Vehicle seat assembly

US7192088B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Lear Corporation · US

Inventors

• Matthew Trombley · Allen Park, US
• Eric Woods · Allen Park, US
• Michael Ferrari · St. Clair Shores, US
• David Williams · South Lyon, US
• Mark Allyn Folkert · Farmington Hills, US
• John Malcolm · Windsor, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 2005
• Grant date: Mar 20, 2007
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2/3079
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A stowable seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a floor and a recess formed therein. The assembly includes a seat and a pivot tube adapted to be secured to the vehicle floor, with the seat being operatively pivotal about the pivot tube between a first, collapsed position and a second, stowed position with the seat being at least partially stowed within the vehicle recess. The seat passes through a third, upright position intermediate the first and second positions as the seat is pivoted between the first and second positions. The assembly further includes a torsion rod mounted on the pivot tube and free to twist, with the torsion rod being operatively coupled to the seat during pivoting of the seat toward and away from the third, upright position. The torsion rod provides a first biasing torque for assisting pivotal movement of the seat from the stowed position toward the upright position and a second biasing torque for assisting pivotal movement of the seat from the collapsed position toward the upright position.