Horizontally Patents (Class 297/383)
  • Patent number: 11744370
    Abstract: A chair may include a frame, a seat pan, a backrest, a pair of arm rests, and a plurality of legs wherein at least two legs may each provided with an inner leg and an outer leg and the inner leg is configured to telescope out of the outer leg, wherein the at least two legs may include a leg locking system for locking the outer leg to the inner leg when the chair is in an unfolded position, wherein the leg locking system may include a trigger housing, a trigger, and a latch, and wherein the latch may be configured to engage a bushing on the inner leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: YETI Coolers, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Winterhalter, Michael Cieszko, Evan Goldberg, Derek Sullivan, Donald Edward Desroches
  • Patent number: 11607973
    Abstract: An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Adam Kanitz
  • Patent number: 11465703
    Abstract: The invention provides method for bicycle riders to rest without sitting. The device can be any shape but the most common shape will be that of a wing. The device will be located behind the rider similar to location of a common bicycle seat. It was designed for men but can be enjoyed by women that do not find the common bicycle seat to be comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Earl Cheatham
  • Patent number: 11345264
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat bottom having a rear and a pair of sides extending in a seat-forward direction from the rear. The assembly includes a seatback rotatably supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes an active actuator operatively connected to the seatback to rotate the seatback about a vertical axis toward one of the sides of the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fernando Lozano Omaña, Dante Arturo Rodriguez Camacho, Luis Enrique Castillo Jaime, Michelle Carolina Herrera Gutienez, Zhibing Deng
  • Patent number: 11117497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat having a seat part and a backrest part, which comprises a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part arranged adjacent thereto in the vertical direction of the vehicle seat, a displacement device being arranged with a first section, which is fixedly connected to the lower backrest part, and with a second section, which is fixedly connected to the upper backrest part, the second section being completely displaceable together with the upper backrest part relative to the lower backrest part by means of a displacement movement directed at least in part in the width direction of the vehicle seat, the first section being arranged completely below the upper backrest part in the vertical direction and forming a guideway for the displacement movement of the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Thomas Haller
  • Patent number: 10821040
    Abstract: A convertible chair bed device. The convertible chair bed device includes a frame assembly, having a left bar support and a right bar support, configured to support a plurality of cross bars. The frame assembly is sized to accept a padded base between the left bar support and the right bar support, and the padded base includes a first section pivotally attached to a second section. During use, an individual seated on the padded base, such as a handicapped individual, is able to grip and move any of the plurality of cross bars to independently transition between a seated position and a supine position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Inventor: Leonard Goodrich
  • Patent number: 10537177
    Abstract: A furniture member may include a seat base frame, a seat bottom, and a seatback. The seat bottom may be attached to the seat base frame. The seatback may be attached to the seat base frame and may include a seatback frame and a seat-depth-adjustment mechanism. The seat-depth-adjustment mechanism may include a backrest support member and a seat-depth-adjustment actuator. The seat-depth-adjustment actuator may be mounted to the seatback frame and may be drivingly coupled to the backrest support member to move the backrest support member relative to the seatback frame and the seat bottom between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. Lapointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz
  • Patent number: 9814313
    Abstract: An apparatus that supports a tattoo artist in a variety of positions to comfortably apply one or more tattoos to skin of a subject is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be reconfigured to optimally position and support the arms and/or chest of the tattoo artist. A method for using a tattoo stool can involve rotating armrests of the apparatus from a stowed position to a deployed position. The armrests can support the user's forearms while supporting the user's chest such that the user can comfortably tattoo a portion of the subject positioned in front of the stool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: InkBed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Richardson, Edgar Zavala
  • Patent number: 9804847
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for thread context preservation in a configuration including a core configurable between a single thread (ST) mode and a multithreading (MT) mode is provided. The ST mode addresses a primary thread, and the MT mode addresses the primary thread and one or more secondary threads on shared resources of the core. Based on determining, by the core in the MT mode, that MT is to be disabled, switching from the MT mode to the ST mode is performed, where the primary thread of the MT mode is maintained as the primary thread of the ST mode. A thread context including program accessible register values and program counter values of the one or more secondary threads is made inaccessible to programs. Based on the switching, any one of clearing the program accessible register values or retaining the program accessible register values is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Bradbury, Fadi Y. Busaba, Mark S. Farrell, Charles W. Gainey, Jr., Dan F. Greiner, Lisa Cranton Heller, Jeffrey P. Kubala, Damian L. Osisek, Donald W. Schmidt, Timothy J. Slegel
  • Patent number: 9795527
    Abstract: A backrest fixation system (1) for a wheelchair, wherein the backrest fixation system (1) comprises a seat frame member (3) having a groove side (3a) provided with a first groove (5) having first groove retaining surfaces, which seat frame member (3) has a first lateral side (3b) and a second lateral side (3c) parallel to each other and which define lateral sides of the groove side (3a), a first groove insert member (9) arranged in the first groove (5) and retained in the first groove (5) by means of the first groove retaining surfaces, a backrest attachment member (15) having a first backrest attachment member through-opening (15a), a first fastener (17), and a reinforcement member (13) arranged between the backrest attachment member (15) and the groove side (3a) of the seat frame member (3), which reinforcement member (13) has a first leg (13a) and a second leg (13b), wherein the first leg (13a) extends along the first lateral side (3b) of the seat frame member (3) and the second leg (13b) extends along the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PERMOBIL AB
    Inventors: Rune Stenstrom, Hans-Erik West
  • Patent number: 9451831
    Abstract: An apparatus that supports a tattoo artist in a variety of positions to comfortably apply one or more tattoos to skin of a subject is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be reconfigured to optimally position and support the arms and/or chest of the tattoo artist. A method for using a tattoo stool can involve rotating armrests of the apparatus from a stowed position to a deployed position. The armrests can support the user's forearms while supporting the user's chest such that the user can comfortably tattoo a portion of the subject positioned in front of the stool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: InkBed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Richardson, Edgar Zavala
  • Patent number: 9403463
    Abstract: There is provided a panel-shaped seat back frame used for a seat back of a vehicle seat. The panel-shaped seat back frame includes a basic frame member configured by a metallic rod-shaped material, and a panel-shaped forming member which is made of a hard foamed resin and covers the basic frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Okugawa, Kazuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9226864
    Abstract: An orthopedic toilet seat includes a frame supporting a seat. The frame is moveable over an existing toilet so that the seat is positioned to allow a person to use the toilet when sitting on the seat. The toilet seat may be configured so that the femur to spine, and femur to shin, joint angles are between 90° and 140°. Also, the seat is configured to be disposed at an angle between 5° and 65° above horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Gianfagna, Chitranjan Ranawat
  • Patent number: 9084486
    Abstract: An apparatus that supports a tattoo artist in a variety of positions to comfortably apply one or more tattoos to skin of a subject is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be reconfigured to optimally position and support the arms and/or chest of the tattoo artist. A method for using a tattoo stool can involve rotating armrests of the apparatus from a stowed position to a deployed position. The armrests can support the user's forearms while supporting the user's chest such that the user can comfortably tattoo a portion of the subject positioned in front of the stool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: InkBed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Richardson, Edgar Zavala
  • Patent number: 9039087
    Abstract: A chair capable of allowing positions of armrests and a back plate to be simultaneously adjusted having an integrated back plate cell including a backrest portion and armrest portions extending forward from the backrest portion, a lower frame including a seat plat support portion and an armrest support portion which extends upward from the seat plat support portion and is coupled to each of the armrest portions, and a fixing lever which fixes the armrest portion to the armrest support portion, wherein the integrated back plate cell is obliquely movable relative to the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sidiz, Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Wo Lee, Tae Hee Ryu
  • Patent number: 8998335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat part and with a seat back part for supporting a driver of the vehicle in the sitting position on the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat has an additional vehicle driver's torso support device which can be disposed outside the seat part and the seat back and which can be temporarily disposed at least partially in an otherwise seat-free torso support region in front of the seat back part and laterally and/or above the seat back part, in order to provide support, laterally off-center of the seat back part, at least at the level of the shoulder region of the driver who is sitting on the vehicle seat when he adopts a seated working posture oriented to the side or backwards, and wherein the additional vehicle driver's torso support device comprises a seat back extension device which is disposed on the seat back part (3) so as to be movable in translation along a horizontal axis in order to be able to move the additional vehicle driver's torso support device su
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Katja Buehlmeyer, Erwin Haller, Jens Kolb, Roland Uebelacker, Hermann Meiller
  • 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: 20150015045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a utility motor vehicle seat, having a seat part, having a backrest comprising a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part, and having a holding device, by means of which the upper backrest part is mounted displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part, wherein the holding device has a sliding guide device, by means of which the upper backrest part is arranged displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part along a displacement curve so as to mount the upper backrest part displaceably at least in part past the side edge of the lower backrest part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Roland UEBELACKER, Erwin HALLER, Ralph NUSS, Gerhard DELLING
  • Publication number: 20150015047
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a utility motor vehicle seat, having a seat part, having a backrest comprising a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part, and having a holding device, by means of which the upper backrest part is mounted displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part, wherein the holding device comprises a guide device, by means of which the upper backrest part can be linearly displaced along a displacement curve laterally past at least one side edge of the lower backrest part in such a way that the upper backrest part can also be rotated about the displacement curve and/or about a transverse axis extending in a transverse manner to the displacement curve during the lateral displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Roland UEBELACKER
  • Publication number: 20150015046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a utility motor vehicle seat, having a seat part, having a backrest comprising a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part, and having a holding device, by means of which the upper backrest part is mounted displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part, the holding device comprising a guide roller device, by means of which the upper backrest part is arranged laterally displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part along a displacement curve so as to mount the upper backrest part displaceably at least in part past the side edge of the lower backrest part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Roland UEBELACKER, Erwin HIMMERHUBER, Gerhard DELLING
  • Publication number: 20150001903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part, a backrest and a bearing device for supporting a backrest extension part, in particular an upper backrest part, relative to a lower backrest part of the backrest of the vehicle seat, wherein the bearing device comprises a plurality of plain bearing bush units for supporting elongated transverse elements of the backrest extension part along sliding axes arranged perpendicular to the backrest, wherein the plain bearing bush units are assembled from identically designed asymmetrical bearing bush parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Franz SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 8864230
    Abstract: A chair and method of use is for a chair disposed upon a surface that is designed for a female anatomy; the chair includes a seat having proximate and distal end portions forming a first convex surface with a chord plane intersecting, the having a length shorter than its width. The chair includes a back having first and second end portions that form a second convex surface, wherein, a second lateral measure on the second end is less than a first lateral measure on the first end. The seat plane and an extension axis that is perpendicular to the surface are relatively positioned to one another to form an acute angle to one another, such that a user's femur bone lengthwise angles downward from hip to knee toward the surface while the user's shoulders arch rearward thus aligning the user's hip joint and shoulder joint vertically for better posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Betty A. Augustat
  • Patent number: 8840183
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear seat has two units, which are set side by side along a horizontal axis, are each provided with a respective squab and a respective backrest and are arranged on opposite sides of a support device having a lower base designed to be fastened to a floorpan of the motor vehicle; the device has a body that supports the two units and has a position that can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction and in height with respect to the lower base; a fixing device is provided to block this body in the desired position with respect to the lower base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Genta
  • Publication number: 20140225412
    Abstract: In order to improve steering operation operability during cornering while maintaining a driver holding property, a seat apparatus is provided with: a seat back frame; a cornering sensor for detecting a cornering direction of a vehicle; and a control unit that controls the seat back frame on the basis of the result of detection by the cornering sensor. The seat back frame is provided with: left and right side frames disposed on both sides of the seat back frame; a back plate disposed between the left and right side frames; and a swinging mechanism for swinging the back plate with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle. The control unit controls the swinging mechanism such that, upon detection of a cornering direction of the vehicle by the cornering sensor, the inner one of the sides of the back plate with respect to the cornering direction is positioned rearward of the outer one of the sides with respect to the cornering direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8727444
    Abstract: An infant carrier apparatus comprises a support frame including a seat assembly that has a longitudinal axis extending from a front end to a rear end thereof, and a backrest assembly including a backrest frame and at least a holder socket, the backrest frame being mounted with the support frame via the holder socket, and the holder socket being adjustable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position. In other embodiments, a method of adjusting the backrest assembly of the infant carrier apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygood Company Limited
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Zong Wang Cui
  • Patent number: 8702172
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as a rear bench seat, includes a seat part, a backrest part and a fitting part. The backrest part and the fitting part are pivotable relative to the vehicle body about a first rotational axis. The first rotational axis is disposed below the seat part or behind the backrest part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Hans Schmodde, Stefan Josten, Stuart Woolston, Peter Lekat
  • Publication number: 20130320736
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (71) for a vehicle seat, comprising a handle (41) for jointly actuating two locks (23), a force transfer between the handle and each lock, a first indicator (51) associated with the first force transfer, and a second indicator associated with the second force transfer, wherein the two indicators each indicate the respective locking status of the associated lock, and the two indicators actuate an overall indicator (61) by means of a logical OR function in order to visibly indicate the unlocked state. The force transfer is preferably formed from Bowden cables (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Joachim Kämmerer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 8567867
    Abstract: A child seat has a seat base with a seating surface, a front edge, and a back end. A back support surface of the child seat is generally inclined relative to the seating surface. A seat bight is formed at the juncture between the seating surface and the back support surface. The seat bight is adjustable between a first bight position spaced a first distance from the front edge of the seat base and a second bight position spaced a second distance from the front edge of the seat base. The second distance is less than the first distance. A seat back insert can be provided that is attachable to the seat base in one or more insert positions defining one or more of the bight positions. The insert can create the back support surface at one or more position relative to the front edge. The seat base can also have a back wall creating the back support surface further from the front edge when the insert is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: John (Jason) C. Arnold, IV, Dennis R. Stauffer
  • Publication number: 20130257111
    Abstract: A linkage that provides a fully flat reclined position is described. The linkage includes a full-flat lift link pivotally coupled to a seat support link. A backrest support link couples to the lift link through an oblong aperture to provide additional range of motion. The lift link includes a laterally extending flange, the perimeter of which acts as a cam surface for a cam pin that obstructs reclining of the backrest support link when the rocker-recliner is in an upright position. When fully reclined, the linkage configures a footrest, seat portion, and backrest portion in a generally equal plane to provide a fully flat seating surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: GLENN N. WIECEK
  • Patent number: 8449035
    Abstract: A chair, in particular an office chair, comprises a pedestal for supporting relative to the floor, a seat support connected to the pedestal, a seat arranged on the seat support, and a backrest support supporting a backrest, which is detachably connected to the seat support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Dauphin Entwicklungs- u. Beteiligungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Breitkreuz, Frank Weisser
  • Publication number: 20120306252
    Abstract: Described are passenger seats including a lower frame comprising a pair of supports, a seat pan adjustably coupled to the pair of supports via a coupling system, and a rear leg coupled to the lower frame, wherein the rear leg includes an extension component that is configured to adjust a height of the rear leg. The passenger seat may be adjusted into a bed position by compressing the rear leg, adjusting the seat pan into a forward position relative to the lower frame, and reclining the seat back until the seat back is substantially proximate the lower frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SOCIETE INDUSTRIELLE ET COMMERCIALE DE MATERIEL AERONAUTIQUE
    Inventors: Laurent Ligonniere, Philippe Roy
  • Patent number: 8282171
    Abstract: A seat assembly for improving posture of a user comprises a substantially firm seat portion angled downwardly from rear to front, a back support extending upwardly in a rear area of the seat portion, a pad positioned on the back support and, the back support positionable at at least two locations for varying seat depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ican LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer R. Stocker, Douglas Stocker
  • Patent number: 8104838
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a mounting bracket, a limit member mounted on the mounting bracket, and an armrest support mounted on the limit member. The bottom of the mounting bracket is provided with a slideway which has a first side provided with an upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique limit face. The limit member has a first side provided with an upright mating face abutting the upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique mating face abutting the oblique limit face. Thus, the upright mating face and the oblique mating face are limited by the upright limit face and the oblique limit face respectively, so that the limit member is moved in the slideway smoothly and stably without producing any vibration to facilitate movement of the armrest support relative to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8070232
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scooter with two chair backs. The scooter includes a main body containing a wheel seat, a pedal and front/rear wheel set; two chair back supports, assembled separately onto both sides on the back of wheel seat of the main body; and two chair backs, incorporated onto at least one chair back support via the connecting frame and transversely arranged at interval. The scooter of the present invention substantially improves the structural functionality and comfort of the chair back of the scooter, and also meets the diversified customer requirements with improved applicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Moventon Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Hung
  • Publication number: 20110291449
    Abstract: The invention consists of a chair back support, which consists of at least two flexible elongated supports (2,2a) on both sides of the seat (1), which supports (2, 2a) are connected with support belts (3, 3a and 4, 4a), all supporting a person's back and making gymnastic movements possible both for the back and stomach while sitting on the chair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Jarl Fredrik Serlachius
  • Publication number: 20110233983
    Abstract: A chair with a back-and-forth moving backrest comprises a seat and a backrest, the lower end of the backrest is separated from the seat; both sides of the lower end of the backrest are respectively connected with both sides of the back end of the seat by a rotating mechanism; the lower end of the rotating mechanism can be rotatably regulated relatively to the seat; the upper end of the rotating mechanism can be rotatably regulated relatively to the backrest; during the rotating regulation of the rotating mechanism, the backrest only moves back and forth relatively to the seat without changing the vertical state of the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Shunjie Lu
  • Patent number: 7931339
    Abstract: A seat assembly for improving posture of a user comprises a substantially firm seat portion angled downwardly from rear to front, a back support extending upwardly in a rear area of the seat portion, a pad positioned on the back support and, the back support positionable at least two locations for varying seat depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventors: Jennifer R Stocker, Douglas Stocker
  • Patent number: 7896438
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a seatback assembly that includes a backrest comprising shapeable material and an adjustable support, the backrest being attached to the adjustable support, the adjustable support being adjustable to alter the curvature of the backrest from top to bottom and then fix the backrest in place, thus shaping the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson
  • Patent number: 7887133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stand-up wheelchair comprising a frame (29) to which two drive wheels (30) and at least one steerable wheel (31) are fixed. A stand-up unit (33) provided with a height-adjustable seat (3), a back rest (7), and at least one foot rest (32), is pivotably arranged on said wheelchair. The inventive wheelchair is characterized in that the seat (3) is mounted, on both sides, on an articulation parallelogram structure consisting of an upper longitudinal rail (1) which is connected to the seat (3) in a fixed manner and comprises a front articulation point (10) and a rear articulation point (11), a lower longitudinal rail (2) comprising a front articulation point (12) and a rear articulation point (13), and two guides (4, 19) connecting the front articulation points (10, 12) and the rear articulation points (11, 13). The inventive wheelchair is also characterized in that the parallelogram structure can be displaced by a lifting device (36) in order to adjust the height of the seal (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare IP GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Perk
  • Publication number: 20100237674
    Abstract: A chair with an automatically movable back, having a support, and a seat and a back installed on the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Jong Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100231013
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular motor vehicle seat, a backrest (4) extending in a longitudinal direction of the backrest includes at least a first backrest shell (10) and a second backrest shell (12) in a shell-type construction. The second backrest shell (12) is displaceable and/or pivotable relative to the first backrest shell (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Ulf Schlenker
  • Patent number: 7775599
    Abstract: The vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom portion that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle. The seat bottom portion has a longitudinal axis. The seat back is disposed proximate the seat bottom portion. A linkage connects the seat back to the seat bottom portion. The linkage is configured to move substantially the entire seat back along the longitudinal axis of the seat bottom portion between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gegi George, Kyle Calvert
  • Patent number: 7762629
    Abstract: This invention relates to seating or reclining furniture. A back rest or arm rest is disposed for adjustment on the seating and/or reclining surface. The back rest or arm rest may be positioned in different areas of the circumference of the furniture (e.g., sofa) and can bend along the adjustment path so that they can adapt to the shape of the circumference, i.e., the contour of the circumference of the seating and/or reclining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: De Sede AG
    Inventor: Hugo De Ruiter
  • Publication number: 20100164270
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a square-frame-shaped seatback frame including a pair of side frames, a seat spring (32A, 32B) mounted between the side frames, a single plate-shaped flexible cushion plate (31) mounted on its back face to the seat spring, a seatback cushion provided in front of the cushion plate, a single plate-shaped flexible auxiliary plate (40) provided between the seatback cushion and the cushion plate and mounted on the cushion plate. The cushion plate has a vertically extending rib (36) with which the lower portion of the auxiliary plate comes in contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Takeshi Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20100033003
    Abstract: A support apparatus for the operator of a vehicle for sitting, semi-sitting, or leaning, includes a seat support mounted on a base, the seat support having a compound convex curvature on an upper surface defining a rear sitting portion, a central semi-sitting portion and a forward leaning portion, and a horn projecting from the central portion to provide lateral support and vertical support to the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Mikael Sandberg, Gustav Sand
  • Patent number: 7651167
    Abstract: A fitting for a vehicle incorporates a backrest and a removable seat squab so that the fitting may be used as a conventional seat, or as a safety fitting to engage a rear of a wheelchair. The backrest is wider at the top than at a lower point, to enable the handles of a relatively narrow wheelchair to pass on either side of the backrest. The backrest is mounted on a supporting frame by a pivotal link mechanisms enabling the backrest to move forwardly so that an electric wheelchair, or other wheelchair that has a rearwardly extending portion towards the back lower part of the wheelchair may be accommodated with the back of the wheelchair in engagement with the backrest of the fitting. The fitting is mounted for lateral movement, the fitting being supported on a base plate which can move laterally on a floor-mounted platform to enable a wheelchair to be manoeuvred easily past the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: NMI Safety Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Barry Sawdy
  • Patent number: 7618090
    Abstract: An abdominal support swivel chair is comprised of a support base with a plurality of leg arms having casters and radiating about the base frame in a common horizontal plane. An adjustable center post assembly extends vertically from the center of the support base and along a central vertical axis. A seat is secured to a frame connected at a top end of the center post. The seat has a rear buttocks support section and a central narrow frontal projecting section merging therewith through opposed side thigh cavities. An abdominal support pad is secured to an adjustable support arm connected to the saddle frame. The support arm has an upper securing end section adapted for securement of the abdominal support pad and to position same inclined forwardly. The adjustable support arm extends forwardly of the frontal projecting section and aligned therewith and has an adjustable connecting mechanism to position the abdominal support pad for the comfort of a user person above the frontal projecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Distribution Gablex Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Grenon
  • Publication number: 20090230748
    Abstract: The vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom portion that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle. The seat bottom portion has a longitudinal axis. The seat back is disposed proximate the seat bottom portion. A linkage connects the seat back to the seat bottom portion. The linkage is configured to move substantially the entire seat back along the longitudinal axis of the seat bottom portion between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gegi George, Kyle Calvert
  • Publication number: 20090218863
    Abstract: A lumbar support system for a furniture member includes a furniture member having a back seat member connected to a base member. A lumbar support system is connected to the back seat member. The lumbar support system includes first and second pivot tubes rotatably connected to the back seat member. At least one flexible occupant lumbar support member is connected to each of the first and second pivot tubes. A lumbar support adjustment device connected to a predetermined one of the pivot tubes rotates the first pivot tube to selectively position the lumbar support members in any one of a plurality of support positions. A linkage set couples the support adjustment device to the first one of the first and second pivot tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Mark D. McClung
  • Patent number: 7578797
    Abstract: A seating system for providing spinal motion and support. The system comprising a substantially static structure adjacent to the back of a user, a moving apparatus supplying a motive force, wherein the moving apparatus is adjacent to the buttocks and thighs of the user and is powered by the lower extremities of the user, a force applying structure disposed between the static structure and the back of the user, the force applying apparatus including a back engaging surface for increasing and decreasing a force applied to the back of the user in response to the supplied motive force, and a structure for locking the moving apparatus in place. Various embodiments of moving apparatus, force applying structure, and locking and/or motion limiting structure are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Rowland G. Hazard