Seat Patents (Class 362/483)
  • Patent number: 10207636
    Abstract: A seatbelt stowage assembly comprises a housing including an outer rim and a cover and further defining a compartment. The housing is disposed within a headliner of a vehicle and is configured to house a seatbelt in a stowed position. The seatbelt stowage assembly also includes a light source disposed within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Benjamin Yilma, Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 9896059
    Abstract: A buckle includes a supporting member, a case, a lock portion and an illuminating unit. The case covers the supporting member. The lock portion is supported by the supporting member and is covered by the case to lock or unlock a tongue which is inserted into an insertion hole. An insertion hole is formed between the case and the lock portion. The illuminating unit illuminates both ends of the insertion hole of the tongue. The illuminating unit includes a light emitting unit, a light distribution unit, a first diffusing unit and a second diffusing unit. The light emitting unit emits light. The light distribution unit distributes the light emitted by the light emitting unit to form a first light beam and a second light beam. The first diffusing unit diffuses the first light beam. The second diffusing unit diffuses the second light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Fujii
  • Patent number: 9463734
    Abstract: An illuminated vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a buckle having a housing and a latch mechanism. A light source is disposed within the housing. A light guide directs light from the light source to a top portion of the housing. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the buckle and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9463738
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a light source disposed on a seatbelt webbing. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source. A controller is configured to control an activation state of the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle where traditional light sources may not be practicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Michael Masserant, Christine Boese
  • Patent number: 9062872
    Abstract: An illuminating assembly includes a bracket, an engaging member, a light module, and a biasing member. The bracket includes a frame and a pressing panel rotatably located on the frame. The engaging member is attached to the bracket. The engaging member includes a first engaging portion which can be disengaged to release the light module. The light module is pivotally coupled to the bracket and is biased inwards when unreleased, and biased outwards and illuminated when released. The light module includes a base, a light source located on the base, and second engaging portion. The light module is movable from a closed position to an open position, to illuminate a keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Zhongshan Innocloud Intellectual Property Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Kuang Liang, Quan-Guang Du, Qiang-Wu Dai
  • Patent number: 7950835
    Abstract: A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's moving legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. A single safety light fixture is mounted below the bicycle seat and directs diverging light beams towards the backs of both of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct diverging light beams onto the fronts of the rider's moving legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: James Carillo
  • Patent number: 7722231
    Abstract: A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. At least one safety light fixture is mounted to lower portions of bicycle seat stays or rear portions of the bicycle chain stays. The light fixture includes light sources generating light beams directed forward onto rear surfaces of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. Additional light beams may be directed inward and upward toward the bicycle frame and/or the rider's buttocks to provide additional visibility to the rider and to allow the motor vehicle operators to more easily identify the bicycle and rider. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct light beams onto the front of the rider's moving legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: James Carillo
  • Patent number: 7347579
    Abstract: A buckle apparatus and a seat belt apparatus are provided that are capable of improving the attachment strength of the reflector. In one form, the buckle apparatus includes an upper cover having an insertion inlet at one side, a buckle portion provided in the upper cover and engaged with a tongue of a seat belt inserted through the insertion inlet, a light source provided in the vicinity of the insertion inlet in the upper cover, a reflector for diffusing and leading illuminating light flux eradiated from the light source, which is provided in inner wall faces, that form the insertion inlet by using the reflector as a mold piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kohama, Yoshihiro Kawamura, Akira Hirota
  • Publication number: 20070236917
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system with an illuminable portion and/or thermal source integrated therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Mark F. Gray, Paul M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7178954
    Abstract: To guide a passenger to the general location of his assigned seat in an aircraft cabin, the cabin is divided into several cabin zones that are individually identified by different colors of illumination, for example a yellow cabin zone, a red cabin zone and a blue cabin zone. Each service class can correspond to one cabin zone or encompass plural cabin zones. Lighting devices arranged in the cabin are activated to provide illuminating light having the appropriate allocated illumination color in each respective cabin zone. The lighting devices are preferably ceiling lights, sidewall lights, and/or window funnel lights, controlled from a flight attendant panel via a lighting controller. A passenger ticket displays the passenger's assigned seat number and letter, and also the color of the cabin zone in which the assigned seat is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Blechschmidt
  • Patent number: 7150548
    Abstract: A reading lamp for an aircraft cabin, particularly installed above a passenger seat, has a light source emitting a light beam with an optical axis extending substantially horizontally so that a light beam can be deflected by an optical deflector such as a mirror, to a passenger seat. This orientation of the light source provides a compact construction of the reading lamp. Preferably the deflector position is adjustable relative to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Kohlmeier-Beckmann, Detlef Heym
  • Patent number: 6854869
    Abstract: A seat cover or seat covering for original equipment on a vehicle, or for retrofitting on a vehicle seat provides an ornamental elongate light. The light is provided by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are optically coupled to a fiber optic bundle. The bundle is affixed to the surface of the cover may be disposed in a variety of configurations, such as trim, logo, insignia, or script, as desired. The LEDs may be energized directly from a battery or programmed to emit various colors simultaneously or sequentially in a selected time program for enhanced decorative effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 6561684
    Abstract: Lighting is provided for the entry area on the outer side of a seat part in the backrest of a car seat, which is provided with a seat part. The lighting can be switched on by opening the car door next to it. Current supplying lines are deployed through a line feeder leading to the car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Achim Reitze, Olaf Sackers
  • Patent number: 6558027
    Abstract: A buckle (10) for a vehicle seat belt system (12) comprises a latch mechanism (26) for connection with a tongue assembly (14) of the seat belt system. The latch mechanism (26) has a latched condition and a released condition. The buckle (10) also comprises a manually engageable pushbutton (40) connected with the latch mechanism (26). The pushbutton (40) is movable between a first position in which the latch mechanism is in the latched condition and a second position in which the latch mechanism is in the released condition. The buckle (10) contains an illumination mechanism (46) comprising an electroluminescent panel (50) which may or may not be movable with the pushbutton when the pushbutton moves between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Ellis, Franklin L. Kiiskila, Edgar H. Schlaps
  • Patent number: 6428191
    Abstract: A storage box illuminator for a motorcycle in which a storage box having a top opening is arranged under the seat so that the bottom plate of the seat can cover the opening in an openable and closable manner is so configured that an illuminating lamp is arranged inside a depressed portion which is formed on the underside of the seat bottom plate of the seat and indented upward approximately as deep as the height of the illuminating device so that the illuminating lamp can illuminate the inside of the storage box when the seat is set open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kousei Ohura
  • Patent number: 6367956
    Abstract: A reading lamp for a vehicle interior having a light source arranged in a lamp housing and at least one optical element which produces a cone of light for reading, whereby a reflector system is provided in the lamp housing such that light can be input into the reflector system through a color filter so that colored light is produced concentrically with the cone of the reading lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Hella Aerospace GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Becker, Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl, Rico Schulz
  • Publication number: 20010033492
    Abstract: An illuminated diagnosable buckle assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing and a buckle disposed in the housing and operatively connected to vehicle structure for receiving a latch plate. The illuminated diagnosable buckle assembly also includes a switch disposed in the housing and cooperable with the latch plate to indicate an unbuckled and buckled position. The illuminated diagnosable buckle assembly further includes an illuminator connected to the switch for illumination when the switch is either one of the unbuckled or buckled positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: LLOYD WALKER ROGERS, KENNETH JOHN SIEGFRIED, LON A OFFENBACHER
  • Patent number: 6079859
    Abstract: The body and the cover of the conventional automotive lamp assembly used to be made of hard synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polycarbonate having a low Izod impact value. As a result, the strong impact by a human body on the body or the cover of the lamp assembly in a collision accident can create a problem that the lamp assembly is broken into smithereens and recycling thereof was impossible. The automotive lamp assembly installed in the room of a passenger car is provided with means including a body composed of a lamp and a switch to be directly attached to the vehicle body, the body being formed of polypropylene having an Izod impact value of 40 to 60 kJ/m.sup.2 ; and a transparent or translucent cover to shield the body, said cover being formed of polypropylene or polycarbonate having an Izod impact value of 40 to 60 kJ/m.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Tsunesuke Takano