Seatback latch release mechanism with safety capture

A seat hinge assembly, comprising:

• a support;
• an arm pivotally supported by said support;
• a locking arrangement supported by said support for selectively locking said arm in first and second positions;
• a member operable between first and second positions of rotation for selectively actuating said locking arrangement;
• and
• a latch release mechanism comprising:
• a latch plate fixed for rotation with said member;
• a first pin extending from said latch plate;
• a cam plate pivotally supported by the support plate and including a cam edge in selective sliding contact with said first pin;
• a second pin extending from said cam plate and in selective sliding contact with an edge of said latch plate;
• wherein said cam plate is rotatable through a first range in which said first pin slidably engages said cam edge to provide a first torque for rotating said latch plate and said member from said first position;
• and
• wherein said cam plate transitions from said first range to a second range on which said first pin disengages said cam edge and said second pin slidably engages said edge of said latch plate to provide a second torque for rotating said latch plate and said member to said second position.

A release mechanism for use in conjunction with seat hinge assembly, the release mechanism comprising:

• a latch plate fixed for rotation with a pivot and rotatable between a first position and a second position;
• a first pin extending from said latch plate;
• a cam plate pivotally supported by about an axis and including a cam edge in selective sliding contact with said first pin;
• a second pin extending from said cam plate and in selective sliding contact with an edge of said latch plate;
• and
• wherein said cam plate further includes a seat recess for retaining said first pin when said latch plate is in said first position, whereby rotation of the member, absent concurrent rotation of said cam plate, is prohibited.