Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a guide plate and a tooth plate rotatably coupled to the guide plate. A rotatable shaft moves a pawl between a first position engaging the tooth plate to prevent pivotal movement of the seat back and a second position disengaged with the tooth plate to allow pivotal movement of the seat back. A leaf spring extends between a first end secured to the guide plate and a second end having a convex curve portion engaging a lobe on the shaft. The spring biases the shaft in a first direction to maintain the pawl in the first position. Rotation of the shaft in a second direction moves the pawl from the first position to the second position as the lobe pushes against and rides along the convex curve portion of the spring, thereby controlling an actuation effort of the disc recliner.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a reclined seating position and a fold flat position. A recliner assembly is coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion to provide pivotal movement of the seat back. A riser assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and pivotally latched to the floor to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a horizontal seating position and a forwardly upright tumbled position. A release mechanism is coupled between the seat back and the riser assembly for automatically synchronizing actuation of the recliner assembly and the riser assembly to provide movement of the seat assembly to the tumbled position in response to the pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.

Abstract: An armrest is pivotally coupled to a seat back for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The armrest comprises a support frame and a cam. A memory mechanism is coupled to the support frame for actuation between an unlocked condition providing selective adjustment of the armrest in the use position and a locked condition for retaining memory of the use position upon pivotal movement of the armrest between the stowed position and use position. The memory mechanism includes an elongated memory bar fixedly secured to the support frame, a guide member slidably coupled to the memory bar, and a wedge plate slidably and pivotally coupled to the memory bar for movement between a slide position to allow sliding movement of the wedge plate along the memory bar and a wedge position for lockingly wedging the memory bar between the wedge plate and the guide member.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a reclined seating position and a fold flat position. A recliner assembly is coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion to provide pivotal movement of the seat back. A riser assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and pivotally latched to the floor to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a horizontal seating position and a forwardly upright tumbled position. A release mechanism is coupled between the seat back and the riser assembly for automatically synchronizing actuation of the recliner assembly and the riser assembly to provide movement of the seat assembly to the tumbled position in response to the pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.

Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate secured to a seat cushion and a rotatable plate secured to a seat back. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate. A wave generator causes a portion of the teeth on the flex spline to meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates. Rotation of the wave generator causes the teeth on the flex spline which meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate to rotate relative to the fixed plate, which in turn causes the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a reclined seating position and a fold flat position. A recliner assembly is coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion to provide pivotal movement of the seat back. A riser assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and pivotally latched to the floor to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a horizontal seating position and a forwardly upright tumbled position. A release mechanism is coupled between the seat back and the riser assembly for automatically synchronizing actuation of the recliner assembly and the riser assembly to provide movement of the seat assembly to the tumbled position in response to the pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.

Abstract: An armrest is pivotally coupled to a seat back for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The armrest comprises a support frame and a cam. A memory mechanism is coupled to the support frame for actuation between an unlocked condition providing selective adjustment of the armrest in the use position and a locked condition for retaining memory of the use position upon pivotal movement of the armrest between the stowed position and use position. The memory mechanism includes an elongated memory bar fixedly secured to the support frame, a guide member slidably coupled to the memory bar, and a wedge plate slidably and pivotally coupled to the memory bar for movement between a slide position to allow sliding movement of the wedge plate along the memory bar and a wedge position for lockingly wedging the memory bar between the wedge plate and the guide plate.

Abstract: A seat track assembly includes a latch mechanism operable to allow movement of a movable track relative to a fixed track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism is operable between a home position, coupled with the movable track, and a memory position, coupled with the fixed track, to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. In response to movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position, the memory mechanism blocks the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position. The latch mechanism operates independently to unlock the latch mechanism when the memory mechanism is in the home position.

Abstract: A disc recliner for pivoting a seat back relative to a seat cushion includes a fixed plate mounted to the seat cushion and a movable plate mounted to the seat back. The disc recliner includes a locking mechanism operable between a locked condition coupling the fixed and movable plates and an unlocked condition uncoupling the fixed and movable plates to allow rotation of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate. The disc recliner includes a memory plate that is disengaged with the movable plate to allow pivotal adjustment of the seat back between a plurality of seating positions by actuating the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. The memory plate engages the movable plate to identify a previously selected seating position and to maintain the locking mechanism in the unlocked condition thereby allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between the previously selected seating position and a folded position.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A head restraint is slidably coupled to an upper end of the seat back for vertical movement between a use position spaced apart from the upper end and a stowed position adjacent the upper end. A mechanism is operative for automatically moving the head restraint between the use and stowed positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion coupled between a pair of risers and a seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A pair of front cushion support links and a pair of rear cushion support links are coupled between the seat cushion and the risers for pivotally supporting and guiding the seat cushion. A fold flat mechanism includes a transfer link operatively coupled between the rear cushion support link and the seat back for transferring pivotal movement of the seat back through the transfer link to each of the front and rear seat cushion support links to automatically move the seat assembly between a seating position wherein the seat back is in an upright position and the seat cushion is spaced above the floor, and a stowed position wherein the seat back is pivoted to a fold flat position and the seat cushion is lying flat against the floor.

Abstract: A seat assembly has a seat cushion that is pivotally mountable to a vehicle floor. The seat cushion is selectively movable between an operative condition and a standup condition. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion and is selectively movably angularly relative to the seat cushion. A pair of hinges pivotally receives the seat back and is linked to the seat cushion, whereby movement of the seat cushion from the operative condition to the standup condition rotates the pair of hinges, generally aligning the seat cushion and the seat back when the seat cushion is tumbled forward.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion coupled between a pair of risers and a seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A pair of front cushion support links and a pair of rear cushion support links are coupled between the seat cushion and the risers for pivotally supporting and guiding the seat cushion. A fold flat mechanism includes a transfer link operatively coupled between the rear cushion support link and the seat back for transferring pivotal movement of the seat back through the transfer link to each of the front and rear seat cushion support links to automatically move the seat assembly between a seating position wherein the seat back is in an upright position and the seat cushion is spaced above the floor, and a stowed position wherein the seat back is pivoted to a fold flat position and the seat cushion is lying flat against the floor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion and seat back for supporting a seat occupant. The seat back is operatively coupled to the seat cushion for selective pivotal movement between a plurality of reclined seating positions. The seat back includes a seat back frame. A head restraint is coupled to the seat back frame and defines a backset distance between the head restraint and the seat occupant's head. A mechanism operatively interconnects the seat back frame and the seat cushion for automatically tilting the seat back in response to pivotally adjusting the seat back in order to maintain the backset distance constant. When the seat back pivots rearward the seat back tilts forward, moving the head restraint toward the seat occupant's head. When the seat back pivots forward the seat back tilts rearward, moving the head restraint away from the seat occupant's head.

Abstract: A disc recliner for pivoting a seat back relative to a seat cushion includes a fixed plate mounted to the seat cushion and a movable plate mounted to the seat back. The disc recliner includes a locking mechanism operable between a locked condition coupling the fixed and movable plates and an unlocked condition uncoupling the fixed and movable plates to allow rotation of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate. The disc recliner includes a memory plate that is disengaged with the movable plate to allow pivotal adjustment of the seat back between a plurality of seating positions by actuating the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. The memory plate engages the movable plate to identify a previously selected seating position and to maintain the locking mechanism in the unlocked condition thereby allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between the previously selected seating position and a folded position.

Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat back and seat cushion has a linkage system for moving the seat assembly between a seating position, a stowed position, and a stand-up position. The linkage system includes a support link and a drive link. The drive link urges the seat cushion between a raised position and a lowered position in response to pivoting the seat back from an upright position to a folded position. The drive link also urges a seat back bracket to pivot about a rearward end of the support link to maintain the seat back in a generally vertical orientation in response to pivoting the support link about a forward end, which pivots the seat cushion between the raised position and a generally vertical position.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A head restraint is slidably coupled to an upper end of the seat back for vertical movement between a use position spaced apart from the upper end and a stowed position adjacent the upper end. A mechanism is operative for automatically moving the head restraint between the use and stowed positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions.

Abstract: A seat assembly has a seat cushion that is pivotally mountable to a vehicle floor. The seat cushion is selectively movable between an operative condition and a standup condition. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion and is selectively movably angularly relative to the seat cushion. A pair of hinges pivotally receives the seat back and is linked to the seat cushion, whereby movement of the seat cushion from the operative condition to the standup condition rotates the pair of hinges, generally aligning the seat cushion and the seat back when the seat cushion is tumbled forward.

Abstract: The seat assembly includes a seat cushion. A front leg is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement of the seat cushion between a seating position and a forwardly dumped position. A support bracket is pivotally attached to the front legs at lower portions of the front legs. A track assembly is attached to the support bracket. The track assembly is secured in a lateral orientation to a floor of a vehicle with respect to the seat assembly; whereby the seat assembly may be moved to a plurality of positions within the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion having a riser releasably secured to a floor. A seat back operatively coupled to the seat cushion pivots between seating and folded positions. A recliner is coupled between the seat back and seat cushion. Rotation of an input shaft actuates the recliner between locked and unlocked states. A lockout mechanism controls actuation of the recliner and includes a lock plate fixedly secured to the input shaft and a lock arm operatively coupled to the riser. The lock arm moves between a retracted position allowing rotation of the input shaft and actuation of the recliner when the riser is latched to the floor and an extended position wherein the lock plate abuts the lock arm preventing rotation of the input shaft and actuation of the recliner when the seat back is in the folded position and the riser is unlatched from the floor.