Patents Assigned to Freedman Seating Company
  • Patent number: 11390214
    Abstract: An example embodiment of a system and methods for detecting and reporting whether passengers are seated and secured in their seats within a vehicle may include a passenger sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a presence of a passenger in a seat in a vehicle, a restraint sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a status of a passenger safety restraint associated with the seat, a transmitter configured to be in electronic communication with the passenger sensor and the restraint sensor and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the presence of a passenger in the seat and the status of the restrain, and a reporting module configured to be disposed proximate a driver of the vehicle. The reporting module may be configured to receive the data from the transmitter, and output a respective status for each of a plurality of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Patent number: 11318910
    Abstract: An example embodiment of a system and methods for detecting and reporting whether passengers are seated and secured in their seats within a vehicle may include a passenger sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a presence of a passenger in a seat in a vehicle, a restraint sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a status of a passenger safety restraint associated with the seat, a transmitter configured to be in electronic communication with the passenger sensor and the restraint sensor and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the presence of a passenger in the seat and the status of the restrain, and a reporting module configured to be disposed proximate a driver of the vehicle. The reporting module may be configured to receive the data from the transmitter, and output a respective status for each of a plurality of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael Douglas Moffa, Gregory E. Schafer, Dan C. Mower, Erin M. West
  • Patent number: 11260774
    Abstract: A transportation seat support apparatus includes a frame configured to support a transportation seat. The frame includes an attachment portion configured to attach to a wall of a transportation vehicle, and at least one beam extending from the attachment portion at a first end and terminating at a second end. The transportation seat support apparatus further includes a pedestal configured to support the frame. The pedestal includes at least one leg portion configured to attach to a floor of the transportation vehicle, and at least one aperture configured to telescopically receive the second end of the at least one beam. The at least one beam is slidably movable within the at least one aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Dimitar Naidenov
  • Patent number: 10953768
    Abstract: A detachable transportation seat assembly for facilitated and secure attachment to the rear row of a mass transportation vehicle, which is releasable and replaceable as desired to enable access to vehicle componentry under the rear seat, or behind the rear wall. A pivot bar on the front of a single or a collection of rear row vehicle seats projects to cooperate with a pivot hook retention bracket, to facilitate removal of the seat or seats, or, alternatively, to facilitate the restoration of the seats for use by passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: William Bellin O'Connor, Vlad Balef, Paul Vidri
  • Patent number: 10457208
    Abstract: An example embodiment of a system and methods for detecting and reporting whether passengers are seated and secured in their seats within a vehicle may include a passenger sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a presence of a passenger in a seat in a vehicle, a restraint sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a status of a passenger safety restraint associated with the seat, a transmitter configured to be in electronic communication with the passenger sensor and the restraint sensor and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the presence of a passenger in the seat and the status of the restrain, and a reporting module configured to be disposed proximate a driver of the vehicle. The reporting module may be configured to receive the data from the transmitter, and output a respective status for each of a plurality of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FREEDMAN SEATING COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Patent number: 10052974
    Abstract: A mounting tile is utilized for mounting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor. A method for mounting a vehicle seat using the mounting tile includes affixing angle iron to the side edges of the floor, affixing a layer of metal plating on top of the angle iron, affixing one or more mounting tiles to the metal plating, positioning filler material between the one or more mounting tiles, positioning a floor covering over the mounting tiles and filler material, aligning the fastener elements of the vehicle seat structure with apertures in the mounting tile, and attaching the fastener elements and the seat to the mounting tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Samuel P. Cardone, Matthew C. Kerr
  • Patent number: 10035433
    Abstract: A frameless transit seat is used for carrying passengers in a transit vehicle. The transit seat is comprised of at least two pedestals which connect the seating portion to the vehicle floor and which distribute the weight of the seat and its passenger(s). Under the passenger, at least two side supports are affixed on top of the pedestals, and one or more crossbars or stabilizers, without any rack frame structures connecting the pedestals. A variant of the transit seat has two seats and uses a mounting plate to connect the two inner side supports to a central pedestal. The components of the transit seat include hollow beams, bent sheet metal, and other components optimized to decrease mass while retaining maximum strength. Optionally, the seat may recline and be upholstered in a variety of covering options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Vitaliy Viktorovich Muraiti, Paul I. Vidri, David Alan Klopp, Vladislav Balef
  • Patent number: 9783079
    Abstract: A mounting tile for mounting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor comprises at least two tubular members having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a U-shaped channel having apertures that may include weld nuts for receiving fastener elements protruding from the bottom of the vehicle seat structure. A method for mounting a vehicle seat using the mounting tile includes affixing angle iron to the side edges of the floor, affixing a layer of metal plating on top of the angle iron, affixing one or more mounting tiles to the metal plating, positioning filler material between the one or more mounting tiles, positioning a floor covering over the mounting tiles and filler material, aligning the fastener elements of the vehicle seat structure with apertures in the mounting tile, and attaching the fastener elements and the seat to the mounting tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Samuel P. Cardone, Matthew C. Kerr
  • Patent number: 9637026
    Abstract: A mounting tile for mounting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor comprises at least two tubular members having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a U-shaped channel having apertures that may include weld nuts for receiving fastener elements protruding from the bottom of the vehicle seat structure. A method for mounting a vehicle seat using the mounting tile includes affixing angle iron to the side edges of the floor, affixing a layer of metal plating on top of the angle iron, affixing one or more mounting tiles to the metal plating, positioning filler material between the one or more mounting tiles, positioning a floor covering over the mounting tiles and filler material, aligning the fastener elements of the vehicle seat structure with apertures in the mounting tile, and attaching the fastener elements and the seat to the mounting tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Samuel P. Cardone, Matthew C. Kerr
  • Patent number: 7438354
    Abstract: A three point integrated seatbelt assembly incorporated into a cantilevered stowable seat with an improved dump locking mechanism. The cantilevered stowable seat can be mounted to a vehicle, where space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair or other article adjacent to the stowed seat, which includes a frame attached to the support member, a cantilevered seatbase, and a seatback. The seatback assembly allows for easy storage of the seat and safe transportation of a passenger. The seatback is rotatably associated with the cantilevered seatbase by the improved dump locking mechanism, whereby the improved dump locking mechanism enables the seat to remain in the deployed position when inertial forces are placed on the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Daniel L. Cohen, Benjamin N. Huyck, Anthony W. Pumell, Sudha Veerapaneni
  • Patent number: 6974184
    Abstract: An improved locking mechanism assembly that is within a cantilevered stowable seat for use in a vehicle in order to provide passenger seating or a space for a wheelchair or for storage of various articles. The improved locking mechanism assembly includes an aisle assembly, a wall assembly, and a transfer rod. The seat is stowed by folding the seatback flat against the seatbase, actuating the single handle located on the aisle side of the seat thereby unlocking the seatbase from its folded intermediate position and rotating the seatbase to its stowed position where it is locked in place. The stowable seat is deployed by actuating the single handle located on the aisle side of the seat assembly, thereby unlocking the seatbase from its stowed position and lowering the seatbase to its folded intermediate position where it is locked into place. The seatback is then unfolded to accommodate passengers in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Benjamin N. Huyck
  • Patent number: 6846044
    Abstract: A stowable fold away seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair or article adjacent to the stowed seat which includes a frame attached to the support member, two separate seatbacks and seatbases, which have been fixedly integrated with a centered support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Karim Mikhail, Anthony Purnell
  • Patent number: 6554357
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Patent number: 6540294
    Abstract: A seat that may be transported from a deployed position, where it is adjacent to the side of the support member, to a stowed position above the support member. The deployed position provides seating for an occupant. The stowed position provides a space for storing an item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The device uses a linkage system that supports the stowable swing away flip seat and is able to transport the stowable swing away flip seat, upon the exertion of a lifting force, along a predetermined path from a deployed to a stowed position above the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Karim Youssef Mikhail
  • Patent number: 6485102
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to a method and system of securing a child seat in a vehicle that includes a child seat and a child restraint seat and where the child seat has rearwardly projecting anchorage means and a tether hook, and the child restraint seat is an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame or it is installed as OEM in the vehicle and two front projecting loops are provided that engage with the two rearwardly projecting anchorage means of the child seat and a rearwardly projecting loop that engages the tether hook of the child seat and the said three loops are physically attached to a tubular frame of the child restraint seat and are a permanent and integral part thereof to anchor said child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael Douglas Moffa, Erin Renee Reichenberger
  • Publication number: 20020109382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Patent number: 6106066
    Abstract: A stowable seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle and for use next to a preexisting obstruction wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair article adjacent to the stowed seat which includes a frame attached to the support member (floor), a cantilevered seatbase and a seatback. The cantilevered seatbase has a free end, a linked end associated along a path generated arc with the frame for providing the seatbase with a range of motion that avoids the obstruction even when moved from a horizontally deployed position to a substantially vertical stowed position. For additional stability a diagonal support truss supports the seatbase in the deployed position with a movable end of the support truss sliding within a runner track and a fixed end journalled with the frame working in combination with said linked end defining the vertical and lateral motion of the seatbase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael Douglas Moffa, Erin Renee Reichenberger, Michael Minbiole
  • Patent number: 5492389
    Abstract: A stowable seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair article adjacent to the stowed seat which includes a frame attached to the support member, a cantilevered seatbase and a seatback. The cantilevered seatbase has a free end, a pivotable end rotatably associated with the frame for providing the seatbase with a range of motion extending from a horizontally deployed position to a vertically stowed position, a diagonal support truss supporting the seatbase in the deployed position with a movable end of the support truss sliding within a runner track and a fixed end journalled with said frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Brian W. McClintock, Michael D. Moffa
  • Patent number: 4289351
    Abstract: A low profile seat for vehicles features structural geometry which enables the use of an air spring to control seat height and rate in vehicles whose interior dimensions does not provide for the placement of a more conventional air spring vehicle seat. A fore-and-aft vibration absorbing system may be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide for further driver comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: The Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Wahls
  • Patent number: D521756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Karim Mikhal, Anthony Purnell