Patent ID: 8360529

Claim:
A vehicle seat having two opposite sides, a seat back mounted on a seat cushion to pivot about a transverse horizontal pivot axis X-X by a recliner mechanism that can be moved between a locked position in which the recliner mechanism prevents the seat back from moving relative to the seat cushion, and an unlocked position in which the recliner mechanism allows the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion about the pivot axis, the seat assembly comprising a torsion bar subassembly with one or more elongate torsion bars extending along an axis Y-Y at least partially between the opposite sides, each bar of the torsion bar subassembly having an end affixed to one of the seat back and the seat cushion and another end affixed respectively to the seat cushion and the seat back so that the torsion bar subassembly exerts a forwardly directed force on the seat back over a limited range of arcuate travel; each bar of the torsion bar subassembly having a central portion extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis X-X between first and second lever arms, the first lever arm formed at one end of a central portion extending perpendicular thereto and being attached to a seat cushion, and the second lever arm formed at the other end of the central portion also extending perpendicularly thereto and being attached to the seat back, each of the first and second lever arms being secured by a pivot bracket that anchors the associated lever arm and allows it to rotate therewithin during forward and rearward arcuate movement of the seat back, wherein the axis Y-Y is located rearwardly of axis X-X.