Abstract: The invention relates to a storable vehicle seat assembly which is fully retractable below the level of the vehicle's floor. Typically, the invention involves a bench-type seat which is located behind the driver and passenger seats of a van or station wagon. In an operative position, the seat has an upper member or back rest which cooperates with a lower horizontal bench member to provide the seating portion. In the nonoperative or fully retracted position, the upper seat portion is folded upon the lower seat member and the supporting legs so that the entire seat assembly occurs below the level of the vehicle's floor.

Abstract: A combination hinge and opening bias mechanism for a closure of a vehicle such as a trunk deck lid including a hinge arm attached at one end to the closure with the other end guided by a horizontal track extending beneath an adjacent backlite of the vehicle body. Movement of the end of the hinge arm in the track is controlled by the pivoting of a torsion bar which extends laterally across the closure and with the end of a crankarm portion attached in pivotal relation to the body. During opening movement, the hinged edge of the closure pivots upward and slightly rearward as the elongated portion of the torsion bar rotates about the crankarm end. This upward movement is accompanied by rearward movement of the hinge arm in the track. The simultaneous dual pivoting of the closure moves the hinged edge portion of the closure rapidly upwardly in a substantially vertical direction so as not to contact the adjacent backlite of the vehicle which is only slightly spaced forward thereof.