Two-way folding seat back

Claim 2

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat cushion wherein said seat back is adapted to be folded forwardly about a first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle so as to provide a flat cargo platform and adapted to be folded forwardly relative to the seat cushion about a second axis which is angularly related to and intersects said first axis at a point located adjacent said longitudinal center axis so as to provide access space for a passenger entering the rear of the vehicle, means located at said point of intersection of said first and second axes for universally connecting one side of the seat back to the vehicle, a hinge arm located adjacent the other side of said seat back and having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end of said hinge arm being pivotally connected to said vehicle along said second axis, means located along said first axis for pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said hinge arm to said seat back, and the upper end of said hinge arm being provided with a latch mechanism adapted to selectively unlock and lock the upper end of said hinge arm to said seat back whereby the latter will move about the first and second axes respectively when pivoted forwardly.

Claim 3

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat cushion wherein said seat back is adapted to be folded forwardly about a first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle so as to overlie said seat cushion and provide a flat cargo platform and adapted to be folded forwardly relative to the seat cushion about a second axis which is angularly related to and intersects said first axis at a point located adjacent said longitudinal center axis so as to provide access space for a passenger entering the rear of the vehicle, a swivel joint located at said point of intersection of said first and second axes for joining one side of the seat back to the vehicle, said swivel joint comprising an upstanding bracket secured to the vehicle, said bracket having a round hole formed therein, a curved pin having one end fixed to said one side of the seat back and the other end located within said hole, a hinge arm located adjacent the other side of said seat back and having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end of said hinge arm being pivotally connected to said vehicle along said second axis, means located along said first axis for pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said hinge arm to said seat back, and the upper end of said hinge Arm being provided with a latch mechanism adapted to selectively unlock and lock the upper end of said hinge arm to said seat back whereby the latter will move about the first and second axes respectively when pivoted forwardly.

Claim 4

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat cushion wherein said seat back is adapted to be folded forwardly about a first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle so as to overlie said seat cushion and provide a flat cargo platform and adapted to be folded forwardly relative to the seat cushion about a second axis which is angularly related to and intersects said first axis at a point located adjacent said longitudinal center axis so as to provide access space for a passenger entering the rear of the vehicle, a swivel joint located at said point of intersection of said first and second axes for joining one side of the seat back to the vehicle, said swivel joint comprising an upstanding bracket secured to the vehicle, said bracket having a round hole formed therein, a curved pin having one end fixed to said one side of the seat back and the other end located within said hole, a hinge arm located adjacent the other side of said seat back and having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end of said hinge arm being pivotally connected to said vehicle along said second axis, means located along said first axis for pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said hinge arm to said seat back, and the upper end of said hinge Arm being provided with a latch mechanism adapted to selectively unlock and lock the upper end of said hinge arm to said seat back whereby the latter will move about the first and second axes respectively when pivoted forwardly.

Claim 5

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat cushion wherein said seat back is movable forwardly about a first pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle so as to overlie said seat cushion and provide a flat cargo platform and movable forwardly relative to the seat cushion about a second pivot axis which is angularly related to and intersects said first pivot axis at a point located adjacent said longitudinal center axis so as to provide access space for a passenger entering the rear of the vehicle, a swivel joint located at said point of intersection of said first and second pivot axes for universally connecting one side of the seat back to the vehicle, an L-shaped hinge arm located adjacent the other side of said seat back and having an upper end and a lower end, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said hinge arm to said vehicle along said second axis, means located along said first axis for pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said hinge arm to said seat back, the upper end of said hinge arm being provided with a latch mechanism adapted to selectively unlock and lock the upper end of said hinge arm to said seat back whereby the latter will move about the first and second axes respectively when pivoted forwardly, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of hook members pivotally connected to said upper end of the hinge arm by a common pivotal connection, pin means rigidly secured to said seat back and the vehicle for locking engagement with said hook members, a torsion spring biasing said hook members into latched position with said pin means and an actuator carried by said common pivotal connection for selectively releasing each of said hook members.

Claim 6

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat cushion wherein said seat back is movable forwardly about a first pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle so as to overlie said seat cushion and provide a flat cargo platform and movable forwardly relative to the seat cushion about a second pivot axis which is angularly related to and intersects said first pivot axis at a point located adjacent said longitudinal center axis so as to provide access space for a passenger entering the rear of the vehicle, a swivel joint located at said point of intersection of said first and second pivot axes for universally connecting one side of the seat back to the vehicle, an L-shaped hinge arm located adjacent the other side of said seat back and having an upper end and a lower end, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said hinge arm to said vehicle along said second axis, means located along said first axis for pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said hinge arm to said seat back, the upper end of said hinge arm being provided with a latch mechanism adapted to selectively unlock and lock the upper end of said hinge arm to said seat back whereby the latter will move about the first and second axes respectively when pivoted forwardly, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of hook members pivotally connected to said upper end of the hinge arm by a common pivotal connection, pin means rigidly secured to said seat back and the vehicle for locking engagement with said hook members, a torsion spring biasing said hook members into latched position with said pin means and an actuator carried by said common pivotal connection for selectively releasing each of said hook members.