Patent ID: 7393056

Claim:
A vehicle seat fold and tumble release mechanism comprising: a seat backrest rotating assembly adapted to allow a seat backrest to move between an upright position and a folded position in which said seat backrest is folded down upon a seat bottom; at least one rear seat floor retention assembly adapted to selectively retain the rear of the seat bottom to the floor of the vehicle; a first latching mechanism adapted to latch and selectively retain said seat backrest in said upright position; a second latching mechanism adapted to latch and selectively retain said seat bottom to the floor of the vehicle; and a release assembly adapted to selectively cause both said first and said second latching mechanisms to be released when said release assembly is actuated, said release assembly having a release member and a pulley assembly to provide a mechanical advantage for operating said release assembly with said release member, wherein said seat backrest rotating assembly includes a backrest bracket and said first latching assembly includes a backrest locking arm that has a plurality of teeth disposed on an upper edge that corresponds to a plurality of teeth on the bottom of said backrest bracket to cooperate and lock said seat backrest rotating assembly in said upright position, an alignment arm mounted to said backrest locking arm to provide lateral support between said backrest locking arm and said backrest bracket, said alignment arm having a rounded tip that interacts with a shaped surface disposed on said backrest bracket so as to move said plurality of teeth of said backrest locking arm away from said plurality of teeth of said backrest bracket to prevent damage as the seat backrest folds, and a release cam having a blocking arm, said release cam rotationally biased so that said blocking arm holds said locking arm teeth in engagement with said backrest bracket teeth when said seat backrest rotating assembly is in the upright position.