Hoover Universal, Inc.

Glenn Scott

Mohan P Vidwans

Anthony J Fecteau

Susan H Parkinson

An inertia sensitive latch mechanism for preventing a motor vehicle seat back from folding from a normal upright position to a folded forward position when the seat is exposed to deceleration loads above a predetermined level including a pendulum pivotally mounted to the movable seat back having a notch and tooth for engaging a striker bar. The center of gravity of the pendulum is located such that when the seat back is urged from the upright position to the folded position when the vehicle is exposed to a predetermined deceleration load, the pendulum engages the striker bar to prevent movement of the seat back. The striker bar is movably mounted to the seat support and the latch mechanism includes a guide member adjacent the pendulum for moving the striker bar to a predetermined location relative to the pivot point of the pendulum as the seat back is moved into its normal upright position.

Inertia latching mechanism with floating striker bar

A seat assembly with an inflatable bladder for adjustable seat support having an air delivery system for both inflating and deflating the bladder. The air delivery system includes a single, one-directional pump and valve means selectively operable to communicate the pump outlet with the bladder and the pump inlet with atmosphere for inflating the bladder and selectively operable to communicate the pump inlet with the bladder and the pump outlet with atmosphere to deflate the bladder.

Seat assembly with inflatable bladder having a single non-reversible

A bushing assembly for use in a hinge for an automotive vehicle seat assembly comprises a pair of identical interlocking sleeves, each having a pair of opposing tangs extending in an axial direction from an annular portion. Each of the tang portions has a shoulder which is radially outwardly directed and is deflectable. The shoulders on the tang portions engage corresponding recessed ledges on the interior wall of the annular portion of the opposite sleeve so as to snap fit together to form an integral bushing assembly through which a hinge pin is passed. The bushing assembly is positioned around the hinge pin and between the hinge pin and the frame members of the vehicle seat assembly to allow rotation of the upright back of the seat. The sleeves may also be stacked together such that each of the tang portions snap into engagement with the annular portions of the adjacent sleeve to form a flexible bushing assembly of variable length.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Glenn Scott