Vehicle seat recline and impact control mechanism

An impact control mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seatback and a seat bottom pivotably connected together comprising:

• a deflection plate connected to said seatback, wherein said deflection plate is adapted to deflect when a force greater than a threshold level is applied to said seatback;
• a connecting arm;
• a release plate, wherein said connecting arm is attached at a first end to said deflection plate and at a second end to said release plate;
• and
• a crash latch;
• wherein deflection of said deflection plate causes said connecting arm to pivot said release plate;
• and
• wherein said pivoting of said release plate causes said crash latch to engage a seat support member, wherein said seat support member connects said seat to a vehicle;
• and
• wherein said seat support member includes a plurality of holes formed therein, said holes being adapted to receive a plurality of pins extending from said crash latch when said impact control mechanism is engaged.

A vehicle seat comprising:

• a seat bottom connected to a vehicle by a seat support member;
• a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom;
• a recliner mechanism for adjusting the angle between said seat back and said seat bottom, said recliner capable of substantially supporting, in a plurality of angled positions, said seat back relative to said seat bottom below a force acting on said seat back during normal operating loads;
• an impact control mechanism operatively connected to said seat back and said seat bottom, said impact control mechanism being operable between a disengaged position, wherein said impact control mechanism permits said seat back to move relative to said seat bottom, and an engaged position, wherein said impact control mechanism restrains said seat back from moving relative to said seat bottom;
• wherein said impact control mechanism is positioned on both sides of said vehicle seat.