for connecting the first link to the second link with the fastener includes the steps of inserting the central body portion through aligned apertures in the links to form a subassembly and holding the subassembly fixed while a tooling member applies a linear load to the distal end of the body portion. The tooling member is inserted into the central bore and deforms the body portion for engagement with the first and second links to allow relative rotational movement between the links while eliminating relative linear movement therebetween.

Abstract: A fastener is used to connect a first link to a second link in a vehicle seat assembly. The fastener has a head portion and a body portion extending outwardly from the head portion and defining an external diameter. The body portion is generally cylindrical and has a central bore with an internal diameter that is less than the external diameter. The method for connecting the first link to the second link with the fastener includes the steps of inserting the central body portion through aligned apertures in the links to form a subassembly and holding the subassembly fixed while a tooling member applies a linear load to the distal end of the body portion. The tooling member is inserted into the central bore and deforms the body portion for engagement with the first and second links to allow relative rotational movement between the links while eliminating relative linear movement therebetween.

Abstract: A manual adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of a vehicle seat includes mounting brackets for supporting a seat bottom that is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. Separate adjustment assemblies can be installed at the front and rear portions of the seat for adjusting the height of the front portion independently from the rear portion. Or, a single adjustment assembly can be used to adjust the height of either the front or rear portion where the adjustment assembly includes a connecting linkage assembly to correspondingly adjust the height of the other portion of the seat bottom. The adjustment assembly includes a torque tube extends between the mounting brackets and is actuated by an actuator that selectively supplies rotational input to the torque tube. A drive link is supported on one end of the torque tube and is fixed for rotation with the torque tube as the tube receives input from the actuator.