Seat assembly with folding head restraint and method for folding same

A seat assembly, comprising:

• a seat back pivotable from an upright use position to a stowed position;
• a head restraint including first and second portions, each of the portions being movable from a respective upright use position to a respective stowed position, at least one of the portions being movable relative to the other one of the portions;
• a release mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the first and second portions from their respective upright use positions to their respective stowed positions;
• and
• an automatic return mechanism configured to automatically return the first and second portions from their respective stowed positions to their respective upright use positions when the seat back is pivoted from its stowed position to its upright use position.

A method for folding a seat assembly having a seat back and a head restraint including first and second portions, each of the portions including a respective contact surface for contacting an occupant of the seat assembly, the method comprising:

• pivoting the seat back from an upright use position to a stowed position;
• automatically folding the first portion of the head restraint from an upright use position to a stowed position, thereby rotating the contacts surface of the first portion from a forward-facing position to a non-forward position when the seat back is pivoted from its upright use position to its stowed position;
• and
• automatically folding the second portion of the head restraint from an upright use position to a stowed position, thereby rotating the contacts surface of the second portion from a forward facing position to a non-forward position when the seat back is pivoted from its upright use position to its stowed position.

A seat assembly, comprising:

• a seat back;
• a head restraint including first and second portions, each of the portions being movable from a respective upright use position to a respective stowed position, at least one of the portions being movable relative to the other one of the portions, and each of the portions including a respective contact surface for contacting an occupant of the seat assembly;
• at least one pin for maintaining the first portion in its upright use position;
• at least one pin for maintaining the second portion in its upright use position;
• and
• a release mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the first and second portions from their respective upright use positions to their respective stowed positions, the release mechanism including at least one electric motor configured to facilitate linear movement of the pins, thereby releasing the first and second portions from their respective upright use positions.