Patent ID: 8662578
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back operatively coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back pivotally movable between a seating position and a forwardly folded position; a head restraint operatively coupled to said seat back, said head restraint movable between a use position and a stowed position, said head restraint biased to said stowed position; a latch mechanism releasably coupled to said head restraint; and a release mechanism operatively coupled between said latch mechanism and said seat cushion for actuating said latch mechanism in response to pivotal movement of said seat back from said seating position to said forwardly folded position, said release mechanism including a bell-crank pivotally coupled to said seat back and operatively coupled to said seat cushion and said latch mechanism, said bell-crank operable between a first position with said seat back in said seating position and a second position with said seat back in said forwardly folded position; wherein initial pivotal movement of said seat back from said seating position toward said folded position pivots said bell crank from said first position actuating said latch mechanism to disengage with said head restraint, and wherein continued pivotal movement of said seat back to said folded position pivots said bell crank to said second position operably disconnecting said bell-crank and said seat cushion, and wherein pivotal movement of said seat back from said folded position to said seating position pivots said bell crank from said second position to said first position actuating said latch mechanism to a position for engagement with said head restraint upon return of said head restraint to said use position; and wherein said bell crank includes a first arm and a second arm, said first position of said bell crank defined with said second arm engaging a first stop fixedly secured to said seat back and said second position of said bell-crank defined with said first arm engaging a second stop fixedly secured to said seat back and spaced from said first stop and said release mechanism further includes a trigger finger fixedly secured to said seat cushion, said first arm engaging said trigger finger to pivot said bell crank from said first position in response to said initial pivotal movement of said seat back from said seating position toward said folded position, and said second arm engaging said trigger finger to pivot said bell crank from said second position in response to said pivotal movement of said seat back from said folded position toward said seating position.