Patent ID: 7726742

Claim:
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat body having a seat bottom and a seat back configured to pivot with respect to the seat bottom about a pivot axis; a lock mechanism connected to the seat body, the lock mechanism being configured to inhibit the seat back from pivoting when in a locked state and to permit the seat back to pivot when in an unlocked state; and a release and drive mechanism connected to the seat body for controlling pivotal movement of the seat back, the release and drive mechanism including: a mounting member attached to the seat body; a hub disposed on the mounting member, the hub having an opening that has a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end; a drive gear member having a mounting opening, wherein the mounting opening receives the hub; a pawl fixedly disposed on the hub and extending radially toward the pivot axis; and a motor configured to rotate the drive gear member; wherein the pawl engages the first end and is spaced apart from the second end when the lock mechanism is in the locked state.