Patent ID: 6997500
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A foldable seat assembly for a motor vehicle, the seat assembly being movable between a normal passenger seating position and a stowed position and comprising a seat cushion having an upper seating surface and a generally flat base surface, the seat cushion being mounted for pivotal movement about a front transverse axis such that the seat cushion can be folded forward from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly in which the base surface faces upwards, and a backrest connected to the seat cushion and extending upward from the seat cushion when the seat assembly is in the normal seating position, the backrest having a lower end, an upper end, a front seating surface and a generally flat rear surface and being movable from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly, the lower end of the backrest being arranged to move rearwards as the backrest is moved from its normal position into its stowed position such that, in the stowed position, the backrest lies behind the folded seat cushion, the arrangement being such that the upper end of the backrest folds forwards as the lower end of the backrest moves rearwards during movement of the backrest from its normal position into its folded position so that, when the seat assembly is in the stowed position, the rear surface of the stowed backrest lies immediately behind the base surface of the folded seat cushion and the continuous load bearing surface.