Patents by Inventor Ralph Fey

Ralph Fey 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: 9561742
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 9061614
    Abstract: A height adjustable head restraint assembly is provided with an upright guide adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body proximate to a seat back. The guide has a cross section. A frame has a cavity with a cross section oversized relative to that of the guide to receive the guide. At least one of the guides in the frame has a plurality of projections extending to engage the other for providing guidance therebetween. A head restraint is mounted to the frame for translation along the guide. A motor is mounted to the frame for driving a threaded rod that is engaged with a fixed nut that is mounted to the guide for translating the head restraint. A pair of conductive brushes is provided on the guide and a pair of conductive contacts is mounted to the frame in electrical communication with the motor for providing power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Zdzislaw Sobieski, Karsten Mueller, Ralph Fey
  • Publication number: 20140375101
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 8833860
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 8714650
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat back and a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back. The head restraint assembly includes a support post and a headrest disposed on the support post. The headrest is inhibited from moving away from a head of a seat occupant until the headrest is actuated toward the head of the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Zdzislaw Sobieski, Karsten Mueller, Ralph Fey
  • Patent number: 8657380
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a support post assembly and a moveable headrest assembly. The support post assembly has first and second posts and a cross member. The cross member extends from the first post to the second post. The headrest assembly includes a mounting unit that defines a post cavity that receives the first and second posts. The cross member extends through first and second slots in the mounting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Karsten Mueller, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 8641148
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member that has notches and is mounted to the first guide member for movement in a fore and aft direction. A biasing member biases a locking mechanism that is mounted to the first guide member into engagement with the notches. A first actuator is mounted to the first guide member for actuation in a lateral direction from one lateral side such that linear actuation of a first actuator compresses the biasing member to disengage the locking mechanism from the notches to permit adjustment of the fore and aft position of the head restraint. A second actuator is mounted to the first guide member for actuation in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction and cooperates with the first actuator for actuating the first actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski, Karsten Mueller
  • Publication number: 20120235460
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a support post assembly and a moveable headrest assembly. The support post assembly has first and second posts and a cross member. The cross member extends from the first post to the second post. The headrest assembly includes a mounting unit that defines a post cavity that receives the first and second posts. The cross member extends through first and second slots in the mounting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Karsten Mueller, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Publication number: 20120080926
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Publication number: 20120080922
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member that has notches and is mounted to the first guide member for movement in a fore and aft direction. A biasing member biases a locking mechanism that is mounted to the first guide member into engagement with the notches. A first actuator is mounted to the first guide member for actuation in a lateral direction from one lateral side such that linear actuation of a first actuator compresses the biasing member to disengage the locking mechanism from the notches to permit adjustment of the fore and aft position of the head restraint. A second actuator is mounted to the first guide member for actuation in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction and cooperates with the first actuator for actuating the first actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski, Karsten Mueller
  • Patent number: 8146997
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a first guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back and a second guide member mounted to the first guide member for movement in fore and aft direction. One of the guide members has a series of notches. A head restraint is mounted to the second guide member. A locking mechanism is mounted to the other guide member for extending into one of the notches. A biasing member biases the locking mechanism in engagement with the notches. An actuator is mounted to one of the guide members for actuation from one lateral side of the head restraint and cooperates with the locking mechanism such that linear actuation of the actuator from one lateral side results in symmetrical compression of the biasing member for disengaging the locking mechanism from the notches for permitting fore and aft adjustment of the head restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Zdzislaw Sobieski, Ralph Fey, Karsten Mueller
  • Publication number: 20100301654
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat back and a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back. The head restraint assembly includes a support post and a headrest disposed on the support post. The headrest is inhibited from moving away from a head of a seat occupant until the headrest is actuated toward the head of the seat occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zdzislaw Sobieski, Karsten Mueller, Ralph Fey
  • Publication number: 20100270841
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a first guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back and a second guide member mounted to the first guide member for movement in fore and aft direction. One of the guide members has a series of notches. A head restraint is mounted to the second guide member. A locking mechanism is mounted to the other guide member for extending into one of the notches. A biasing member biases the locking mechanism in engagement with the notches. An actuator is mounted to one of the guide members for actuation from one lateral side of the head restraint and cooperates with the locking mechanism such that linear actuation of the actuator from one lateral side results in symmetrical compression of the biasing member for disengaging the locking mechanism from the notches for permitting fore and aft adjustment of the head restraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zdzislaw Sobieski, Ralph Fey, Karsten Mueller