Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom with a frame with a slot or a pivotal connection. A seat back has a frame with the other of the slot and the pivotal connection to cooperate with the seat back for collapsing the seat back upon the seat bottom. A receiver is mounted to one of the seat bottom or the seat back with a first locking component and an insert is mounted to the other with a second locking component. The seat back is assembled to the seat bottom by pivoting the seat back to align the receiver and insert and translating the seat back along the slot until the insert is inserted into the receiver and the locking components are locked. The vehicle seat connection permits the seat bottom and seat back to be fabricated at separate facilities and then shipped to an assembly facility.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom with a frame with a slot or a pivotal connection. A seat back has a frame with the other of the slot and the pivotal connection to cooperate with the seat back for collapsing the seat back upon the seat bottom. A receiver is mounted to one of the seat bottom or the seat back with a first locking component and an insert is mounted to the other with a second locking component. The seat back is assembled to the seat bottom by pivoting the seat back to align the receiver and insert and translating the seat back along the slot until the insert is inserted into the receiver and the locking components are locked. The vehicle seat connection permits the seat bottom and seat back to be fabricated at separate facilities and then shipped to an assembly facility.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back frame having an aperture extending therethrough, and a head rest guide tube disposed in the aperture. The guide tube has a radially extending swaged portion engaged with the seat back frame for securing the guide tube to the seat back frame.

Abstract: A method of attaching a head rest guide tube to a seat back frame having an aperture extending therethrough includes inserting the guide tube into the aperture, and swaging the guide tube to form a swaged portion engaged with the seat back frame to thereby secure the guide tube to the seat back frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is movable between a seating position and a storage position to form a relatively flat horizontal load floor. The seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. A side member extends upward from the seat bottom. The seat back is rotatably mounted on the side member such that the seat back is rotatable about a horizontally extending axis. The seat back is preferably mounted on the side member so that the seat back can be rotated or flipped around by about 180 degrees so that a seating surface and a back surface of the seat back are rotatable to a reverse position. Preferably, the side member is pivotally attached to the seat bottom and is capable of moving the seat back into a generally horizontal position to define the load floor. An optional panel can be movably attached to the seat back. The panel is movable between a first position adjacent the seat back, and an extended position extending outward from the seat back and covering the seat bottom to further extend and define the load floor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting a seat back in a vehicle comprising an aluminum I-beam formed in a generally U-shaped configuration, and having opposing ends supported with respect to the vehicle for forming a seat back frame. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat back frame, comprising: a) extruding an aluminum I-beam; b) cutting the I-beam to a desired length; c) age-hardening the I-beam; and d) bending the I-beam into a substantially U-shaped configuration to form a vehicle seat back frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting a seat back in a vehicle comprising an aluminum I-beam formed in a generally U-shaped configuration, and having opposing ends supported with respect to the vehicle for forming a seat back frame. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat back frame, comprising: a) extruding an aluminum I-beam; b) cutting the I-beam to a desired length; c) age-hardening the I-beam; and d) bending the I-beam into a substantially U-shaped configuration to form a vehicle seat back frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting a seat back in a vehicle comprising an aluminum I-beam formed in a generally U-shaped configuration, and having opposing ends supported with respect to the vehicle for forming a seat back frame. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat back frame, comprising: a) extruding an aluminum I-beam; b) cutting the I-beam to a desired length; c) age-hardening the I-beam; and d) bending the I-beam into a substantially U-shaped configuration to form a vehicle seat back frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a lower support frame with a seat back frame pivotally connected to the lower support frame. The back frame includes a headrest portion with an aperture formed therethrough. First and second recliner brackets are secured to the lower support frame between the lower support frame and seat back frame, and each recliner bracket forms a slot therein. A seat dump mechanism includes a lever extending from the aperture with first and second cables operatively connected to the lever. First and second lock-pins are operatively connected to the cable and selectively movable between the first position in which the first and the second lock-pins are engaged within the first and second slots, and a second position in which the first and second lock-pins are disengaged from the first and second slots such that the back frame is disengaged from the recliner to allow pivotal movement of the back frame with respect to the lower support frame.

Abstract: A seat cover assembly (10) includes a seat envelope (14) surrounding a seat (12) with a drawstring sheath (18) attached to the seat envelope (14) and a slidable drawstring (20) therein. Front and rear attachment projections (38,40) are located on the seat (12) to facilitate attachment of the seat envelope (14) to the seat (12). The drawstring sheath (18) comprises a plurality of sheath sections (22) with openings (24) between adjacent sections (22) so that intermediate drawstring portions (62) may extend from the openings (24) and be secured to the rear attachment projections (40) on the seat (12).