U.S. patent application number 11/595349 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for seat assembly with automatic stow feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lear Corporation. Invention is credited to Michael R. Ferrari, Mark A. Folkert, John Malcolm, Matthew T. Trombley, David K. Williams, Eric A. Woods.
Application Number | 20070052256 11/595349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36241527 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070052256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trombley; Matthew T. ; et
al. |
March 8, 2007 |
Seat assembly with automatic stow feature
Abstract
A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body
includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted
to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat
bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for
inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat
bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat
bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The
stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is
configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to
pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow
arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat
back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the
stowed position.
Inventors: |
Trombley; Matthew T.; (Allen
Park, MI) ; Woods; Eric A.; (Allen Park, MI) ;
Williams; David K.; (South Lyon, MI) ; Folkert; Mark
A.; (Farmington Hills, MI) ; Malcolm; John;
(Windsor, CA) ; Ferrari; Michael R.; (St. Clair
Shores, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C. / LEAR CORPORATION
1000 TOWN CENTER
TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075-1238
US
|
Assignee: |
Lear Corporation
Southfield
MI
|
Family ID: |
36241527 |
Appl. No.: |
11/595349 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10907039 |
Mar 17, 2005 |
7152900 |
|
|
11595349 |
Nov 9, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/65.09 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2205/35 20130101;
B60N 2/3075 20130101; B60N 2/3011 20130101; B60N 2/0232 20130101;
B60N 2/305 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/065.09 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/02 20060101
B60N002/02 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body,
the assembly comprising: a seat bottom that is configured to be
pivotably mounted to the vehicle body such that the seat bottom is
moveable between a use position and a stowed position; a latch
associated with the seat bottom and being configured to engage the
vehicle body to inhibit movement of the seat bottom with respect to
the vehicle body; and a motorized stow arrangement for moving the
seat bottom from the use position to the stowed position, the stow
arrangement being associated with the latch and configured to
automatically release the latch to allow the seat bottom to pivot
to the stowed position.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the latch is connected to the
seat bottom proximate a front portion of the seat bottom, and
wherein the assembly further includes a mounting arrangement
associated with a rear portion of the seat bottom for mounting the
seat bottom to the vehicle body, the mounting arrangement including
a pivot member about which the seat bottom may pivot.
13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the stow arrangement includes
a drive mechanism connected to the seat bottom and being engageable
with the pivot member to automatically pivot the seat bottom.
14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the pivot member includes an
elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and
wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is
engageable with the first gear.
15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the stow arrangement includes
a motorized puller mechanism associated with the latch for
releasing the latch.
16. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising a seat back
pivotally connected to the seat bottom, and a seat back latch
associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat
back with respect to the seat bottom, and wherein the stow
arrangement includes a moveable latch-release member connected to
the latch and being engageable with the seat back latch, the puller
mechanism is connected to the seat back latch and is configured to
release the seat back latch to allow pivotal movement of the seat
back, and the puller mechanism is further configured to move the
seat back latch into engagement with the latch-release member to
thereby move the latch-release member and release the latch.
17. (canceled)
18. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising a seat back
pivotally connected to the seat bottom, and a seat back latch
associated with the seat back and connected to the latch for
inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat
bottom.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the stow arrangement includes
a moveable latch-release member connected to the latch and being
engageable with the seat back latch, and the seat back latch is
configured to move the latch-release member to thereby release the
latch.
20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the stow arrangement includes
a locking mechanism connected to the latch and being configured to
inhibit pivotal movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom
after the latch has been released.
21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the seat back latch is
moveable between a first latch position for inhibiting pivotal
movement of the seat back toward the seat bottom and a second latch
position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back away from
the seat bottom after the seat back has pivoted toward the seat
bottom, the locking mechanism includes a locking member connected
to the latch and being moveable between a first position and a
second position for releasing the latch, and wherein the locking
member is engageable with the seat back latch when the seat back
latch is in the second latch position to inhibit movement of the
seat back latch, thereby inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat
back away from the seat bottom.
22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the locking mechanism further
includes a moveable lever that is engageable with the locking
member when the locking member is in the first position to inhibit
movement of the locking member toward the second position, and
wherein the seat back is engageable with the lever when the seat
back pivots toward the seat bottom to thereby disengage the lever
from the locking member.
23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the stow arrangement includes
a puller mechanism connected to the seat back latch for moving the
seat back latch away from the first latch position, such that the
seat back latch engages the locking member and moves the locking
member from the first position to the second position.
24. The assembly of claim 11 further including a mounting
arrangement associated with a rear portion of the seat bottom for
mounting the seat bottom to the vehicle body, the mounting
arrangement including a pivot member about which the seat bottom
may pivot, and wherein the stow arrangement includes a drive
mechanism supported by the seat bottom and being engageable with
the pivot member to automatically pivot the seat bottom.
25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the pivot member includes an
elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and
wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is
engageable with the first gear.
26. The assembly of claim 24 further comprising an additional seat
bottom that is configured to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle
body proximate the seat bottom, and an additional motorized stow
arrangement for moving the seat bottom from a use position to a
stowed position, the additional stow arrangement including an
additional drive mechanism supported by the additional seat bottom
and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot
the additional seat bottom with respect to the pivot member.
27. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body,
the seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom; a mounting arrangement
associated with the seat bottom for mounting the seat bottom to the
vehicle body, the mounting arrangement including a pivot member
about which the seat bottom may pivot; a first latch associated
with the seat bottom and being engageable with the vehicle body for
inhibiting movement of the seat bottom with respect to the vehicle
body; a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom; a second
latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the
seat back with respect to the seat bottom; and an automatic stow
arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use
position to a stowed position, the stow arrangement being
associated with the first and second latches and configured to
release the latches to allow the seat back to pivot in a first
direction toward the seat bottom, and to allow the seat bottom and
seat back to pivot together in a second direction opposite the
first direction to the stowed position, the stow arrangement
including a locking mechanism that is configured to inhibit
movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom after the first
latch has been released, and a drive mechanism mounted on the seat
bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically
pivot the seat bottom and seat back to the stowed position.
28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the locking mechanism includes
a locking member connected to the first latch.
29. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the drive mechanism includes a
motor mounted on the seat bottom.
30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pivot member includes an
elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and
wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is
engageable with the first gear and associated with the motor.
31. The assembly of claim 27 further comprising an additional seat
bottom that is mountable to the vehicle body proximate the seat
bottom, and an additional stow arrangement for moving the seat
bottom from a use position to a stowed position, the additional
stow arrangement including an additional drive mechanism supported
by the additional seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot
member to automatically pivot the additional seat bottom with
respect to the pivot member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly that is
moveable from a use position to a stowed position.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Vehicle seat assemblies may be configured to move between
use positions and collapsed or stowed positions. Examples of such
seat assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,705,658 and
6,749,247.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Under the invention, a seat assembly for use with a vehicle
having a vehicle body is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly
includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted
to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat
bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for
inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat
bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat
bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The
stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is
configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to
pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow
arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat
back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the
stowed position.
[0006] In another embodiment, the assembly includes a seat bottom
that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body such
that the seat bottom is moveable between a use position and a
stowed position, a latch associated with the seat bottom and being
configured to engage the vehicle body to inhibit movement of the
seat bottom with respect to the vehicle body, and a motorized stow
arrangement for moving the seat bottom from the use position to the
stowed position. The stow arrangement is associated with the latch
and is configured to automatically release the latch to allow the
seat bottom to pivot to the stowed position.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, the assembly includes a seat
bottom and a mounting arrangement associated with the seat bottom
for mounting the seat bottom to the vehicle body, wherein the
mounting arrangement includes a pivot member about which the seat
bottom may pivot. The assembly further includes a first latch
associated with the seat bottom and being engageable with the
vehicle body for inhibiting movement of the seat bottom with
respect to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the
seat bottom, a second latch associated with the seat back for
inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat
bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat
bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The
stow arrangement is associated with the first and second latches
and is configured to release the latches to allow the seat back to
pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom, and to allow the
seat bottom and seat back to pivot together in a second direction
opposite the first direction to the stowed position. The stow
arrangement includes a biasing member associated with the seat back
for urging the seat back to pivot in the first direction toward the
seat bottom, a locking mechanism that is configured to inhibit
movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom after the first
latch has been released, and a drive mechanism connected to the
seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to
automatically pivot the seat bottom and seat back to the stowed
position.
[0008] While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention
are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be
construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various
modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing
from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle seat arrangement, according to the
invention, having two seat assemblies that each include a seat
bottom and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the seat assemblies
showing an automatic stow arrangement for automatically moving the
associated seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a
stowed position;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2
showing the seat bottom and seat back in the use position;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2,
wherein a seat back frame member of the seat back is shown pivoted
toward a seat bottom frame member of the seat bottom;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2
showing a locking mechanism of the stow arrangement in a locking
position for inhibiting movement of the seat back away from the
seat bottom;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the seat assemblies,
wherein the associated seat bottom and seat back are shown in the
use position;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of FIG. 6,
showing the seat back pivoted against the seat bottom;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of FIG. 6,
showing the seat bottom and seat back in the stowed position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side view of the seat bottom frame member and
seat back frame member of the seat assembly of FIG. 2, showing an
opposite side of the seat bottom frame member and seat back frame
member; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion of
the seat assembly of FIG. 2, showing a drive mechanism of the stow
arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a seat arrangement 10 according to the
invention for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body 12. The seat
arrangement 10 may include one or more seat assemblies 14 that each
have a seat bottom 16 and a seat back 18 pivotally connected to the
seat bottom 16. The seat arrangement 10 further includes a mounting
arrangement 20 associated with the seat bottoms 16 for mounting the
seat bottoms 16 to the vehicle body 12. For example, the mounting
arrangement 20 may include a pivot member 22 about which the seat
bottoms 16 may pivot, and one or more brackets 24 for connecting
the pivot member 22 to a floor or side wall of the vehicle body
12.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2-10, a more detailed description of one
of the seat assemblies 14 will now be provided, with the
understanding that the other seat assembly 14 may have the same or
similar configuration. The seat assembly 14 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
includes first and second latches 26 and 28, respectively, and an
automatic stow arrangement 29 for moving the seat bottom 16 and
seat back 18 from a use position, shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, to a
stowed position, shown in FIG. 8, in which the seat bottom 16 and
seat back 18 are disposed at least partially in a recess 30 formed
in the vehicle body 12.
[0021] It is noted that the terms first latch and second latch are
merely used to distinguish the latches from each other. Therefore,
depending on the order of presentation of the latches 26 and 28 in
the claims, for example, the first latch 26 may be referred to as a
second latch, and the second latch 28 may be referred to as a first
latch.
[0022] The first latch 26 is associated with the seat back 18 and
is configured to inhibit movement of the seat back 18 with respect
to the seat bottom 16. For example, the first latch 26 may be a
seat back latch pivotally connected to outboard seat bottom frame
member 31a of the seat bottom 16, and engageable with outboard seat
back frame member 32a of seat back 18. The first latch 26 is
moveable between a first latch position, shown in FIG. 3, for
inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back 18 toward the seat
bottom 16, and a second latch position, shown in FIG. 5, for
inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back 18 away from the seat
bottom 16 after the seat back 18 has pivoted toward the seat bottom
16.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second latch 28 is
associated with the seat bottom 16 and is engageable with the
vehicle body 12 for inhibiting movement of the seat bottom 16 with
respect to the vehicle body 12. For example, the second latch 28
may be a floor latch that is engageable with a floor portion of
vehicle body 12. While the second latch 28 may have any suitable
construction, in one embodiment, the second latch 28 includes a cam
member 33 and a latch member 34 that are connected to a front
portion of seat bottom main frame 36 of the seat bottom 16, such as
with a latch bracket 35. The cam member 33 is engageable with the
latch member 34 and is configured to pivot the latch member 34
between a latch position shown in FIG. 3, in which the latch member
34 is engaged with a striker 37 or other engaging member of vehicle
body 12, and a release position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The second
latch 28 may also include one or more springs that urge the latch
member 34 toward the latch position. For example, the second latch
28 may include a cam spring 38 engaged with the cam member 33 for
urging the cam member 33 in a clockwise direction, with respect to
FIG. 3, into engagement with the latch member 34, and a latch
spring 39 engaged with the latch member 34 for urging the latch
member 34 toward the latch position.
[0024] The automatic stow arrangement 29 is associated with the
first and second latches 26 and 28, respectively, and is configured
to automatically release the latches 26 and 28 to allow the seat
back 18 to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom 16, as
shown in FIG. 7, and to allow the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18
to pivot together in a second direction opposite the first
direction to the stowed position, shown in FIG. 8. Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3, the stow arrangement 29 includes a puller mechanism
40 associated with the latches 26 and 28 for releasing the latches
26 and 28, a biasing member, such as first spring 42, associated
with the seat back 18 for urging the seat back 18 toward the seat
bottom 16, a locking mechanism 44 that assists in releasing the
second latch 28 and inhibits movement of the seat back 18 away from
the seat bottom 16 after the second latch 28 has been released, and
a drive mechanism 46 for pivoting the seat bottom 16 and seat back
to the stowed position.
[0025] The puller mechanism 40 may have any suitable configuration
for moving the first latch 26 from the first latch position, shown
in FIG. 3, to an intermediate position, shown in FIG. 4. For
example, the puller mechanism 40 may include a cable 48 or other
pull member connected to the first latch 26, a reel or spool 50 for
retracting or recoiling the cable 48, and a motor 52 associated
with the spool 50 for rotating the spool 50 to thereby recoil the
cable 48 from an extended position, shown in FIG. 3, to a retracted
position. The spool 50 and motor 52 may also be connected to any
suitable portion of the seat bottom 16, such as a rear portion of
seat bottom main frame 36, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0026] The first spring 42 shown in FIGS. 3-5 is a torsion spring
having a first end connected to the seat back frame member 32a and
a second end connected to bracket 54 fixed to outboard seat bottom
frame member 31a. A second spring 56 may also be connected between
bracket 54 and first latch 26 for urging the first latch 26 into
engagement with the outboard seat back frame member 32a.
[0027] The locking mechanism 44 includes a locking member 58 and a
lever 60 that are each pivotally connected to the outboard seat
bottom frame member 31a. The locking member 58 is connected to the
second latch 28, such as with a cable 62 or other connecting
member, and is moveable between a first position shown in FIG. 3,
and a second position shown in FIG. 4 for releasing the second
latch 28. Thus, the locking member 58 may function as a
latch-release member. Furthermore, when the first latch 26 is in
the second latch position, the locking member 58 is moveable to a
locking position shown in FIG. 5, in which the locking member 58 is
engageable with the first latch 26 to inhibit movement of the first
latch 26, and thereby inhibit pivotal movement of the seat back 18
away from the seat bottom 16. The locking position may be the same
as the second position of the locking member 58, for example, or
the locking position may be an intermediate position between the
first and second positions of the locking member 58.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the lever 60 is engageable with the
locking member 58 when the locking member 58 is in the first
position to inhibit movement of the locking member 58 toward the
second position. Referring to FIG. 4, the seat back 18 is
engageable with the lever 60 when the seat back 18 pivots toward
the seat bottom 16 to thereby disengage the lever 60 from the
locking member 58.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, the locking mechanism 44 may
further include third and fourth springs 63 and 64, respectively,
engaged with the locking member 58 and lever 60, respectively. The
third spring 63 urges the locking member 58 into engagement with
the lever 60 (counter-clockwise in FIG. 3), and the fourth spring
64 urges the lever 60 into engagement with the locking member 58
(counter-clockwise in FIG. 3, and clockwise in FIG. 9).
[0030] The drive mechanism 46 is associated with the seat bottom 16
and/or seat back 18 and is engageable with the pivot member 22 to
automatically pivot the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 to the
stowed position. For example, referring to FIG. 10, the pivot
member 22 may include an elongated pivot body 65 and a first gear
66 fixed to the pivot body 65, and the drive mechanism 46 may
include a second gear 67 that is engageable with the first gear 66,
and a motor 68 for driving the second gear 67 about the first gear
66. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the drive
mechanism 46 is attached to a rear portion of inboard seat bottom
frame member 31b.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, the stow arrangement 29 further
includes a control system 70 for controlling operation of the
puller mechanism 40 and the drive mechanism 46. The control system
70 may include, for example, a power source 72 connected to the
motors 52 and 68, a controller 74 that includes control logic for
controlling operation of the motors 52 and 68, and one or more
actuators 76 and 77, such as stow and un-stow push buttons, for
activating the controller 74. While the actuators 76 and 77 may be
disposed in any suitable position in the vehicle, in one
embodiment, the actuators 76 and 77 are disposed on the vehicle
body 12 proximate the seat bottom 16, such as on a D pillar (not
shown) of the vehicle body 12.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, operation of one seat assembly 14
will now be described, with the understanding that the other seat
assembly 14 may operate in the same or similar manner. When it is
desired to move the seat assembly 14 from the use position shown in
FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 to the stowed position shown in FIG. 8, the stow
actuator 76 may be depressed or otherwise actuated to activate the
stow arrangement 29. Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the motor 52 of the
puller mechanism 40 then operates to retract the cable 48, which
releases the first latch 26. Next, the first spring 42 pivots the
seat back 18 in the first direction, such as forward, toward the
seat bottom 16 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the seat back 18
engages the lever 60 and causes the lever 60 to pivot in the same
direction as the seat back 18, thereby disengaging the lever 60
from the locking member 58.
[0033] The puller mechanism 40 continues to retract the cable 48,
which causes the first latch 26 to move to the intermediate
position shown in FIG. 4. As the first latch 26 moves toward the
intermediate position, the first latch 26 engages the locking
member 58 and rotates the locking member 58 in the second
direction, such as rearward. As a result, the locking member 58
pulls the cable 62, which releases the second latch 28, as shown in
FIG. 4.
[0034] The controller 74 then controls operation of the puller
mechanism 40 to move the cable 48 toward the extended position,
which allows the second spring 56 to move the first latch 26 to the
second latch position, as shown in FIG. 5. In the second latch
position, the first latch 26 is engaged with a projection 78 of the
outboard seat back frame member 32a for inhibiting movement of the
seat back 18 away from the seat bottom 16.
[0035] As the first latch 26 moves toward the second latch
position, the third spring 63 urges the locking member 58 toward
the locking position shown in FIG. 5. In the locking position, the
locking member 58 is engageable with the first latch 26 to inhibit
movement of the first latch 26 away from the second latch position.
As a result, the locking member 58 may function to inhibit pivotal
movement of the seat back 18 away from the seat bottom 16 when the
seat back 18 has been pivoted in the first direction and the second
latch 28 has been released. Thus, the seat back 18 may be prevented
from returning to the use position when the second latch 28 has
been released.
[0036] Next, referring to FIG. 10, the control system 70 activates
the motor 68 of the drive mechanism 46, which drives the second
gear 67 about the first gear 66. As a result, the seat bottom 16
and seat back 18 pivot rearwardly from the position shown in FIG. 7
to the stowed position shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] The seat assembly 14 may also include first and second load
floor portions 79 and 80, respectively, that cooperate to define a
substantially flat load floor when the seat bottom 16 and seat back
18 are in the stowed position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8,
for example, the first load floor portion 79 is connected to the
seat bottom 16, and the second load floor portion 80 is connected
to the vehicle body 12 and to the first load floor portion 79 with
hinge 82.
[0038] When it is desired to return the seat bottom 16 and seat
back 18 to the use position, the un-stow actuator 77 may be
actuated to cause the control system 70 to activate the stow
arrangement 29. More specifically, the control system 70 may
activate the motor 68 of the drive mechanism 46, to thereby pivot
the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 in the first direction away
from the stow position shown in FIG. 8 and to the position shown in
FIG. 7. As the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 pivot in the first
direction, the second latch 28 re-latches on the striker 37, which
causes the locking member 58 to move to the first position shown in
FIG. 3. A manual release member 84, such as a pull strap, connected
to the first latch 26 may then be pulled to release the first latch
26 from the second latch position. Next, the seat back 18 may be
manually returned to the use position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.
[0039] The stow arrangement 29 of the invention therefore provides
automatic movement of the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 from the
use position to the stowed position. Furthermore, the stow
arrangement 29 is configured to automatically return the seat
bottom 16 and seat back 18 to the intermediate position shown in
FIG. 7, such that the seat back 18 may be manually returned to the
use position shown in FIG. 6.
[0040] Although the latches 26 and 28 are shown on the outboard
side of the seat assembly 14, and the drive mechanism 46 is shown
on the inboard side of the seat assembly 14, these components may
be disposed at any suitable location on the seat assembly 14. For
example, the latches 26 and 28 may be located on the inboard side
of the seat assembly 14, and the drive mechanism 46 may be located
on the outboard side of the seat assembly 14. As another example,
all of the above components may be located on the same side of the
seat assembly 14.
[0041] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *