Patents Assigned to Fisher Company
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Patent number: 10843591Abstract: A gear assembly for a seat adjuster includes a gear housing, a worm gear, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear, a wobble gear carried on an eccentric lobe of the helical gear, a pinion disc, a first ring gear disposed in the gear housing, a second ring gear disposed in the pinion disc, and a pinion member carrying the helical gear and the pinion disc. The wobble gear includes first and second sets of wobble gear teeth that mesh with the first and second ring gears, respectively. A housing side gear ring disposed in the gear housing defines part of the first ring gear and the gear housing defines another part of the first ring gear. The pinion disc defines the second ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Burckhard Becker, Mircea Napau, Armin Michel
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Publication number: 20200331367Abstract: A recliner heart may include a first locking plate, a second locking plate, a cam and a lubricant member. The first locking plate includes an outer diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The second locking plate is rotatable relative to the first locking plate and includes an inner diametrical surface having second teeth formed thereon. Some of the second teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the first teeth. The cam is connected to the second locking plate and includes a groove formed therein. The lubricant member is disposed in the groove of the cam.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan M. POPTANI
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Patent number: 10800296Abstract: A seat recliner assembly for a vehicle may include first and second recliner hearts, a hand lever, and a cross member. The first recliner heart may be mounted to a bracket. The second recliner heart may be mounted to another bracket. The hand lever may be mounted to the first recliner heart and may be rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross member may be connected to the first and second recliner hearts and may transmit torque from the hand lever to the second recliner mechanism to move the second recliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states. The cross member may include an aperture extending through an entire longitudinal length of the cross member.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. Schmitz, Jacob P. Hellrung, Henry Alexander Braddock, III
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Patent number: 10793028Abstract: A seat adjuster assembly including a housing, a worm, a worm gear, and a spindle screw is provided. The worm is disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and includes a helical thread. The worm gear is disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and is meshingly-engaged with the worm. The spindle screw extends through the housing and the worm gear for rotation about the second axis. The spindle screw is meshingly-engaged with the worm gear. The helical thread of the worm may be longitudinally crowned or double-crowned.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea Napau, Doina Napau, Ileana Dacia Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Matthew Essian, Antal Teer, Sapan Poptani, Radu Calin Napau-Stoica
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Publication number: 20200282879Abstract: A recliner heart for a vehicle seat recliner assembly may include a first plate, a second plate and one or more pawls. The first plate may define a recess. The second plate may include a first inner diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The pawl may be slidably disposed in the recess between a secure position in which the pawl is engaged with a portion of the teeth of the second plate to restrict relative rotation between the first and second plates and a release position in which the pawl is disengaged from the portion of the teeth of the second plate to allow relative rotation between the first and second plates. One or both lateral sides of the pawl may include one or more slots.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan M. POPTANI
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Publication number: 20200262317Abstract: A seat adjuster drive including a stationary track that is fixed to a vehicle and a sliding track that is arranged in sliding engagement with the stationary track for movement fore and aft. A gear box, mounted to the sliding track, supports a pinion that is part of a rack and pinion drive assembly. The gear box houses a conical spiral gear set and one or more planetary gear sets. The conical spiral gear set includes a conical pinion gear that is coupled to an electric motor and a conical spiral gear that is arranged in meshing engagement with the conical pinion gear. The conical spiral gear is carried on the pinion in a sliding fit. The one or more planetary gear sets rotatably couple the conical spiral gear and the pinion through a gear reduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea NAPAU, Doina NAPAU, Ileana Dacia NAPAU, Radu Calin NAPAU-STOICA, Ioan NAPAU
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Publication number: 20200253380Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner mechanism may include movably attaching a first plate of a recliner heart to a second plate of the recliner heart, positioning a gap ring onto the first plate of the recliner heart, positioning an encapsulation ring around the first and second plates such that the gap ring is disposed axially between the first plate and the encapsulation ring, and removing at least a portion of the gap ring from between the first plate and the encapsulation ring to form a clearance gap between the first plate and the encapsulation ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan M. POPTANI
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Publication number: 20200231070Abstract: A vehicle seat recliner assembly includes a first recliner heart, a second recliner heart, hand lever and a cross member. The first recliner heart is mounted to a bracket. The second recliner heart is mounted to another bracket. The hand lever is mounted to the first recliner heart and rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross member is connected to the first and second recliner hearts and transmitting torque from the hand lever to the second recliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states. The cross member has a central part and a plurality of projections extending radially around and from the central part such that the plurality of projections are spaced apart from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan M. POPTANI
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Publication number: 20200215936Abstract: A power seat track assembly may include an elongated first rail, a second rail, a motor assembly, and a power-transfer assembly. The second rail may engage the first rail and may be movable along a length of the first rail. The motor assembly may be mounted to the second rail and may be operable to drive the second rail along the length of the first rail. The power-transfer assembly may include a first component mounted to the first rail and a second component mounted to the second rail. The first component may wirelessly transmit power to the second component. The second component may be electrically connected to the motor assembly to provide electrical current to the motor assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Antal TEER, Burckhard BECKER, Sapan M. POPTANI
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Patent number: 10703228Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: David G. Anticuar, Andrew Joshua Simms, Karl Sponsler, Seth Kirkendall, Sapan Mahendra Poptani, Armin Michel
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Publication number: 20200070689Abstract: A recliner heart includes first, second and third locking plates and a pawl. The first locking plate defines a recess. The second locking plate includes a first inner diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The third locking plate is disposed between the first and second locking plates and includes a second inner diametrical surface and an outer diametrical surface. The second inner diametrical surface has a notch formed therein. The outer diametrical surface has second teeth formed thereon. Some of the second teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the first teeth. The pawl is slidably disposed in the recess between a secure position in which the pawl is engaged with the notch of the third locking plate and a release position in which the pawl is disengaged from the notch of the third locking plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Firoz Divan NAIK, Sapan Mahendra POPTANI, Raghu Belagur SATHYANARAYANASETTY
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Publication number: 20200047644Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner heart may include supporting a guide plate of the recliner heart with a first support member, positioning a first block onto the guide plate opposite the first support member, positioning a second block in a recess of the guide plate, and applying a force to the first block. The second block may be disposed in the recess such that a gap is formed between the guide plate and the second block. A force may be applied to the first block such that material of the guide plate moves into the gap formed between the guide plate and the second block.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan M. POPTANI, Barnabas BANCSOV
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Patent number: 10500987Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: David G. Anticuar, Andrew Joshua Simms, Karl Sponsler, Seth Kirkendall, Sapan Mahendra Poptani
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Patent number: 10486554Abstract: A seat adjustment assembly includes a housing, a worm, a gear, and a rail. The worm is disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and including a helical thread defining an arcuate profile extending about the first axis. The gear is disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and is meshingly-engaged with the worm. The rail extends through the housing and the gear for rotation about a third axis. The rail is meshingly-engaged with the gear.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Mircea Napau, Doina Napau, Ileana Dacia Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Matthew Essian, Antal Teer, Sapan Poptani
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Publication number: 20190329674Abstract: The recliner mechanism includes a housing plate, a recliner heart and an encapsulating ring. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seatback and a seat bottom and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The encapsulating ring is attached to the housing plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. SCHMITZ, Sapan Mahendra POPTANI, Steven Anthony HESSELL, Vicki Ann WOOD
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Publication number: 20190241098Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: David G. ANTICUAR, Andrew Joshua SIMMS, Karl SPONSLER, Seth KIRKENDALL, Sapan Mahendra POPTANI
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Publication number: 20190202322Abstract: A seat adjuster assembly including a housing, a worm, a worm gear, and a spindle screw is provided. The worm is disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and includes a helical thread. The worm gear is disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and is meshingly-engaged with the worm. The spindle screw extends through the housing and the worm gear for rotation about the second axis. The spindle screw is meshingly-engaged with the worm gear. The helical thread of the worm may be longitudinally crowned or double-crowned.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea Napau, Doina Napau, Ileana Dacia Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Matthew Essian, Antal Teer, Sapan Poptani, Radu Calin Napau-Stoica
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Publication number: 20190152347Abstract: A gear assembly for a seat adjuster includes a gear housing, a worm gear, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear, a wobble gear carried on an eccentric lobe of the helical gear, a pinion disc, a first ring gear disposed in the gear housing, a second ring gear disposed in the pinion disc, and a pinion member carrying the helical gear and the pinion disc. The wobble gear includes first and second sets of wobble gear teeth that mesh with the first and second ring gears, respectively. A housing side gear ring disposed in the gear housing defines part of the first ring gear and the gear housing defines another part of the first ring gear. The pinion disc defines the second ring gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Burckhard BECKER, Mircea NAPAU, Armin MICHEL
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Patent number: 10266074Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: David G. Anticuar, Andrew Joshua Simms, Karl Sponsler, Seth Kirkendall, Sapan Mahendra Poptani
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Patent number: 10195975Abstract: A gear assembly for a seat adjuster includes a gear housing, a worm gear, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear, a wobble gear carried on an eccentric lobe of the helical gear, a pinion disc, a first ring gear disposed in the gear housing, a second ring gear disposed in the pinion disc, and a pinion member carrying the helical gear and the pinion disc. The wobble gear includes first and second sets of wobble gear teeth that mesh with the first and second ring gears, respectively. A housing side gear ring disposed in the gear housing defines part of the first ring gear and the gear housing defines another part of the first ring gear. A pinion disc gear ring disposed in the pinion disc defines part of the second ring gear and the pinion disc defines another part of the second ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Burckhard Becker, Mircea Napau, Armin Michel