Patents by Inventor Larry Richard Gaither

Larry Richard Gaither 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: 9656583
    Abstract: Describes are passenger seats including a seat pan assembly with a reclining mechanism, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and/or the seat pan assembly. As examples, the seat pan assembly includes at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path, and a sleeper selection control configured to pull a diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path and to push the diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path. In certain cases, the seat pan assembly also includes a tilting mechanism with a fixed component and a variable component adjustably engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel
  • Patent number: 8911018
    Abstract: Described are passenger seats comprising a seat back support and a neck support structure comprising a headrest coupled to the seat back support and at least one wing pivotally coupled to the headrest, wherein the at least one wing is configured to rotate downwardly from a stowed position to a first deployed position and the at least one wing is also configured to rotate laterally from the stowed position to a second deployed position. The neck support structure may comprise a first wing and a second wing. A cover may be removably coupled to the at least one wing. The at least one wing may be formed from a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Paul Bentley
  • Publication number: 20140346828
    Abstract: Describes are passenger seats including a seat pan assembly with a reclining mechanism, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and/or the seat pan assembly. As examples, the seat pan assembly includes at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path, and a sleeper selection control configured to pull a diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path and to push the diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path. In certain cases, the seat pan assembly also includes a tilting mechanism with a fixed component and a variable component adjustably engaged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel
  • Patent number: 8827365
    Abstract: Describes are passenger seats including a seat pan assembly with a reclining mechanism, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and/or the seat pan assembly. As examples, the seat pan assembly includes at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path, and a sleeper selection control configured to pull a diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path and to push the diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path. In certain cases, the seat pan assembly also includes a tilting mechanism with a fixed component and a variable component adjustably engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel
  • Patent number: 8439435
    Abstract: Described are passenger seats having a seat pan assembly with reclining and tilting mechanisms, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat pan assembly. The reclining mechanism is configured to adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly and the rotation of the seat back between upright and reclining positions. The tilting mechanism is configured to rotate an aft end of the seat pan relative to the pan frame and deploy the lumbar mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel
  • Publication number: 20120217779
    Abstract: Describes are passenger seats including a seat pan assembly with a reclining mechanism, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and/or the seat pan assembly. As examples, the seat pan assembly includes at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path, and a sleeper selection control configured to pull a diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path and to push the diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path. In certain cases, the seat pan assembly also includes a tilting mechanism with a fixed component and a variable component adjustably engaged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel
  • Publication number: 20120139309
    Abstract: Described are passenger seats comprising a seat back support and a neck support structure comprising a headrest coupled to the seat back support and at least one wing pivotally coupled to the headrest, wherein the at least one wing is configured to rotate downwardly from a stowed position to a first deployed position and the at least one wing is also configured to rotate laterally from the stowed position to a second deployed position. The neck support structure may comprise a first wing and a second wing. A cover may be removably coupled to the at least one wing. The at least one wing may be formed from a flexible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Paul Bentley
  • Publication number: 20110193386
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a passenger seat comprising a seat pan assembly, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat pan assembly. The seat pan assembly comprises a reclining mechanism and a tilting mechanism. The reclining mechanism is configured to adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly and the rotation of the seat back between upright and reclining positions. The tilting mechanism is configured to rotate an aft end of the seat pan relative to the pan frame and deploy the lumbar mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Larry Richard Gaither, Timothy W. Terleski, Chirag Patel