Abstract: A seat back latch mechanism for a vehicle seat assembly having a generally horizontal seat structure and an upstanding backrest structure pivotally supported on support arms for tiltable movement over the seat structure. A latch pawl pivotally mounted on one of the structures is maintained in a cam controlled latching attitude relative to a fixed detent on the other of the structures. The latch pawl is constructed and arranged so that its center of gravity normally provides a force couple acting eccentrically of the pawl pivot axis to cause the latter to swing out of the controlled latching attitude in a direction to bypass the detent when moderate force is applied to the seat back structure to tilt the latter over the seat structure.