Patents Assigned to Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
  • Publication number: 20230039241
    Abstract: A head restraint system may have a head restraint retainer with a first surface adapted to support a cushioning material, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface may have a selectively biased clip and at least one leg. The system may also have a panel with a clip port adapted to selectively retain the clip and at least one leg port adapted to selectively retain the at least one leg. A seat having a head restraint system and a method for connecting the components of the system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: James L. Aleksa, Amol Patil, Bhushan Murgude, Roger L. Meyerink, Gaurav Chaudhary
  • Publication number: 20220212573
    Abstract: A structural component may have a flexible structure with at least one adjusting mechanism, which may be formed at least from a plurality of folded elements or lever elements and spacing elements that are coupled to one another in such a way that their upper surfaces are connected to one another by an upper flat element and their lower surfaces are connected to one another by a lower flat element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel BAHR, Thomas FROTZ, Rudolf Wilhelm HEMMELRATH
  • Publication number: 20220185157
    Abstract: An armrest device for a backrest of a vehicle seat may have at least an armrest body which is pivotable between a horizontal use position (UP) and a vertical stowed position (SR). The device may also have an armrest carrier structure. In the horizontal use position the armrest body may be located substantially laterally with respect to the armrest carrier structure and in the vertical stowed position the armrest body may be located substantially behind the armrest carrier structure. A backrest and a seat may use the armrest device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Michael J. KAPUSKY, Nathan CARUSS, Jennifer J. CARLSON
  • Publication number: 20220161693
    Abstract: An end cap for a rail of a longitudinal adjuster has a covering portion, for covering an end-face end of the rail, and a fastening portion, for fastening the end cap to the rail. The fastening portion may be connected to the covering portion forming a four-bar-linkage coupling mechanism. The longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat may have at least one pair of rails which is formed from the first rail and the second rail, which is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction relative to the first rail. At least the first rail or the second rail has at least one opening for the fastening of the end cap for an end of the respective rail. The longitudinal adjuster may have an end cap fastened in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo QUAST, Erik SPRENGER, Turgay TURAN
  • Publication number: 20220134918
    Abstract: A cover for an upholstered part of a vehicle seat having at least one opening, in particular a through opening for a locking device for a child seat. An edge area of the cover arranged around the at least one opening is reinforced at least in sections with a reinforcing frame made from a plastic material. An upholstered part for a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having the cover and the vehicle seat having at least one such upholstered part are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Anna OLSSON, Wim DOSSCHE, Claus STENING, Stefan J. CARLSSON
  • Patent number: 11273743
    Abstract: A mat mounting structure for mounting a mat on a seat back frame in a seat back may have a guide wire attachable to the mat configured to receive a force from a back of an occupant on the seat back. The guide wire may have a straight part extending linearly in a longitudinal direction of the seat back frame on a head side or a root side of the seat back frame. A bushing including a penetration hole in which the straight part is insertable in the longitudinal direction may be included in the structure. An attachment hole part in the seat back frame may also be part of the structure. The bushing may be detachably engageable with and attachable to the attachment hole part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignees: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Wilkinson, Sean M. Osinski, Yunxiao Li, Wenting Zhang, Naoto Komiya, Laxmikant Indi, Toshimitsu Mizukoshi, Taiji Misono, Hiroki Ikeda, Hiromitsu Nagatomo, Yuki Fukuda, Souhei Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11267370
    Abstract: A seat length adjuster for a vehicle seat may have two rail pairs, each pair formed by an upper rail and a lower rail. The upper rail is provided with openings and the lower rail has through holes. At least one spring-loaded, movable locking member may be provided. The locking member carries toothlike protrusions on its two opposite lengthwise sides, which are movable from a released position into the locked position both into the openings and into the through holes. The openings and/or the through holes have contact regions for the toothlike protrusions of the locking member and at least some of the toothlike protrusions have a respective undercut on both tooth flanks. In the locked position a projecting edge resulting from this on the respective tooth flank lies opposite the contact region and/or touches this contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH, Adient Yanfeng Seating Mechanism Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Joachim Flick, Erik Sprenger, Pan Wang, Peigui Wu
  • Patent number: 11254249
    Abstract: A backrest may have a seat back structure and a carrier module for a headrest. The carrier module may have at least one carrier element arranged on an upper portion of the seat back structure and fixedly connected to the seat back structure. The carrier module may also have at least one supporting element adapted to support the carrier element. The at least one carrier element may have a receiving space configured to receive the headrest and a fixing structure projected towards into the receiving space and adapted to detachably fasten the supporting element to the carrier element. The backrest may be used with a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Haubrich, Frank Zagromski, Boris Mrázik, Andrea Mose
  • Patent number: 11247594
    Abstract: A headrest element may have a central supporting region and two lateral supporting regions. The lateral supporting regions may be pivotable with respect to the central supporting region about a side pivot axis, which may run at least substantially parallel to a supporting surface of the central supporting region, in such a manner that an angle of the supporting surfaces of the lateral supporting regions can in each case be adjusted variably with respect to the supporting surface of the central supporting region. The central supporting region and the lateral supporting regions may be jointly pivotable about a transverse pivot axis, which runs at least substantially perpendicular to the side pivot axes, in such a manner that an adjustment of the supporting regions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is possible. A headrest using the headrest element is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GMBH
    Inventors: Philippe Morilhat, Christophe Fritsch, Christophe Moriniere
  • Patent number: 11220195
    Abstract: An edge strip for a seat cover may have an edge strip core, which is surrounded by a casing, and an edge strip tab. The edge strip core and the casing are sewn together such that an ornamental seam is formed on the outer circumference of the casing. A device for producing an edge strip is also disclosed. The device may have a supply unit for supplying an edge strip core and an unfolded material strip for a casing of the edge strip core to an additional processing unit, such as a sewing machine. The supply unit is designed to supply the edge strip core to the additional processing unit, such as a sewing machine, on a material strip surface side which forms the inner face of the casing, and the sewing machine sews the edge strip core to the material strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Michelle Hering, Andreas Schmitz, Lars Hennig
  • Publication number: 20210394650
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as for a motor vehicle seat, adapted to be transferable from at least one use position, which is suitable for transporting a passenger, into an easy entry position as a non-use position, and back, may have a seat cushion, a backrest, and a seat frame. The seat cushion and the backrest may be coupled to the seat frame, a base and a kinematics for the articulated connection of the seat frame to the base. The kinematics may have at least one link articulated connecting the seat frame to the base. The at least one link may be lockable by a disc shaped fitting or the at least one link may be lockable with the seat frame by a locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Brian S. HOLDER, Joseph B.A. RAJKUMAR, Jeffrey P. MEDVECKY, Mark F. KOWALSKI
  • Patent number: 11192477
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a seat that may have a support structure and a pad having a support wire attachable to the support structure. A retainer may be provided which is fixed at one end through an opening in the support structure and at the opposite end onto the support wire. The retainer may have a mounting member to fix through the opening and a hook to catch the support wire, the mounting member having a use position and a mounting position that is inclined relative to the use position. The mounting member and the hook may be joined by a spacer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Eric B. Michalak, David B. Bakker, Bethany M. Scott
  • Patent number: 11192478
    Abstract: A device for producing an edge strip may have a supply unit with at least two openings for separately supplying an edge strip core and a material strip of a casing for the edge strip core. The material strip may be provided with a decorative element, an adapter unit, and a processing unit. The supply unit arranges the edge strip core on a surface side of the material strip which forms the inner face of the casing, and the adapter unit is designed to fold the material strip around the edge strip core. Free ends of the casing protrude from the edge strip core and lie one over the other, and the processing unit connects the free ends lying one over the other together. A method for producing an edge strip using such a device and to a seat cover with an edge strip is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Michelle Hering, Andreas Schmitz, Lars Hennig
  • Patent number: 11167664
    Abstract: A safety device for a lock mechanism may have a housing that encapsulates the lock mechanism. The housing may have at least one opening, through which at least one adjustment element coupled to the lock mechanism is guidable. The at least one opening may have a sealing element. A seat track for a seat is also disclosed. The seat track may have a first track assembly with at least one track member, a second track assembly with at least one further track member, and a lock mechanism configured to lock an adjustment of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventor: Michael J. Kapusky
  • Publication number: 20210261023
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have adjustment kinematics with movable rockers. At least one rocker is mounted rotatably about an axis, and a toothed segment which may be connected to the at least one rocker may be provided. The vehicle seat may have a drive for moving the at least one rocker, and the drive may be mounted on a seat frame. A pinion of the drive may mesh with the toothed segment. By aligning the position of the entire drive relative to the side part via a compensating body, the pinion may be positioned relative to the toothed segment in a manner free from play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventor: Ludger Muehlenbrock
  • Patent number: 11077782
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest connected to the seat base and an leg rest assembly, also referred to as a leg rest assembly. The leg rest assembly includes a deflectable leg support panel pivotably connected to the seat base. The deflectable leg support panel and deflects under a load of legs of the user and returns with a restoring force back to an initial position upon removing the load of the legs of the user. The leg rest assembly may be connected to the vehicle seat by a pivoting structure, that allows the leg rest assembly to be pivoted to a non use position. The leg rest assembly may also be fixedly connected to the vehicle seat a support base front cross structure. This fixed connection then forms an only pivot axis of the leg rest assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Seibold
  • Publication number: 20210229573
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a drive device for driving a adjustment kinematics of the vehicle seat may have an adjustment arm, and a tensioning device. The drive device may have a pinion which can be rotated about a pinion rotation axis and which is in toothed engagement with a tooth segment of the adjustment arm. The tensioning device pretensions the adjustment arm so that the tooth segment is pretensioned in the direction of the pinion. The tensioning device has at least one sliding element which is in abutment with the adjustment arm. During an actuation of the height adjustment kinematics, the at least one sliding element slides along the adjustment arm. The sliding element is resiliently pretensioned by a resilient element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Fischer, Lars Kramm
  • Patent number: 11072261
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a tray table device for a vehicle seat that may have at least a table element and a table support structure connected to the table element. Further, the present disclosure refers to a vehicle seat that may have such a tray table device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: John J. Gomez, James D. Biebel, Raza Bashir, Fawaz Yono, Kurt A. Seibold
  • Patent number: 11065986
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat having at least one pair of rails. The at least one pair of rails may be formed from a first seat rail for connecting to a seat structure, and from a second seat rail for connecting to a vehicle structure. The seat rails of the pair of rails are displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to each other and mutually engage around each other to form an inner channel. A securing profile, which is fastened to the first seat rail, is arranged in the inner channel. A rack which is fixed relative to the second seat rail is arranged in the inner channel. The securing profile and the rack are normally spaced apart from each other and enter into engagement with each other in a form-fitting manner in reaction to a predetermined action of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Emrich, Michael Koenig, Martin Reischmann, Frank Rheinheimer, Ralf Velten, Thomas Bingert, Erik Dick
  • Patent number: 11052788
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster may have a first transverse locking bar accommodated in a slot of a first seat rail. A spindle may be guided through an opening of the first transverse bar in a contact-free manner. At a distance from the first transverse locking bar toward the front, a shoulder of the spindle is arranged. In reaction to a specified action of force, the first transverse locking bar is clamped between the first seat rail and the shoulder. As a result, a force from the first seat rail via the first transverse locking bar, the shoulder, the spindle, and the spindle nut can be diverted to the second seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventor: Erik Sprenger