Lear Corporation

Lear Seating Corporation

Liviu Rus

Thomas J Fowler

A latch mechanism removably attaches a front portion of a collapsible and removable utility seat assembly to a latch rod on a vehicle floor pan. The latch mechanism includes a bracket adapted for attachment to the front portion of the utility seat assembly with a wheel attached thereto. The latch mechanism also includes a locking mechanism connected to the bracket. The locking mechanism includes a lock member rotatably connected to the bracket and adapted for engagement with the floor pan for causing rotation of the lock member with respect to the bracket to facilitate locking of the locking mechanism onto the latch rod as the utility seat assembly is collapsed.

Self-latching and self-releasing latch mechanism for removable seat

A vehicle headrest assembly includes a one-piece blow-molded hollow elongated plastic body having a channel formed therein with a mouth portion having a mouth width. A substantially U-shaped support rod includes a cross member extending between first and second support legs. The cross member is configured with a cross-sectional width slightly greater than the mouth width to facilitate a snap-fit relationship of the cross member within the channel as the cross member is inserted through the mouth portion.

Snap-on, pivotable vehicle headrest assembly

A vehicular seat assembly (28), fixedly secured to a floor (24) of a vehicle (10), is movable between a seat forming position (FIG. 1), a storage access position (FIG. 3) and a load floor position (FIG. 5). The seat frame structure (30) includes a front member (38) and a back member (40), both of which are slidable along a track (32). The seat cushion (42) pivots about the front member (38) when it is released from the back member (40). This rotational movement allows a safety lock lever (60) to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in the Figures) forcing a cam pin (64) downwardly. The cam (62) also pivots downwardly disengaging itself from its follower (66). Because the follower (66) cannot force the cam (62) downwardly, the seat adjustment mechanism (53) is prevented from moving to its release position to unlocking the vehicular seat assembly (10) from the track (32). The vehicular seat assembly (10) can slide along the track (32) only when the seat cushion (42) is locked into the back member (40) of the seat frame structure (30).

Folding second seat with seat track release latch mechanism

A vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom and seat back pivotally couple to a support stanchion. A rear cargo support platform having a horizontal ledge is spaced behind the seat back for providing an extended cargo area when the seat back is pivoted to a horizontal folded position. An upholstered trim cover encases the seat back and includes a peripheral edge adjacent the ledge of the support platform. A trim strip is stitched to the edge of the trim cover and includes a hook portion and a plurality of locking tabs for attaching the edge of the trim cover to the support stanchion and covering the space between the seat back and the rear cargo support platform.

Vehicle seat trim cover attachment strip

A passenger seat assembly (10) for a motor vehicle which can be folded to a stowed position for increasing cargo capacity includes a seat cushion (12) and a backrest cushion (14). The seat cushion (12) can move between horizontal use and vertical stowed positions, and the backrest cushion (14) can similarly move between vertical use and horizontal stowed positions. A displacement cam (64) is connected to the seat cushion (12). A pawl (46) locks the backrest cushion (14) in its vertical use position. A flexible motion transmitting core element (52) is attached at one end to the pawl (46) and at the other end to a slug (70). The slug (70) rides in an arcuate receiver slot (68) of the displacement cam (64). When the seat cushion (12) is manually pulled from its horizontal use position, the displacement cam (64) is rotated, causing the receiver slot (68) to slide over the slug (70). This lost motion continues for approximately 30.degree. of movement until the slug (70) bottoms in the receiver slot (68), at which point the core element (52) is tensioned and begins pulling the pawl (46) toward an unlocked condition. At approximately 45.degree. rotation of the seat cushion (12) away from its horizontal use position, the pawl (46) fully unlocks the backrest cushion (14). Conversely, when the seat assembly (10) is returned to the normal use condition from the stowed condition, the pawl (46) relocks the backrest cushion (14) in its vertical use position as soon as the seat cushion (12) reaches approximately 45.degree. rotation away from its horizontal use position. This arrangement eases operation and manipulation of the seat assembly (10) to the stowed position, ensures occupant safety, and also eliminates the need to precisely control tolerances.

Release latch for utility seat

A vehicular seating assembly (14) includes a seat cushion (20) and a seat back (22). The seat back (22) is locked in the seat forming position when the pawl (46) is locked into the seat back notch (54) by the bell crank (34). When the seat cushion (20) is moved out of the seat forming position, the spring (52) forces the bell crank (34) to rotate (counter clockwise in the Figures) unlocking the pawl (46) from the seat back notch (54). The torsion bar (32) receives the seat cushion (20) when the seat cushion (20) is returned to the seat forming position rotating the bell crank (34) back into locking engagement with the pawl (46) via a linkage (36).

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Liviu Rus