A convertible seating unit (10, 12, 14, 50a, 50b, 54a, 58a, 58b, 62a, 62b) has at least one convertible seat (20, 56b, 60b, 64b, 80) with a back (30,86) and a bottom (32, 84). The back (30,86) and bottom (32, 84) may be positioned relative to each other in a first configuration to form a passenger seat. The back (30,86) and the bottom (32, 84) may also be positioned relative to each other in a second configuration to expose a space (48,88) accessible from behind and below the convertible seat (20, 56b, 60b, 64b, 80).

Provided is a vehicle-seat apparatus including: a front link whose upper end portion is connected to a front portion of a seat cushion; a sliding member connected to a lower end portion of the front link; a sliding guidance member installed on a bottom surface of the accommodation space to extend backward and forward and thus to guide linear backward and forward movements of the sliding member; an L-shaped main link whose front end portion is connected to a body of the front link and whose rear upper end portion is connected to a lower end portion of a seat back; a fixation bracket installed on an upper end portion of a rear wall of the accommodation space; and a rear support link whose front upper end portion is connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and whose rear lower end portion is connected to the fixation bracket.

An interlock mechanism prevents erroneous operation of a vehicle rear seat. The vehicle seat has a seat back rotatably coupled to a seat cushion. The interlock mechanism includes a handle pivot link, a latch pivot link, and an interlock bracket rotatably coupled to a pivot pin. When the seat back is in an upright position, the interlock bracket releasably couples the handle pivot link to the latch pivot link such that rotation of the handle pivot link rotates the latch pivot link causing the cushion latches to be released. When the seat back is folded towards the seat cushion, the interlock bracket is moved to an interlock position decoupling the handle pivot link and the latch pivot link such that rotating the handle pivot link does not rotate the latch pivot link and does not release the cushion latches.

A vehicle seat includes a conjunction mechanism and a locking mechanism. When a seat cushion is placed at a raised position, the conjunction mechanism causes an ottoman to be placed at a stored position closer to the seating surface relative to a standby position. The locking mechanism restricts movement of the ottoman when the seat cushion is placed at a seating position. The locking mechanism includes an anchoring portion, a traction cable, and a wound portion. In response to a change being made in an amount of winding of the traction cable around the wound portion due to the seat cushion being moved, anchoring of the ottoman by the anchoring portion and canceling of the anchoring are caused.

A latch mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a latch, a plate and a second cam. The latch is movable between a first position in which the latch is engaged with a striker and a second position in which the latch is disengaged from the striker. The plate defines an arcuate slot. The second cam is coupled to the plate and includes a body and a protrusion extending outwardly from the body. The protrusion is received in the arcuate slot and is configured to traverse the arcuate slot when the latch is in the first position.

A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom; a seat back pivotably coupled to the seat bottom; and a seat belt buckle assembly coupled to the seat bottom and the seat back and movable from a first configuration to a second configuration when the seat back is pivoted relative to the seat bottom such that the seat belt buckle assembly does not interfere with the seat back when the seat back is collapsed against the seat bottom. Optionally, the seat belt buckle assembly is translated downwards with respect to the seat bottom from the first configuration to the second configuration when the seat back is pivoted forwards relative to the seat bottom. Optionally, the seat belt buckle assembly is pivoted forwards with respect to the seat bottom from the first configuration to the second configuration when the seat back is pivoted forwards relative to the seat bottom.

An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.

Vehicle seat assemblies including support structures having at least two supports parts coupled at an articulating joint and a pneumatic actuator system including at least one pneumatic chamber inflated and deflated to articulate the articulating joint to move one support part relative to the other or to synchronize movement of two support parts. Support structures can include a backrest coupled to a seat bottom or leg rest coupled to a seat bottom, wherein articulation of the joint causes movement of the backrest or leg rest along a non-hinged trajectory to change a sitting position of the support structure, change seat orientation, and generally improve seat comfort.

A latch mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a latch, a plate and a second cam. The latch is movable between a first position in which the latch is engaged with a striker and a second position in which the latch is disengaged from the striker. The plate defines an arcuate slot. The second cam is coupled to the plate and includes a body and a protrusion extending outwardly from the body. The protrusion is received in the arcuate slot and is configured to traverse the arcuate slot when the latch is in the first position.

A vehicle seat that can suppress damage to an on-board object is provided. In each side frame of a cushion frame, an eccentric portion is eccentric outward in a right-left direction with respect to a base portion, and in each side frame of a back frame, an eccentric portion is eccentric inward in the right-left direction with respect to a base portion. Thus, when the load at the time of rear collision acts, each side frame of the cushion frame easily becomes deformed outward in the right-left direction, and each side frame of the back frame easily becomes deformed inward in the right-left direction. Accordingly, the deformation direction of each side frame of the cushion frame and the deformation direction of each side frame of the back frame can be easily made opposite to each other, and the deformations of the respective side frames and can be inhibited.