Seat Assembly Having a Folding Seat Bottom and Head Restraint

Abstract

A seat assembly having a seat bottom, a seat back, and a head restraint assembly. The head restraint assembly may be disposed on the seat back and may move from a first position to a second position when the seat bottom is rotated about a first axis of rotation with respect to the seat back.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seat assembly comprising:
 a seat mounting bracket;   a seat bottom disposed proximate the seat mounting bracket and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;   a seat back disposed proximate the seat bottom;   a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back and configured to move between a first position and a second position;   wherein the head restraint assembly moves from the first position to the second position when the seat bottom is rotated about the first axis of rotation with respect to the seat back.   
     
     
         2 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seat back rotates toward the seat bottom when the seat bottom is rotated toward the seat back. 
     
     
         3 . The seat assembly of  claim 2  wherein the seat back is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The seat assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first axis of rotation is spaced apart from and disposed below the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The seat assembly of  claim 3  wherein the second axis of rotation moves with respect to the first axis of rotation when the seat bottom is folded toward the seat back. 
     
     
         6 . The seat assembly of  claim 3  further comprising an L-shaped bracket that is disposed on the seat back, wherein the L-shaped bracket is coupled to the mounting bracket with a mounting feature that is disposed along the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the head restraint assembly rotates about a third axis of rotation toward the seat bottom when the head restraint assembly moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the head restraint assembly includes a headrest, wherein the headrest is spaced apart from a top of the seat back when in the first position and wherein the headrest engages the top of the seat back in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . A seat assembly comprising:
 a seat mounting bracket;   a seat bottom having a seat bottom frame that is rotatably disposed on the seat mounting bracket and that includes a cam;   a seat back having a seat back frame that is disposed on the seat bottom frame;   a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back frame that is configured to move between a first position and a second position; and   an actuator unit disposed on the seat back frame;   wherein the head restraint assembly moves from the first position to the second position when the seat bottom is rotated with respect to the seat back and the cam actuates the actuator unit.   
     
     
         10 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein the seat bottom frame is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the seat back frame is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The seat assembly of  claim 10  wherein the cam is fixedly disposed along the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein the actuator unit includes a lever and a linkage that has a first end disposed on the lever and a second end that engages the head restraint assembly, wherein the lever is coupled to the seat back frame and configured to rotate about a lever axis of rotation and wherein the cam rotates the lever when the seat bottom is folded toward the seat back. 
     
     
         13 . The seat assembly of  claim 12  wherein the lever includes a convex portion having an apex, wherein the head restraint assembly moves from the first position toward the second position when the cam is disposed proximate the apex. 
     
     
         14 . The seat assembly of  claim 13  wherein the lever includes a concave portion disposed adjacent to the convex portion, wherein the lever is disposed proximate the concave portion after the head restraint assembly moves from the first position toward the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein the actuator unit includes a switch coupled to the seat back frame and an electrical machine disposed in a headrest of the head restraint assembly, wherein the electrical machine permits the head restraint assembly to move from the first position to the second position when the seat bottom is rotated toward the seat back such that the cam closes the switch. 
     
     
         16 . A seat assembly comprising:
 a seat mounting bracket;   a seat bottom having a seat bottom frame disposed on the seat mounting bracket and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;   a seat back disposed on the seat bottom frame; and   a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back and configured to move between a first position and a second position;   wherein the head restraint assembly moves from the first position to the second position when the seat bottom is rotated about the first axis of rotation toward the seat back.   
     
     
         17 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein the head restraint assembly does not move from the second position to the first position when the seat bottom is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the seat back. 
     
     
         18 . The seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein the seat is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation, wherein the seat back rotates about the second axis of rotation toward the seat bottom when the seat bottom is rotated about the first axis of rotation toward the seat back. 
     
     
         19 . The seat assembly of  claim 18  wherein the seat back rotates about the second axis of rotation away from the seat bottom when the seat bottom is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the seat back. 
     
     
         20 . The seat assembly of  claim 18  wherein the second axis of rotation moves with respect to the first axis of rotation when the seat bottom is rotated with respect to the seat mounting bracket.