Patent ID: 7631938

Claim:
A folding seat assembly for motor vehicles, comprising: a support structure; a seat base pivotably connected to the support structure for movement between a use position and non-use position, the seat base defining a generally upwardly-facing seating surface; at least one latch that releasably secures the seat base to the support structure and selectively retains the seat base in the use position; a generally upright seat back pivotably connected to the seat base; an energy storage mechanism comprising: a housing connected to one of the support structure and the seat base; an elongated output member slidably connected to the housing for reciprocating motion relative to the housing, wherein the output member is connected to the other of the support structure and the seat base such that the output member moves between extended and retracted positions relative to the housing upon movement of the seat base relative to the support structure; a cam rotatably mounted to the housing for rotation between a rest position and an actuated position and including a cam surface; a cam follower engaging the cam surface such that the cam follower moves relative to the housing upon rotation of the cam; a spring operably engaging the cam follower and the output member and biasing the output member towards the extended position, and rotatably biasing the cam towards the actuated position; a torsion spring biasing the cam towards the rest position; a release cable operably connected to the cam and operable to rotate the cam from the rest position towards the actuated position upon movement of the release cable; an output cable operably interconnecting the cam and the latch such that the latch is released upon movement of the cam to the actuated position.