Patents by Inventor Donna L. Lizotte

Donna L. Lizotte 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).

  • Interactive, individually controlled, multiple bladder seating comfort adjustment system and method
    Patent number: 6098000
    Abstract: A system of inflatable air cells is constructed and installed in a seat at locations that are strategic to the comfort of the user. The air cells are connected to a pump through a manifold which sequentially connects each cell independently to the pump. The manifold controls the flow of fluid in the air cell distribution system by means of a system of valves and senses the pressure in each cell by means of a transducer. A microcomputer is programmed with data representing a desired comfort level for each of the air cells. By sequentially activating individual manifold valves, a pressure signal from the transducer can be generated for each cell. The pressure signals are received by the microcomputer and are correlated with the predetermined comfort data to generate a control signal which activates the pump. In this manner each of the cells can be individually inflated or deflated to the desired pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: McCord Winn Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce T. Long, Jeffrey I. Finkelstein, Anthony R. Haba, II, Donna L. Lizotte, Alfred E. Bissell, III, Carl F. Kackenmeister, Steven Castrigno, Tuan A. Dam, David A Gattuso, Babak Sardashti
  • Interactive, individually controlled, multiple bladder seating comfort adjustment system
    Patent number: 6088643
    Abstract: A system of inflatable air cells is constructed and installed in a seat at locations that are strategic to the comfort of the user. The air cells are connected to a pump through a manifold which sequentially connects each cell independently to the pump. The manifold controls the flow of fluid in the air cell distribution system by means of a system of valves and senses the pressure in each cell by means of a transducer. A microcomputer is programmed with data representing a desired comfort level for each of the air cells. By sequentially activating individual manifold valves, a pressure signal from the transducer can be generated for each cell. The pressure signals are received by the microcomputer and are correlated with the predetermined comfort data to generate a control signal which activates the pump. In this manner each of the cells can be individually inflated or deflated to the desired pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: McCord Winn Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce T. Long, Jeffrey I. Finkelstein, Anthony R. Haba, II, Donna L. Lizotte, Alfred E. Bissell, III, Carl F. Kackenmeister, Steven Castrigno, Tuan A. Dam, David A Gattuso, Babak Sardashti