Abstract: A seat assembly (14) for use in an automotive vehicle and pivotal between a seating position and a fold and tumbled position. The seat assembly (14) includes a seat cushion (18) and a seat back (20) pivotally connected to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a folded position. The seat assembly includes a locking latch (46) supported by the seat cushion and pivotal between a latched position for releasably latching the seat assembly (14) to the floor (16) of the vehicle and an unlatched position for releasing the seat assembly to allow the seat assembly to pivot from the seating position to the tumbled position. The seat assembly further includes a blocking member (70) coupled between the seat back (20) and the locking latch (46) and operable in a first blocking position for engaging the seat back and preventing the locking latch from releasing from releasing from the latched position when the seat back is in the upright seating position.

Abstract: A seat latching assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback having first and second sides. A first latch is provided for latching the first side of the seatback to a portion of a vehicle, the first latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A second latch is provided for latching the second side of the seatback to another portion of the vehicle, the second latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A mechanism is operatively connected to the first and second latches, and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When one of the first and second latches is in the unlatched position, the mechanism is prevented from moving into the unlocked position, and when the first and second seat portions are both in their latched positions, the mechanism is permitted to be moved into the unlocked position.

Abstract: A reinforced fastener assembly (18) for securing a vehicle seat (14, 16) to a vehicle sheet metal body structure (20) is provided. The reinforced fastener assembly (18) includes a mounting bracket (34) having a collar portion (36) for coupling to the vehicle sheet metal body structure (20) and distributing a load across a substantial portion of the vehicle sheet metal body structure (20). This mounting bracket (34) further includes an attachment portion (50) that has a vehicle seat fastener (52) extending therefrom. Finally, the reinforced fastener assembly (18) includes a tubular reinforcement member (78) that is coupled to and extends substantially across the collar portion (36) of the mounting bracket (34). This tubular reinforcement member (78) is intended to reinforce the collar portion (36) thereby allowing the collar portion (36) to distribute a load across a substantial portion of the vehicle sheet metal body structure (20).

Abstract: In a seat in which the seat is placed so as to be freely moved by a slide rail 4, a striker lock 7 retained and mounted to a striker 8 standing up from a vehicle body floor F is provided in a lower portion close to a rear end of a lower rail 4b, and the seat is placed so as to be freely kicked up from a rear portion side to an upper side in a folded state around a supporting shaft 6 axially supporting and pivoting a front end side of the lower rail 4b corresponding to a supporting point, there is provided a switching mechanism 10 which makes it impossible to unlock the striker lock 7 by an operation lever when the seat is kept at a front seated position, and makes it possible to lock the striker lock 7 by the operation lever when the seat is moved to a predetermined rear position, whereby it is possible to mechanically execute a step of moving the seat to the predetermined position in the rear side within the vehicle, thereafter unlocking the striker lock 7 and kicking up the seat.

Abstract: A seat arrangement in a motor vehicle includes an adjustable latch and a rigid striker having spaced first and second striker portions. The latch includes a rotatable cam cooperating with the striker and an elongate slider biased towards a cam surface of the cam. A first portion of the slider engages the cam surface and a second portion of the slider is manually retractable away form the cam surface against a biasing force. The cam has first and second slots such that in a first position of a back rest of the seat the first striker portion engages the first slot to effect locking of the back rest in a first position, and in a second position of the back rest the second striker portion engages the second slot to effect locking of the back rest in a second position.

Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle includes a seat bracket at the bottom thereof, which is detachably coupled with guide grooves and front and rear strikers formed in a floor panel of the vehicle. The bracket comprises a body unit including a bracket body with front engaging grooves and rear engaging grooves for floor mounted strikers; locking units for releasing the rear striker from the rear engaging grooves in response to control of a release lever; and rollers located to facilitate mounting and demounting.

Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with a first panel portion (14) that is optionally secured to a second panel portion (16) with one or more fasteners such as welds, adhesives, tack-offs, steel brackets or otherwise. The first panel portion (14), the second panel portion (16) or both preferably are plastic. The seat back assembly (10) may include one or more integrated reinforcement structures (20).

Abstract: A seat latch mechanism accommodating a pair of seatback positions, comprising a housing, a latch assembly, and an actuation assembly operably supported by the housing and in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively unlatch the latch assembly. The housing is adapted to receive a striker assembly having a first and second striker bar, whereby the latch mechanism is adapted to lock the first striker bar in a first latched position and the second striker bar in a second latched position. The actuator serves to apply a force to either of the first or second striker bars when in the first and second latched positions respectively to reduce noise and avoid chucking. The actuation handle serves to release the striker assembly from the latch mechanism and also to allow the first and second striker bars to toggle between the first and second latched positions.

Abstract: A seat latch mechanism accommodating a plurality of seatback positions, comprising an upper housing and a lower housing whereby the lower housing includes a recess for a striker to pass therethrough when the latch mechanism is in an unlatched position. Further, a latch assembly is provided and is operably supported by the lower housing, whereby the latch assembly is operable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuation assembly operably supported by the upper and lower housings and in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively toggle the latch assembly between the latched and unlatched position.

Abstract: A seat latch mechanism accommodating a plurality of seatback positions, comprising an upper housing and a lower housing whereby the lower housing includes a recess for a striker to pass therethrough when the latch mechanism is in an unlatched position. Further, a latch assembly is provided and is operably supported by the lower housing, whereby the latch assembly is operable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuation assembly operably supported by the upper and lower housings and in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively toggle the latch assembly between the latched and unlatched position.

Abstract: A seat recliner and latch includes a housing, an upper quadrant rotationally supported by the housing, a recliner mechanism supported by the housing and operably engaging the upper quadrant, a latch mechanism pivotally supported by the housing and operable to selectively engage a floor striker. An actuation mechanism is in operable communication with the recliner and latch mechanisms, and is operable in a first position, whereby the recliner mechanism enables rotational adjustment of the upper quadrant, and in a second position whereby the latch mechanism disengages the striker. The latch mechanism is pivotally supported about a pivot axis, wherein the latch mechanism rotates thereabout as the seat folds about a remote axis. An interlock is engaged with latch mechanism and is in selective engagement with the quadrant. The interlock limits a range of rotation of the quadrant when the latch mechanism disengages the striker.

Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with first and second wall portions (14,16), and which may include an integrated reinforcement structure (18). The seating system is capable of either or both of withstanding without rupture at least about 11000 Newtons in the direction in which the seat back (12) faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle or, upon rapid acceleration up to at least about 20 g, substantially no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 30 kg mass placed behind the seat back.

Abstract: A seat arrangement in a motor vehicle comprises a base (4) and a back rest (6) which is pivotable at a lower region (8). Adjustable latching means (10) is secured to a first member in the form of an upper region (14) of at least one side of the back rest or to at least one body part of the vehicle. Rigid striker means (18) having spaced first and second striker portions (20, 22) is secured to a second member in the form of the other of the back rest and the body part. The adjustable latching means (10) comprises: a rotatable cam member (12) cooperating with the striker means (18); an elongate slider (24) slidably secured to the first member and biased towards a cam surface (30) of the cam member. A first portion of the slider engages the cam surface and a second portion of the slider is manually retractable away from the cam surface against the biassing force. The cam member (12) has first and second slots (44, 42).

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided and includes a housing, a latch assembly operably supported by the housing, and a toggle lever slidably supported by the housing. The toggle lever is in operable communication with the latch assembly for selectively actuating the latch assembly between a latched and unlatched position. The toggle lever is movable between first and second modes for respectively establishing first and second pivot axis. In the first mode, the toggle lever is operable for actuating the latch assembly and in the second mode, the toggle lever is inoperable for actuating the latch assembly.

Abstract: In a seat cushion for a vehicle seat, the seat cushion is joined to a frame by a disengageable locking apparatus that has a wire spring engaging behind a mushroom head. The wire spring has two opposite limbs that at their one end are joined to one another and at their other end are open. In order to ensure a secure attachment, the two limbs of the wire spring may have at their open end an eye which engages behind a strut shaped onto the cushion shell.

Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle includes a seat bracket at the bottom thereof, which is detachably coupled with guide grooves and front and rear strikers formed in a floor panel of the vehicle. The bracket comprises a body unit including a bracket body with front engaging grooves and rear engaging grooves for floor mounted strikers; locking units for releasing the rear striker from the rear engaging grooves in response to control of a release lever; and rollers located to facilitate mounting and demounting.

Abstract: A foldable vehicle seat is constructed such that when the seat is placed in a passenger area and that a seat cushion is tipped up from a seating position, a forward-inclination stopper stops once the seat cushion at an upright position by abutting on a lock plate. When the seat is moved from the passenger area to a luggage area, the forward-inclination stopper allows inclination of the seat cushion to the most forward inclined position in accordance with a position of the lock plate.

Abstract: A vehicle rear seat lock that has a latch (3), a trigger (1) and a bolt housed in a recess (2) in the trigger, according to which the safety of the unit against unwanted opening is increased.

Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with first and second wall portions (14,16), and which may include an integrated reinforcement structure (18). The seating system is capable of either or both of withstanding without rupture at least about 11000 Newtons in the direction in which the seat back (12) faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle or, upon rapid acceleration up to at least about 20 g, substantially no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 30 kg mass placed behind the seat back.

Abstract: A rear passenger seat adapted for use in a vehicle compartment, the passenger seat having a seat cushion the front end portion of which is supported by a support leg assembly pivotally mounted on a recessed portion of the compartment floor and the rear end portion of which is locked in place by means of a lock mechanism on a deck portion of the compartment floor, wherein the support leg assembly includes a support leg pivotally mounted on the recessed portion of the compartment floor for pivotal movement in a fore-and-aft direction, a leg support member pivoted at its lower end to an upper end of the support leg and pivoted at its upper end to a support frame of the seat cushion to be folded forward at the upper end of the support leg and retainer means provided on a vertical wall between the recessed portion and deck portion of the compartment floor for releasably retaining the support leg assembly in an upright position by engagement therewith, and wherein a pneumatic spring is disposed a between the leg su

Abstract: A vehicle seat back lock mechanism includes a releasable latch connectable to a fixed part of the vehicle for preventing rotation of the seat back. A manual operating element is movable to disengage the latch by rotating a rotational lever which, in turn, moves a connecting rod connected to the latch. The connecting rod can be shifted so that it cannot be moved by the rotational lever. That shifting is done by sliding a cancelling lever which is connected to the connecting rod, thereby sliding the connecting rod within a slot formed in the rotational lever until the connecting rod reaches a part of the slot oriented to prevent the connecting rod from being moved when the rotational lever rotates.

Abstract: A lock device of a pivotal seatback for an improved external view has no protrusion extending into the vehicle compartment. The lock device has a base plate secured to the seatback. A lock pin is held by the base plate and movable between locking and unlocking positions. A compression spring is disposed about the lock pin to bias the same toward the locking position. A lock plate is secured to a fixed member such a wall of a vehicle body. The lock plate has a plurality of lined lock holes with which the lock pin is engageable when assuming the locking position and a guide slot which extends along the lined lock holes. A lift plate is pivotally held by the base plate. The lift plate lifts the lock pin to the unlocking position when pivoted to a lift position from a rest position. A lift lever is pivotally held by the base plate. The lift lever has a first arm portion which contacts the lift plate and a second arm portion which enters the guide slot.