Patents Examined by Timothy J Brindley
  • Patent number: 11731547
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle seat having a legrest with a seat cushion function, which may mount a legrest on a back portion of a front seatback to be deployable such that a passenger seated on a rear seat may place and support a calf and a foot on the deployed legrest, and recline a front seatback forward to use the deployed legrest as a seat cushion on which the passenger may be seated while facing a passenger seated on the rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, DAS Co Ltd
    Inventors: Sang Ho Kim, Dong Woo Jeong, Seon Chae Na, Dong Man Lee
  • Patent number: 11724628
    Abstract: A vehicle seat capable of exhibiting both performances of regulating an input of a load and reducing vibration is provided. One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle seat including a coupling structure coupling a first member and a second member. The coupling structure includes a bolt inserted through the first member and the second member, an auxiliary member arranged so as to hold the first member between the auxiliary member and the second member in an axial direction of the bolt, a first elastic element arranged between the first member and the second member in the axial direction, the first elastic element being in contact with the first member and the second member, and a second elastic element arranged between the first member and the auxiliary member in the axial direction, the second elastic element being in contact with the first member and the auxiliary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kumazaki, Koji Kimura, Yoshihiro Motoi, Katsuhiko Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11718206
    Abstract: A drive bush configured to circumferentially rotate and drive a pair of wedge members in an eccentric space includes a cylindrical portion rotatably supported inside a boss portion of an internal tooth constituting member, a flange portion integrally formed at a first end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion so as to face one side surface side of the wedge members, and a pushing portion integrally provided on the outer peripheral side of the flange portion, and configured to release a wedge effect by circumferentially pushing the wedge members. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion is integrally formed with a wall portion, and the wall portion is formed with, in the middle thereof, a female spline teeth meshing with the output shaft of a motor. The cylindrical portion, the wall portion including the female spline teeth and the flange portion have substantially the same thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TF-METAL Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihisa Oishi
  • Patent number: 11718214
    Abstract: A modular seat assembly includes a seat frame, a modular seat component for engaging the seat frame including a mounting bracket, a cable routed towards the frame and engaged with the mounting bracket, and a cable tensioning system. The cable tensioning system is configured to tighten the cable into a tensioned state and release the cable into a slacked state. In the tensioned state, the modular seat component is secured to the seat frame via engagement of the cable with the mounting bracket, and in the slacked state, the modular seat component is releasable from the cable via disengagement of the cable from the respective mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Abdella, Arjun Yetukuri, Joshua Hallock, Brandon Landry
  • Patent number: 11718211
    Abstract: A vehicle seat on which an occupant of a vehicle is seated, includes: a cover covering a seat frame, a wire harness routed inside the cover, and a flexible wrapping member attached to the seat frame and wrapping a part of the wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Hashimoto, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 11712987
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat frame configured so that the weight of the frame can be reduced while the strength of a portion of the frame can be ensured. A vehicle seat frame F includes a frame member molded from a high tensile strength steel plate. A metal structure of a portion of the frame member is a structure formed according to one or more conditions upon a thermal treatment performed on the frame member, and the strength of the portion is different from those of other portions of the frame member. For example, the portion of the frame member includes a high strength portion with a higher strength than those of the other portions. Moreover, the portion of the frame member includes, for example, a low strength portion with a lower strength than those of the other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norifumi Hashimoto, Shintaro Mochizuki, Mitsuru Sueki
  • Patent number: 11697365
    Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat base and/or a seat back. The seat back may be connected to the seat base. The seat back may include a back panel having a plurality of external support members disposed in a grid configuration. The back panel may include a first portion, a second portion, and/or a third portion. The third portion may connect the second portion to the first portion. A method of assembling a seat assembly may include connecting the back panel with the seat back, and/or connecting the seat back to the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Rochelle Kirzhner
  • Patent number: 11679701
    Abstract: A passenger seat for a passenger vehicle including but not limited to an aircraft may include a seat base, a seat back, and an energy absorption system. The energy absorption system is spherically coupled to the seat base and spherically coupled to the seat back, and includes a dampening member and a support assembly. The dampening member is movable relative to the support assembly responsive to a load applied on the seat back such that engagement between the support assembly and the dampening member dampens the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Nahum Madrid, Solomon Livingston, Francisco Salcedo, Christopher Stewart, Kevin Waters
  • Patent number: 11678746
    Abstract: A chair foot attachment for improving focus is a flexible hollow member having a height with side walls defining bottom edges of the hollow member and having an upper wall with a cavity extending downwardly into the hollow member from the upper wall. The cavity extends only partially into the hollow member and defines a cavity height that is less than the height of the hollow member. The cavity has an upwardly facing bottom surface for abutting a bottom of a chair foot when the chair foot is installed in the cavity. When a chair foot is positioned in the cavity, it permits an associated chair to wobble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Bouncyband LLC
    Inventors: Stephen G. Wampold, Douglas F. Melville
  • Patent number: 11679707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inbuilt seat leg support and a seat. The seat leg support is mounted in a seat. The seat includes a base frame and a cushion frame located above the base frame. A receiving space is formed between the base frame and the cushion frame. The seat leg support includes a leg support frame configured to be received in the receiving space. The leg support frame is movable and adjustable relative to the cushion frame. Movement and adjustment of the leg support frame cause the leg support frame to extend out of the receiving space to be in an extended state or to retract into the receiving space to be in a received state. According to the present invention, a receiving space for a leg support frame is reserved between a base frame and a cushion frame, and the leg support frame is disposed to be movable so that the leg support frame can be received in the receiving space when not in use. Receiving a leg support in a seat causes the present invention to be space-saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Yanfeng Adient Seating Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Yu, Aihua Mao, Yin Zhang, Jialin Du, Jia Cao
  • Patent number: 11679883
    Abstract: A headrest adjusting bracket surrounds posts from the headrest. A screw displaces one side of the bracket to apply a frictional force to the headrest posts. Protrusions on the interior surface of the bracket, proximal to each post, increases the surface area contact between the bracket and the posts when the screw is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Anthony Calvillo Reveley, Keith M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11679700
    Abstract: A seat (1) for transport vehicles with an articulated frame (2) capable of moving and changing shape between a neutral position N and a comfort position C, which comprises a headrest portion (21) mechanically linked by means of a connector (22) to a connection area of a backrest portion (23) that changes the height position thereof as the frame (2) moves from the neutral position N to the comfort position C thereof, the connector (22) being suitable for this change in height position to be transmitted, by means of mechanical drag, to the headrest portion (21), the headrest portion (21) being mechanically linked by means of an upper guide unit (31) of a guide system to the chassis (4) which is configured such that the inclination of both the headrest portion (21) and the backrest portion (23) increase the inclination thereof with respect to the vertical as the frame (2) moves from the neutral position N to the comfort position C thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FABRICACION ASIENTOS VEHICULOS INDUSTRIALES, S.A.
    Inventor: Vicenzo Silipo
  • Patent number: 11672347
    Abstract: A chair back and seat assembly is revealed. The assembly includes a seat base having an assembly recess with two long locking hole on two side walls, and a back support which includes a connection portion on one end and a driving member at the connection portion and connected with locking bars of the connection portion. During assembly, a pull plate of the driving member is pushed by a recess opening of the assembly recess when the connection portion of the back support is mounted into the recess opening of the assembly recess. Thus the driving member is moved backward and driving the two pre-retracted locking bars to be protruding and further locked by the locking holes of the assembly recess. Thereby the assembly is completed easily and conveniently. The design also prevents the seat base and the back support from unexpected loosening while seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Comfordy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ling Wu
  • Patent number: 11673622
    Abstract: A seat post assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube movably disposed upwards and downwards in the outer tube. A bushing has an upper sleeve disposed on the top end of the outer tube and penetrated by the inner tube, and a lower sleeve movably mounted upwards and downwards on the inner tube. A connecting structure is disposed to the bushing for enabling the lower sleeve to be connected with the upper sleeve and moved along the axial direction of the outer tube relative to the upper sleeve. Further, the connecting structure allows the position of the lower sleeve relative to a protrusion of the inner tube to be adjustable. As such, when the bottom end of the lower sleeve is abutted against the protrusion of the inner tube, the inner tube cannot be raised to achieve the effect of adjusting the total height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: J.D COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-An Lin
  • Patent number: 11673497
    Abstract: A connecting element for a vehicle seat includes a body on which a backrest and a seat cushion of the seat are intended to be mounted. The body has a first edge and at least a first through slot extending longitudinally along a first direction from the first edge and defining a first inner end. The connecting element further includes a first bridge extending along at least a portion of the first edge opposite the first slot, with the first bridge having a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Bernard Denis, Sabrina Serra, Larry Narison, Gabrielle Hennequart
  • Patent number: 11673491
    Abstract: Proposed is a support driver for a seat and a support assembly including the same. The support driver is configured to operate within a limited space while supporting an occupant comfortably and safely. The support assembly has a structure in which the links push the central portion of the cushion in close contact therewith while remaining in intersection with each other. Advantageously, the links are able to push the cushion with a minimum amount of power within a limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, Gun Young Park, Jin Oh Kim, Jun Kyu Park, Jeon Il Kang
  • Patent number: 11667316
    Abstract: A backrest adjusting mechanism disposed between a backrest tube and a frame of an infant carrier is disclosed. The backrest adjusting mechanism includes an outer cover, an inner cover, a driving member, a locking member, and an operating member. The outer cover is fixed at the frame. The inner cover is connected to the backrest tube and pivoted to the outer cover via a pivot shaft. The driving member is movably disposed between the outer cover and the inner cover. The locking member is movably disposed on the driving member. The operating member is connected to the driving member for driving the driving member to move between a first position and a second position. Switching of the driving member between the first position and the second position drives the locking member to selectively lock or release the outer cover and the inner cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: HaiTao Wu
  • Patent number: 11660990
    Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle seat includes: a support panel made of an elastic material and supporting the user's lumbar vertebra; a first guide rod supporting the support panel; a second link bracket fastened to the first guide rod to be movable up and down; a first link bracket disposed under the second link bracket to be movable up and down with respect to the second link bracket, and having an operation block providing a supporting force to the lumbar vertebra; a first rotary screw vertically extending, thread-fastened to the first link bracket, and moving up and down the first link bracket by rotating about a longitudinal axis; and a second rotary screw vertically extending, thread-fastened to the second link bracket, and moving up and down the second link bracket by rotating about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GUMCHANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Yel Song, Hai Tai Choi, Chae Sung Song, Se Gil Shin, Sung Su Park, Sang Ho Lee, Man Gi Lee, Se Jong Kim, Yong Choi, Young Jin Hong
  • Patent number: 11660987
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat having a seat back that can be folded forward, in which the buckle is prevented from interfering with the seat back when the seat back is folded forward. A seat cushion frame rotatably attached to the seat back frame includes a pair of side frames extending in a fore and aft direction, a front frame extending between front parts of the side frames, and a rear frame extending between rear parts of the side frames and provided with a curved portion protruding forward in a middle part thereof. A buckle support arm is located behind the curved portion, the curved portion being dimensioned so as not to interfere with the buckle when the buckle support arm is in a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazaki, Shigekazu Otake
  • Patent number: 11654806
    Abstract: A cushion support member 41 includes: a lower region 42 whose left-right full width is less than an interval between a pair of side frames 14 of a seat back frame 12; an upper region 45 located above the lower region 42 and having a left-right full width greater than the lower region 42. the upper region 45 is divided into a central region 46 including a central part in the left-right direction and provided with a predetermined left-right width, and outer regions 47 provided on outer sides with respect to the central region 46 in the left-right direction, and the central region 46 is arranged as a retracted region which is cut off to leave the outer regions 47 or is recessed to a side opposite to a cushion member with respect to the outer regions 47.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Ishihara