Abstract: A vehicle seat includes an outer skin layer, which covers the seat cushion or seat back. The seat cushion or seat back is integrally formed with a fastener disposed on a main surface portion thereof. The main surface portion has an underlayer disposed under an overlayer, which includes an outerskin surface, freely disposed over the underlayer. The overlayer and the underlayer are joined only along common edge portions thereof while the surface areas thereof are not attached. The lower side of the second underlayer is affixed to the fastener disposed on the seat cushion or seat back. Each of the skin layer and the overlayer and underlayer may be of two or three ply construction including a backing material and a wadding layer. This construction allows high assembly efficiency with a reduced number of parts. Further, disassembly of seat components for recycling is also simplified while enhanced appearance of the installed seat cover is easily accomplished.

Abstract: An automotive seat having a seat cushion latching device is disclosed, in which the changing of the seat cushion from an operative latched position to a folded latched position or vice verse is achieved by manipulating only one operation lever.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown which comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative condition and an upright inoperative condition; a seat slide latching mechanism for latching the upper rail to the lower rail, the seat slide latching mechanism having a first cancelling device which cancels the latched condition of the upper rail when actuated; a seat cushion latching mechanism for latching the seat cushion at both the horizontal operative and upright inoperative positions relative to the base structure, the seat cushion latching mechanism having a second cancelling device which cancels the latched condition of the seat cushion when actuated; and a latch cancel inhibiting mechanism which inhibits the actuation of one of the first and second cancelling devices when the other of the

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown. The assembly comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative position and an upright inoperative position; a seat slide latching mechanism for latching the upper rail to the lower rail; a seat cushion latching mechanism for latching the seat cushion at both the horizontal operative and upright inoperative postions relative to the base structure; a latch cancelling mechanism incorporated with the seat cushion latching mechanism for cancelling the latched condition of the seat cushion when actuated; and a restraining mechanism incorporated with the latch cancelling mechanism. The restraining mechanism latches the upper rail to the lower rail when the latch cancelling mechanism is being actuated.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown, which comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative position and an upright inoperative position; a seat slide latching mechanism for selectively latching and unlatching the upper rail relative to the lower rail; a seat cushion latching mechanism for selectively latching and unlatching the seat cushion at the horizontal operative and upright inoperative positions relative to the base structure; and a control handle incorporated with both the seat slide latching mechanism and the seat cushion latching mechanism.

Abstract: A seat slide device for a motor vehicle is shown, which includes a seat slide latching mechanism by which an upper movable rail can be latched at a desired fore-and-aft position relative to a lower stationary rail and a rail-disconnection inhibiting mechanism by which undesired separation of the upper rail from the lower rail is prevented even when a great load is applied to the rails due to a vehicle collision of the like. Lock openings formed in the lower rail can be used for not only the seat slide latching mechanism but also the rail-disconnection inhibiting mechanism. Thus, the lower rail has a satisfied mechanical strength.

Abstract: A seatback frame is disclosed as having an inverted-U-shaped frame member including an elongated and generally horizontal upper member and an elongated side member extending generally downwardly from each extremity of the upper member. A side panel is secured to and extends generally upwardly along and forwardly from a lower portion of each side member. A lumbar supporting panel extends laterally between, and is supported by, the side panels. The lumbar supporting panel has a central portion extending generally upwardly and is secured to a central portion of the upper member.

Abstract: A locking slide apparatus (10) for mounting a slidable seat (3) in a vehicle and for facilitating the rearrangement of tandemly disposed seats (1, 2 and 3) is disclosed that has an elongated stationary rail (7) securable to the vehicle floor (4), a slide mechanism (12) adapted to support the seat and to slide along the rail, a lock mechanism (33) to secure the slide mechanism to the rail at selected positions therealong, an operating mechanism (34) to operate the lock mechanism, a seat position sensor mechanism (94) to sense the location of the seat along the rail, and an interlock mechanism (62) to prevent the operation of the lock mechanism if a passenger is occupying the seat.