Interconnected With Back For Relative Concurrent Movement Patents (Class 297/340)
  • Patent number: 11912177
    Abstract: A passenger transport vehicle includes a system configured to vary the number of available seating places in accordance with the level of passenger traffic to be transported. The system has a mechanical support structure having a fixed part and a movable part movable between a first position in which the mechanical support structure forms a seating place, and a second position in which the seating place is unavailable for seating. The mechanical support structure includes a covering surface connected to and disposed around a portion of the movable part. The covering surface includes two rigid portions and a deformable portion. One rigid portion forms a seating surface when the movable part is in the first position, while both rigid portions and the deformable portion form an ischiatic support surface when the movable part is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ALSTOM HOLDINGS
    Inventors: Jérôme Konieczka, Quentin Marcel Daniel Stocker, Adrien Ecoue
  • Patent number: 11827127
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that has a seat part frame and a seat back adjustment with a seat depth adjustment element, where the seat back adjustment element can be displaced relative to the seat part frame, where a locking device locks a displacement of the seat depth adjustment element relative to the seat part frame by engaging at least one recess of the seat part frame, where the locking device includes a locking unit which has a first end on the seat depth adjustment element, and a second end, which can be deflected, the second end engaging the locking element in the recess in a non-deflected position and the locking element being separated from the recess in a deflected position and a sliding carriage element that deflects the second end of the locking unit when the sliding carriage element is displaced relative to the locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GRAMMER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Konstantin Lorey, Michael Klemm
  • Patent number: 11820256
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle including support links enabling a rotating motion and a sliding motion between a seat frame and seat rails, the support links being mounted so that the seat may be rotated in the forward and rearward directions as in a seesaw motion about a shaft of a vehicle in a width direction of the vehicle, so as to easily implement a facing mode posture, in which passengers sit facing each other, a relaxed comfort posture, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Chan Ho Jung, Deok Soo Lim, Bong Ku Kim, Hyun Kyu Moon, Mu Young Kim, Seon Chae Na, Sang Do Park, Sang Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 11787545
    Abstract: Described are examples of a seating arrangement for an aircraft with a first seat in a first accommodation space and a second seat in a second accommodation space, wherein the first and second accommodation spaces are configured to share a common floor space at a floor level of the aircraft. One seating arrangement includes a divider screen located between the first and second accommodation spaces, moveable, by sliding in a direction along the common floor space, between a stowed position permitting passenger egress between the first and second accommodation spaces across the common floor space, and a deployed position preventing passenger egress between the first and second accommodation spaces across the common floor space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Seats GB Limited
    Inventors: Victor Carlioz, James B. Woodington, Rachel West, Jan Jurre Miedema
  • Patent number: 11548410
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a seat control system for a vehicle, which may sense whether passengers have been seated on a front seat and a rear seat, and easily implement sleep and rest postures of the front seat and the rear seat through the height adjustment, the reclining adjustment, and the like of the front seat and the rear seat according to the sensed result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Seok Han, Seon Chae Na, Hyun Kyu Moon, Chan Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 11401038
    Abstract: A seat drivetrain assembly for an aircraft seat is disclosed. The assembly may include a seatback drivetrain sub-assembly configured to actuate a seatback frame of a seat frame of the aircraft seat between a first position and at least a second position. The assembly may include a seat pan drivetrain sub-assembly configured to actuate a seat pan frame of the seat frame of the aircraft seat between a first position and at least a second position. The assembly may include an actuator sub-assembly configured to cause one of the seatback drivetrain sub-assembly or the seat pan drivetrain sub-assembly to actuate one of the seatback frame or the seat pan frame of the aircraft seat between the first position and the at least second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. G. Warwick, Lyle T. Davis
  • Patent number: 11332050
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat rotatable about an axis of rotation disposed at a front of the seat between a sitting position and a standing position, a latch assembly rotatably coupled to the rear of the seat and releasably coupled to a track assembly disposed below the seat, wherein if the seat is in a sitting position, the latch assembly is in a locked position relative to the track assembly, and wherein if the seat is in a standing position, the latch assembly is in an unlocked position relative to the track assembly, and a connecting bar extending through the latch assembly, wherein the latch assembly is rotatable around the connecting bar as the seat moves between the sitting position and the standing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 10925787
    Abstract: A lift chair frame is disclosed having an adjustable seat including a front support bar assembly including a left member and a right member connected to the left member, a rear support bar assembly opposite the front support bar assembly along a longitudinal direction, a left support bar connected to the front and rear support bar assemblies, and a right support bar opposite the left support bar along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and connected to the front and rear support bar assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O'Leary, David Burke, Richard Warren, Kris Hamby, Mike Zablocky
  • Patent number: 10493868
    Abstract: An automobile seat includes a seat main body having a seat cushion frame; a seat supporting member; a link mechanism which allows the seat main body to shift between a first seat position and a second seat position corresponding to a forward-leaning posture; and a seat lock mechanism capable of being switched between a seat-locked state in which the seat main body is restrained at the first seat position and a lock-released state. The seat cushion frame is supported in a manner that a position thereof backward of the front link is suspended by the seat supporting member via the rear link. At the first seat position, a free-end supporting point of the rear link is positioned backward of a first vertical line passing a fixed-end supporting point of the rear link, and at the second seat position, the free-end supporting point is positioned forward the first vertical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Takeshi Momose
  • Patent number: 10065539
    Abstract: A seat dump assembly includes an actuator, a seat dump mechanism remote from the actuator, a mechanical seat adjustment accommodation device, a first cable connecting the actuator to the mechanical seat adjustment accommodation device and a second cable connecting the mechanical seat adjustment accommodation device to the seat dump mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Jay Osterhoff, Raghavan Narayan Setlur
  • Patent number: 9855864
    Abstract: An adjustment unit for a vehicle seat in a vehicle is disclosed. Said adjustment unit comprises a longitudinal adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vehicle seat along a direction of travel of the vehicle, said longitudinal adjustment mechanism comprising a first rocker that is mounted in such a way as to be rotatable about a transverse direction extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Müller, Andreas Kinzer, Eckhard Kirch, Joachim Mühlberger
  • Patent number: 9221365
    Abstract: A convertible child safety seat assembly includes a seat portion and a removable seatback. The seat portion has a seat portion having an upper surface, and an elongated slot opened on the upper surface. The seatback is affixed with at least one beam that has an elongated shape. The beam has a distal end, and is assembled with a latch movable transversally relative to the beam. The seatback is attached to the seat portion with the beam received in the elongated slot, the distal end engaged under the upper surface, and the latch engaging through a sidewall of the elongated slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Bruce L. Williams, Gregory S. Sellers
  • Publication number: 20150137571
    Abstract: A seat cushion is arranged on a riser. A strut is coupled, at lower end, to the rear end of the riser, and is provided at the back of the seat cushion. The seatback is secured to the strut, and is isolated from the seat cushion. The seatback and the seat cushion can therefore move, independent of each other. The seatback or the seat cushion, or both are lifted or lowered by a lifting/lowering means. Thus, the seatback and the seat cushion are lifted or lowered relative to each other. The lower half of the seatback, which supports the hips and lower ribs in the main, is made narrow than the upper half that supports the shoulder blades in the main. The seat cushion has, in the middle part of the rear end, a U-notch which loosely holds the narrow lower half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi KOIKE, Tomohiro AMANO, Atsushi ISHII, Kotaro KUMAGAI
  • Publication number: 20150130240
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a first adjustment portion which adjusts a position of a vehicle seat in a front/rear direction, a second adjustment portion which adjusts a position of the vehicle seat in an up/down direction, a third adjustment portion which adjusts a tilt angle of a seatback, and an operation input portion which is operated for performing a forward movement of the vehicle seat and a forward tilting operation of the seatback in an associated manner with each other, the forward movement of the vehicle seat being performed by the first adjustment portion and the forward tilting operation of the seatback being performed by the third adjustment portion, wherein the second adjustment portion starts performing a downward movement of the vehicle seat before the forward tilting operation of the seatback is performed after the operation of the operation input portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro HOZUMI, Hitoshi Tsuzuki, Toshihiro Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9027993
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises: a vehicle body side member; a seat cushion having left and right side frames; left and right front links provided respectively between front end sides of the left and right side frames and the vehicle body side member, the left and right front links configure a portion of a lifter mechanism that moves the seat cushion, and one end side of the respective left and right front links is coupled to the vehicle body side member so as to be rotatable about an axis along the seat left-right direction; and a coupling member coupling together front end sides of the left and right side frames along the seat left-right direction, that is rotatable with respect to the left and right side frames about an axis along the seat left-right direction, and that is joined to other end side of the respective left and right front links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nozomu Munemura, Hironobu Nakane, Ryo Nagahara, Tadanori Hisamoto
  • Publication number: 20150123443
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a vehicle seat includes an actuating lever, a disengaging lever, a main rotary axis, a deflection lever and a deflection rod. It also includes a separate first operating element for folding a backrest over in the direction of a seat part in the case of a fixed seat part, and a separate second operating element for folding over the backrest in the case of a simultaneous or subsequent pivot movement of the seat part. A method is provided for operation of a vehicle seat with a hinge mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: James Abraham, Robin Advena
  • Patent number: 9016789
    Abstract: Vehicle seat has at least a front foot, a rear foot, a four-link configuration having four link parts coupled to one another via hinge points, and a compensation spring. Front foot and rear foot are accommodated in a longitudinal rail in a longitudinally adjustable manner, and the rear foot is releasable from the longitudinal rail after unlocking. Vehicle seat is movable forward from a seating position having a locked rear foot, after rear foot is unlocked, into a functional position with adjustment of four-link configuration, and with at least temporary assistance from the compensation spring. Vehicle seat has a support rod which is adjustably accommodated on the four-link configuration, and in the forward functional position the support rod comes into contact in front of the front foot, and in particular on the longitudinal rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Römer, Jong-Seok Yun
  • Patent number: 9016790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a convertible seating reclining chair. The chair comprises conventional elements such as a back frame, a seat frame, left and right support arms, and a reclining mechanism connected laterally between the support arms. The reclining mechanism has a stationary base frame, a back movement mechanism, and a seat movement mechanism. The seat movement mechanism and the back movement mechanism are dimensioned and configured to move, respectively, the seat frame and the back frame from their respective positions in the chair's upright seating position to their respective positions in the chair's fully horizontal, recumbent position. Such movement of the back frame and the seat frame occurs with the back frame seating surface at the lower end of the back frame being located substantially adjacent to the seat frame seating surface at the rear end of the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: William E. Voyce, IV
  • Publication number: 20150102648
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tilting type chair. The chair includes: a seat on which a user is seated; a back support configured to support a back portion of the user seated on the seat; and a tilting section interposed between the back support and the seat to couple the seat to the back support. When the user applies a load to bend the back support backward, the tilting section moves the seat upward in proportion to the load applied by the user, and when the load applied to the back support by the user is removed, the tilting section moves the seat downward in proportion to the removed load. As a result, a more comfortable seating feeling may be provided to the user seated on the seat of the chair. In addition, the tilting may be limited as needed by the user. Thus, the chair may further improve the user's convenience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Jong Pyo PARK, Young Soo SHIM, Dae Jin BAIK
  • Publication number: 20150069806
    Abstract: A seat assembly having stanchions secured to a floor of a vehicle interior, a seatback pivotally secured between the stanchions. A seat bottom has an arm extending therefrom which is pivotally engaged to the seatback at a location offset from the seatback pivot with the stanchions. The seat bottom is pivotally connected at forward locations by a linkages extending to additional floor locations such that pivoting of the seatback results in slaved pivoting and combined displacement of the seat bottom between upright design and forward folded positions. A motor is pivotally secured to the vehicle interior, a rotatable screw extending from the motor and supporting an interiorly threaded collar in length displaceable fashion along the screw. A support arm is pivotally secured to the floor and to the screw supported collar. The support arm responds to actuation of the motor in at least a rewind direction in order to upwardly displace the seat bottom and slaved seatback to the upright design position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, Jason Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8973996
    Abstract: The congregational prayer chair is designed to provide needed support for certain worshipers participating in Muslim prayer services. The chair is constructed with a seat and seat-back supported between two connecting arms. The connecting arms are mounted on chair legs. Grooves and tracks are provided on the arms that permit the seat and the seat-back to be moved in a predetermined manner so that a worshiper can attain the required prayer positions without disturbing the alignment of the prayer rows and the other worshippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Farouk Fouad Daghistani
  • Patent number: 8931844
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly including a seat having a top surface. A seatback includes a back support surface. A tab extends forward from the seatback. A track assembly includes a rail and a slide. A bracket is coupled to the slide and includes an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof. A linkage includes a first end coupled with the seat. A second end is coupled with the tab. A protrusion is disposed at an intermediate portion of the linkage and is engaged with the elongate slot. Movement of the protrusion is relative to the elongate slot, causing translation of the seating assembly between a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, and a stowed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya Heath, Dumitru Dan Nae, John W. Jaranson, Curtis D. Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Publication number: 20140368013
    Abstract: A slide return mechanism of a seat for a vehicle, the seat including a seat back and a seat base, the slide return mechanism including a recliner that reclines the seat back, a slide release lever that locks and unlocks the movement of a slide mechanism of the seat, and a stopper link. Rotation of the recliner causes the seat back to move downward, the slide release lever to unlock the slide mechanism, and the stopper link to move into position to prevent the seat from traveling in a rearward direction at a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ryosuke Mizuno, Michael Mixon
  • Patent number: 8899681
    Abstract: A seat guiding apparatus for a chair includes a base, an elastic assembly mounted in the front end of the base and having a torsion spring and a moveable plate abutted against the torsion spring, and a seat assembly provided with a seat and a bracket connected with the seat. The bracket of the seat assembly has a front end connected with the moveable plate and a rear end movably mounted in curved guiding grooves of the base, such that the seat assembly is moveable along the curved guiding grooves relative to the base. As a result, when sitting on the seat, a sitter' back can be guided by the movement of the seat assembly to lean against a backrest of the chair for support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Wen-Shan Ko
  • Publication number: 20140300161
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured to recline and including a seatpan pivotally attached to a seatback, a spreader defining a non-linear guide path controlling the seatpan angle as the seat reclines, translating seatback linkage defining a non-linear guide path controlling the seatback angle as the seat reclines, and a drive link arranged to translate horizontally relative to the spreader to drive seat recline motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Beroth, Javier Valdes De La Garza, Daniel Udriste
  • Publication number: 20140300162
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat including a seat base frame, a seatback and a seat bottom configured to horizontally translate relative to the seat base frame, a first actuator arranged to drive seat translation, and a second actuator arranged to drive seatback recline, the dual actuators working in parallel to increase the speed of horizontal translation and combine the recline function into one continuous motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Udriste, Javier Valdes De La Garza, Michael Beroth
  • Publication number: 20140284970
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a back rest, a frame having a curved rail, and a runner moveable along the rail. The seat and back rest are carried by the runner such that the seat and back rest can be moved together along the rail, and the position of the back rest relative to the seat changes in a horizontal direction as the seat and the back rest move along the rail. Additionally, the height-adjustable seat can be folded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Simon Radclyffe
  • Publication number: 20140284981
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, which adjusts an inclination angle of a seat back with respect to a seat cushion through a recliner, includes a base member, a bracket, which supports the seat back so that the seat back is able to move, and is fixed to a rotation side of the recliner, a connecting member that connects the seat cushion and the seat back with each other, a first guide mechanism that guides the seat back with respect to the bracket, and a second guide mechanism that guides the seat cushion with respect to the base member. The seat back and the seat cushion are guided by the first guide mechanism and the second guide mechanism, respectively, so that the seat back and the seat cushion move rotationally about a position corresponding to a hip-point of a seated occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetaka NAGAYASU
  • Publication number: 20140265500
    Abstract: A medical chair includes a base and a pair of arm rests supported relative to the base for movement between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the base. The raised position of at least one of the arm rests is upward and forward of its lowered position to provide support to a patient when exiting the chair. For example, the arm rest may be mounted relative to the base to move between the raised position and the lowered position along a linear path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher S. Hough, John P. Zerbel, Richard A. Derenne, Cory P. Herbst, Collin Ian Ostergaard, Jill Christine Denna, Marianne Barbara Grisdale, Siarhei Murauyou, Christopher Ryan Sweeney, Aaron Douglas Furman, Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Scott Herrmann, Matthew A. Cutler
  • Publication number: 20140265501
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a panel movable to a reclined position and a cushion slidably coupled with the panel to slide down in the reclined position. A base is pivotally supporting the panel and has a concave portion. A seat has a bottom portion slidably coupled with the concave portion for sliding the seat to an upward angle when the panel moves to the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, John W. Jaranson, Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Patent number: 8833846
    Abstract: A seat comprises a seat squab (12), a supporting structure (15) and a backrest (14), in use, the seat squab (12) being movable in a substantially downward direction relative to the supporting structure when weight is applied to the seat squab (12), and the substantially downward movement of the seat squab (12) causing automatic movement of the backrest (14) in a substantially upward direction, the angular orientation of an upper surface of the seat squab (12) relative to the supporting structure remaining unchanged during the substantially downward movement of the seat squab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Spliced IP Ltd.
    Inventor: James Lucas
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140175849
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a seating unit (1), in particular for aircrafts' economy class, comprising a substantially rigid fixed shell (4), a support structure (9), a backrest (2) and a seat (3), all contained within said shell (4), said seating unit (1) being characterized in that said backrest (2) and said seat (3) make a movement, substantially within said shell (4), between a retracted position, that is with said backrest (2) in a substantially vertical position and said seat (3) in a substantially horizontal position, and a slightly extended position, that is with said backrest (2) in a substantially slanted position and said seat (3) in a substantially slanted position, inclined downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: OPTIMARES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Berti, Andrea Giordano, Alessio Morstcani, Alessandro Braca
  • Patent number: 8757720
    Abstract: A seat track assembly includes a seat track operable for sliding movement of a seat assembly. A towel bar pivots a drive lever unlocking the seat track and allowing sliding movement of the seat assembly within a range of comfort positions. A stop lever pivots between a lowered position and a raised position. In the lowered position, the stop lever engages a stop bracket secured to the seat track preventing the seat assembly from moving forward of the range of comfort positions. A cam pivots in response to pivotally moving a seat back to a dump position. Pivoting the cam pivots the drive lever unlocking the seat track and pivots the stop lever to the raised position spaced above the stop bracket to allow sliding movement of the seat assembly to an easy-entry position forward of the range of comfort positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: Nelson E. Hurst, III, Prasad D. Jagtap, III, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Jonathan A. Calhoun, Rabindranath Persad
  • Publication number: 20140167466
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback and a rear bracket pivotally supporting the seatback and slidably engaging a track assembly. A seat has a four-bar linkage that includes a top link for supporting a cushion, a bottom link, a rear link pivotally coupling a rearward portion of the top link with a rearward portion of the bottom link, and a front link pivotally coupling a forward portion of the top link with a forward portion of the bottom link. A connecting member pivotally couples the bottom link with the seatback. Pivoting the seatback forward about the rear bracket causes the connecting member to collapse the linkage rearward to a stowed position. A base member pivotally couples an intermediate portion of the front link with a fixed front bracket. Sliding the seatback forward causes the seat to pivot upward about the base member to a rear access position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Dumitru Dan Nae, Curtis Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Patent number: 8746795
    Abstract: Longitudinally adjustable motor vehicle seat comprising opposite rail pairs; a lower rail for securement to a chassis and an upper rail secured to a seat component, displaceable in the lower rail. Two pivotable levers are associated with the rail pairs. A second lever is connected to a locking mechanism for securing the upper rail; both levers are connected to a seat backrest. Upon operation of a control member connected to the levers for comfort-longitudinal seat adjustment, a first lever synchronously pivots the second lever to release the locking mechanism. A Bowden cable is connected to the backrest for adjustment when the backrest is folded forward into an easy-entry-position. A Bowden cable core is attached to the first lever, and a sheathing thereof is secured to the second lever. In a neutral position, the sheathing presses the first lever against an abutment secured to the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Dan Stoia, Bertrand Touzet
  • Patent number: 8733840
    Abstract: Described are seat pan assemblies for a passenger seat having a pan frame pivotally coupled to a seat back, a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame, a tilting mechanism coupled to the seat pan and the pan frame, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to rotate the seat pan between an upright position and a sleeper position, and an automatic release mechanism, wherein the automatic release mechanism is configured to return the seat pan to an upright position when the seat back is in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Rik Westerink, Armando Valdes, Chirag Patel, Timothy W. Terleski
  • Publication number: 20140097648
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a convertible seating reclining chair having a reclining mechanism connected laterally between a left support arm and a right support arm, and connected to a back frame and a seat frame. The reclining mechanism has a back movement means and a seat movement means, both connected to a stationary base frame. Each movement means is dimensioned and configured for movement from an upright seating position to a fully horizontal or recumbent position. Such movement of the back frame and the seat frame occurs with the back frame seating surface at the lower end of the back frame being located substantially adjacent to the seat frame seating surface at the rear end of the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: William E. Voyce, IV
  • Publication number: 20140084654
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a vehicle seat for a vehicle is provided. The method includes folding the vehicle seat and displacing the vehicle seat. Folding and displacing are coupled so that on a folding and/or a pushing, the vehicle seat is displaced into a folding position. A vehicle seat and a vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20140077558
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat support structure having a seat surface pivotable about a first pivot point between first and second positions, and a back support assembly coupled to the seat support structure, movable between upright and reclined positions and pivotable about a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is located at a position along a first line perpendicular to a second line tangential to the seat surface and at a forward most portion of a back surface, forward between along a third line parallel with the second line, down to the second line along a fourth line perpendicular with the second line, up the fourth line such that the second pivot point is located within a given radius from the first pivot point when the back support assembly is in the upright and reclined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson, Todd T. Andres
  • Publication number: 20140077551
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a base structure, a seat support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure and including an upwardly extending portion adapted to move between an upright position and a reclined position, a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to the seat support structure and a second end pivotably coupled to the back support structure, a back support surface having an upper portion pivotably coupled to the back support, and a back link pivotably coupled to the seat support structure, wherein the back support surface is moved forward by the back link relative to the upwardly extending portion of the back support structure as the back support structure is moved from the upright position to the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Richard N. Roslund, Jr., Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Nathan McCaughan, Pradeep Mydur, Russell T. Holdredge, Mark Vander Veen, Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Nathan R. Brock, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Todd T. Andres
  • Publication number: 20140077555
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a base structure defining upper and lower portions, a seat support structure having forward and rearward portions, wherein the forward portion of the seat support structure is pivotably coupled to the upper portion, and wherein the seat support structure includes a seat support surface configured to support a seated user thereon, a back support structure having forward and rearward portions, wherein the forward portion of the back supported is pivotably coupled to the lower portion, and wherein the back support structure includes an upwardly extending portion adapted to move between an upright position and a reclined position, and a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to the rearward portion of the seat support structure, and a second end pivotably coupled to the rearward portion of the back support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Richard N. Roslund, Jr., Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Nathan McCaughan, Pradeep Mydur, Russell T. Holdredge, Mark Vander Veen, Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Nathan R. Brock, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Todd T. Andres
  • Publication number: 20140077557
    Abstract: A control assembly for a chair includes a base structure having a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, a seat support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to an upper portion of the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to a lower portion of the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between a first and second positions, and a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point, and a second end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Publication number: 20140077556
    Abstract: A control assembly for a chair including a base structure having a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, a seat support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to rotate between a first and second positions, and a control link having a first end coupled to the seat support structure, and a second end coupled to the back support structure, wherein the control link rotates the seat support structure at a slower rate of rotation than a rate of rotation of the back support structure as the back support structure is rotated between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Publication number: 20140070586
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes: a seat base; a support portion which supports the occupant from the back side; a flip-up mechanism which flips up the seat base; a biasing member which biases the support portion forward; an engagement portion which is engaged with the support portion to hold the support portion in a upright state against the biasing force; a cancel mechanism which cancels the engagement between the engagement portion and the support portion; and a return mechanism which returns the support portion from a state where the engagement with the engagement portion is canceled by the cancel mechanism to a state where the support portion is engageable with the engagement portion. The return mechanism performs the return operation in accordance with the inclination angle of the support portion inclined forward by the biasing member after the engagement between the engagement portion and the support portion is canceled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tachikawa, Masato Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140062153
    Abstract: A chair of the type commonly found in a home or office and having a stationary back, a pair of arms, and a rotatable seat cradle that is located between the arms. The seat cradle includes a lumbar portion lying against the stationary chair back to support the user's lower back and a seat cushion portion to support the user's pelvis. The lumbar portion and the seat cushion portion of the seat cradle are connected to one another so as to rotate together as a unit relative to the stationary back and the arms of the chair. By virtue of the foregoing, the hips and spine of the user will be continuously aligned whenever the user shifts his weight in the chair, whereby to maximize user comfort and improve user posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Grove, Dennis J. Colonello
  • Patent number: 8662587
    Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided with a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a forwardly folded dump position. A seat track assembly is fixedly secured to the seat cushion for providing a selective fore and aft sliding adjustment of the seat assembly along a first linear path between a full forward position and a full rearward position. A tip slide mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat track assembly and adapted for mounting the seat assembly to a vehicle floor. The tip slide mechanism provides fore and aft movement of the seat assembly along a second curved path transverse to the first linear path between a seating position and an easy entry position to provide access behind the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Ngiau
  • Publication number: 20140049085
    Abstract: A contoured collapsible seat assembly providing a compact size in the stadium position and also having the ability of the seat back to fold forward. More specifically, a collapsible seat having reduced overall height and depth in the stadium position and reduced height in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Kurt A. Seibold
  • Publication number: 20140049084
    Abstract: A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to adjust between closed, extended, and reclined positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link and a rear bellcrank both rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, an activator bar that controls a footrest drive link, and a linear actuator for carrying out automated adjustment of the linkage assembly. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a torque on the activator bar. The footrest drive link converts the torque into a laterally-directed force that pushes the footrest assembly into the extended position. A stroke in the second phase acts to push the activator bar forward and translate the seat-mounting plate forward at a consistent inclination angle. The forward translation causes the rear bellcrank to rotate, thereby biasing the back-mounting link rearward into the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: GREGORY M. LAWSON, STEVEN LAKE
  • Patent number: 8651576
    Abstract: A multi-position seat for a kayak or other watercraft includes a seat frame and a pivotally connected back support. A pair of side elevation adjusters engages the seat frame on its lateral sides. Each adjuster includes a thumbwheel adjuster within an elevator traveler within a side frame, the traveler engaging a threaded shaft that is held in a fixed rotational position. The frame includes a tunnel structure associated with a front cross member. A strap passes through the tunnel, exits at lateral sides of the front cross member, and connects to lateral sides of the pivotally connected back support. The strap is user-adjustable in length so that the angle of the back to the seat is adjustable. The seat is thereby adjustable in angle front-to-back, can be canted left-to-right, changed in elevation, and the back support can be adjusted in angle and elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Swiss Cargo Industries S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Farber