Counterbalanced folding seats with position lock

Claim 1

A folding seat arrangement, said seat comprising a horizontal seat frame having side members for supporting a seat cushion, a back frame comprising a pair of substantially ''''L-shaped'''' spaced apart members pivotally connected at the toe of the ''''L''s'''' to points on the side members, said ''''L-shaped'''' members rigidly coupled together with a horizontal member, said toes having lengths sufficient to enable a full and complete collapse of said back frame over said seat frame, stop plates rigidly attached to the rear of each of said side members, said stop plates having rearward facing horizontal latching notches therein, a pivoted plate member attached to each of said ''''L-shaped'''' members on the toes near the pivot point, a bar running across the width of the back frame and between said pivot plate members to form a baillike assembly, said bar engaging the latching notches on said stop plates to secure the back frame to the seat frame at a position determined by the notches, said stop plates having contours with camlike surfaces on the front sides thereof and rounded faces above said notches on the rear sides thereof, handle means extending downward from one of said pivot plates to enable moving said pivot plate and detaching said baillike member from said latch stop to enable moving said back frame to another position while occupying said seat frame or for collapsing said seat, and resilient means for holding said pivot plate so that said baillike assembly is forced into said latching notches on said stop plates.