Stadium seat having a split back recliner and a vehicle including a stadium seat having a split back recliner

1. A stadium seat, comprising:

a cushion; and

a seat back structure including a first seat back structure frame directly coupled to a second seat back structure frame by a first pivot connection, and a third seat back structure frame coupled to said second seat back structure frame by a second pivot connection, said third seat back structure frame coupled to said cushion, said second seat back structure frame being arranged between said first seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame, said third seat back structure frame being arranged between said cushion and said second seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame is movable between a locked state and a released state, wherein said third seat back structure frame is configured to move in a rearward direction away from said cushion relative to said cushion and said first seat back structure frame when said second seat back structure frame moves from said locked state to said released state, wherein said first seat back structure frame is not movable relative to a stadium seat support structure, wherein said stadium seat support structure extends upwardly from a floor and said third seat back structure frame and said cushion are rotatably coupled relative to the floor, and wherein said first seat back structure frame is spaced apart from and not directly coupled to said third seat back structure frame.

2. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

an actuator; and

a locking/unlocking mechanism connected to said actuator, wherein said first seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame are movable when said actuator is actuated to adjust said seat back structure from a forward seat back position to a rearward seat back position, said first seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame defining a planar frame configuration in said forward seat back position, said first seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame defining a non-planar frame configuration in said rearward seat back structure position.

3. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said seat back structure comprises a planar user contact surface in said forward seat back position, said seat back structure having a non-planar user contact surface in said rearward seat back position.

4. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said seat back structure comprises one of a one-piece panel and a plurality of foam segments.

5. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said cushion is mounted for movement such that said cushion is movable from a use position to a stadium position, said cushion extending in a horizontal direction in said use position, said cushion extending in a vertical direction in said stadium position.

6. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first seat back structure frame is arranged in an upper area of said seat back structure, said second seat back structure frame extending between said first seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame.

7. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a locking element having a plurality of first teeth, said first seat back structure frame comprising a plurality of second teeth, said first teeth engaging said second teeth to lock said first seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame in a fixed position.

8. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said first teeth are located at a spaced location and disengaged from said second teeth when said actuator is operated such that at least said second seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame are movable relative to each other.

9. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said seat back structure is incrementally adjustable when said actuator is actuated.

10. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a portion of said first seat structure frame is configured to selectively cooperate with a locking/unlocking mechanism disposed adjacent said second seat structure frame.

11. A stadium seat, comprising:

a cushion;

a seat back frame comprising a first seat back frame portion, a second seat back frame portion and a third seat back frame portion, said second seat back frame portion being arranged between said first seat back frame portion and said third seat back frame portion, said third seat back frame portion being arranged between said cushion and said second seat back frame portion, said first seat back frame portion directly coupled to said second seat back frame portion, and said third seat back frame portion coupled to said second seat back frame portion, said third seat back frame portion coupled to said cushion, wherein said first seat back frame portion is not movable relative to a stadium seat support structure, wherein said stadium seat support structure extends upwardly from a floor and said third seat back frame portion and said cushion are rotatably coupled relative to the floor, and wherein said first seat back frame portion is spaced apart from and not directly coupled to said third seat back frame portion;

a seat back user support structure connected to said seat back frame;

an actuator; and

a locking/unlocking mechanism connected to said seat back frame, said actuator actuating said locking/unlocking mechanism such that said locking/unlocking mechanism changes from a locking state to an unlocking state when said actuator is actuated, wherein a contour of said seat back user support structure changes when said actuator is actuated, wherein said second seat back frame portion rotates relative to said first seat back frame portion when loaded and said third seat back frame portion rotates relative to said cushion in a rearward direction away from said cushion when said locking/unlocking mechanism changes from said locking state to said unlocking state.

12. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said third seat back frame portion is configured to move relative to said first seat back frame portion in said unlocking state, wherein said third seat back frame portion goes to a reclined position in said unlocking state when loaded.

13. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said seat back user support structure moves from a forward seat back position to a rearward seat back position when said actuator is in said unlocking state.

14. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said seat back user support structure comprises a planar occupant contact surface in said forward seat back position, said seat back user support structure having a non-planar occupant contact surface in said rearward seat back position.

15. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said first seat back frame portion comprises a stadium seat support structure contact surface for contacting said stadium seat support structure located in said rearward direction of said stadium seat.

16. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a locking element, said locking element comprising a plurality of first teeth, said first seat back frame portion comprising a plurality of second teeth, said first teeth engaging said second teeth in said locked state, said first teeth being located at a spaced location from said second teeth in said unlocked state.

17. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said actuator is configured to release said locking element from a motion driving said seat back frame to a stadium position such that a biasing element drives said seat back frame to a planar position.

18. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said seat back structure is incrementally adjustable when said actuator is actuated.

19. The stadium seat in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said seat back user support structure comprises one of a one-piece panel and a plurality of foam segments.

20. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion; and

a stadium seat including a first seat back structure frame directly coupled to a second seat back structure frame by a first pivot connection, and a third seat back structure frame coupled to said second seat back structure frame by a second pivot connection, said third seat back structure frame coupled to said cushion, said second seat back structure frame being arranged between said first seat back structure frame and said third seat back structure frame, said third seat back structure frame being arranged between said cushion and said second seat back structure frame, said second seat back structure frame is movable between a locked state and a released state, wherein said third seat back structure frame is configured to move in a rearward direction away from said cushion relative to said cushion and said first seat back structure frame when said second seat back structure frame moves from said locked state to said released state, wherein said first seat back structure frame is not movable relative to a vehicle seat support structure, wherein said stadium seat support structure extends upwardly from a floor and said third seat back structure frame and said cushion are rotatably coupled relative to the floor, and wherein said first seat back structure frame is spaced apart from and not directly coupled to said third seat back structure frame.