Patents Examined by Timothy J Brindley
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11654992
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Reform Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Perreten, Aaron Brown, Dylan Schuetze, Thomas Edstrand
  • Patent number: 11654801
    Abstract: An electric lock for a fold-down seat of a motor vehicle is situated inside a housing. The lock includes a locking means, a blocking element, a transmission lever attached to the blocking element so as to move it between a position of blocking the locking means in the catch retention position and a position in which it is effaced with respect to the movement of the locking means. The lock includes an actuator comprising an electric motor, the actuator being able to move the transmission lever. The transmission lever of the lock is able to move about an axis of rotation and has two arms extending radially from the axis, the first arm at its end having a handle and the second arm at its end having a means of attachment to the blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: U-SHIN FRANCE
    Inventor: Jerry Godard
  • Patent number: 11649002
    Abstract: A seat post assembly includes a seat post that is electrically adjustable in height. The adjustability may be based on one or more pressures sensed by one or more sensors within the seat post assembly, respectively. The disclosed seat post assembly includes an electronics module. The electronics module may be carried under the seat or saddle and may include a pressure sensor or pressure sensor circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan, Sage Hahn
  • Patent number: 11649003
    Abstract: A control device including an electronic controller for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control an adjusting device that is configured to adjust a seat height of the human-powered vehicle upon determining the human-powered vehicle is being stopped while traveling uphill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Shahana, Yuta Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11643045
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt device including: a buckle that is positioned so as to face a corner formed by a seat cushion and a seat back those constitute a rear center seat, and to which a tang of a seat belt is detachably attached; a webbing that connects the buckle to a lower floor; a loop portion formed on a side surface part of the buckle; and a first band that is inserted into the loop portion, is engaged with the buckle at one extending end, and is fixed to the seat back at the other end, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Kimura, Yusuke Ogata, Mitsuru Nakano, Hiroaki Azumi, Hidenori Watanabe, Kenta Oguma, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11639125
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first frame with a guide member extending outwardly along a first axis. A second frame has a second guide member extending outwardly. One of the first and second guide members is received in translation along the first axis by the other of the first and second guide members to connect the second frame to the first frame. A first locking element is engaged to couple the first frame to the second frame and limit translational movement of the first frame relative to the second frame. A method of assembling a seat assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Blair, Matthew Wholihan, Joshua Hallock, David Abdella
  • Patent number: 11628755
    Abstract: A lever assembly includes a lever housing attached to a seat back of a vehicle seat. The lever assembly includes a bracket attached to the lever housing, and the bracket includes a bracket opening. The lever assembly includes a lever bezel including a bezel opening, the lever bezel is received in the lever housing, and the bezel opening aligns with the bracket opening. The lever assembly includes a lever pivotally mounted to the level bezel and a clip received in the bezel opening and the bracket opening to secure the lever bezel to the lever housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumihiko Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 11628752
    Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Patent number: 11628753
    Abstract: A seat frame includes a cushion frame, a back frame, a recliner plate, a bracket arranged to be in contact with a side surface of each cushion side frame, a nut, an end nut, a bolt, and an end bolt. The bracket includes a nut fixing portion and a pipe fixing portion. The bolt is fixed to the nut in a state of being inserted through a bolt hole and a bolt insertion hole. The end bolt is fixed to the end nut in a state of being inserted through an end bolt hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimiyasu Kurokawa, Yoshiyuki Kumazaki, Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11623552
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a seatback frame adapted to be mounted to a vehicle interior. The seatback frame has a front region facing a forward direction, and a rear region. A first bracket is mounted to the front region of the seatback frame. A second bracket is mounted to the first bracket and the rear region of the seatback frame. At least one head restraint post is mounted to the first bracket or the second bracket and spaced apart from the seatback frame so that upon a rear vehicle impact, the second bracket deforms as the at least one head restraint post is translated toward the seatback frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Pistilli, Florian Gerbl, Marvin Kokott, Tino Schneider, Rajdeep Rajput, Gopal Gangurde, Michael Schuhbauer, Alexej Niederhaus, Arunkumar Boda, Mathias Busch
  • Patent number: 11623547
    Abstract: A vehicle seat configured to accommodate at least two users, comprising a base, and a seating portion frame comprising at least two seating areas, a first and a second backrest which are pivotally hinged to the base, wherein the seat further comprises a connection system connecting the first backrest to the seating portion frame, configured so that the pivoting of the first backrest relative to the base causes the simultaneous movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base, and wherein the second width portion of the seating portion frame is connected to the base, by means of a connection mechanism, configured to enable movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base during the movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA SiƩges d'Automobile
    Inventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid
  • Patent number: 11623546
    Abstract: A seat switch device performing an operation on the component of a vehicle seat according to the present invention includes an operation unit attached in a movable manner so as to be located at a plurality of operation positions. The operation unit is configured to accept an operation input when the operation unit is located at each of the operation positions as an operation on each of the component of the seat for the vehicle located corresponding to a positional relation of the operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO DENSO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hajime Yamada
  • Patent number: 11613361
    Abstract: A vertical adjustment system for an aircraft seat is disclosed. The vertical adjustment system may include an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly may include an actuator configured to provide a vertical height adjustment for the aircraft seat. The actuation assembly may include a release mechanism configured to couple to a rotatory portion of the swivel plate. The actuation assembly may include a plurality of vertical stabilizer rods coupled to a portion of the tracking plate. The actuation assembly may include a pillow block assembly. The pillow block assembly may include a plurality of pillow blocks coupled to a portion of the swivel plate. The pillow block assembly may include a plurality of rollers coupled to a portion of the plurality of pillow blocks. The plurality of rollers may be configured to provide stability along the vertical stabilizer rods when the actuator provides the vertical height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Arjun Koustubhan, Michael L. Oleson
  • Patent number: 11612251
    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: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Abbyson Living, LLC
    Inventor: Rodd Rafieha
  • Patent number: 11612530
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of wheelchairs and has been designed for the measurement of parameters for the adjustment of a seated position of the user. It relates to a device for the simulation of a seated position in a wheelchair, which includes a seat backrest (1) adjustable horizontally, vertically and during its reclination, two side seat pans (27) with armrests (3) with adjustable distance, a foldable seat pan (2) with adjustable reclination, two wheels (4) with adjustable horizontal and vertical position, and a footrest (5) with adjustable vertical position and its reclination, at least one electric motor or an electric piston (15) for the adjustment of the position of the adjustable components, an electronic circuit with special software for the control of the motors and the display of the measurements, as well as a virtual reality software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Dimitrios Gkaintatzis
  • Patent number: 11607975
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (11) includes a seat frame (22a) having an opening (46) in a plate-shaped part (43), and an actuator (31) mounted on the plate-shaped part (43). Accordingly, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat that further contributes to quietness in the interior of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Inose, Kensuke Mizoi
  • Patent number: 11607049
    Abstract: A seat panel for assembly into a rear surface of a seat assembly includes a light assembly which generates task lighting directed to a task area and of sufficient brightness to be useful in performing a task within the task area. The light assembly is selectively actuable to emit light through an aperture defined by the seat panel in a defined light pattern to illuminate a recessed space in the seat panel. The seat assembly when configured as a forward seat assembly of a vehicle provides task lighting for a passenger seated rearward of the forward seat assembly, to illuminate a task area which can include one or more of the exterior surface of the seat panel, a leg space between the forward seat assembly and the passenger's seat assembly, and/or a seat space generally including a portion of the upper leg and/or lap area of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Century Plastics, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11607976
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a housing plate and a recliner heart. The housing plate includes a plate body. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seat back and a seat bottom, and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The housing plate includes a fore end proximate a front of the seat bottom and an aft end opposing the fore end and proximate a rear end of the seat bottom. The plate body includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom at or near the aft end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph L. Schmitz, Sapan M. Poptani, Christopher J. Ryan