Patent ID: 7497517

Claim:
A vehicle seat for being mounted to a support, the vehicle seat comprising: a seat part; a backrest; at least one fitting that is operative so that the backrest can be pivoted and locked with respect to the seat part; a first plurality of links for pivotably linking the seat part to the support; a second plurality of links, wherein (a) the backrest is coupled to the first plurality of links by way of elements, with the elements comprising the second plurality of links, (b) the first plurality of links includes a linking member, (c) the second plurality of links also includes the linking member, (d) the vehicle seat can at least be converted from at least one use position to a compacted position, (e) the backrest extends upwardly from proximate a rear edge of the seat part and the seat part extends forwardly from proximate a lower edge of the backrest while the vehicle seat is in the at least one use position, so that a user can sit in the vehicle seat while the vehicle seat is in the at least one use position, and (f) the backrest and the seat part are in a substantially folded configuration with respect to one another in the compacted position; and a releasable securing device for being between the seat part and the support while the vehicle seat is in the at least one use position, wherein the securing device comprises a leeway for defining at least one predetermined, limited range of motion through which the first plurality of links can move in response to each of (a) the backrest being pivoted forwardly with respect to the seat part while the vehicle seat is in the at least one use position, and (b) a crash that occurs while the vehicle seat is in the at least one use position, wherein the securing device comprises a pivotably mounted catch hook and a pin, the catch hook and the pin touch each other to restrict movement of the first plurality of links and thereby define an end of the limited range of motion, and the leeway comprises a gap between the pin and an end region of the catch hook.