Patents by Inventor Louis W. Smoltz

Louis W. Smoltz 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: 6860564
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion having front and rear portions, and a seat back having upper and lower portions. The seat back is operatively connected at the lower portion to the rear portion of the seat cushion for pivotal movement relative to the seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded flat position. The seat back further includes a front surface for supporting the back of an occupant seated on the seat assembly. A head restraint having a front surface for supporting the head of the occupant seated on the seat assembly is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the seat back and moveable relative to the seat back between a plurality of angled head supporting positions and a forwardly folded stowed position defined by the front surface of the head restraint being generally perpendicular to the front surface of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Steven James Reed, Carl J. Holdampf, Louis W. Smoltz
  • Publication number: 20040113480
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion having front and rear portions, and a seat back having upper and lower portions. The seat back is operatively connected at the lower portion to the rear portion of the seat cushion for pivotal movement relative to the scat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded flat position. The seat back further includes a front surface for supporting the back of an occupant seated on the seat assembly. A head restraint having a front surface for supporting the head of the occupant seated on the seat assembly is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the seat back and moveable relative to the seat back between a plurality of angled head supporting positions and a forwardly folded stowed position defined by the front surface of the head restraint being generally perpendicular to the front surface of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Steven James Reed, Carl J. Holdampf, Louis W. Smoltz
  • Patent number: 6702385
    Abstract: A head restraint pivot latch for a seat assembly allowing pivotal adjustment of a head restraint relative to a seat back. A base member is pivotally assembled to the seat back allowing movement of the head restraint between a use position and a folded position. A first bracket having an index slot is fixedly assembled to the base member. A second bracket having a locking slot defining the use position extends between a proximal end pivotally assembled to the base member and a distal end fixedly secured to the seat back. A button having a tang and a tang slot is movable between the use position, with the tang extending through both the index slot of the first bracket and the locking slot of the second bracket, and a released position with the second bracket slidably engaged within the tang slot, allowing pivotal movement of the head restraint between the two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Louis W. Smoltz
  • Publication number: 20030178881
    Abstract: A head restraint pivot latch for a seat assembly allowing pivotal adjustment of a head restraint relative to a seat back. A base member is pivotally assembled to the seat back allowing movement of the head restraint between a use position and a folded position. A first bracket having an index slot is fixedly assembled to the base member. A second bracket having a locking slot defining the use position extends between a proximal end pivotally assembled to the base member and a distal end fixedly secured to the seat back. A button having a tang and a tang slot is movable between the use position, with the tang extending through both the index slot of the first bracket and the locking slot of the second bracket, and a released position with the second bracket slidably engaged within the tang slot, allowing pivotal movement of the head restraint between the two positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Louis W. Smoltz