Safety mechanism for a fold and tumble seat assembly

摘要

A seat assembly (14) for use in an automotive vehicle and pivotal between a seating position and a fold and tumbled position. The seat assembly (14) includes a seat cushion (18) and a seat back (20) pivotally connected to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a folded position. The seat assembly includes a locking latch (46) supported by the seat cushion and pivotal between a latched position for releasably latching the seat assembly (14) to the floor (16) of the vehicle and an unlatched position for releasing the seat assembly to allow the seat assembly to pivot from the seating position to the tumbled position. The seat assembly further includes a blocking member (70) coupled between the seat back (20) and the locking latch (46) and operable in a first blocking position for engaging the seat back and preventing the locking latch from releasing from releasing from the latched position when the seat back is in the upright seating position. The blocking member (70) is also operable in a second blocking position for engaging the seat back in the folded position when the locking latch is in the unlatched position to prevent pivotal movement of the seat from the folded position to the upright seating position until the locking latch is returned to the latched position securing the seat assembly in the seating position.