Patent ID: 6974173
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a vehicle seat apparatus that comprises: a first latch mechanism supported at a front portion of a seat cushion frame supporting a vehicle seat; the first latch mechanism comprising an upper bracket fixed to the seat cushion frame and possessing a supporting portion, and a lower bracket rotatably supported at the upper bracket; a second latch mechanism supported at a rear portion of the seat cushion frame; a first striker mechanism provided on a vehicle floor side and engagable and disengagable relative to the first latch mechanism; and a second striker mechanism provided on the vehicle floor side and engagable and disengagable relative to the second latch mechanism; the method comprising: releasing engagement between the second latch mechanism and the second striker mechanism; tumbling the vehicle seat in a forward direction; thereafter reclining the vehicle seat in a rearward direction to cause the supporting portion of the upper bracket to contact the vehicle floor side to facilitate disengagement of the lower bracket from the first striker mechanism.