Abstract: A close out retainer for a side air bag chute comprising at least two retainer pieces, a bar code wherein a portion of the bar code is printed on said at least two retainer pieces, and a strap connecting that retainer to the side air bag. This close out retainer increases the safety of side air bags by utilizing a retainer that ensures correct installation. Correct installation is only obtained when the bar code printed on each of at least two retainer pieces is aligned and complete.

Abstract: A stowable seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a floor and a recess formed therein. The assembly includes a seat and a pivot tube adapted to be secured to the vehicle floor, with the seat being operatively pivotal about the pivot tube between a first, collapsed position and a second, stowed position with the seat being at least partially stowed within the vehicle recess. The seat passes through a third, upright position intermediate the first and second positions as the seat is pivoted between the first and second positions. The assembly further includes a torsion rod mounted on the pivot tube and free to twist, with the torsion rod being operatively coupled to the seat during pivoting of the seat toward and away from the third, upright position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a retaining member includes a support member and a latch member moveably coupled to the support member. The latch member is moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member. The seat assembly further includes a cam arrangement associated with the support member and including a cam that cooperates with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position. The cam arrangement also includes a movement inhibitor that is configured to extend into a sufficiently large gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.

Abstract: A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including a seat backrest, a seat bottom, and a seat frame having a front member and a rear member that operatively supports the seat bottom. A seat backrest rotating assembly allows the seat backrest to move from an upright position to a folded position. The seat frame has a seat rotation mechanism to allow the seat frame to be rotatively lifted upward and move the seat frame to a tumbled position. A first latching mechanism latches and retains the seat backrest in the upright position. A second latching mechanism latches and retains the seat bottom to the vehicle floor. A release assembly has a motor and a cable assembly that is operatively connected to the first latching assembly. The motor is adapted to be remotely actuated to cause the first latching assembly to be operatively released by the cable assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position.

Abstract: A recliner assembly for a vehicle seat having a seat back movably mounted relative to a seat bottom includes first and second frame members. The first frame member supports the seat back. The second frame member supports the seat bottom. The second frame member is pivotally attached to the first frame member and is movable between an upright position and a storage position. In the upright position, the seat back is in a generally vertical position for supporting an occupant seated on the seat. In the storage position, the seat back is positioned above the seat bottom. A damper is operatively connected between the first and second frame members. The damper dampens the movement of the first frame member relative to the second frame member when the second frame member is pivoted from the upright position to the storage position.

Abstract: A weight-sensing assembly for supporting an automotive seat cushion frame atop a track assembly includes a pair of coupling members that are secured to the seat cushion frame. A set of mounting locations on each coupling member, preferably separated by an elongate portion of the coupling member of generally uniform cross-section, are secured to a respective end of a strain gage sensor's elongate sensing beam. The other end of each sensing beam is secured to a respective mounting location defined on the upper rails of a seat track assembly. The elongate portion of the coupling member, and respective portions of the upper rails separating the mounting locations thereon, are characterized by a flexural stiffness, in a bending plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the sensing beam of at least one sensor assembly, that is at least three times greater than the flexural stiffness of each sensor's sensing beam.

Abstract: A weight-sensing assembly for supporting an automotive seat cushion frame atop a track assembly includes a pair of coupling members that are secured to the seat cushion frame. A set of mounting locations on each coupling member, preferably separated by an elongate portion of the coupling member of generally uniform cross-section, are secured to a respective end of a strain gage sensor's elongate sensing beam. The other end of each sensing beam is secured to a respective mounting location defined on the upper rails of a seat track assembly. The elongate portion of the coupling member, and respective portions of the upper rails separating the mounting locations thereon, are characterized by a flexural stiffness, in a bending plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the sensing beam of at least one sensor assembly, that is at least three times greater than the flexural stiffness of each sensor's sensing beam.