CN115352329A

CN115352329A - Seat assembly for vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN115352329A
Application number: CN202210533759.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·库马尔; V·昂格尔; A·H·肯杰勒
Original assignee: Andotop Usa Co ltd
Current assignee: Andotop Usa Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-17
Filing date: 2022-05-16
Publication date: 2022-11-18

Abstract

A seat assembly (100) for a vehicle is described. The seat assembly (100) is selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position, and maximizes occupant comfort and cabin space of the vehicle. The seat assembly (100) includes a seat cushion (102) mounted on a cushion frame (104) of the vehicle, and a back frame (106) coupled with the seat cushion (102) by a linkage (108) in such a manner that movement of the seat cushion (102) relative to the cushion frame (104) causes the back frame (106) to simultaneously rotate to enhance comfort of an occupant seated on the seat cushion (102). The seat assembly (100) includes a back frame lock mechanism (110), the back frame lock mechanism (110) along with a linkage mechanism (108) allowing the back frame (106) to fold over the seat cushion (102) to maximize storage space in the cabin of the vehicle.

Description

Seat assembly for vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a seat assembly for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a seat assembly that is selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position.

Background

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be considered prior art merely because it was mentioned in the background section. Similarly, the problems mentioned in the background section are related to the subject matter of the background section and should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which may themselves also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.

Automotive vehicles typically include a seat assembly having a seat cushion and a seat back for providing a comfortable seating surface for an occupant. In sedan type vehicles, compact Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) or other vehicles, the rear seat assembly is typically secured to the floor of the vehicle and the seat has limited adjustability due to limited space within the cargo compartment that interfaces with the cabin of such vehicles.

It is known to include a recliner assembly operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. Such recliner assemblies allow pivotal adjustment of the seat back between the use position and the rearward reclined position to provide comfort to an occupant of the seat. However, such recliner assemblies employ complex mechanisms that increase cost and space requirements. In addition, the use of such recliner assemblies typically requires more packaging space between adjacent seats and reduces the amount of storage space available behind the seat assembly. Such recliner assemblies allow the seat cushion and seat back to move simultaneously and often require complex mechanisms.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a seat assembly that is selectively movable between a design seat position, a reclined position, and a folded position while maximizing passenger comfort and cabin storage space.

Disclosure of Invention

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly for a vehicle wherein the seat assembly is selectively movable between a design seating position, a reclined position and a folded position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly for improving the comfort of an occupant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reliable and cost-effective seat assembly having a simple mechanism or function for transitioning between the design seating, reclined and folded positions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact seat assembly that maximizes cabin space usage for the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat assembly that utilizes components having a simple design to optimally reduce its materials, processes and costs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly that can be easily removed from the vehicle to maximize the cargo space of the vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to develop a seat assembly that may be capable of being retrofitted with conventional seat assemblies.

Summary of The Invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle that is selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position and maximizes occupant comfort and space in the cabin of the vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion coupled to a cushion frame; and a back frame coupled with the seat cushion by a link mechanism in such a manner that movement of the seat cushion relative to the cushion frame causes simultaneous rotation of the back frame to improve comfort of an occupant seated on the seat cushion. The seat assembly also includes a back frame locking mechanism that, in cooperation with the linkage mechanism, allows the back frame to fold over the seat cushion to maximize the storage or cargo space of the cabin of the vehicle. The reclined position corresponds to an adjustable recline position of the back frame synchronized with movement of the seat cushion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the backrest frame locking mechanism is capable of coupling/locking the backrest frame to a stationary part of the vehicle, i.e. a cabin of the vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat cushion is equipped with a slide and lock mechanism to control movement of the seat cushion relative to the cushion frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the backrest frame is fully folded over the seat cushion in the folded position of the seat assembly.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the back frame locking mechanism controls rotation of the back frame relative to the back frame rotation axis. During a transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly, the back frame locking mechanism locks the movement of the back frame such that the back frame rotates about the back frame rotation axis to provide a comfortable seating position for the occupant.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the back frame locking mechanism prevents the back frame from rotating relative to the back frame rotation axis when the lever of the back frame locking mechanism is in the engaged position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the back frame locking mechanism allows the back frame to rotate relative to the back frame rotation axis when the lever is in the disengaged position.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the back frame locking mechanism facilitates efficient transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat assembly is detachable from the seat cushion frame when the seat assembly is in the folded position. The seat assembly may be removed in the forward direction by full movement thereof relative to the seat cushion frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat assembly may include a soft lock to prevent the back frame on the seat cushion from rebounding or returning when the seat assembly is in the folded position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the link mechanism includes an inner side link and an outer side link each provided at a lateral end of the seat cushion and connecting the lateral end of the seat cushion and the seatback frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the seat cushion is provided with a torsion bar assembly connecting lateral ends of an attachment bracket secured to the seat cushion to prevent excessive free play/looseness of the inboard and outboard side links about an axis passing through their lower ends while maintaining proper tension in the linkage mechanism.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back frame locking mechanism includes a striker mounted to a top portion of the back frame, the striker including a lever actuated latch assembly adapted to couple or decouple a striker wire assembly secured to a cabin of the vehicle.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a seat assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2A to 2C illustrate various positions of a seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the sliding and locking mechanism of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a seat cushion of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back frame locking mechanism of a seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7A to 7C illustrate various perspective views configured to remove a seat assembly from a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a top view of a seat assembly removed from a fixed cushion frame of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 9A and 9B illustrate perspective views of a seat assembly provided with a soft lock to prevent inadvertent movement of a back frame of the seat assembly during movement of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

As used in the description herein, the meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in \8230; includes" in 823030and "over 8230, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The present invention relates to a seat assembly for a vehicle. The seat assembly is selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position and maximizes occupant comfort and storage or cargo space in the cabin of the vehicle. The seat assembly may be easily removed from the vehicle to maximize cargo space.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a seat assembly 100 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seat assembly 100 includes a seat cushion 102 mounted on a fixed cushion frame 104 of the vehicle and a back frame 106 coupled to the seat cushion 102 by a linkage 108. The back frame 106 is coupled with the seat cushion 102 in such a way that movement of the seat cushion 102 relative to the cushion frame 104 causes the back frame 106 to rotate simultaneously to improve the comfort of a person sitting on the seat cushion 102. The seat assembly 100 also includes a back frame locking mechanism 110 that, in cooperation with the linkage 108, allows the back frame 106 to fold over the seat cushion 102 to maximize the storage or cargo space of the cabin of the vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the seat cushion 102 may be equipped with a slide and lock mechanism 112 (best shown in fig. 4) to control the movement of the seat cushion 102 relative to the cushion frame 104. The slide and lock mechanism 112 may allow the seat cushion 102 to be positioned between the retracted position and the extended position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back frame lock mechanism 110 controls the rotation of the back frame 106 relative to the back frame rotation axis X1 when the lever of the back frame lock mechanism 110 is in the engaged position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back frame locking mechanism 110 may control the rotation of the back frame 106 onto the seat cushion 102. The back frame locking mechanism 110 may also facilitate efficient transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly 100.

Fig. 2A to 2C illustrate various positions of the seat assembly 100. The seat assembly 100 is selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position. As shown in fig. 2A, in the design position, the seat cushion 102 and the back frame 106 are in a retracted position. The retracted position of the seat cushion 102 corresponds to the rearwardmost position of the seat cushion 102, i.e. without any forward movement. The retracted position of the back frame 106 corresponds to a position of the back frame 106 at a predetermined retraction angle a from the vertical axis. In one embodiment, the predetermined retraction angle a may have a value in a range from 21 ° to 25 ° in the design position of the seat assembly 100.

As shown in fig. 2B, in the reclined position, the seat cushion 102 and back frame 106 are in an extended position. The extended position of the seat cushion 102 corresponds to a forward position of the seat cushion 102 that is achieved using the slide and lock mechanism 112. The slide and lock mechanism 112 allows the seat cushion 102 to move forward a predetermined distance relative to the cushion frame 104. In one embodiment, the slide and lock mechanism 112 may allow the seat cushion 102 to move forward relative to the cushion frame 104 in a range of 0 to 40mm. The extended position of the back frame 106 corresponds to a position where the back frame 106 is at a predetermined extension angle B from the vertical axis. In one embodiment, the predefined extension angle B may be in a range from 32 ° to 36 ° in the tilted position of the seat assembly 100. The transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly 100 enhances the comfort of an occupant seated on the seat cushion 102.

During the transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly 100, the back frame locking mechanism 110 may lock the movement of the back frame 106 such that the back frame 106 rotates about the back frame rotation axis X1 to provide a comfortable seating position for the occupant. The back frame locking mechanism 110 may lock the movement of the back frame 106 about an axis X3 (as best shown in fig. 1) passing through the top portion of the back frame 106. Further, during this transition, the slide and lock mechanism 112 enables movement of the seat cushion 102, which in turn enables simultaneous rotation of the back frame 106 about the back frame axis of rotation X1 to provide a desired comfort position for the occupant while occupying the seat assembly 100.

As shown in fig. 2C, in the folded position, the back frame 106 may be fully folded over the seat cushion 102 to maximize the space in the cabin of the vehicle. The back frame 106 may be folded onto the seat cushion 102 using a back frame locking mechanism 110. In one embodiment, when the lever of the back frame lock mechanism 110 (shown in fig. 6) is in the engaged position, the back frame lock mechanism 110 prevents the back frame 106 from rotating relative to the back frame rotation axis X1. Further, when the lever is in the disengaged position, the back frame locking mechanism 110 allows rotation of the back frame 106 relative to the back frame rotation axis X1. The folded position of the seat assembly 100 corresponds to a position where the back frame 106 covers the seat cushion 102 such that storage or cargo space in the cabin is increased.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back frame locking mechanism 110 may enable the back frame 106 to rotate relative to the back frame rotational axis X1 when the seat assembly 100 is in the design position, and may prevent the back frame 106 from rotating relative to the back frame rotational axis X1 when the seat assembly 100 is in the reclined position.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the seat assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The linkage 108 for coupling the seat cushion 102 with the back frame 106 may include an inner side link 302 and an outer side link 304, each disposed at a lateral end of the seat cushion 102 and connecting the lateral end of the seat cushion 102 and the back frame 106. The inboard side link 302 and the outboard side link 304 may be angled links, such as L-shaped links. In one embodiment, inboard side link 302 and outboard side link 304 may be elbow-shaped angled links, the angle of which may vary depending on the design requirements thereof.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the lower ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 may be secured with the lateral ends of the seat cushion 102. In one embodiment, the lower ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 may be fastened with the lateral ends of the seat cushion 102 using a rivet and bushing arrangement 306. In addition, a stopper 308 may be provided at a fastening position of the lower end portions of the inner and

outer side links

302 and 304 to limit rotation of the inner and

outer side links

302 and 304 with respect to an axis X2 (as clearly shown in fig. 1) corresponding to the lower end portions of the inner and

outer side links

302 and 304 to a predetermined degree.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 may be fastened with the lateral ends of the back frame 106. In one embodiment, the upper ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 may be fastened to the lateral ends of the back frame 106 using a screw and bolt arrangement 310. This configuration allows the back frame 106 to rotate about a back frame rotation axis X1 corresponding to a line connecting the lateral ends of the back frame 106 at the position where the upper ends of the inside side link 302 and the outside side link 304 are fastened.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the slide and lock mechanism 112 of the seat assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The slide and lock mechanism 112 controls movement of the seat cushion 102 relative to the cushion frame 104 between a retracted position and an extended position. The retracted position of the seat cushion 102 may correspond to the positioning of the seat cushion 102 in the design position of the seat assembly 100, i.e. when the seat cushion 102 is positioned on the cushion frame 104 of the vehicle without any forward movement. The extended position of the seat cushion 102 may correspond to the positioning of the seat cushion 102 in the tilted position of the seat assembly 100, i.e., when the seat cushion 102 is positioned on the cushion frame 104 with a predetermined forward movement. In an embodiment, the slide and lock mechanism 112 may enable a predetermined forward movement of the seat cushion 102 in the range of 0 to 40mm.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slide and lock mechanism 112 may include a lever 402 connected to a link 404, the link 404 being secured to a bottom surface of the seat cushion 102. Actuation of the lever 402 may enable the seat cushion 102 to move forward relative to the cushion frame 104 of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the lever 402 may be designed in such a way that upward movement of the lever 402 enables the seat cushion 102 to move forward. In addition, tabs 406 may be provided on both sides of the lever 402 to prevent lateral movement of the lever 402. Further, a limiting member 408 may be provided to limit the upward movement of the lever 402. The lever 402 may be adapted to move in 10mm increments to effect forward movement of the seat cushion 102 relative to the cushion frame 104 of the vehicle. The lever 402 may be a component, such as a metal lever, a pull strap, or the like, configured to provide leverage for pulling the seat cushion 102.

The slide and lock mechanism 112 may further include a lock guide 410, the lock guide 410 configured to couple with a slot provided on the seat cushion frame 104. The seat cushion 102 may include a plurality of slots 412 on a bottom surface thereof adapted to engage the locking guides 410 to enable the seat cushion 102 to move relative to the cushion frame 104 when the lever 402 is moved upward and pulled forward. The locking guides 410 engaged with the plurality of slots 412 of the seat cushion 102 may be coupled with the slots of the cushion frame 104 such that movement of the seat cushion 102 is limited to a predetermined range, e.g., 0 to 40mm. The locking guide 410 may be formed of plastic, metal, or alloy.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the seat cushion 102. As shown, the lever 402 of the slide and lock mechanism 112 may include a plurality of slots 502 for engaging a set of protrusions provided on the seat cushion frame 104. The lever 402 may be fastened to the seat cushion 102 using any fastening technique, such as bolting, riveting, etc. Further, the at least two slots 502 of the lever 402 may correspond to the retracted and extended positions of the seat cushion 102, respectively, and enable locking of the seat cushion 102 in the retracted and extended positions to enable transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly 100.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the plurality of slits 502 may correspond to a predetermined position of the seat cushion 102 such that locking of a particular slit 502 may allow an occupant to displace the seat cushion 102 to a corresponding position relative to the cushion frame 104. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of slits 502 is spaced 10mm from an adjacent slit. It will be appreciated that such a design of the slot 502 may be scalable or modular to allow discrete seat cushions to move, for example at 10mm intervals. While the seat assembly 100 and its components are simple and economical in operation, they can be scaled to achieve the reclining function on a multi-position latch as well.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the seat cushion 102 may be provided with an attachment bracket 504, the attachment bracket 504 being coupled to a rear portion of the seat cushion 102 to allow the lower ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 of the linkage 108 to be secured to the seat cushion 102. The seat cushion 102 may also be provided with a torsion bar assembly 506 that connects the lateral ends of the attachment bracket 504 to prevent excessive rotation of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 about the axis X2 passing through their lower ends while maintaining proper tension in the linkage 108. This configuration allows rotation of the back frame 106 about the back frame rotation axis X1 while preventing rotation of the back frame 106 about an axis X2, the axis X2 passing through the lower ends of the inner and

outer side links

302, 304 secured with the attachment bracket 504.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the seat cushion 102 and back frame 106 may be provided with a plurality of upholstery wire devices 508 to support cushioning material provided to cover the seat assembly 100.

Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the back frame locking mechanism 110 of the seat assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The back frame locking mechanism 110 includes a striker 602 mounted to a top portion of the back frame 106. The strike 602 can include a latch assembly 604 (hereinafter also referred to as a "high latch") that is actuated by a lever 606. The high latch 604 may be coupled with a striker wire assembly 608 that is fixed with the cabin of the vehicle or the vehicle environment to prevent movement of the top portion of the back frame 106 during the transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly 100. During such a transition, the back frame locking mechanism 110 locks the movement of the back frame 106 about an axis X3 corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the back frame 106 at the location where the high latch 604 is coupled with the striker wire assembly 608. The ram wire assembly 608 may include a wire adapted to couple or decouple the high latches 604 of the ram 602. The striker wire assembly 608 may have a sheet material including a plurality of slots adapted to be secured to a cabin of a vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, during the transition of the seat assembly 100 from the design position to the folded position, the lever 606 of the striker 602 may be actuated to disengage the latch assembly 604 from the striker wire assembly 608, allowing the top portion of the back frame 106 to move to enable the back frame 106 to fully rotate about the back frame axis of rotation X1. The lever 606 of the striker 602 may be actuated to enable the seatback frame 106 to rotate onto the seat cushion 102 to selectively transition from the design position to the folded position of the seat assembly 100.

Fig. 7A to 7C show perspective views of a seat assembly configured to be removed from a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. To maximize the cargo space of the cabin of the vehicle, the seat assembly 100 may be removed or detached from the fixed cushion frame 104 of the vehicle. To remove the seat assembly 100 from the seat cushion frame 104, the lever 402 may be moved upward to enable the seat cushion 102 to move forward relative to the seat cushion frame 104, as shown in fig. 7A. The seat cushion 102 may then be moved fully or fully forward and the high latch 604 may then be released. To release the high latch 604, as shown in fig. 6, the lever 606 of the striker 602 may be actuated to disengage the high latch 604 from the striker wire assembly 608 to allow the top portion of the back frame 106 to move and enable the back frame 106 to fully rotate about the back frame axis of rotation X1 to transition the seat assembly 100 to the folded position. Thereafter, the seat assembly 100 may be moved fully or completely forward relative to the cushion frame 104 until the plurality of slots 412 on the bottom surface of the seat cushion 102 disengage from the locking guides 410. In one embodiment, when the locking guides 410 engaged with the plurality of slots 412 of the seat cushion 102 are coupled with the slots of the cushion frame 104 to limit movement of the seat cushion 102 from 0 to 40mm, the seat assembly 100 may be moved 40mm in a forward direction relative to the cushion frame 104 to remove it from the cushion frame 104.

As shown in fig. 7B and 7C, each of the plurality of slots 412 located on the bottom surface of the seat cushion 102 may include an open space 702, the size of the open space 702 being larger than the size of the corresponding locking guide 410. During removal of the seat assembly 100, each of the lock guides 410 automatically moves into the open space 702 of the respective slot 412 when the seat assembly 100 in the folded position is moved forward to its maximum extent, i.e., the maximum limit distance of the seat cushion 102. To this end, the locking guide 410 is disengaged from the slot 412. In this case, the seat assembly 100 can be easily detached from the cushion frame 104 by simply detaching the seat assembly 100 from the cushion frame 104. Referring to fig. 8, the seat assembly 100 may be removed or extracted from the seat cushion frame 104 of the vehicle. The seat assembly 100 may even be removed from the vehicle to increase the cargo space of the vehicle.

Figures 9A and 9B illustrate perspective views of a seat assembly provided with a soft lock according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seat assembly 100 may include a soft lock 902 to prevent inadvertent locking or rebound of the back frame 106 on the seat cushion 102 due to movement of the vehicle when the seat assembly 100 is in the folded position. The soft lock 902 may include any one or combination of straps, limiters, straps, hooks, stops, and the like. As shown in fig. 9B, the soft lock 902 may include a strap 904 with a locking member 906 to prevent the back frame 106 on the seat cushion 102 from rebounding.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a seat assembly 100 for an automotive vehicle, the seat assembly 100 being selectively movable between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position and maximizing occupant comfort and storage or cargo space in the cabin of the vehicle. The seat assembly 100 is reliable, compact, and cost-effective, and includes a simple mechanism for transitioning between the design seating position, the reclined position, and the folded position. The seat assembly 100 enhances occupant comfort through the simultaneous movement of the seat cushion 102 and back frame 106 through a simple and inexpensive mechanism. The seat assembly 100 utilizes a seat cushion and back frame of simple design, thereby reducing the materials, processes and costs thereof. The seat assembly 100 can be retrofitted with conventional seating assemblies without requiring significant changes to the vehicle/environmental adaptations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the seat cushion 102, back frame 106, and other components of the seat assembly 100 shown in the figures are merely exemplary representations and may be adapted for use with any vehicle type and vehicle interface.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. However, such description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present units in any way. The structure thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which details may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A seat assembly (100) for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion (102) coupled with a cushion frame (104) of the vehicle;

a back frame (106) coupled with the seat cushion (102) by a linkage (108) such that the seat cushion (102) is movable relative to the cushion frame (104), the back frame (106) rotating simultaneously, the linkage (108) including an inner side link (302) and an outer side link (304) each disposed at a lateral end of the seat cushion (102) and connecting the lateral end of the seat cushion (102) and the back frame (106); and

a back frame locking mechanism (110) configured to enable folding of the back frame (106) over the seat cushion (102) for transitioning between a design position, a reclined position, and a folded position of the seat assembly (100), wherein

The back frame locking mechanism (110) controls rotation of the back frame (106) relative to a back frame rotation axis (X1) and locks movement of the back frame (106) to allow rotation of the back frame (106) about the back frame rotation axis (X1) during a transition between the design position and the reclined position of the seat assembly (100).

2. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the reclined position corresponds to an adjustable reclined position of the back frame (106) when the seat cushion (102) is moved simultaneously.

3. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein, in the folded position of the seat assembly (100), the back frame (106) is fully folded over the seat cushion (102).

4. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the back frame locking mechanism (110) is configured to couple the back frame (106) to a stationary component of the vehicle.

5. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion (102) includes a slide and lock mechanism (112) to control movement of the seat cushion (102) relative to the cushion frame (104).

6. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the back frame lock mechanism (110) is configured to prevent rotation of the back frame (106) relative to the back frame axis of rotation (X1) when a lever (606) of the back frame lock mechanism (110) is in an engaged position.

7. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the back frame locking mechanism (110) is configured to rotate the back frame (106) relative to the back frame axis of rotation (X1) when a lever (606) is in a disengaged position.

8. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the seat assembly (100) is detached from the seat cushion frame (104) by a complete movement of the seat assembly (100) relative to the seat cushion frame (104) when the seat assembly (100) is in the folded position.

9. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 further comprising a soft lock to prevent return of the back frame (106) on the seat cushion (102) when the seat assembly (100) is in the folded position.

10. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion (102) includes a torsion bar assembly (506) connecting lateral ends of an attachment bracket (504) secured to the seat cushion (102) to prevent excessive loosening of the inner (302) and outer (304) side links about an axis (X2) passing through their lower ends while maintaining tension in the linkage mechanism (108).

11. The seat assembly (100) of claim 1 wherein the back frame locking mechanism (110) includes a striker (602) mounted at a top portion of the back frame (106), the striker (602) including a lever actuated latch assembly (604) adapted to couple a striker wire assembly (604) secured with a stationary component of the vehicle.