Patents by Inventor William J. Hentges

William J. Hentges 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).

  • Publication number: 20110215628
    Abstract: A positioning system is provided for moving a seat back in a vehicle, between a seating position and a cargo storage position. The positioning system includes a release mechanism actuatable between a first position to permit movement of the seat back and a second position to prevent movement of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William J. Hentges, Vasile E. Bozintan, Tod A. Shivak, Srinivasa N. Sanku
  • Patent number: 7959230
    Abstract: A positioning system is provided for moving a seat back in a vehicle between a seating position and a cargo storage position. The positioning system includes a release mechanism actuatable between a first position to permit movement of the seat back and a second position to prevent movement of the seat back. A first actuator is provided on the seat back near an upper corner of the seat back and a second actuator is provided on the seat back near a lower corner of the seat back, so that the seat back can be moved from the cargo storage position to the seating position by a person actuating the first actuator from a location alongside the vehicle and by a person actuating the second actuator from a location behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William J. Hentges, Vasile E. Bozinton, Tod A. Shivak, Srinivasa N. Sanku
  • Publication number: 20040262971
    Abstract: A positioning system is provided for moving a seat back in a vehicle between a seating position and a cargo storage position. The positioning system includes a release mechanism actuatable between a first position to permit movement of the seat back and a second position to prevent movement of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William J. Hentges, Vasile E. Bozintan, Tod A. Shivak, Srinivasa N. Sanku
  • Publication number: 20030085605
    Abstract: A headrest mounting housing is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle in relationship to seats for holding a headrest. Associated with the headrest is a seat having a seat back which can move to a position in which the headrest functions in association with the seat back to a horizontal position for storage of items without the need for moving the headrest. The headrest storage housing may include a roll-up security screen for covering items stored on the seat back when lowered to a horizontal storage position. In one preferred embodiment, the seat back includes a recess into which the headrest housing is nested to provide an integrated appearance to the headrest and seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Hentges
  • Patent number: 6488327
    Abstract: A seating system for a vehicle includes a seat portion with a front edge and a rear edge, and a back portion with an upper edge and a lower edge, where the rear edge of the seat portion is connected to the lower edge of the back portion. The system includes a platform portion of the vehicle configured to support an underside of the seat portion when the seat assembly is in a seating position. A pivot connection couples the platform to the seat portion to selectively move the seat assembly from the seating position to a cargo storage position. A cargo storage surface is provided on the underside of the seat assembly that is supported above a floor portion of the vehicle by the back portion of the seat assembly when the seat assembly is in the cargo storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Pearse, Kenneth S. Karpczuk, William J. Hentges