Patents by Inventor John V Keane

John V Keane 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: 7739836
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment. The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: John V Keane, Ronald Frank
  • Patent number: 7077451
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 7066519
    Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 6962384
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 6955386
    Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 6932424
    Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 6869138
    Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Publication number: 20040100114
    Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
  • Publication number: 20040100116
    Abstract: A seat assembly is disclosed for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above the tub. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
  • Publication number: 20040100115
    Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
  • Publication number: 20040100117
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
  • Publication number: 20040100130
    Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
  • Patent number: 6231071
    Abstract: A side air bag system including inflatable curtain, a deployment member for moving the curtain into an extended position and a carrier module. The carrier module includes a carrier structure and an energy-absorbing member. The curtain and deployment member are assembled to the carrier structure, which permits the side air bag system to be efficiently installed into a vehicle. The energy-absorbing member is coupled to one side of the carrier structure and absorbs energy from an impact between a vehicle occupant and the carrier structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: John V. Keane