Plural Distinct Occupant-supporting Positions Patents (Class 297/354.12)
  • Patent number: 11866085
    Abstract: A stroller with a linkage-foldable backrest has a stroller frame convertible between an unfolded state and a folded state. Folding of the stroller frame of the provided stroller drives the backrest portion to fold, to prevent the edge of the end portion of the backrest portion from touching the ground. The folding operation of the backrest portion is simple and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Jialiang Yuan
  • Patent number: 11419424
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism configured for adjusting a backrest of a chair, including a clamp element configured to be fixedly attached to a static frame, which extends along a longitudinal axis; a guided frame selectively moveably coupled to the clamp element and configured to be fixedly attached to the backrest, and wherein displacement of the guided frame relative to the clamp element is configured to urge corresponding displacement of the backrest either axially along a first axis extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis or angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Anatoli Chernin
  • Patent number: 11312266
    Abstract: An electric seat and an angle adjustment device thereof are provided. The angle adjustment device includes an inner toothed plate and an outer toothed plate engaging with each other, and an eccentric cavity formed therebetween. An eccentric ring completely occupying a positive eccentric region of the eccentric cavity is provided in the eccentric cavity. The eccentric ring has a first accommodating region and a second accommodating region along a circumferential direction. The angle adjustment device further comprises a driving component for driving rotation of the eccentric ring. A damping component is provided in the first accommodating region and/or the second accommodating region, and the damping component is in a compressed state during operation of the driving component. The damping component eliminates a useless stroke in the above operation, thereby eliminating an adjustment lag experienced by a passenger during reverse adjustment of a seat and backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HUBEI AVIATION PRECISION MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Zhang, Bin Li, Chong Jiang, Zhengkun Huang
  • Patent number: 11142107
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle seat including a first side frame, a second side frame, a first coupling member, a second coupling member, a recliner, a coupling plate, a first fastener and a second fastener to fix the coupling plate to the first side frame by fastening, a first reinforcer to reinforce a first portion, of the first side frame, located in an extending direction center thereof, and a second reinforcer to reinforce a second portion, of the first side frame, surrounding the second coupling member. The first side frame has a low-rigidity portion provided between the first fastener and the second fastener. A thickness of the low-rigidity portion is smaller than a sum of a thickness of the first portion and a thickness of the first reinforcer and than a sum of a thickness of the second portion and a thickness of the second reinforcer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11142101
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back that is pivotable about an axis of rotation, and a reclining assembly. The reclining assembly includes a base, a carrier secured to the base and including a rod guide, a curved rod interfacing the rod guide, a spring having a fixed end and a rotatable end, and a curved spring housing that extends over the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Jones, Johannes Barzen, Eckhard Nock
  • Patent number: 11046214
    Abstract: In this vehicle seat reclining device, the annular protrusion of a ratchet has a first region, a second region, and a third region, which are arranged circumferentially, and the outer side surface of the ratchet has a fourth region. The protrusion is shaped so that the third region extends further radially outward than the second region. As a result, the portion of the fourth region, which corresponds to the third region, extends further radially outward than the portion of the fourth region, which corresponds to the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Teraguchi, Yoichi Takada
  • Patent number: 11034265
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism having first and second hinge flanges, a control device controlling the relative rotation of the first and second hinge flanges, a closure ring integrally secured to the second hinge flange and retaining the first flange against the second flange, and an external frame integrally secured to the second flange. The second hinge flange is integrally secured to both the external frame and the retaining ring by the same weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA SIÈGES D'AUTOMOBILE
    Inventor: Luc Leportier
  • Patent number: 10945901
    Abstract: The invention relates to means for releasably connecting a wheelchair backrest to a wheelchair frame. This is desirable to facilitate collapse of the wheelchair for transport or storage. In the preferred embodiment there is a wheelchair having a support frame, a backrest (16) and connector comprising a saddle (1) and a clamp (17). The saddle has a slot (3) with top and front openings and a locking lever (7). Two pins (12) are received in the slot so they extend through the front opening, and the lever (7) is able to move to divide the slot into top and bottom zones so that a lower one of the pins is prevented from being withdrawn from the slot via the top opening by the lever. The lever can then be moved to unblock the lower pin and allow the slot (3) and the pins (12) to be dissociated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ROLAPAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Roydon Mark Scarlett
  • Patent number: 10933999
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger cabin area comprises a main aisle extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft passenger cabin area, a restricted area, wherein a non-encroachable safety area is defined in the region of the restricted area, a transverse aisle connecting the main aisle to the restricted area and at least one passenger seat comprising a rigid carrier structure, a backrest and a seat element and arranged in the passenger cabin area adjacent to the transverse aisle such that the seat element faces the transverse aisle. The seat element is displaceable, relative to the backrest and carrier structure, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transverse aisle between a usable position and an out-of-use position. In its usable position, the seat element, protrudes into the safety area, but, in its out-of-use position, the seat element clears the safety area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Blanck, Frank Cordes, Jean-Baptiste Jaffrelot, Jan Uwe Nehl, Marcus Boerjesson
  • Patent number: 10913377
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat subframe, a cushion carrier for a seat part of the vehicle seat, wherein the cushion carrier is adjustably mounted on the seat subframe in order to lower at least one section of the cushion carrier, and a backrest which can be pivoted, relative to the seat subframe, in a comfort region for adjustment of a usage position of the backrest and in a transition region outside of the comfort region toward the cushion carrier into a loading position, wherein there is a locking mechanism which, during adjustment of the backrest in the comfort region, locks the cushion carrier against adjustment and permits adjustment of the cushion carrier by the adjustment of the backrest when the backrest is pivoted beyond the comfort region toward the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Johannes Ultsch, Sascha Hartmann, Herwig Eberwein
  • Patent number: 10850649
    Abstract: A seat position controller performs seat position change processing by performing longitudinal position change processing and at least one of vertical position change processing and tilt angle change processing. When the seat position controller performs the seat position change processing, a change degree setting part sets the degree of speed change in the longitudinal direction of a seat main body during the longitudinal position change processing smaller than the degree of speed change in the vertical direction of the seat main body during the vertical position change processing, and the degree of speed change in a tilt angle direction of a seat back during the tilt angle change processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harutomi Nishide, Kentaro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10793035
    Abstract: A seat frame for a framework structure of a vehicle seat includes a plurality of frame bodies formed by bending a single tubular member. The single tubular member is formed in a closed cross-sectional shape by a single long and flat member being bent in a direction that is at a right angle with respect to the lengthwise direction of the long and flat member, and then end edges of the tubular member that have come to face each other being joined together by welding. Each of the plurality of frame bodies includes a bend part and rectilinear parts. The bend part is rectangular in cross section. The rectilinear parts include a rectangular cross section portion and a cross-section-varying portion. The end part of the cross-section-varying portion, connected to the rectangular cross section portion, is rectangular in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Kawauchi, Satoshi Hashimoto, Shun Takagi, Hiromi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10773806
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling seat actuation and other controls using an in-flight entertainment system of an aircraft or other vehicle. The system can include an electronic control unit configured to send commands to actuate a passenger seat based on input received via a passenger controlled device. The electronic control unit or a related peripheral component is configured to receive a flight phase notification. If the flight phase notification indicates a taxi, take-off or landing phase, the electronic control unit sends a command to disable actuation of the passenger seat. Such command could also be sent if the flight phase notification is not received for a predefined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Matthew Gledich
  • Patent number: 10668839
    Abstract: A trim component for a vehicle seat base includes a center portion and first and second side portions. The center portion includes a center inner panel that can face a frame of the seat and a center outer panel that can to be visible within a passenger cabin of the vehicle. The center outer panel includes a flexible material and covers the center inner panel. The first and second side portions are fixed on opposite sides of the center portion. Each of the first and second side portions includes a side inner panel that can face the frame of the seat and a side outer panel that can be visible within the passenger cabin. The side outer panel includes the flexible material and covers the side inner panel. The trim component can be fixed to a back of the seat to conceal at least a portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Rylance, Peter J. Randazzo
  • Patent number: 10661686
    Abstract: A device for tilting the backrest of a vehicle seat and a method for mounting the device. The device includes a backrest hinge and a handle element fixed to the backrest hinge. The handle element is formed of a metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA SIEGES D'AUTOMOBILE
    Inventors: Bernard Denis, David Ventre
  • Patent number: 10532670
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat recliner for a vehicle, the seat recliner including: a first flange provided with a plurality of guide parts being spaced apart from each other, with guide spaces defined between the guide parts; a plurality of locking gears disposed in the guide spaces of the first flange respectively, configured to slide forward and backward along the guide parts in a radial direction, and provided with external teeth at an outer end of each of the locking gears; and a second flange coupled with the first flange to be rotatable relative thereto, formed in a shape covering the guide parts and the locking gears, and configured to be engaged with the external teeth of the locking gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Dymos Incorporated
    Inventor: Seung Hun Chang
  • Patent number: 10207604
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a pivot mechanism that pivotally couples first and second portions of a seat back. The pivot mechanism may have a linkage tube and a linkage pin. The linkage pin may extend through the linkage tube and may have an enlarged head that may retain the linkage pin in the linkage tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Anton Stesl
  • Patent number: 10207605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a latching fitting (10), in particular for a seat of a motor vehicle. The latching fitting (10) comprises a base plate (20), a cover plate (30), at least one blocking arm (40, 140) and an actuating plate (50). The cover plate (30) is rotatable relative to the base plate (20) and has an internal toothing (31). The blocking arm (40, 140) is arranged on the base plate (20) and is pivotable between an unlocked position, in which rotation of the cover plate (30) relative to the base plate (20) is possible, and a locked position, in which rotation of the cover plate (30) relative to the base plate (20) is blocked. The actuating plate (50) is rotatable relative to the base plate (20) and shifts the blocking arm (40, 140) between the unlocked position and the locked position. The internal toothing (31) has first blocking teeth (34) which have a vertex (35) and which are formed asymmetrically with respect to a radial axis (A) which runs through the vertex (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: component engineering services GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Winkelhake
  • Patent number: 10144314
    Abstract: A vehicle seat frame comprising a first adjusting part and a second adjusting part which is pivotable relative to the first adjusting part, at least two detent fittings by means of which the first adjusting part and the second adjusting part are connected together, wherein the at least two detent fittings hold the two adjusting parts in position relative to each other in a locked state and are able to be unlocked from each other in order to pivot the two adjusting parts, an actuating device which is connected to a first of the at least two detent fittings for unlocking the first of the at least two detent fittings and a coupling device by means of which the at least two detent fittings are coupled together for a common unlocking process. The coupling device comprises a tensile element which is designed to transmit a tensile force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventor: Andreas Pauls
  • Patent number: 9969309
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a frame and a shield mounted thereto, wherein the frame has a hole portion or an insertion portion, the shield has an insertion part which is inserted into the hole portion or a hole part into which the insertion portion is inserted, the engaging portion of the shield engages with the engaged portion of the frame in a state where the infix portion is inserted into the cavity portion, and the cavity portion is arranged such that a direction in which the infix portion is inserted into the cavity portion is a direction intersected with the insertion direction of the insertion part relative to the hole portion or the direction intersected with the insertion direction of the insertion portion relative to the hole part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nakagawa, Shota Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 9649954
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has a seat part and a backrest which is provided with a backrest frame which runs all around as a load-bearing structure. The backrest frame has a lower crossmember, two side parts and an upper crossmember. The backrest can pivot relative to the seat part by at least one fitting which is attached to the backrest frame. At least one corner piece is provided as part of the backrest frame, which corner piece connects the lower crossmember to one of the seat parts. The fitting is attached to the corner piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Dill, Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 9566883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trapezoidal component comprising a base element and two legs, which are each connected to the base element in a transition region. The invention further relates to a linear guide and to a head restraint having such a linear guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventors: Martin Gottwald, Thomas Dillinger, Robby Potisch
  • Patent number: 9500012
    Abstract: An outer peripheral portion of a hook in a lock device is formed with a recess, which is formed to extend inwardly from a peripheral surface, and a first face, which is formed at a side of a rotation direction toward the unlock position of the hook than the recess and intersects the rotation direction of the hook, and a pawl is formed with a protrusion, which is detachably engaged with the recess of the hook, and a second face, against which the first face of the hook is capable of abutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9446686
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a front seat and a rear seat, each having a backrest and a squab. The front and rear seats are arranged in a staggered duplex overlapping relationship. A portion of a front edge of the rear seat squab overlaps a portion of a rear edge of the front seat squab. An inboard edge of the rear seat squab overlaps a portion of an inboard edge of the front seat squab. A longitudinal distance measured from a front edge of the front seat squab to a rear edge of the rear seat squab is less than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the front and rear seat squabs. A transverse distance measured from an outboard edge of the front seat squab to an outboard edge of the rear seat squab is less than the sum of the widths of the front and rear seat squabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
  • Patent number: 9434277
    Abstract: A seat for a passenger cabin of a vehicle includes a bucket seat (10), the bucket seat including a seat pan (11) and a back rest (12) attached to the seat pan with which it determines a dihedron with a constant angle, integral with a base (20). The bucket seat is mobile, between a sitting position “a,” in which the seat pan (11) is approximately horizontal, and a resting position “r,” in which the back rest (12) is pivoted rearward by an angle  relative to the sitting position “a,” in rotation relative to the base around an axis of rotation (21), approximately fixed relative to the base, located above the seat pan (11) and in front of the back rest (12) when the bucket seat is in the sitting position “a.” The pivoting axis is defined by, for example, the shape of slides on which rollers or shoes travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: STELIA AEROSPACE
    Inventors: Olivier Jerome, Gabriel Martin, Laurent Texeraud
  • Patent number: 9409498
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat, with a seat part, a backrest which, as a supporting structure, has a backrest structure with at least one side part, and at least one fitting by which the backrest is connected to the seat part and can be pivoted relative thereto, wherein a distance is defined in an axial direction between the fitting and the side part, the backrest structure has at least one profile body which is fixedly connected at one end to the side part and at the other end to the fitting and which at least partially has a profile which is constant in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 9381831
    Abstract: A reclining structure of a vehicular seat is provided with: a coupling shaft configured to couple a seat back to a vehicle main body; a slide rail provided at a side part of the vehicle main body and having a curved guide shape; a slider mounted to the slide rail; an attaching and detaching mechanism configured to detachably engage the slider and the seat back with each other; and a slide lock mechanism configured to lock movement of the slider. The slide lock mechanism is provided with: a lock member guided by and mounted to the slider to be slidable in a diametrical direction; a cam member mounted to the slider to straightly push out the lock member in the diametrical direction; and a lock teeth having a teeth face arranged to face in the diametrical direction along the guide shape of the slide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi, Syunsuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9320358
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a first and second plates and a lock mechanism which locks/unlocks relative rotation therebetween. The first plate includes an engaging protrusion on a side engaged in a holding portion, and a protrusion-corresponding recess formed on the other side of the first plate recessed at a position corresponding to the engaging protrusion. The engaging protrusion includes a pressure receiving portion on a peripheral edge thereof and engages with an inner peripheral surface of the holding portion to receive a force therefrom when a load is exerted on a seatback frame in the locked state. The first plate includes an annular bridging portion connecting the peripheral edges of the engaging protrusion and the protrusion-corresponding recess; the annular bridging portion including a thin-wall portion, and a thick-wall portion corresponding to the pressure receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9126516
    Abstract: A seat frame structure having frame components that are symmetrical about a longitudinal center line is provided. The seat frame components can be symmetrical about a longitudinal center line and thereby enable the component to be rotated about the center line so it may be used on a right side or a left side of the seat with all structural and/or functionality preserved. Some structural and/or functional features of the seat component that are carried over from a right side to a left side, and vise versa, when the seat component is symmetrical include but are not limited to recliner attachment holes, cable attachment holes, crossbar attachment holes, an airbag slot, flanges, and backboard attachment holes, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rupert Muck, Masroor Fahim, Peter James Moegling, Robert Joseph Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 9102348
    Abstract: A baby carriage includes a frame, a lock mechanism, a seat back and a webbing. The frame has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The lock mechanism has a housing and a lock member, the housing is disposed on the first end, a through hole is formed on the housing, and the lock member is disposed in the through hole. The webbing passes through the through hole, it is wound around a back side of the seat back and attached on the second end. The webbing is clamped in the lock member, so as to keep the seat back at a recline angle. When the lock member is operated to release the webbing, the webbing is capable of moving within the through hole, so as to adjust the recline angle of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Ryan N. Miller, Nathanael Saint
  • Publication number: 20150145304
    Abstract: A backrest adjustor comprises a shell, a rotary gear located inside the shell, a winding wheel which is driven by the gear and located inside the shell, a knob for driving the gear to rotate, and a button capable of controlling the gear to rotate, moving and being reset by a reset component. A rotating portion of the knob is exposed outside the shell. The backrest adjustor further comprises a ribbon, the middle segment of which is wound on the winding wheel while two ends of which used for connecting a frame of a baby carriage extend from the shell and are then wound around the outer face of the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Fulai YAO, Dexiang LEI, Jinhai HUANG
  • Publication number: 20150130243
    Abstract: A juvenile seat assembly includes a seat back mounted for pivotable movement relative to a seat bottom. The seat back can be locked in different positions relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: James R Varney, John A MacNeill, Scott A Leclerc, James M Ormond
  • Publication number: 20150130245
    Abstract: The present invention relate to a vehicle seat (1) having a backrest (3) which is provided to be pivotable on a seat part about a pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jorg Linnenbrink, Ingo Kienke, Kurt Seibold, Alexander I Balin
  • Publication number: 20150108812
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a movable backrest of an adjustable chair, which can include: a backrest assembly, a first backrest support, a first backrest connector, a second backrest support, a second backrest connector, and a backrest guiding apparatus; the backrest assembly is connected to the first backrest support through a first shaft, the backrest assembly is connected to the guiding apparatus through a seventh shaft, the first backrest support is connected to the first backrest connector through a second shaft, the backrest guiding apparatus is connected to the first backrest connector through a sixth shaft. The invention is simple, durable, and easy to operate, can help eliminate a gap between the backrest and the sitting pad when the adjustable chair is at different positions, reduce the friction feeling of a person's back and prevent the backrest from touching the well when the adjustable chair is at different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Huang, James Li, Dick Qin, Daniel Wang, Jerry Zou
  • Publication number: 20150108808
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat part, a backrest part and a least one fitting which connects the backrest part with the seat part pivotally about a pivot axis and in a locked condition is formed to hold the backrest part in position to the seat part, and in an unlocked condition is formed to permit pivoting of the backrest part relative to the seat part. For actuating the at least one fitting, a first actuating element and a second actuating element different from the first actuating element are provided. Via a coupling element, the second actuating element is coupled with a fitting lever, wherein by shifting the second actuating element the fitting lever is movable for actuating the at least one fitting. The coupling element and the fitting lever are coupled with each other via a first connecting means and a second connecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Juergen SCHUKALSKI
  • Publication number: 20150091355
    Abstract: A seat frame for a conveyance seat includes a cushion frame, a back frame, and a recliner. The side frame on a back side is structured by a panel extending in a front-back direction. Flange parts directed towards a center side in a seat width direction are provided in both front and back edge parts of the panel, respectively. A bead that crosses a deformation line is formed on the panel so as to prevent deformation of the panel of the side frame on the back side due to displacement of the front side flange part towards the center side in the seat width direction with respect to a connecting part with the recliner when backward load is applied to the back frame, the deformation line being a line set on the panel on an assumption that deformation occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITOU, Yuusuke AKIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20150091354
    Abstract: A recliner that connects a seatback to a base in a manner in which a backrest angle is adjustable includes one disc-shaped connecting member and another disk-shaped connecting member, a locking mechanism that locks the relative rotation of the two connecting members, and an outer peripheral ring. The one connecting member has a smaller outer diameter than the other connecting member does. The outer peripheral ring has a joining portion joined to the outer peripheral portion of the other connecting member, an abutting portion bent radially inward so as to abut against the outer peripheral portion of the one connecting member from an outside in the axial direction, and a connecting portion that connects the joining portion to the abutting portion. The connecting portion has a shape in which at least a portion in a circumferential direction thereof extends inclined radially inward from the joining portion toward the abutting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro ENOKIJIMA, Eiichiro TSUJI, Keiichi KONDOU
  • Patent number: 8991926
    Abstract: A backrest for a wheelchair includes an adjustable cushion support, a backrest frame, and attachment members. The adjustable cushion support supports a backrest cushion, and substantially defines plane P1. The backrest frame holds the cushion support and has two substantially parallel side posts substantially defining a plane P2. The attachment members attach the cushion support to the backrest frame. The cushion support comprises two side bars and a plurality of transversally extending and vertically spaced apart flexible straps. Each strap is length adjustable. The cushion support comprises at least two connecting plates. Each plate being integral with one of the side bars and being provided with at least two parallel adjustment slots. The slots define an angle ?, with said plane P1 of the adjustable support cushion. The attachment members are slidably mounted on the slots, enabling depth, width and angular adjustment of the cushion support on the backrest frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Invacare International Sarl
    Inventor: Ulf Johansson
  • Publication number: 20150076874
    Abstract: A lounge assembly includes a movable backrest to be positioned at multiple locations on its seating surface. The backrest is supported by plate supports extending into the seat below its seating surface to connect to a slidable carriage assembly used to move the backrest. The backrest can be locked into selected positions on the lounge assembly seating surface. The lounge assembly is especially adapted for a boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: David A. Neese, Mark Edward Doggett, Paul Durant Gallup
  • Publication number: 20150069808
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a reclined seating position and a fold flat position. A recliner assembly is coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion to provide pivotal movement of the seat back. A riser assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and pivotally latched to the floor to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a horizontal seating position and a forwardly upright tumbled position. A release mechanism is coupled between the seat back and the riser assembly for automatically synchronizing actuation of the recliner assembly and the riser assembly to provide movement of the seat assembly to the tumbled position in response to the pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: David A White, Prasad D. Jagtap, Alan Proulx, Timothy J. Brush, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Omar D. Tame, Robert T. Coffey, Rabindranath Persad, Douglas A. Dingel, Nelson E. Hurst, Jerzy Dzledzic, Lei Cao, Brian Adwell
  • Patent number: 8960803
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with an operation portion that protrudes toward a rear seat from an opening formed at an outer shield and that is used to unlock a recliner from the rear seat side and a reinforcement member that is attached to a cushion frame side so as to cover a notch formed near the opening of the outer shield. Engagement hooks that engage with respective engagement holes formed at edges of the notch and a fixing portion that is fixed to a plate provided at the cushion frame side are formed at the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mita, Jun Ueda
  • Publication number: 20150042141
    Abstract: The present invention involves a recline boat seat having a dual position hinge to allow the user to adjust the seat back position manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Brad Sines, Tyson Ellert
  • Publication number: 20150036060
    Abstract: A passenger seat assembly comprising an assembly of seating modules arranged for relative pivotal movement; a membranous mesh fixed about each module for providing support to a passenger in said passenger seat assembly; said mesh comprising a passenger support face and a reaction face on an opposed face of each of said modules; said mesh fixed so as to permit relative movement between the passenger face and reaction face and arranged to redistribute tension between the passenger face and the reaction face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Airgo Design Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Alireza Yaghoubi
  • Publication number: 20150035335
    Abstract: A reclinable chair includes a seat frame, a backrest frame pivoted to the seat frame, and two armrest units, at least one of which includes a sleeve having a tubular body with an inner peripheral surface defining a passage, a core rod spaced from the inner peripheral surface by an annular gap and having a rear end pivoted to the backrest frame. A biasing member is disposed between a front end of the tubular body and a front end of the core rod. A positioning member is disposed in the sleeve, and includes two curved sections and an intermediate section. The positioning member is movable between loose and tight positions, where the intermediate section is not squeezed and is squeezed into the gap, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Chi-San WENG
  • Publication number: 20150035336
    Abstract: A backrest assembly for a wheelchair includes a support plate pivotally connected to a seat, wherein the support plate is configured to be pivotally adjusted between upright and reclined positions with respect to the seat; a slide plate slidably secured on a front surface of the support plate; and a backrest adjustment assembly operatively connected to the support plate and the slide plate. The backrest adjustment assembly includes a link configured to adjust the support plate. The slide plate slides over the support plate through the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Bo Engman, Urban Lind, Niklas Backstrom, Jonas Jahkel, Mehdi Mirzaie
  • Publication number: 20150021959
    Abstract: A chair has a seat portion having a front, a rear and sides. The chair also has a footrest adjustable between at least two positions: a retracted position and an extended position. The footrest is cantilevered from the seat portion in the extended position. The chair also has a plurality of members connected by a plurality of linkages permitting the members to pivot with respect to each other. The plurality of members is adapted to hold the footrest in the retracted position and to support the footrest in the extended position. The chair also has a cover for hiding the plurality of linkages when viewed from a lateral position when the footrest is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 8919797
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a conveyance, such as a wheelchair, that allows the user to set the recline angle of the seat back at a seating position, fold the seat back down to a folded position and back up to the seating position, such that the seat back is returned to the seating position at the user selected recline angle R unless the recline angle is adjusted by the user. The user selected recline angle R is not disturbed by folding the seat back from the seating position, to the folded position 106, and back to the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Invacare Corp.
    Inventors: Howard Lowenthal, Traian Mohan, Robert Bekoscke, Damon Jurkiewicz, Daniel James Yee
  • Patent number: 8875321
    Abstract: A sofa hinge that provides easy conversion of a sofa convertible from one position to another while providing added safety by substantially reducing the risk of an injury to the operator's fingers. The sofa hinge includes a first and a second bracket rotatably connected to the sofa hinge at a bolt. The second bracket includes a semi-circular portion that covers a portion of the lever during the various positions of the sofa. The sofa hinge further includes a cover plate rotatably connected to the sofa hinge at the bolt. The cover plate includes a semi-circular portion and is adjacent to the semi-circular portion of the second bracket. The cover plate covers at least a portion of the semi-circular portion of the second bracket. By having the cover plate conceal the gear mechanism of the sofa hinge, the risk of injury to the operator's fingers is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lifestyle Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Abedan Kanthasamy
  • Patent number: 8864222
    Abstract: A unifoldable reclining chair design has a collapsible articulated frame and includes a pair of opposing side assemblies having longitudinally elongated pivotally connected side frame members that are maintained in opposing transversally spaced relation by front and rear collapsible X-shaped connector assemblies. Slidable pivot connections, or alternatively, pivotal connecting linkages, which join the rear connector assembly to associated side frame members, enable all of the frame members to move substantially in unison and in multiple directions relative to each other while simultaneously undergoing multiple changes in an angular position relative to each other to move the chair frame from a set-up condition for use to a collapsed condition for transportation and/or storage in response to a single folding action. The slidable pivot connections and pivotal connecting linkages also enable a chair occupant to change the angular position of the chair back support when seated or reclined in the set-up chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel R. Grace
  • Publication number: 20140292052
    Abstract: A chair has a supporting frame 1, a seat portion 101, a back portion 201 that has an upper end, a lower end, and is pivotally mounted relative to the supporting frame at a position above its lower end, and a recline mechanism 601. The recline mechanism 601 lifts the seat portion 101 upon a reclining action of the back portion 201, and has an operative connection 603, 611 between the seat portion and the supporting frame and a drag link 602 pivotally connected to the seat portion 101 and pivotally connected to the back portion 201 at a position below the pivotal mounting of the back portion relative to the supporting frame. As the back portion 201 of the chair is reclined, the lower end of the back portion 201 moves forward and the drag link 602 pulls the seat portion 101 upward relative to the supporting frame 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Gregory William Baum, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Gavin James Bateman, Leon Harley Craze, Jon Leonard Fifield, Mark Rundle Pennington, Wayne Douglas O'Hara, Martyn Walter Goodwin Collings, Paul James Stevenson