Patents Examined by Timothy J Brindley
  • Patent number: 11850977
    Abstract: A device for folding a seat may include: a lower arm stopper fixed to a predetermined radial position with respect to a reclining hinge shaft of a seatback as a center; a lock plate configured to rotate about a rotation shaft as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; and a folding link limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback with respect to a folding hinge shaft, as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft, by being released from being hooked to the lock plate according to the rotation of the lock plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, DAYOU A-TECH CO., LTD., DAEWON PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD, HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Uk Yu, Seok Hwan Kim, Seon Hyeok Lee, Sung Young Bok, Seon Chae Na, Hae Won Lee, Ui Bo Shim, Dae Keon Jang, Ji Sung Bae
  • Patent number: 11849848
    Abstract: An adjustable fully upholstered chaise recliner is provided. The chaise comprises a stationary outer frame coupled to a platform. The platform is configured to move between a first position and a second position while the outer frame remains stationary. A cushion is coupled to the platform and is fully upholstered to the platform such that a cover material encloses the cushion and the platform. Movement of the platform causes one or more bending portions of the cushion to bend. The chaise further comprises one or more cords, each extending through the cushion with a first end coupled to the cover material and a second end coupled to the platform. The cords are configured to pull on the cover material such that movement of the platform from the first position to the second position does not result in bunching of the cover material near the bending portions of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Era Nouveau, LLC
    Inventor: John S. Contreras
  • Patent number: 11845364
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat main frame including a seat back attached to the seat main frame. The vehicle seat assembly also includes left and right side members in which each side member defines an outboard seat back bolster and an armrest. The armrest has a forward attachment bracket for attachment to the seat main frame. The vehicle seat assembly also includes a seat base including a seat base frame attached to the seat main frame and left and right corner cover members separate from the respective left and right side members and the seat base. Each corner cover member is adapted to cover the forward attachment bracket of the corresponding side member. Further, the left and right corner cover members conceal the attachment of the left and right side members to the seat main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Suzuki, Fernando M. Rosero, Eric D. Daume
  • Patent number: 11844438
    Abstract: A method of hygienically and aesthetically preparing a seat uses a seat cover having a 100% natural fiber top-side and a non-slip vinyl/polymer backing layer. The seat cover can be attached to a pocket for convenient and hygienic storage when not in use. The seat cover may include one or more straps on its bottom side for securing the seat cover to a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Eva Forte
  • Patent number: 11845371
    Abstract: A seatback and/or a seat cushion has left and right side frames arranged spaced apart in a left-right direction, and wire laid between the left and right side frames. The wire extends substantially in parallel to the side frames. A pad is placed on the side frames and the wire. The pad includes a first pad layer on the side of a seating surface, and a second pad layer on a side of the pad opposite to the seating surface. The second pad layer is harder than the first pad layer. The second lad layer is supported while being in contact with the side frames and the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Hayashi, Satoshi Tanaka, Takuya Kitano, Shotaro Minamiyama, Jun Miyake
  • Patent number: 11845370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat part frame and a seat depth adjustment with a seat depth adjustment element, the seat depth adjustment element being displaceable relative to the seat part frame, wherein a first connecting element is provided and designed to connect the seat depth adjustment element to the seat part frame and to guide the seat depth adjustment element relative to the seat part frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GRAMMER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Konstantin Lorey, Michael Klemm
  • Patent number: 11833946
    Abstract: A backrest of a vehicle seat, comprising a backrest frame, comprising a first lateral flank, a second lateral flank, an upper crossmember, a lower crossmember. The backrest further comprises a seat belt anchoring means support frame, comprising two upper tubes, each extending through a separate through-hole formed in the upper crossmember, so as to extend, at least partially, above the upper crossmember, a lower tube, positioned near the lower crossmember of the backrest frame, and fixed to at least one lateral flank of the backrest frame, at least one connecting tube connecting at least one upper tube to the lower tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Frédéric Pinto, Anne-Isabelle Mallet-Da Costa, Joël Canteleux
  • Patent number: 11834121
    Abstract: A dropper post assembly can include an outer tube and an inner tube with a lower end that is within the outer tube and include a tube engagement. A spring cartridge assembly can include: a cartridge tube providing a cylinder; a piston movably received within the cylinder to provide a first chamber a lower side of the piston and a second chamber between the piston; a cartridge rod; and a second engagement member configured to releasably engage the tube engagement member thereby fastening the cartridge tube to the lower end of the inner tube so that the cartridge tube is axially fixed to the inner tube and movable with the inner tube relative to the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: D3 Innovation Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Staples
  • Patent number: 11825955
    Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a base member, and an integrally formed support member coupled to the base member and supporting a seat moveable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein a portion of the support member is bendable as the seat moves from the upright position to the reclined position such that a first side of the support member is put in tension and a second side generally opposite the first side is put in compression, and wherein the first side includes a tensile substrate so that the first side has as higher modulus of elasticity than the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, Michael J. Kemen
  • Patent number: 11819141
    Abstract: An infant highchair includes a standing frame including a support platform, a seat pivotally connected with the standing frame and having a seating surface, and a locking mechanism operable to lock the seat in position. The seat is rotatable between a first and a second position, the first position allowing a child to sit in contact with the seating surface, and the second position being suitable to receive installation of a removable child seat over the seat while disabling seating of a child on the seating surface, the seating surface moving around the support platform when the seat rotates relative to the standing frame, the second position of the seat uncovering the support platform so that a removable child seat is installable over the seat at least partially supported in contact with the support platform. The locking mechanism is operable to lock the seat in the first and second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Jonathan K. Mountz, Nathanael Saint
  • Patent number: 11820268
    Abstract: A lumbar adjuster for use in a vehicle seat and including a wire frame, a lumbar mat, an adjustment mechanism, and an arbor. The wire frame configured to be fixed to a backrest and including a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion and a transverse portion extending therebetween. The lumbar mat configured to face towards a backrest cushion when the lumbar adjuster is assembled to the vehicle seat. The adjustment mechanism connected to and configured to move along the first and second lateral portions and including a lever arm and a gear train operatively connected to and operable to articulate the lever arm to move a portion of the lumbar mat towards and away from the backrest cushion. The arbor connected to the transverse portion of the wire frame and the adjustment mechanism to fix the adjustment mechanism relative to the transverse portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Leo Ioppolo, Richard Mohr, III, Matthew Sinke
  • Patent number: 11820258
    Abstract: A structural component may have a flexible structure with at least one adjusting mechanism, which may be formed at least from a plurality of folded elements or lever elements and spacing elements that are coupled to one another in such a way that their upper surfaces are connected to one another by an upper flat element and their lower surfaces are connected to one another by a lower flat element. The upper flat element and the lower flat element may be configured to be moved in a defined manner in the event of a tilting movement of the flexible structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Bahr, Thomas Frotz, Rudolf Wilhelm Hemmelrath
  • Patent number: 11819137
    Abstract: A chair comprises a seat pan member, a seat back member having a lumbar support member, a lumbar support assembly operatively connected to the lumbar support member and configured for moving the lumbar support member, with respect to the seat pan member and the seat back member, between at least a first position and a second position, and an actuator configured to operate the lumbar support assembly for movement of the lumbar support member between at least the first position and the second position. When the lumbar support member is in the second position, the lumbar support member is positioned forwardly, in a direction toward the seated user's lower back, relative to the seat back member so as to enable the user to be seated forwardly on the seat pan member while being engaged with the lumbar support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: FELLOWES, INC.
    Inventors: Tai Hoon K. Matlin, James Waring, Shawn Applegate, Steven James Barnaby, Jr., Peter Maletich, John Fellowes
  • Patent number: 11812868
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating furniture protection which may be easily installed and removed are disclosed. The stored furniture protection may be designed to function as decorative items for the furniture such as pillows, bolsters and the like. In some examples, the stored furniture protection may take a form as a pillow and then when unfolded may form a lightweight impermeable cover for the furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Jacob Flitsch
  • Patent number: 11813969
    Abstract: An improvement to foldable headrests remote actuators by providing a tube mounted spring compensator to facilitate movement between a stowage position and an operating position. The spring compensator is inserted concentrically within the hollow tubes that support the adjustable headrests to boost or compensate for the lack of force routinely experienced under cold weather use or aging of materials. The spring compensator is positioned inside the headrest support tube to help pull the cable up through the seat when the seat and headrest are returned from a stowage position to a passenger seating position. The spring compensator inside the headrest support tube allows the use of a smaller torsion spring in the headrest and reduces the stress on the components in the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Joseph Gordon Cahill, Gerhard Delling
  • Patent number: 11805911
    Abstract: A kit of parts, shippable to an end user in boxes for assembly of the parts by the end user into seating furniture, includes seat bases and seat backs removably attachable to the seat bases; a first armrest with a channel connector having a first channel for slidably receiving a first slide member of a first seat base for securing the first armrest and the first seat base together; and a second armrest with at least a second slide member for slidable insertion into a second channel of another channel connector of a second seat base for securing the second armrest and the second seat base together. Each channel connector secured to the first seat base has a third channel for receiving a third slide member of a slide connector of any other seat base for securing together said other seat base and the first seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SOFAWEB.COM INC.
    Inventors: Jordan Milberg, Matthew Milberg
  • Patent number: 11801777
    Abstract: A load support apparatus for a lumbar support assembly is proposed, in which reinforcing ribs are arranged on a lateral surface and a front surface of a concave portion, the load support apparatus maintaining bearing power for supporting an occupant and having a reduced weight. The load support apparatus includes a main support unit including a main plate formed in the shape of a plate, a concave portion formed by one portion of the main plate protruding backward, with a groove being formed in front of the concave portion, and a rib portion formed by protruding from the main plate toward the groove or backward from the main plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, Gun Young Park, Jin Oh Kim, Tae Hong Han
  • Patent number: 11794615
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat having a backrest and a seat part and an adjustable sidewall arranged on the backrest and/or the seat part, which sidewall comprises an adjustment mechanism having a stationary portion and a lever portion pivotable about a pivot axis, and having at least one fluid-fillable bladder arranged between the stationary portion and the lever portion for adjusting the relative angular position thereof, wherein the lever portion comprises two wing portions which are arranged on either side of the pivot axis, and the bladder is arranged between a first wing portion and the stationary portion, wherein a preload torsion spring engages by a first spring portion on the stationary portion, and engages by a second spring portion on the second wing portion, of the lever portion, such that it exerts a preload force which pushes the first spring portion in the direction of the stationary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Piotr Ceglarek, Slawomir Filip, Tomasz Stasinski, Jérémie Therry
  • Patent number: 11794614
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion provided with a seat cushion frame, a front link configured to adjust a height of the seat cushion with respect to a base that is a slide rail or a vehicle body floor, and a front load detection sensor attached to an upper rail and configured to detect a load applied to the vehicle seat. The seat cushion frame includes a pair of side frames separated from each other in a seat width direction, the front link includes a first rotation shaft configured to be rotatable with respect to the seat cushion frame and a second rotation shaft configured to be rotatable with respect to the base, and the front load detection sensor is arranged at a position different from the second rotation shaft in a front to back direction of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto Aoki, Tadanori Masuda, Kei Okuma, Hidetsune Nonaka
  • Patent number: 11779116
    Abstract: Furniture entertainment hubs are disclosed that are integrated in a piece of furniture to conveniently control the piece of furniture, while at the same time providing a convenient means of communicating with and charging a remote smart device such as a smart phone or tablet. The entertainment hubs can be in many different locations in the piece of furniture, with some embodiments embedded in an armrest with the hub having a touch screen accessible at the top surface of the armrest. The entertainment hub provides a sleek, aesthetic and easy to mechanism for controlling the chair/sofa and interfacing with remote devices. One embodiment of an entertainment hub for a seating apparatus comprising a body with a plurality of planar surfaces, wherein one of said plurality of surfaces comprises a substantially flat control panel. The control panel comprises a plurality of visual touch buttons, a remote device wireless charging pad, and a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ABBYSON LIVING LLC
    Inventor: Rodd Rafieha