FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENT RULES, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A SEAT ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
APPLICANT(S)
MAGNA AUTOMOTIVE INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
An Indian Company
Om Chambers, 701, T-29/31,
Bhosari Industrial Estate,
Bhosari, Maharashtra
Pune – 411 026, India.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to seats for motor vehicles, and particularly to a rear body structure comprising a seat with a common pivot construction between seatback, seat cushion, and hockey stick.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The need for improved systems within the car seat has been increasing continuously. In many instances, a seat will be located with its backrest directly adjacent a wall of the cabin (or a wall in the cabin or to the parts of the cabin) and configured as either a “stadium” type seat where the seatback (backrest) can be folded to an upright, stowed condition, or the seat and back assembly can be shifted forward in a “slouch” configuration. The slouch seat configuration provide a seatback with a lower portion that slides forward as the upper portion slides downwardly. This typically also includes a forward movement of the cushion (seat base). In a conventional seat, the recliner (pivot fitting) would be placed at the bottom of the seatback and the seatback rotates rearward about the pivot fitting. Although prior art movable seatback designs work reasonably well, but they tend to use various components such as excessive seatback striker rod, guiding elements, unnecessary/additional bars, latches, strikers, pivots, recliners, etc. Therefore, there is a need for free standing seat without excessive components such as seatback striker rod and unnecessary/additional bars, latches, strikers, pivots, recliners, etc.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to provide seat with a common pivot construction between seatback, seat cushion, and hockey stick.

[0004] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide free standing seat
without excessive components such as seatback striker rod and
unnecessary/additional bars, latches, pivots, recliners, etc.
[0005] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide seatback orientation
controlled using a slot in guide bracket.
[0006] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide slouch function with
independent seatback fold feature.
[0007] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide slouch and or
seatback fold function using mechanical locking devices or power operated
motor(s).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect object is satisfied by providing a seat assembly for a vehicle. The seat assembly comprising a seatback, a first recliner bracket pivotally connected to the seatback, a recliner pivotally connected to a second recliner bracket, a hockey stick assembly pivotally connected to the seatback and the first recliner bracket through the recliner and the second recliner bracket, a cushion bracket of a cushion seat pivotally connected to the hockey stick assembly and the second bracket assembly through a free pivot joint, a recliner release lever provided to operate the recliner for folding of the seatback, and a towel bar to slide the cushion seat on a track, wherein the cushion bracket and the hockey stick assembly slide along with the track.
[0009] In an embodiment, the first recliner bracket and the second recliner bracket are pivotally connected together by a synchronization rod. These can also be connected using cable connection.

[0010] In an embodiment, the hockey stick assembly is guided to travel in a slot bracket such that the seatback is actuated to move from a design seating position to a slouch position.
[0011] In an embodiment, the towel bar is actuated to unlock the track which to slides the cushion seat forward on the track such that along with the cushion bracket and the hockey stick assembly slide forward along with the track. The hockey stick bracket pivotally connected with cushion bracket is guided in a slot for adjusting the seat to the slouch position.
[0012] In an embodiment, the recliner is actuated to unlocked condition and the track is actuated in locked or unlocked condition for lowering the seatback from a design seating position to a seat fold position.
[0013] In an embodiment, the track comprises a power track to slide the cushion seat on a power track, wherein the cushion bracket and the hockey stick assembly slide along with the power track.
[0014] In an embodiment, the seat assembly comprises a recliner lever to fold the seatback.
[0015] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] This connector is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout
which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description
with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a seat assembly for a vehicle, according to embodiments
as disclosed herein;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates operation of recliner lever to fold seatback, according to
embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0019] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly, a free
pivot between recliner bracket and cushion bracket, recliner configurations-single
sided or dual sided, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates another sectional view of the seat assembly, according to
embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a design position and a slouch position of the seat
assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0022] FIG. 6a illustrates a seat fold position from the design position, according
to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0023] FIG. 6b illustrates a seat fold position from the slouch position, according
to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates seat/track incremental travels to or from the slouch
position, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are

omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The term “or” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0026] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings. Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0027] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 7, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a seat assembly (100) for a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The seat assembly (100) comprising a seatback (1), a first recliner bracket (2), a recliner (3), a second recliner bracket (4), a cushion bracket (5), a synchronization rod (6), a hockey stick assembly (7), a slot bracket (8), a track (9), a recliner lever (10), can be mounted at different locations in the seat, a recliner release lever (11), and a towel bar (12). The first recliner bracket (2) is pivotally connected to the seatback (1). The recliner (3) pivotally connected to the second recliner bracket (4). The hockey stick assembly (7) pivotally connected

to the seatback (1) and the first recliner bracket (2) through the recliner (3) and the second recliner bracket (4). The cushion bracket (5) of a cushion seat pivotally connected to the hockey stick assembly (7) and the second bracket assembly (4) through a free pivot joint. The recliner release lever (11) provided to operate the recliner (3) for folding of the seatback (1). Further, the towel bar (12) to slide the cushion seat on the track (9). The cushion bracket (5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) slide along with the track (9).
[0029] Unlike the conventional seats, a common pivot construction is provided between the seatback, the seat cushion, and the hockey stick. The proposed seat can free stand without excessive components such as seatback striker rod and unnecessary/additional bars, latches, stickers, pivots, recliners, etc. Conventional systems uses 4 bar linkage mechanism in either seatback or cushion seat and the seatback high latch for seatback locking. The proposed seat does not use any seatback latch for locking the seatback and or to assist slouch function. Also the seatback is freely pivoted at recliner joint.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates operation of the recliner lever (10) to fold the seatback (1), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As shown in the FIG. 2, the recliner lever (10) is actuated in a direction (13) to fold the seatback (1) and the towel bar (12) is actuated in a direction (14) to form the slouch position. Unlike the conventional seat, the seatback (1) and the first recliner bracket (2) is connected to the hockey stick assembly (7) through the recliner (3) and the second recliner bracket (4) as shown in the FIG. 3a the hockey stick assembly (7) and the second recliner bracket (4) are connected with the cushion bracket (5) through the free pivot joint. When the towel bar (12) is operated, the track (9) allows seat to slide forward. The cushion bracket (5), the hockey stick assembly (7) can slide along with the track (9). The hockey stick assembly (7) is guided to travel in the slot bracket (8) such that it rotates the seatback (1) and provides the slouch position.

[0031] In an embodiment, the first recliner bracket (2) and the second recliner bracket (4) are pivotally connected together by a synchronization rod (6) as shown in the FIG. 3b. Alternately, a single side recliner can be between the first recliner bracket (2) and the second recliner bracket (4) as shown in the FIG. 3c. Two recliners can be also connected using cable connection as an option.
[0032] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrates sectional views (15 and 16) of the seat assembly (100) and FIG. 3C indicates a free pivot (17) between the recliner (4) bracket and the cushion bracket (5), according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates another sectional view (18) of the seat assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the track (9) comprises a power track (13) to slide the cushion seat on a power track (13), wherein the cushion bracket (5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) slide along with the power track (13). When the power track is operated, the seat allowed to slide forward. The cushion bracket (5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) can slide along with the track (13) such that the hockey stick assembly (7) is guided to travel in the slot bracket (8) to rotate the seat back (1) and provide the slouch position.
[0034] Unlike the conventional seatback, the proposed seatback orientation is controlled using a slot in the guide bracket (8). The slouch function with independent seatback fold feature as shown in the FIG. 5. The FIG. 5 illustrates a design position (19) and a slouch position (20) of the seat assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As shown in the FIG 5, the seat back (1) rotates around the free pivot (17) & moves along X-axis (indicated at 21) with a of Torso 25 Degree in the design position 19. In order to achive the slouch position (20) of the seat assembly (100), the seat is slided in forward direction (indicated at 22). This increases the torso angel up to 32 degree while maintaining a body-in-white (BIW) limit (23).

[0035] FIG. 6a illustrates a seat fold position (20) from the design position with an angle of 8.5 degrees and FIG. 6b illustrates a seat fold position (24) from the slouch position with an angle of 16 degrees, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the hockey stick assembly (7) is guided to travel in the slot bracket (8) such that the seatback (1) is actuated to move from the design seating position to the slouch position. The towel bar is actuated to unlock the track (9) which slides the cushion seat forward along with the cushion bracket (5), and wherein a hockey stick bracket pivotally connected with the cushion bracket (5) is guided in a slot for adjusting the cushion seat to the slouch position.
[0036] The recliner (3) is actuated in locked condition and the track (9) is actuated in unlocked condition for reclining the seatback (1) in the slouch position. The towel bar (12) is actuated to slide the cushion seat on the track (9) such that the cushion bracket (5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) slide forward along with the track (9). In an embodiment, the recliner (3) is actuated to unlocked condition and the track (9) is actuated in locked or unlocked condition for lowering the seatback (1) from a design seating position to a seat fold position.
[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates seat/track travel to form the incremental slouch positions, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For example, when the seat is slides over the track (9) in forward direction (26), the hockey stick assembly (7) travel into slot bracket (27) during the in design position (28), the mid position (29) and the slouch position (30) as shown in the FIG. 7 .
[0038] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within

the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

We Claim:
1. A seat assembly (100) for a vehicle, comprising:
a seatback (1);
a first recliner bracket (2) pivotally connected to the seatback (1);
a recliner (3) pivotally connected to a second recliner bracket (4);
a hockey stick assembly (7) pivotally connected to the seatback (1) and the first
recliner bracket (2) through the recliner (3) and the second recliner bracket (4);
a cushion bracket (5) of a cushion seat pivotally connected to the hockey stick
assembly (7) and the second bracket assembly (4) through a free pivot joint;
a recliner release lever (11) provided to operate the recliner (3) for folding of the
seatback (1); and
a towel bar (12) to slide the cushion seat on a track (9), wherein the cushion bracket
(5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) slide along with the track (9).
2. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first recliner bracket (2) and the second recliner bracket (4) are pivotally connected together by a synchronization rod (6).
3. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hockey stick assembly (7) is guided to travel in a slot bracket (8) such that the seatback (1) is actuated to move from a design seating position to a slouch position.
4. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the towel bar is actuated to unlock the track (9) which slides the cushion seat forward along with the cushion bracket (5), and wherein a hockey stick bracket pivotally connected with the cushion bracket (5) is guided in a slot for adjusting the cushion seat to the slouch position.

5. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recliner (3) is actuated to unlocked condition and the track (9) is actuated in locked or unlocked condition for lowering the seatback (1) from a design seating position to a seat fold position.
6. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track (9) comprises a power track (13) to slide the cushion seat on a power track (13), wherein the cushion bracket (5) and the hockey stick assembly (7) slide along with the power track (13).
7. The seat assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a recliner lever
(10) to fold the seatback (1).