Thin profile folding vehicle seat

A folding mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat base, comprising:

• a support plate;
• an upper member having a first end operatively connected to the seat back and a second end including a first plurality of teeth, the upper member connected to the support plate via a first pin member and movable relative an axis defined by the first pin member, the upper member further including a first abutment surface adjacent the first plurality of teeth for limiting the movement of the upper member relative the first pin member;
• and
• a lower member having a first end operatively connected to one of a plurality of support leg members and a second end including a second plurality of teeth for engaging the first plurality of teeth, the lower member connected to the support plate via a second pin member and movable relative an axis defined by the second pin member,
• wherein the first plurality of teeth continuously engage the second plurality of teeth such that movement of the upper member causes synchronous movement of the lower member between a design position and a stow position.

A vehicle seat, comprising:

• a seat back;
• a seat base operatively connected to the seat back;
• a plurality of support leg members coupled to the seat base;
• and
• first and second folding mechanisms for interconnecting the seat back, the seat base, and the plurality of support leg members, each folding mechanism comprising:
• a support plate operatively connected to the seat base;
• an upper member operatively connected to the seat back and movable relative a first pin member, the upper member including a first abutment surface for limiting the movement of the upper member relative an axis defined by the first pin member;
• a lower member operatively connected to one of the plurality of support leg members, the lower member connected to the support plate via a second pin member and movable relative an axis defined by the second pin member;
• and
• means for continuously engaging the upper member with the lower member such that movement of the upper member causes synchronous movement of the lower member between a design position and a stow position.