Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be positioned generally upright to provide an upright seating position or positioned generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in a vehicle and while removed from the vehicle. A cupholder is included in a cover for the seat assembly.

Abstract: An automotive seat belt buckle pretensioner assembly includes a special mounting bracket for supporting the operating components of a pyrotechnic-powered cable extending from the seat belt buckle around a cable-redirection pulley. The mounting bracket includes a flat major wall that is parallel to a major wall on the pulley support structure, so that the pulley is located within the space defined by the parallel walls. A bolt, or rivet, extending between the parallel walls provides shaft support for the pulley, while acting as a connector mechanism between the pulley support structure and mounting bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be locked generally upright to provide a seating position or locked generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in the vehicle and while removed from the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be locked generally upright to provide a seating position or locked generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in the vehicle and while removed from the vehicle. A cupholder is included in a cover for the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat riser for use with a motor vehicle of the type having longitudinally spaced and laterally extending front and rear floor mounted strikers to removably mount a seat in the vehicle has front and rear latches connected to a frame by pivot pins. Each latch has a hook. The front latch pivots to a latching position in which its hook engages an underside of the front striker. The rear latch pivots to a latching position in which its hook engages an underside of the rear striker. The latches are pivoted to and from their latching positions by a handle connected to one of the latches, with a link interconnecting the latches. The relationship of the latches to each other and to the link is such that one of the latches engages and disengages its striker before the other, thereby reducing the maximum force needed to pivot the latches to and from their latching positions.

Abstract: An automotive seat belt buckle pretensioner is economically mounted on a seat structure with a bracket structure that includes a first major wall securable to an available mounting surface, a second major wall offset horizontally from the first wall mounting the operating components of the pretensioner, and a horizontal connector wall joining the first and second major walls. The bracket can be reconfigured to meet different mounting surface availabilities and installation space requirements.

Abstract: A vehicle seat with a rear facing seat back panel includes a perimeter wall having an upper wall portion interconnected with a lower wall portion by first and second opposed side wall portions. A central panel portion with lateral edge portions recessed from the perimeter wall and connected to the first and second side portions is also provided. An upper edge portion of the central panel portion is spaced apart from the upper wall portion defining an aperture such that the upper wall portion of the perimeter wall forms an integral hand grip. Additionally hooks for holding grocery bags are also provided and a membrane can be added to form a map pocket and umbrella pocket.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be locked generally upright to provide a seating position or locked generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in the vehicle and while removed from the vehicle. A cupholder is included in a cover for the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly including an integrated child seat assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a seat frame including a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame. A cushion assembly is mounted on the seat frame assembly and includes a movable cushion construction mounted for movement between (1) an adult position wherein the cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction provides an adult seat cushion and a cushioned adult seat back for engaging the back of an adult sitting on the adult seat cushion, and (2) a child position wherein the cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction provides a child's seat and a cushioned child's seat back. An adult seat belt assembly is mounted with respect to the seat assembly, and a child's seat belt assembly is provided with the integrated child's seat assembly.

Abstract: Actuating structure is provided for manually moving hook members mounted on a rigid support structure. The rigid support structure supports a portion of a cushioned seat structure of a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle having a floor surface. The hook members are mounted on the rigid support structure for movement between (1) an operative position engaged in hooked relationship with anchor members of the floor surface so as to detachably fixedly retain the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon in a fixed operative position on the floor surface and (2) an inoperative position disposed above the operative position thereof so as to enable the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon to be moved relatively over the floor surface. The actuating structure is constructed and arranged to move the hook members between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.

Abstract: A seat for a motor vehicle providing at least two modes of operation including an adult seat mode and a child seat mode. The seat has a rigid frame assembly having a seat cushion carried thereon, a rigid seat back frame assembly having a seat back cushion assembly carried thereon, the seat back frame assembly being mounted with respect to the rigid frame assembly for movement between an operative, generally vertical orientation and a second inoperative orientation whereby the seat back frame assembly is disposed in generally horizontal orientation in generally overlying relation with the seat cushion. The seat back cushion assembly includes a movable cushion assembly mounted on the seat back frame assembly and being movable between (1) an adult mode position wherein the movable cushion assembly provides an adult seat back and (2) a child mode position wherein the movable cushion assembly provides a child's seat disposed in overlying relation with the seat cushion.

Abstract: A three-mode seat for a motor vehicle cooperable with an adult seat belt assembly to provide three modes of operation including an adult seat mode, a large child booster seat mode, and a small child mode. The seat includes a child's seat module arranged to be secured to the seat back frame between the space provided between two side cushions. The module includes a rigid back panel which carries a cushion assembly and a child's seat belt assembly.

Abstract: A child seat module integrated with a rear vehicle seat, and including fold-down lower and upper segments, interconnected by a flexible and detachable hinge, and a plastic back panel mounted against the back frame of the bench seat. A plastic seat pad support platform is mounted on the inner surface of the lower segment. A pad having seat and back segments is removably mounted on the platform and against the back panel. A safety belt system is operably included in the module. The interconnected lower and upper segments are adapted to being folded down to form, with the platform and pad, a child seat cushion and leg support. Alternatively, the leg support may be removed for a child whose size is such that use of the leg support would be uncomfortable.

Abstract: An easily removable vehicle seat is provided for use with a vehicle including a floor having an upwardly facing surface. The floor includes front and rear wells extending below the upwardly facing surface and anchor members extending across the wells. The vehicle seat includes a rigid support structure having a downwardly facing surface for engaging the anchor members of the vehicle floor. A cushioned seat structure is provided on the rigid support structure. The vehicle seat also includes hook members mounted on the rigid support structure for movement between (1) an operative position extending below the downwardly facing surface so as to enter the wells and engage in hooked relationship with the anchor members and (2) an inoperative position disposed above the operative position thereof so as to enable the rigid support structure to be moved relatively over the floor.

Abstract: A twin shoulder belt adjustment mechanism for a child restraint system, including a plurality of vertically spaced apart and slightly vertically offset restraint slots for holding the belts in use. Respective adjustment slits extend laterally from the restraint slots, with a downwardly extending connector slit interconnecting and extending beyond the outer ends of the lateral adjustment slits, such that the twin belts may be moved therethrough to a higher or lower pair of restraint slots to accommodate a different size child.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a child seat module integrally mounted in an automotive bench seat, and including a latch arrangement for rapidly and easily raising and lowering a fold-up head support, along with adjusting the height thereof. The latch arrangement includes features for assuring that the head support is rigidly retained in its respective child and adult use positions.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for use in mounting an auxiliary seat on a vertical body wall of a vehicle such as a pickup truck extended cab. The hinge assembly comprises a seat-half banana hinge member and a body-half bracket hinge member for rotating the auxiliary seat between a first vertical stowed position and a second horizontal seating position. The bracket hinge has a pair of vertically extending side walls each formed with an oblique guide slot so as to movably support one end of a spring rod for reciprocal travel therein. A cam track having forward and rear notched detents is formed on each bracket hinge member side wall and is adapted for capturing a respective one of a pair of cam followers mounted adjacent each end of the spring rod. An overcenter tension spring urges the cam followers into rolling engagement with their associated jump motion cam track providing quick-return capture of the followers into their associated forward or rear notched detents.

Abstract: A gas spring assisted latch assembly for an automotive vehicle seat structure which tilts the seat forwardly to an easy entry position without passenger assistance upon release of the latch. An extensible and retractable gas spring actuator is provided constantly biased toward its extended position. The actuator, which has its one end pivotally connected to the seat riser and its other end pivotally connected to the vehicle floor, is held in its retracted position by a latch mechanism releasably locking the seat structure in its upright mode. Release of the latch mechanism allows the actuator to apply a constant pushing force pivoting the seat to its forwardly tilted position. An improved dual actuated latch mechanism provides an alternative outboard side latch release handle for ready access from outside the vehicle in combination with an existing rear latch release handle.