Patent ID: 7562931

Claim:
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a first seat section having a first seat cushion portion and a first seatback portion that define a first seating area, the first seatback portion includes a first fastening element; a second seat section having a second seat cushion portion and a second seatback portion that define a second seating area disposed laterally adjacent the first seating area, the second seatback portion being movably mounted between an upwardly extending in-use orientation and a retracted non-use orientation; and a partitioning panel includes a hinge portion fixed to a rear surface of the second seatback portion such that the partition pivots between a stowed position in which the partitioning panel is disposed parallel to the second seatback portion outside of the first and second seating areas and a partitioning position in which the partitioning panel extends upwardly along a lateral side of the first seat section in a forward to aft direction of the first seat section such that with the second seatback portion in the retracted non-use orientation and the partitioning panel in the partitioning position, the partitioning panel prevents cargo placed on a backside of the second seatback portion from moving toward the first seat section, the partitioning panel having a second fastening element with the first and second fastening elements being configured and arranged to cooperate together to selectively retain the partition in the partitioning position.