RELEASE MECHANISM FOR A RECLINING SEAT ASSEMBLY

1 . A seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back that is supported for movement relative to the seat bottom;

a support member that extends from the seat back; and

a release mechanism that is supported on the seat back for rotation about the support member, wherein rotation of the release mechanism is adapted to release the seat back for movement relative to the seat bottom.

2 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member supports a head restraint relative to the seat back.

3 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member is mounted for movement relative to the seat back.

4 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member extends through an opening that is formed in an external surface of the seat back.

5 . The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the release mechanism extends through the opening that is formed in the seat back for the support member.

6 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism includes an aperture extending therethrough and the support member extends through the aperture.

7 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat back includes a seat frame disposed within an internal region thereof and the release mechanism is supported for rotation on the seat frame.

8 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism includes a disk that is supported for rotation about the support member.

9 . The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the disk includes an aperture extending therethrough and the support member extends through the aperture.

10 . The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the release mechanism includes a housing that is supported on the seat back and the disk is supported for rotation within the housing.

11 . The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the release mechanism further includes a release lever that extends from the disk for rotation relative to the support member.

12 . The seat assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support member extends through an opening that is formed in an external surface of the seat back, and the disk is disposed within an internal region of the seat back such that a portion of the lever extends through the opening.

13 . A seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back that is supported for movement relative to the seat bottom;

a support member that extends from the seat back through an opening formed in an external surface of the seat back; and

a release mechanism that is supported on the seat back, the release mechanism including a housing that is disposed within an internal region of the seat back, a disk that is supported within the housing for rotation about the support member, and a release lever that extends from the disk through the opening formed in the external surface of the seat back, wherein rotation of the release lever is adapted to release the seat back for movement relative to the seat bottom.

14 . A seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back that is supported for movement relative to the seat bottom;

a reclining mechanism that is disposed between the seat bottom and the seat back to facilitate movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom a support member that extends from the seat back;

a release mechanism that is supported on the seat back for rotation about the support member; and

a linkage that extends from the release mechanism to the reclining mechanism, wherein rotation of the release mechanism is adapted to operate the reclining mechanism.

15 . The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the support member extends through an opening formed in an external surface of the seat back, and a portion of the release mechanism extends through the opening.