Patents by Inventor Don H. Bernhardt

Don H. Bernhardt 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).

  • Patent number: 6386629
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a console pivotally mounted on a seat back and a booster seat movable between a stowed positioned and an upright position. The seat includes a seat bottom having first and second portions which define a generally horizontal seating surface. A console is selectively disposed in a recess formed in one of the first and second portions. A first side of the console defines a console seating surface. The console is pivotable between a first position, wherein the console seating surface is generally co-planar with the seating surface of the first and second portions, and a second position, wherein the console is pivoted outwardly from a front edge exposing the second side of the console. A second recess is formed in the seating surface of the seat bottom between the front and rear edges to define a second rear support area located between the rear edge and the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Severinski, Mark E. Rodgers, Don H. Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 6050629
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with integrated safety restraint belts includes a bottom frame and a backrest frame. The backrest frame is pivotally connected to the bottom frame by first and second pivot elements. The first and second pivot elements may include motor driven actuator screws for remotely controlling the pivoted position of the backrest frame under power. The bottom frame includes first and second side rails which are anchored to the outer sill panel and the floor panel, respectively, for providing a sturdy mounting arrangement to withstand high loading and stresses during sudden deceleration. The integrated safety restraint belt includes a shoulder strap segment connected to the upper end of the backrest frame, above the first pivot element, and a lap strap segment. A spool, mounted to the bottom frame, plays out and reels in strap material from a concealed segment interposed between the spool and the shoulder strap segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Don H. Bernhardt, Mark Alan Farquhar
  • Patent number: 5964505
    Abstract: An adjustable headrest assembly including a mounting post for mounting the headrest assembly to a vertically adjustable tower. The headrest including an elongated body portion extending horizontally between first and second ends and defining a tubular opening for receiving a mounting post for securing the headrest to the tower. A cavity is integrally formed in the first end of the body portion and a ratchet mechanism is disposed in the cavity for pivoting the headrest in both the forward and rearward direction. The ratchet mechanism including a ratchet pivotally support by the mounting post and a rack having a plurality of rack teeth mounted along an arcuate path in the cavity of the headrest body. The assembly further including a tower cover including an expandable window portion connected between the tower and the seat back for automatically expanding coverage of the tower upon movement of the tower between a lower position and a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Lear Corp.
    Inventors: Kirk P. Koenig, Ricardo O. Quincoses, Dean Rinke, Don H. Bernhardt, Mark Alan Farquhar