Patents by Inventor Jeffery T. Bonk

Jeffery T. Bonk 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: 6520583
    Abstract: A compact disc recliner mechanism for reducing chucking includes a drum adapted to be fixed to a quadrant for rotation relative to a plate and three locking members having locking surfaces for locking said quadrant relative said plate. At least one locking member moves relative the quadrant from a first position engaging the drum to a second position disengaging the drum. At least one other locking member is fixed relative the plate and movable from a first position engaging the drum to a second position disengaging the drum. A cam moves the first, second, and third locking members from a first position engaging the drum to a second position disengaging the drum. A recliner assembly for use with a seat having a seat back and a seat base includes the compact disc recliner mechanism according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery T. Bonk
  • Publication number: 20020079729
    Abstract: A linear recliner assembly is provided having a recliner rod slidably supported within a housing. The recliner rod is selectively engageable with a pawl which is fixed within the housing. The recliner rod is in contact with a cam which is operable to force the recliner rod into engagement with the pawl or enable the recliner rod to fall out of engagement with the pawl. The cam is biased in a first position by a biasing mechanism, such that the recliner rod is engaged with the pawl. The linear recliner assembly is implemented into a seat assembly for enabling an operator to select a plurality of recline positions of a seat back relative to a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffery T. Bonk
  • Patent number: 6296311
    Abstract: A constant engagement infinite recliner adapted for use with a hinge assembly such as in a vehicle seat is disclosed that is operable to prevent relative rotation between first and second hinge members when the locking assembly is in its neutral mode, to allow relative rotation of the hinge members in a first direction and prevent rotation in a second direction when the locking assembly is in a first adjusting mode, and to allow relative rotation in a second direction yet prevent rotation in the first direction when the locking assembly is operated in a second adjusting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery T. Bonk, Craig J. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 6017090
    Abstract: A seat recliner for interconnecting a seatback for pivotal movement relative to a seat bottom is provided. The seat recliner includes a housing and a recliner rod having one end supported for movement relative to the housing, a lock pawl retained in a predefined memory position relative to the housing for movement between a locked position and a released position, and a recline actuator assembly which can be selectively actuated for moving the lock pawl from its locked position to its released position to adjust the use position of the seatback. The seat recliner further includes a lock pin supported from the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, and a dump actuator assembly for selectively moving the lock pin from its first position to its second position. In its first position, the lock pin retains the lock pawl in the memory position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery T. Bonk
  • Patent number: 5823622
    Abstract: A seat recliner for use in a seat assembly having a seatback supported for pivotal movement relative to a seat bottom. The seat recliner includes a housing secured to the seat bottom and a recliner rod having a first end secured to the seatback and a second end supported for sliding movement relative to the housing. The seat recliner also includes a recline latch assembly having a locking pawl which is releasably latched to a stop pin extending from the housing for pivotal movement between a locked position engaging the recliner rod and a released position displaced from the recliner rod. A biasing arrangement normally biases the locking pawl toward its locked position, and a recline actuator can be selectively actuated for moving the locking pawl from its locked position to its released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred J. Fisher, IV, Cecil A. Collins, Jeffery T. Bonk, Raju K. Kalidindi