Bertrand Faure Ltd.

Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.

Herbert A Richter

Wojciech Smuk

Michael P Miller

A rear vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion member supported by a support sub-assembly having downwardly extending front and rear seat legs. Each front seat leg includes a forked leg member co-operable with an attachment rod on a vehicle floor. Each rear seat leg includes a forked leg portion co-operable with a attachment rod on the vehicle floor. A first moveable lock member mounted on each of the rear seat legs permits selective locking of the respective one of the rear seat legs on the corresponding attachment rod. A biasing spring urges each lock member to a locked position. A manually operable handle is mounted on each of said rear seat legs to provide for selective manipulation of each lock member into an unlocked position, in order to release the rear seat legs with respect to the corresponding attachment rod, thereby to allow the vehicle seat assembly to be pivotal about the attachment rods associated with the front seat legs, between a lowered position and an uptilted position. A control rod system pivotally connected to the vehicle seat assembly is selectively moveable between a stowed position whereat the control rod system is retracted adjacent the underside of the seat cushion member, and a deployed support position whereat the control rod system is situated in stable, interposed relation between the underside of the seat cushion member and the vehicle floor when the vehicle seat assembly is in the uptilted position, so as to support the seat assembly in the uptilted position.

Uptiltable rear vehicle seat assembly

A latch mechanism is connected between the seatback member and the seat cushion member of a vehicle seat assembly to selectively control pivotal movement of the seatback member relative to the seat cushion member. A mounting mechanism is associated with each of the front and rear seat legs of the seat assembly and each such mounting mechanism is co-operable with a respective attachment member affixed to the vehicle floor to permit movement of the seat cushion member from a first in-use position within the vehicle to a second forwardly translated stowed position within the vehicle. The mounting member associated with at least one of the rear seat legs further comprises a lock mechanism that is selectively movable to restrainingly engage or disengage its respective attachment member. A first actuator is mounted on the seat assembly so as to be operatively moveable by a user from a neutral position, whereat the latch restrains pivotal movement of the seatback member, to an actuated position whereat pivotal movement of the seatback member is permitted. A second actuator is mounted on the seat cushion member and is operatively contacted by a portion of the seatback member upon forward pivoting of the seatback member, thereby causing unlocking the lock mechanism, so as to permit movement of the seat cushion member from its in-use position to its forwardly translated stowed position upon continued pivotal movement of the seat cushion member.

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Waterford, MI, United States of America

Herbert A Richter