Vehicle seating system with pivoting stop mechanism and method

A method for limiting the forward pivoting movement of a vehicle seat assembly comprising:

• providing a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat frame and a seat base having a width;
• mounting the seat base to a floor of the vehicle, the seat base having a first stop member at a first rearward position;
• mounting the seat frame to the seat base, the seat frame having one or more second stop members at one or more second rearward positions;
• and
• coupling the seat frame to the seat base such that the first and second stop members at the rearward positions allow a predetermined amount of angular rotation of the seat frame when the first and second stop members are not engaged and limit forward pivoting movement of the seat frame beyond a predetermined position when the first and second stop members are engaged.

A vehicle seat system comprising:

• a seat base for mounting to a vehicle;
• a seat frame for mounting to the seat base;
• a linking system for interconnecting the seat base to the seat frame, the seat frame being moveable relative to the seat base;
• an integrated seat belt restraint assembly mounted to the seat frame;
• and
• a first stop coupling the seat frame to the seat base for limiting forward pivoting movement of the seat frame beyond a predetermined maximum forward pivoting position upon application of loads to the seat frame above a predetermined level;
• and
• a tilt adjustment mechanism comprising a tilt adjustment member mounted to the seat base and a tilt latch mounted to the seat frame, the tilt adjustment member selectively engaging the tilt latch to set the seat frame to one of a predetermined number of tilt positions that are not beyond the predetermined maximum forward pivoting position.