Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A power return mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for automatically returning the seat back from the folded position to the seating position. The power return mechanism includes a support bracket for mounting the power return mechanism to the seat assembly, a slider bracket slidably coupled to the support bracket, a cable connected between the seat back and the slider bracket, and a motor and gear assembly for power driving the slider bracket between a home position when the seat back is in the seating position and a full stroke position pulling the cable to pivot the seat back from the folded position to the seating position.

Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A power return mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for automatically returning the seat back from the folded position to the seating position. The power return mechanism includes a support bracket for mounting the power return mechanism to the seat assembly, a slider bracket slidably coupled to the support bracket, a cable connected between the seat back and the slider bracket, and a motor and gear assembly for power driving the slider bracket between a home position when the seat back is in the seating position and a full stroke position pulling the cable to pivot the seat back from the folded position to the seating position.

Abstract: A lateral translating seat assembly and a method and system for lateral seat translation. The assembly includes a seat attached to a vehicle mount and having a seat position and a stow position. A lateral forcing element is operably attached to the vehicle mount and seat so that rotation of the seat about a horizontal axis with respect to the vehicle results in lateral translation of the seat. The method includes the steps of rotating the seat between seat position and stow position, and laterally translating the seat based on the rotation. The method further includes the step of stopping the lateral translation at one of a seat location or the stow location. The system includes means for rotating a seat between a seat position and a stow position and means for laterally translating the seat based on the rotation.

Abstract: The seat assembly (10) includes a seat cushion (12) and seat cushion frame. A riser mechanism secured to the seat cushion (12) and is operatively coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly also includes seat back (14) and seat back frame. A recliner mechanism (20) is coupled between the seat cushion (12) and the seat back (14) for pivotally adjusting the seat back (14) relative to the seat cushion (12). A lockout mechanism (21) including a swing arm is associated with the recliner mechanism (20). The swing arm (26) includes a flange formed at a distal end (28). A lock arm is associated with the seat cushion (12) for selective movement in and out of a swing path of the flange of the swing arm (26).

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor of an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion extending laterally between spaced apart side members. The seat cushion includes a front cross member extending between the side members. Inboard and outboard front legs are each pivotally assembled at one end to the front cross member for pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs between a seating position and forwardly dumped positions. A boss protrudes outwardly from the front cross member for pivotal movement therewith relative to the front legs. A guide flange is fixedly secured to one of the front legs and has a cam surface cammingly engagable with the boss for automatically laterally displacing the seat cushion in response to pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs between the seating and forwardly dumped positions.

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 recliner assembly is disclosed for providing selective pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. The recliner assembly includes a fixed plate fixedly secured to the seat cushion and a mobile plate fixedly secured to the seat back. The mobile plate is fixedly secured to the fixed plate. The mobile plate includes an annular rim having a plurality of teeth. A pawl is slidably supported between the fixed and mobile plates for movement in and out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth. A cam is fixedly secured to a shaft rotatably journaled through an aperture formed in the mobile plate. The aperture is oversized relative to the shaft to allow the shaft and the cam to float radially relative to the pawl to help prevent binding of the pawl during movement in and out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending laterally between spaced apart side members. The seat cushion includes a front cross member extending between the side members. Front legs are pivotally assembled at one end to the front cross member for pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front leg between a seating position and a forwardly dumped positions. A rod is connected at a first end to a spaced side member and at a second end to the front leg. The seat cushion is automatically laterally displaced relative to the front legs in response to pivotal movement of the seat cushion relative to the front legs due to changes in the effective length of the rod.

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor of an automotive vehicle including a cushion and a riser coupled between the floor of the vehicle and the seat cushion for allowing manual lateral displacement of the seat cushion within the vehicle between a plurality of lateral positions. The seat cushion is pivotally coupled to front legs for movement between a seating position and a forwardly dumped position. The front legs are interconnected to a foot bracket. The foot bracket includes a hook portion slidably engaged with a rod fixedly secured to the floor of the vehicle for manual movement of the seat cushion between the plurality of lateral positions. A cinching hook is pivotally coupled to the foot bracket for movement between locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the cinching hook clamps the rod between the hook portion and the cinching hook for resisting lateral displacement of the seat cushion along the rod.

Abstract: A seat assembly is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion. The seat cushion is operatively connected to the motor vehicle. The seat cushion supports an occupant on the seat assembly. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat back is movable between a generally upright seating position and a forwardly folded dumped position. The forwardly folded dump position has the seat back positioned against the seat cushion. A shoulder belt tower is fixedly secured to the seat back and supports a shoulder belt. The tower includes a tower base and a tower extension. The tower extension slidingly engages the lower base. A positioning device is coupled between the tower base and the tower extension.

Abstract: A striker bar assembly including a resiliently biased striker bar. The striker bar is supported by a mounting bracket and resilient biased to permit a limited degree of rotation. The resilient biasing of the striker bar allows the striker bar to deflect when inadvertently struck by a foreign object and, if misalignment has occurred between the striker bar and the latch during mounting, allows the striker bar to deflect self-align and permit engagement.