Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Rick F Pautz

Francis Nile Smith

Donna A Watson

A motor vehicle seat system includes a row of front seats, a row of back seats separated from the row of front seats by a lateral isle, a longitudinal aisle through the front row, and a middle seat in the back row having a full-row position behind the lateral aisle and a half-row position overlapping the front row and the lateral aisle. In its full-row position, the middle seat cooperates with the back row seats for bench-type seating. In its half-row position, the middle seat provides a rigid platform for a child seat closer to occupants of the front row seats. The middle seat includes a removable lower frame, a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame pivotally connected to the seat cushion frame, and a mechanical linkage supporting the seat cushion frame on the lower frame for translation between an extended position corresponding to the half-row position of the middle seat and a retracted position corresponding to the full-row position of the middle seat. The seat back frame is pivotable between an upright position and flat position during which the mechanical linkage drops the seat cushion frame to a lowered position below the seat back frame.

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Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Rick F Pautz