Abstract: A seat assembly includes a four-bar linkage for providing movement of the seat assembly between a plurality of positions in an automotive vehicle. The four-bar linkage includes front and rear links which simultaneously rotate to move the seat assembly between an easy entry position in which the seat assembly tilts forwardly and downwardly toward a floor of the automotive vehicle to allow ingress and egress behind the seat assembly, a stow position in which a seat cushion lowers toward the floor of the automotive vehicle and a seat back pivots toward and overlaps the seat cushion, and an intermediate design position in which the seat cushion is spaced from the floor of the automotive vehicle and the seat back is disposed generally upright to support an occupant. The seat assembly is capable of moving directly between the easy entry and stow positions without needing to intermediately return to the design position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for movement between a plurality of positions within an automotive vehicle includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion and a seat track assembly with a sliding track repositionable along a fixed track for movement of the seat assembly between a forward position and a rearward position. A linkage assembly extends between the seat cushion and the sliding track for movement of the seat cushion between an easy entry position and a design position. An interlock element is pivotally coupled to the sliding track. Movement of the seat assembly from the forward position to the rearward position pivots the interlock element from a locked condition engaged with the linkage assembly for holding the seat cushion in the easy entry position, to an unlocked condition disengaged from the linkage assembly for allowing movement of the seat cushion to the design position.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a four-bar linkage for providing movement of the seat assembly between a plurality of positions in an automotive vehicle. The four-bar linkage includes front and rear links which simultaneously rotate to move the seat assembly between an easy entry position in which the seat assembly tilts forwardly and downwardly toward a floor of the automotive vehicle to allow ingress and egress behind the seat assembly, a stow position in which a seat cushion lowers toward the floor of the automotive vehicle and a seat back pivots toward and overlaps the seat cushion, and an intermediate design position in which the seat cushion is spaced from the floor of the automotive vehicle and the seat back is disposed generally upright to support an occupant. The seat assembly is capable of moving directly between the easy entry and stow positions without needing to intermediately return to the design position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a use position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A seat track assembly is coupled to the seat cushion for providing selective adjustment of the seat assembly between an upright design position and a reclined slouch position wherein the seat back is automatically pivoted rearwardly in response to forward sliding movement of the seat cushion. A sliding fold flat latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for slidably guiding the seat back during movement of the seat assembly between the upright design position and the reclined slouch position and for actuation between a locked condition retaining the seat back in the use position and an unlocked condition allowing pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.

Abstract: A disc recliner 18 for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate 22 secured to a seat cushion 12 and a rotatable plate 30 secured to a seat back 14. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30 has a plurality of teeth 40,48, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline 26 has a plurality of teeth 52, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate 22. A wave generator 28 causes a portion of the teeth 52 on the flex spline 26 to meshingly engage with the teeth 40,48 on the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a use position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A seat track assembly is coupled to the seat cushion for providing selective adjustment of the seat assembly between an upright design position and a reclined slouch position wherein the seat back is automatically pivoted rearwardly in response to forward sliding movement of the seat cushion. A sliding fold flat latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for slidably guiding the seat back during movement of the seat assembly between the upright design position and the reclined slouch position and for actuation between a locked condition retaining the seat back in the use position and an unlocked condition allowing pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.

Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor includes a support mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. A rear end of the seat cushion is released from the support mechanism to pivot the seat cushion from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from an upright seating position to a forwardly folded position. The support mechanism is released from the floor and a stand-up link pivotally coupled between the floor and the support mechanism moves the seat cushion from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position and simultaneously urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation defining a stand-up position.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.

Abstract: A material cover (27) for a vehicle seat (22), the seat having a seat back (26) having a front surface (28), a rear surface (32) and a side surface (30), the material cover (27) including front (28'), rear (32') and side (30') material panels covering the front, rear and side of the seat back, a reinforcement panel (50,50') secured to an inside surface (31) of the side material (30') for effectively decreasing the elongation of the side panel (30') to localize stress in the side material portion (30') to encourage the side material portion to tear along a line proximate a side (52a) of the reinforcement panel when the panel is forced outwardly by the action of an inflating air bag (46).

Abstract: An air bag for protecting the side and head of an occupant during a side impact collision including: a first side panel (42a) joined to a second panel (42b) and having a neck portion (52) for receipt of inflation gas for a cooperating inflator (30). The air bag characterized in that its upper portion is pressurized to a greater level than a lower portion. A corresponding upper portion of each panel may be coated or alternatively the air bag may include a separator (46) or seam (46,66) to divert a predetermined amount of inflation gas into one of the other chambers.

Abstract: A side impact occupant system including the combination of: a vehicle seat (16) having a cushioned resilient portion (18) in a seat back (14) thereof, an air bag module (10) comprising a compliant air bag retained to a channel by a soft, resilient exterior package shell (70) directly adjacent to and facing an interior part of the resilient cushioned portion of the seat, wherein the resiliency of the cushioned seat portion is not markedly changed by the adjacent resilient shell.