Patents by Inventor Bruce A Hiemstra
Bruce A Hiemstra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11718202Abstract: A back-rest pivot fitting for a seat, having at least a seat pan, a folding back-rest, which is pivotable coupled to the seat pan, and a pivot fitting. The pivot fitting may have at least a first fitting member which is fixed to the seat pan, a second fitting member, which is pivotable coupled to the first fitting member and which is fixed to the back-rest, a recliner heart and an adjustment member.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Adient US LLCInventors: Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael J. Leighton, Yannis Poulos, Diana Eblenkamp, Miodrag M. Petrovic, Falko Jähner, Sandeep Devadkar
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Publication number: 20220305958Abstract: A back-rest pivot fitting for a seat, having at least a seat pan, a folding back-rest, which is pivotable coupled to the seat pan, and a pivot fitting. The pivot fitting may have at least a first fitting member which is fixed to the seat pan, a second fitting member, which is pivotable coupled to the first fitting member and which is fixed to the back-rest, a recliner heart and an adjustment member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: Adient US LLCInventors: Bruce A. HIEMSTRA, Michael J. LEIGHTON, Yannis POULOS, Diana EBLENKAMP, Miodrag M. PETROVIC, Falko JÄHNER, Sandeep DEVADKAR
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Patent number: 10576847Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest and a track arrangement with a fixed track part and a moveable track part and with a lockable range to lock the seat and the moveable track part relative to the a fixed track part. A lockout mechanism locks the backrest in a forward position with the seat base in a non-lockable track range. The lockout mechanism includes a lockout catch member connected to the backrest and a lockout hook connected to the seat base, which is pivotable between a locked position, with the lockout hook engaging the lockout catch member, and an unlocked position. A blocker member is connected to the seat base and is pivotable between a blocking position, with the blocker engaging the lockout hook to maintain the lockout hook in the locked position and an open position, with the blocker not engaging the lockout hook.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à r.l.Inventors: Bruce Hiemstra, Yue Lang
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Patent number: 10150387Abstract: A mechanism for reclining the seat back of a seat. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat base is by a locking fixture that selectively locks and releases the seat back from the seat base. A return spring biases the seat back in the upright position and a handle in the area of the pivot point allows the operator/occupant to selectively control whether the seat back is locked or released. The return spring is mounted on an outside of the seat back and seat base, and is in the form of a coil spring. A stop element connects the handle to the locking fixture. The stop element is arranged radially inward of the coil spring. The stop element preferably has a large diameter portion with lugs interacting with the locking fixture, and has a smaller diameter portion arranged radially inward of the coil spring.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à.r.l.Inventors: Bruce Hiemstra, Scott Profozich
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Publication number: 20180215288Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest and a track arrangement with a fixed track part and a moveable track part and with a lockable range to lock the seat and the moveable track part relative to the a fixed track part. A lockout mechanism locks the backrest in a forward position with the seat base in a non-lockable track range. The lockout mechanism includes a lockout catch member connected to the backrest and a lockout hook connected to the seat base, which is pivotable between a locked position, with the lockout hook engaging the lockout catch member, and an unlocked position. A blocker member is connected to the seat base and is pivotable between a blocking position, with the blocker engaging the lockout hook to maintain the lockout hook in the locked position and an open position, with the blocker not engaging the lockout hook.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à. r. l.Inventors: Bruce HIEMSTRA, Yue LANG
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Patent number: 9868367Abstract: A latch for a vehicle seat may include a hooking component with a hook engagement surface, a first cam with a first cam engagement surface, and a second cam with a second cam engagement surface. The hooking component may be rotatable about a first axis and the first cam and the second cam may be rotatable about a second axis between an engaged position and an unengaged position. The hook engagement surface may contact at least one of the first cam engagement surface and the second cam engagement surface in the engaged position. One of the hook engagement surface or the first cam engagement surface may include a stepped surface extending incrementally from either the hook engagement surface or the first cam engagement surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Kyle M. Doxey, Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Publication number: 20170021743Abstract: A mechanism for reclining the seat back of a seat. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat base is by a locking fixture that selectively locks and releases the seat back from the seat base. A return spring biases the seat back in the upright position and a handle in the area of the pivot point allows the operator/occupant to selectively control whether the seat back is locked or released. The return spring is mounted on an outside of the seat back and seat base, and is in the form of a coil spring. A stop element connects the handle to the locking fixture. The stop element is arranged radially inward of the coil spring. The stop element preferably has a large diameter portion with lugs interacting with the locking fixture, and has a smaller diameter portion arranged radially inward of the coil spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Bruce HIEMSTRA, Scott PROFOZICH
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Publication number: 20160152161Abstract: A latch for a vehicle seat may include a hooking component with a hook engagement surface, a first cam with a first cam engagement surface, and a second cam with a second cam engagement surface. The hooking component may be rotatable about a first axis and the first cam and the second cam may be rotatable about a second axis between an engaged position and an unengaged position. The hook engagement surface may contact at least one of the first cam engagement surface and the second cam engagement surface in the engaged position. One of the hook engagement surface or the first cam engagement surface may include a stepped surface extending incrementally from either the hook engagement surface or the first cam engagement surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Kyle M. Doxey, Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 9346376Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use in connection with reclining a vehicle seat and a unitary cam and cam spring mount member.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 9205764Abstract: A recliner assembly for a vehicular seat of the type including a backrest hingedly connected to a seat base and capable of being reclined. The recliner assembly includes an outer gear and includes an internal teeth arranged circumferentially about an axis A. The assembly also includes an inner gear including at least one tooth engaging member selectively moveable into and out of engagement with the internal teeth of the outer gear. A retainer is attached to the outer gear in order to retain the inner gear from lateral movement along axis A. The retainer is configured for mounting to the outer gear and the inner gear is configured for mounting to at least one of a top plate and a base plate. The retainer, outer gear, and inner gears can be formed from a fine-blanked steel material and simply welded together to improve recliner strength while reducing assembly costs.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2009Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael R. Bittner, Ingo Kienke, Michael J. Kapusky, Kirubaharan Albert
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Patent number: 9079515Abstract: The adjustment device, also known as a recline mechanism, includes a sidemember that attaches to a vehicle seat having a uniform mounting surface allowing the attachment of a five-door as well as a three-door recline mechanism with a modular mounting plate without the need to have additional recline mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 8931842Abstract: An adjustment device for a seat and more particularly, a carrier in the adjustment device having anti-rock features and increased longevity and a method of forming the outer gear out of hardened steel without the need for heat treating.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael R. Bittner, Scott A. Profozich, Michael J. Kapusky
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Patent number: 8777316Abstract: A vehicle seat is movable between a first position and a second position and includes a scat back and seat cushion for coupling to a track adjuster for use in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a recliner mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a stow mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and an easy entry mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and stow mechanism, wherein, when the stow mechanism is actuated, the easy entry mechanism is not actuated and when the easy entry mechanism is actuated, the stow mechanism is not actuated.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Tamizharasan Shanmugam, Kurt Siebold, Paul Arthur Gilmore, David D. Sheill, Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Publication number: 20130207432Abstract: The adjustment device, also known as a recline mechanism, includes a sidemember that attaches to a vehicle seat having a uniform mounting surface allowing the attachment of a five-door as well as a three-door recline mechanism with a modular mounting plate without the need to have additional recline mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Publication number: 20120313416Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use in connection with reclining a vehicle seat and a unitary cam and cam spring mount member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 8240768Abstract: An adjustment device for a vehicle component, in particular for the back rest of a vehicle seat, is proposed having a first fitting and a second fitting, wherein the relative position of the two fittings to one another can be changed by means of eccentric means, wherein a rotation of the eccentric means by means of a drive element is provided, wherein the adjustment device has a central element which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the first fitting, wherein the drive element is provided mounted in an overlapping region by means of the central element.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbHInventors: Ingo Kienke, Juergen Otto, Mario Budweg, Albert Reginold Kirubaharan, Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael Kapusky, Michael Bittner
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Publication number: 20120169102Abstract: An adjustment device for a seat and more particularly, a carrier in the adjustment device having anti-rock features and increased longevity and a method of forming the outer gear out of hardened steel without the need for heat treating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael R. Bittner, Scott A. Profozich, Michael J. Kapusky
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Publication number: 20120161487Abstract: A recliner assembly for a vehicular seat of the type including a backrest hingedly connected to a seat base and capable of being reclined. The recliner assembly includes an outer gear and includes an internal teeth arranged circumferentially about an axis A. The assembly also includes an inner gear including at least one tooth engaging member selectively moveable into and out of engagement with the internal teeth of the outer gear. A retainer is attached to the outer gear in order to retain the inner gear from lateral movement along axis A. The retainer is configured for mounting to the outer gear and the inner gear is configured for mounting to at least one of a top plate and a base plate. The retainer, outer gear, and inner gears can be formed from a fine-blanked steel material and simply welded together to improve recliner strength while reducing assembly costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2009Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael R. Bittner, Ingo Kienke, Michael J. Kapusky, Kirubaharan Albert
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Publication number: 20100283301Abstract: A vehicle seat is movable between a first position to a second position and includes a seat back, seat cushion for coupling to a track adjuster for use in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a recliner mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a stow mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and an easy entry mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and stow mechanism, wherein, when the stow mechanism is actuated, the easy entry mechanism is not actuated and when the easy entry mechanism is actuated, the stow mechanism is not actuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2007Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventors: Tamizharasan Shanmugam, Kurt Siebold, Paul Arthur Gilmore, David D. Sheill, Bruce A. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 6419315Abstract: An occupant detection system for a vehicle including a seat assembly and a mounting device. The mounting device includes a first member connected to the seat assembly, a second member connectable to the vehicle and connected to the first member at a first point, a floating joint located at a second point engageable with the seat assembly and with the vehicle, and a load sensor located on one of the first member and a second member between the first point and the second point. A compressing force tending to compress the seat assembly toward the vehicle travels through the load sensor, while a pulling force tending to pull the seat assembly from the vehicle travels through the floating joint.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra