Tailgate support assembly with push-button release

Abstract

A seating apparatus is provided including a seating member and a support mechanism. The seating member is pivotable between a first seating position and a second seating position. The support mechanism is attached to the seating member. The support mechanism is operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The support mechanism is adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle to support the seating member in the second seating position.

1 - 2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The seating apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said support mechanism includes a support arm at least partially disposed in a housing.  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The seating apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a biasing member biasing said support mechanism into said extended position and a locking mechanism for locking said support mechanism in said retracted position.  
   
   
       6 . The seating apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said locking mechanism selectively engages a locking surface of said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The seating apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said locking mechanism is disposed between said support arm and said biasing member.  
   
   
       8 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The seating apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said support mechanism includes a support arm at least partially disposed in a housing.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The seating apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a biasing member biasing said support mechanism into said extended position and a locking mechanism for locking said supporting mechanism in said retracted position.  
   
   
       13 . The seating apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said locking mechanism selectively engages a locking surface of said housing.  
   
   
       14 . The seating apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said locking mechanism is disposed between said support arm and said biasing member.  
   
   
       15 .- 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The seating apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said first seating member and said second seating member are rotated approximately ninety degrees from said first seating position to said second seating position.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The seating apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said first seating member and said second seating member are rotated approximately ninety degrees from said first seating position to said second seating position.  
   
   
       20 . A seating apparatus comprising: 
 a first seating member operating as a seatback in a first seating position and operating as a seat bottom in a second seating position;    a second seating member operating as a seat bottom in said first seating position and operating as a seatback in said second seating position, said second seating member pivoting with said first seating member about a fixed pivot between said first seating position and said second seating position; and    a support mechanism selectively extending from an end of said first seating member opposite said fixed pivot to support said first seating member in said second seating position.    
   
   
       21 . A seating apparatus comprising: 
 a first seating member and a second seating member pivotal together about a fixed pivot between a first seating position and a second seating position and a support mechanism selectively extendable from an end of one of said first seating member and said second seating member opposite said fixed pivot to retain the seating apparatus in one of said first seating position and said second seating position.    
   
   
       22 . The seating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said support arm extends from said housing to an extended position to support said first seating member in said second seating position and retracts generally within said housing to a retracted position when said first seating member is in said first seating position.  
   
   
       23 . The seating apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said support arm extends from said housing to an extended position to support said one of said first seating member and second seating member in said one of said first seating position and said second seating position and retracts generally within said housing to a retracted position when said one of said first seating member and said second seating member is in the other of said first seating position and said second seating position.