Patent ID: 8690251

Claim:
A seatback-motion controller for a vehicle seat including a seat base formed to include a pin-receiving slot and a cam-contact surface and a seat back mounted for forward and rearward pivotable movement about a seat-back pivot axis relative to the seat base between an upright use position and a forward-leaning easy-entry position, the seatback-motion controller comprising a foundation adapted to be coupled to the seat back to pivot therewith relative to the seat base about the seat-back pivot axis, a seat-back lock coupled to the foundation to move therewith during pivoting movement of the seat back about the seat-back pivot axis relative to the seat base, the seat-back lock including a latch having a motion-blocking latch pin and a swing arm coupled to the motion-blocking latch pin and arranged to pivot relative to the foundation about a latch pivot axis to move the motion-blocking latch pin relative to the foundation between a locked position located in the pin-receiving slot formed in the seat base to block pivotable movement of the seat back relative to the seat base in a counterclockwise direction from an upright use position to a forward-leaning easy-entry position and a withdrawn position located outside of the pin-receiving slot to disable the seat-back lock and free the seat back for pivotable movement from the upright use position to the forward-leaning easy-entry position, and a seat-back release manager includes a cam-pivot post coupled to the foundation to move therewith and a friction cam mounted on the cam-pivot post for pivotable movement between an engaged position establishing frictional contact with the cam-contact surface included in the seat base to block pivotable movement of the seat back from the upright use position to the forward-leaning easy-entry position even when the motion-blocking latch pin is in the withdrawn position and a disengaged position disengaging the cam-contact surface included in the seat base to free the seat back for pivotable movement from the upright use position to the forward-leaning easy-entry position.