Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/654,760 filed on Jun. 1, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a seat assembly and, in particular, to a seat assembly with a changing configuration that enables enhanced access to surrounding areas of a vehicle cabin. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicle seats are sometimes configured to move or otherwise change position to allow easier access to other areas of the vehicle cabin, such as to other vehicle seats or seating areas located behind the moveable seat. For example, a front vehicle seat may have a seat back that tilts forward to allow a passenger to enter or exit a rear vehicle seat or seating area behind the front seat. In another example, a vehicle seat may be configured to fold so that the seat back does not obstruct access to the desired area. However, in some types of vehicles, tilting seat backs or folding components are not enough on their own to provide adequate access to and/or from the area behind a vehicle seat. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a passenger support includes a foundation frame, a vehicle seat, and a seat-bottom motion controller. The foundation frame is configured to be coupled to a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat base mounted to the foundation frame for movement between a rearward position and a forward position, a seat back extending from the seat base, and a seat bottom configured to move between an occupant-use position extending away from the seat back and a folded-up position along the seat back. The seat-bottom motion controller has a deactivated configuration that prevents the seat bottom from moving from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position, and an activated configuration that allows the seat bottom to move from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position. 
     In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a method of moving a passenger support from an occupant-use configuration to an easy-entry configuration includes the steps of: actuating a seat-bottom motion controller to change the seat-bottom motion controller from a deactivated configuration to an activated configuration; pivoting a seat back about a seat-back pivot axis relative to a seat base from an occupant-use position to a tilted-forward position; pivoting a seat bottom about a seat-bottom pivot axis relative to the seat back from an occupant-use position extending away from the seat back to a folded-up position extending along the seat back; and moving the seat base along a foundation frame from a rearward position to a forward position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an easy-entry vehicle seat installed as a middle-row seat of a vehicle, where the vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back and is illustrated in a passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is the side view of  FIG. 1 , showing the vehicle seat with the seat back in a tilted-forward position; 
         FIG. 3  is the side view of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing the vehicle seat with the seat bottom in a folded-up position; 
         FIG. 4  is the side view of  FIGS. 1-3 , showing the vehicle seat moved to an easy-entry configuration with the seat base in a moved-forward position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the easy-entry vehicle seat; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is another exploded view of a portion of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a reduced-size view of  FIG. 5 , showing section lines for  FIGS. 7B and 7D ; 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 7A , showing an exemplary arrangement of easy-entry motion controller components on an outboard side of the seat with the seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 7C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7B ; 
         FIG. 7D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 7A , showing an exemplary arrangement of easy-entry motion controller components on an inboard side of the seat with the seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 7E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7D ; 
         FIG. 7F  is an enlarged view of another portion of  FIG. 7D ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 7A , showing the seat back in the tilted-forward position; 
         FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 8A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat back in the tilted-forward position; 
         FIG. 8C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 8B ; 
         FIG. 8D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 8A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat back in the tilted-forward position; 
         FIG. 8E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 8D ; 
         FIG. 8F  is an enlarged view of another portion of  FIG. 8D ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 7A , showing the seat bottom in the folded-up position; 
         FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 9A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat bottom in the folded-up position; 
         FIG. 9C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 9B ; 
         FIG. 9D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 9A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat bottom in the folded-up position; 
         FIG. 9E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 9D ; 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 7A , showing the seat base in the moved-forward position; 
         FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 10A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat base in the moved-forward position; 
         FIG. 10C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 10B ; 
         FIG. 10D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 10A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat base in the moved-forward position; 
         FIG. 10E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 10D ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the easy-entry vehicle seat of  FIGS. 1-4 , showing the seat base, along with the seat back and the seat bottom, in a moved-back position; 
         FIG. 12  is the side view of  FIG. 11 , showing the vehicle seat with the seat back in an occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 13  is the side view of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , showing the seat bottom in a occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIGS. 7A-10D , showing the seat base in a moved-back position; 
         FIG. 14B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 14A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat base in the moved-back position; 
         FIG. 14C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 14B ; 
         FIG. 14D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 14A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat base in the moved-back position; 
         FIG. 14E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 14D ; 
         FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 14A , showing the seat back in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 15A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat back in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 15C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 15B ; 
         FIG. 15D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 15A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat back in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 15E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 15D ; 
         FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 15A , showing the seat bottom in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 16B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 16A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat bottom in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 16C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 16B ; 
         FIG. 16D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 16A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat bottom in the occupant-use position; 
         FIG. 16E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 16D ; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the vehicle seat of  FIGS. 1-4  and  11 - 13 , showing the vehicle seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 18  is the side view of  FIG. 18 , showing the vehicle seat moved to a fold-flat configuration; 
         FIG. 19A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 16A , showing the vehicle seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 19B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 19A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 19C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 19B ; 
         FIG. 19D  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 19A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the inboard side of the seat with the seat in the passenger-use configuration; 
         FIG. 19E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 19D ; 
         FIG. 20A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 19A , showing the vehicle seat in the fold-flat configuration; 
         FIG. 20B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 20A , showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat in the fold-flat configuration; 
         FIG. 20C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 20B ; 
         FIG. 20D  is a side view of the outboard side of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 20A ; 
         FIG. 20E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 20D ; 
         FIG. 21  is a side view of the vehicle seat of  FIGS. 1-4  and  11 - 13 , showing the vehicle seat in the easy-entry configuration with the fold-flat motion controller inoperable; 
         FIG. 22A  is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 19A , showing the vehicle seat in the easy-entry configuration; 
         FIG. 22B  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 22A  showing the easy-entry motion controller components on the outboard side of the seat with the seat in easy-entry configuration; 
         FIG. 22C  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 22B ; 
         FIG. 22D  is a side elevation view of the outboard side of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 22A ; and 
         FIG. 22E  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 22D . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An illustrative middle-row passenger support  10  for use in a vehicle  12  in accordance with the present disclosure includes a foundation frame  14  coupled to a floor  15  of the vehicle  12 , a vehicle seat  16  mounted on the foundation frame  14 , and an easy-entry motion controller  18  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Foundation frame  14  is configured to support vehicle seat  16  above vehicle floor  15  between a front-row passenger support  20  and a back-row passenger support  22  in this example. Vehicle seat  16  moves relative to foundation frame  14  from an occupant-use or passenger-use configuration to an easy-entry configuration.  FIG. 1  shows the vehicle seat  16  in an illustrative passenger-use configuration for supporting a passenger during movement of vehicle  12 .  FIG. 4  shows the vehicle seat  16  in an illustrative easy-entry configuration for easing entry to and exit from the back-row passenger support  22 . The easy-entry motion controller  18  is configured to provide guide means for controlling the motion of the vehicle seat  16  as vehicle seat  16  moves between the passenger-use configuration and the easy-entry configuration. 
     Foundation frame  14  includes a first rail  24  and a second rail  26 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each rail  24 ,  26  includes a track  28 , a rear ramp  30  coupled to track  28 , and a forward ramp  32  coupled to track  28 . Track  28  is configured to support vehicle seat  16  for movement along track  28 . Rear ramp  30  extends along an inboard side of track  28  near a back side  34  of track  28  and may block or prevent rearward motion of vehicle seat  16  along track  28 . Forward ramp  32  extends along an inboard side of track  28  near a front side  36  of track  28  and may block or prevent forward motion of vehicle seat  16  along track  28 . 
     Vehicle seat  16  includes a seat back  38 , a seat bottom  40 , and a seat base  42  that are each movable so that vehicle seat  16  can be reconfigured from the passenger-use configuration to the easy-entry configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . Seat back  38  is coupled to seat base  42  for pivotable movement about a seat-back pivot axis  38 A. Seat bottom  40  is coupled to seat back  38  for pivotable movement about a seat-bottom pivot axis  40 A. Seat base  42  is coupled to tracks  28  of foundation frame  14  for movement along foundation frame  14 . In this example, the seat base  42  is coupled to the tracks for sliding movement along the foundation frame. 
     When vehicle seat  16  moves from the passenger-use configuration, shown in  FIG. 1 , to the easy-entry configuration, shown in  FIG. 4 , seat back  38  is pivoted forward from an occupant-use position, which is generally upright in this example, to a tilted-forward position. By moving seat back  38  from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position, seat back  38  moves from forming an angle with foundation frame  14  underlying seat base  42  greater than or equal to about 90 degrees to forming an acute angle with foundation frame  14 . Seat bottom  40  is pivoted upwardly from an occupant-use position, in which it is extending generally horizontally away from seat back  38 , to a folded-up position, in which it is extending generally along seat back  38 . By pivoting seat bottom  40  from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position, a front edge  41  of seat bottom  40  is moved from a first position in front of a front edge  43  of seat base  42  to a second position behind front edge  43  of seat base  42  thereby allowing vehicle seat  16  to move or slide further forward than if seat base  42  remained in the occupant-use position. Seat base  42  slides or otherwise moves forward from one of a series of design or rearward positions to a forward position. 
     Easy-entry motion controller  18  is configured to control the motion of vehicle seat  16  as vehicle seat  16  moves from the passenger-use configuration to the easy-entry configuration as suggested in  FIGS. 1-4 . Easy-entry motion controller  18  includes a seat-back motion controller  48 , a seat-bottom motion controller  50 , and a seat-base motion controller  52  as shown diagrammatically in  FIGS. 1-4 . Easy-entry motion controller  18  may also include an actuator  60 , shown as a manual release lever in  FIG. 6 . Automated actuators are also possible. Each motion controller  48 ,  50 ,  52  may be activated to allow movement of the corresponding vehicle seat  16  component  38 ,  40 ,  42  as vehicle seat  16  is moved from the passenger-use configuration, shown in  FIG. 1 , to the easy-entry configuration, shown in  FIG. 4 . Seat-back motion controller  48  and seat-bottom motion controller  50  are both activated to allow motion of seat back  38  and seat bottom  40  in response to actuation of the actuator  60 , which in this case includes a user lifting upwardly on the release lever  60  as shown in  FIG. 8A . Seat-base motion controller  52  is activated to allow motion of seat base  42  in response to seat back  38  being moved from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position. 
     The vehicle seat  16  can move from the passenger-use configuration, shown in  FIG. 1 , to the easy-entry configuration, shown in  FIG. 4 , by a user or some other component operating easy-entry motion controller  18 . To operate the illustrated easy-entry motion controller  18 , the user first lifts upwardly on release lever  60  to activate the seat-back motion controller  48  and seat-bottom motion controller  50 . Then the user pivots seat back  38  about seat-back pivot axis  38 A from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position as suggested by arrow  38 F in  FIG. 2 . Pivoting seat back  38  to the tilted-forward position activates seat-base motion controller  52 . Next the user pivots seat bottom  40  about seat-bottom pivot axis  40 A from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position as suggested by arrow  40 U in  FIG. 3 . In some methods of use, the user may pivot seat bottom  40  before pivoting seat back  38  or both may be pivoted at the same time. The user can then release lever  60 . Finally, the user can move or slide seat base  42  along foundation frame  14  from one of the rearward positions to the forward position as suggested by arrow  42 F in  FIG. 4 . 
     When vehicle seat  16  is moved to the easy-entry configuration, the seat-back motion controller  48  is deactivated so that the seat back is held in the tilted-forward position as shown in  FIGS. 10B and 10C . Seat-bottom motion controller  50  and seat-base motion controller  52  remain activated so that seat bottom  40  and seat base  42  are still movable as shown in  FIGS. 10D and 10E . However, in the illustrated embodiment, seat bottom  40  is biased toward the folded-up position and seat base  42  is biased toward the forward position so that vehicle seat  16  is held in the easy-entry configuration until a user acts to return vehicle seat  16  to the passenger-use configuration. 
     The user can return vehicle seat  16  from the easy-entry configuration to the passenger-use configuration by again operating easy-entry motion controller  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 11-13 . To return to the passenger-use configuration, the user first slides or otherwise moves seat base  42  rearwardly along foundation frame  14  from the forward position to a full-return position, which is one of the series of design or rearward positions, as suggested by arrow  42 R in  FIG. 11 . Once seat base  42  reaches the full-return position, seat-back motion controller  48  is activated allowing seat back  38  to pivot. The user can then pivot seat back  38  rearwardly from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position as suggested by arrow  38 R in  FIG. 12 . When seat back  38  is in the occupant-use position, seat-base motion controller  52  is deactivated, thus preventing or blocking seat base  42  (along with seat back  38  and seat bottom  40 ) from sliding or moving along foundation frame  14 . Finally, the user can pivot seat bottom  40  downwardly from the folded-up position to the occupant-use position as suggested by arrow  40 D in  FIG. 13 . When seat bottom  40  reaches the occupant-use position, seat-bottom motion controller  50  is deactivated and the passenger-use configuration of vehicle seat  16  is reestablished. 
     Seat-back motion controller  48  is configured to move between a deactivated configuration and an activated configuration. In the deactivated configuration, the seat back  38  is blocked or prevented from moving from the occupant-use position, as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7C . In the activated configuration, the seat back  38  is allowed to move from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C . Seat-back motion controller  48  includes a recliner mechanism  62  and a return linkage  64 . Recliner mechanism  62  and return linkage  64  are coupled to seat back  38  and are configured to selectively prevent or allow movement of seat back  38  relative to seat base  42 . Return linkage  64  is coupled to seat back  38  and to seat base  42 . Return linkage  64  is configured to selectively prevent or allow movement of seat back  38  from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position. Actuator  60  is coupled to recliner mechanism  62  to release recliner mechanism  62  so that seat back  38  is free to pivot from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position. 
     Recliner mechanism  62  is similar to the rotary recliner mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,838, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Recliner mechanism  62  is configured to prevent seat back  38  from pivoting to the tilted-forward position until actuator  60  is lifted up by a user. A handle  66  is coupled to recliner mechanism  62  and is configured to release recliner mechanism  62  so that seat back  38  may pivot rearwardly to a reclined position as suggested in  FIGS. 8A-8C . Handle  66  may also release recliner mechanism  62  so that seat back  38  pivots forwardly until seat back  38  contacts seat bottom  40  such that vehicle seat  16  assumes a fold-flat configuration as shown in FIGS.  18  and  20 A-D. In other embodiments, recliner mechanism  62  may be of any other suitable type known in the art. 
     Return linkage  64  is configured to block or prevent seat back  38  from moving away from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position after vehicle seat  16  has moved to the easy-entry configuration as shown in  FIGS. 10B-10C . Return linkage  64  then releases seat back  38  to move from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position in response to seat base  42  sliding or otherwise moving from the forward position to the full-return position along foundation frame  14  as shown in  FIGS. 14A-14C . The illustrated return linkage  64  includes a bracket  70  coupled to seat back  38 , a pivot member  74  (sometimes referred to as a hook), and a rearward return blocker  76  as shown in  FIG. 6A . Bracket  70  is formed to include a notch  72 . Pivot member  74  is coupled to seat base  42  for pivotable movement and is formed to include a protrusion  78  sized to be received in notch  72  of bracket  70 . 
     Rearward return blocker  76  is coupled for pivotable movement to seat base  42  and is configured to move between a pivoted-up position, shown in  FIG. 7C , and a pivoted-down position shown in  FIG. 10C . In the pivoted-up position, rearward return blocker  76  allows protrusion  78  of pivot member  74  to be moved out of notch  72 . In the pivoted-down position, rearward return blocker  76  blocks protrusion  78  of pivot member  74  to be moved out of notch  72 . Rearward return blocker  76  is biased to the pivoted-down position. 
     When vehicle seat  16  is in the easy-entry configuration, protrusion  78  is received in notch  72  and is blocked from moving out of notch  72  by rearward return blocker  76 , thus, seat back  38  is blocked from pivoting away from the tilted-forward position, as shown in  FIG. 10C . As vehicle seat  16  moves from the easy-entry configuration to the passenger-use configuration, seat base  42  moves or slides back along foundation frame  14  until seat base  42  reaches the full-return position as shown in  FIG. 11 . At the full-return position, rearward return blocker  76  contacts rear ramp  30  of foundation frame  14 , moving rearward return blocker  76  away from the pivoted-down position as shown in  FIG. 14C . In response to rearward return blocker  76  contacting rear ramp  30  of foundation frame  14 , seat back  38  is allowed to pivot from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position as shown in FIGS.  12  and  15 B-C. Thus, return linkage  64  releases seat back  38  to move from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position in response to seat base  42  moving from the forward position to the full-return position along foundation frame  14 . 
     Seat-bottom motion controller  50  is configured to move or change between a deactivated configuration and an activated configuration. In the deactivated configuration, seat bottom  40  is prevented or blocked from moving from the occupant-use position, as shown in  FIGS. 7B ,  7 D, and  7 F. In the activated configuration, seat bottom  40  is allowed to move from the occupant-use position as shown in  FIGS. 8B ,  8 D, and  8 F. Seat-bottom motion controller  50  moves or changes from the deactivated configuration to the activated configuration in response to the user lifting up on actuator  60  as suggested by arrow  60 A in  FIG. 8A . Thus, when seat bottom  40  is in the occupant-use position, both seat-back motion controller  48  and seat-bottom motion controller  50  are activated simultaneously to allow movement of seat back  38  and seat bottom  40  in response to the user lifting up on release lever  60 , or in response to other actuation, as suggested in  FIGS. 8A-F . 
     The illustrated seat-bottom motion controller  50  includes a latch  80 , a bias spring  82  and a cable  84  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6A . Latch  80  is coupled to seat bottom  40  for pivotable movement about a latch pivot axis  80 A between an engaged position, wherein latch  80  receives a catch  90  coupled to seat base  42  blocking seat bottom  40  from pivoting, and a disengaged position, wherein latch  80  disengages from catch  90  allowing seat bottom  40  to pivot. Bias spring  82  contacts seat bottom  40  and latch  80  to bias latch  80  toward the engaged position. Cable  84  is illustratively a Bowden cable and extends from latch  80  to release lever  60  so that latch  80  moves to the disengaged position in response to the user lifting up on release lever  60 . Thus, seat bottom  40  is blocked from pivoting from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position unless a user lifts up on release lever  60  to overcome the force of bias spring  82  and pivot latch  80  from the engaged position to the disengaged position. Such an arrangement may prevent inadvertent or undesirable pivoting of seat bottom  40  away from the occupant-use position. 
     Latch  80  is illustratively made up of two U-shaped hooks  85 ,  86 , as shown in  FIG. 6A , but in other embodiments may be configured in any suitable geometry. Catch  90  is illustratively made up of two posts  95 ,  96  extending inwardly toward the center of vehicle seat  16  but in other embodiments may be configured in any suitable geometry such as a ring, a lip, or the like. 
     Seat-base motion controller  52  is movable or otherwise changeable between a deactivated configuration, shown in  FIGS. 7D and 7E , and an activated configuration as shown in  FIGS. 9D and 9E . In the deactivated configuration, seat base  42  (along with seat back  38  and seat bottom  40 ) is blocked from moving along foundation frame  14  to the forward position. In the activated configuration, seat base  42  is allowed to move along foundation frame  14  to the forward position. Seat-base motion controller  52  is changed from the deactivated configuration to the activated configuration in response to seat back  38  moving from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position. Conversely, seat-base motion controller  52  is moved from the activated configuration to the deactivated configuration in response to seat back  38  moving from the tilted-forward position to the occupant-use position. 
     Seat-base motion controller  52  illustratively includes a track lock  97  and an entry linkage  98  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Track lock  97  moves between an engaged position, blocking movement of seat base  42  along the range of design (i.e. rearward) positions relative to foundation frame  14 , and a disengaged position, allowing movement of seat base  42  along the range of design positions relative to foundation frame  14 . Entry linkage  98  selectively blocks or allows seat bottom  42  to move forwardly past the range of design positions to the forward position along foundation frame  14 . Entry linkage  98  also moves track lock  97  to the disengaged position in response to seat back  38  moving to the tilted-forward position. 
     Entry linkage  98  illustratively includes a cam plate  100 , a forward slide blocker  102 , and a cam follower  104  (sometimes called a roller) as shown in  FIG. 6A . Cam plate  100  is coupled to seat back  38  to pivot therewith about seat-back pivot axis  38 A. Forward slide blocker  102  and cam follower  104  are coupled to seat base  42  for pivotable movement relative thereto. 
     Forward slide blocker  102  is pivotable between a lowered position, as shown in  FIG. 7E , and a raised position as shown in  FIG. 8E . In the lowered position, forward slide blocker  102  blocks seat base  42  from moving to the forward position since forward slide blocker  102  would contact forward ramp  32  before the forward position is reached as shown in  FIGS. 7D and 7E . In the raised position, forward slide blocker  102  allows seat base  42  to move to the forward position as shown in  FIGS. 10D and 10E . Also, while in the raised position, slide blocker  102  pushes track lock  97  from the normally engaged position to the disengaged position as shown in  FIG. 8E . 
     Cam follower  104  is biased into contact with cam plate  100  and is configured to move along cam plate  100  as seat back  38  moves from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position as suggested in  FIGS. 7E and 8E . When seat back  38  moves from the occupant-use position to the tilted-forward position, cam follower  104  pushes forward slide blocker  102  from the lowered position to the raised position as shown in  FIGS. 8D and 8E . 
     Seat-bottom motion controller  50  may also include a memory lever  106  arranged over rear ramp  30  of foundation frame  14  and coupled to cam follower  104  by a spring  105  as shown in  FIG. 7E . Memory lever  106  is configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, memory lever  106  allows movement of seat base  42  rearward past the full-return position. In the lowered position, memory lever  106  blocks sliding of seat base  42  rearward past the full-return position. Memory lever  106  is biased to the raised position by the spring  105  when seat back  38  is in the occupant-use position as shown in  FIG. 7E . However, memory lever  106  is biased to the lowered position when seat back  38  is in the tilted-forward position as shown in  FIG. 8E . When seat base  42  moves past the full-return position with the seat back  38  in the tilted-forward position, memory lever  106  blocks seat base  42  from returning rearward past the full-return position until seat back  38  is returned to the occupant-use position as shown in  FIGS. 14E and 15E . 
     Seat back  38  illustratively includes a shell  120 , a cushion  122 , and a headrest  124  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Shell  120  is coupled to seat base  42  for movement relative thereto about seat-back pivot axis  38 A. Cushion  122  is coupled to the front of shell  120  to support the body of a user. Headrest  124  is coupled to the top of shell  120  to support the head of a user. 
     Seat bottom  40  illustratively includes a seat pan  130 , a cushion  132 , and a support leg  134  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 . Seat pan  130  is coupled to seat back  38  for movement about seat-bottom pivot axis  40 A. Cushion  132  is coupled to seat pan  130  to support the bottom side of a user. Support leg  134  is coupled to seat pan  130  for pivotable movement about a leg pivot axis  134 A. Support leg  134  moves between a support position, extending down substantially perpendicular to seat pan  130  as shown in  FIG. 1-2 , and a stored position, extending substantially along seat pan  130  as shown in  FIG. 3-4 . 
     Seat-bottom motion controller  50  may also include a guide link  136  that is configured to move support leg  134  from the support position to the stored position in response to the seat bottom  40  moving from the occupant-use position to the folded-up position, as shown in  FIGS. 7D and 10D . Guide link  136  is pivotably coupled to shell  120  of seat back  38  and to support leg  134 . In the illustrated embodiment, guide link  136  is biased toward seat back  38  by a spring (not shown) so that seat bottom  40  is biased toward the folded-up position. 
     Vehicle seat  16  may also be configured to move from the passenger-use configuration, as shown in  FIG. 17 , to a folded-flat position as shown in  FIG. 18 . During movement to the folded-flat configuration, seat back  38  and seat bottom  40  collapse forward as suggested by arrows  38 C and  40 C in  FIG. 18 . Vehicle seat  16  includes a fold-flat motion controller  140  configured to block or allow movement of vehicle seat  16  to the fold-flat configuration. Fold-flat motion controller  140  is configured to allow vehicle seat  16  to move from the passenger-use configuration to the fold-flat configuration, as suggested in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , but blocks vehicle seat  16  from moving from the easy-entry configuration to the fold-flat configuration as suggested in  FIG. 21 . 
     In the fold-flat configuration, seat back  38  pivots about seat-back pivot axis  38 A so that seat back  38  is substantially parallel to foundation frame  14  as shown in  FIG. 20D . Seat bottom  40  is moved down closer to foundation frame  14  by pivoting support leg  134  so that support leg  134  extends substantially parallel to foundation frame  14  as shown in  FIG. 20B . Thus, both seat back  38  and seat bottom  40  extend substantially parallel to foundation frame  14  when vehicle seat  16  is in the fold-flat configuration. 
     Fold-flat motion controller  140  illustratively includes recliner mechanism  62 , handle  66 , and interlock plate  142  as shown in  FIG. 20E . Recliner mechanism  62 , as described above, is configured to allow seat back  38  to pivot about a pivot axis from the occupant-use position to a fold-flat configuration, substantially parallel to foundation frame  14 . Handle  66  is lifted up by a user to activate recliner mechanism  62  to allow seat back  38  to move the fold-flat configuration. Interlock plate  142  is configured to block handle  66  from being activated by a user when vehicle seat  16  is in the easy-entry configuration. 
     Interlock plate  142  moves between a lowered position, shown in  FIG. 19E , and a raised position shown in  FIG. 20E . In the lowered position, interlock plate  142  allows handle  66  to pivot relative to seat base  42  so that seat back  38  can move to the fold-flat configuration. In the raised position, interlock plate  142  blocks handle  66  from pivoting relative to seat base  42  so that seat back  38  can move to the fold-flat configuration. 
     Interlock plate  142  may be coupled to and pivot with pivot member  74  of return linkage  64  as suggested in  FIGS. 22C and 22E . When pivot member  74  is pivoted up so that protrusion  78  is received in notch  72 , interlock plate  142  is pivoted to the raised position and blocks seat back  38  from moving to the fold-flat configuration. Therefore, any time that vehicle seat  16  is in the easy-entry configuration, fold-flat motion controller  140  is inoperable as shown in FIGS.  21  and  22 A-D. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Technology Category: 7