Patents Assigned to Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120228914
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively moving a seat back of a motor vehicle seat relative to a seat bottom includes an armrest movably mounted to the vehicle seat, a seat back actuator and mechanical linkage engaged with and between the armrest and the seat back actuator. The armrest has a first position that supports an arm of an occupant of the motor vehicle seat, and is movable from the first position to a second position. The seat back actuator is responsive to actuation to allow the seat back of the vehicle seat to be moved relative to the seat bottom, and is responsive to release thereof to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. The mechanical linkage is responsive to movement of the armrest from the first position to the second position to actuate the seat back actuator and to otherwise release the seat back actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INDIANA MILLS & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Rumler
  • Patent number: 8251400
    Abstract: A restraint system for a transportation vehicle may comprise a restraint member movably mounted to the vehicle. The restraint member may have a first leg and a second leg that travel together along opposite sides of a seat carried by the vehicle as the restraint member moves relative to the vehicle. A restraint harness may include a retractor that may be mounted to one of the first and second legs, and a lap web having one end mounted within the first retractor and an opposite end mounted to the other of the first and second legs. The lap web may be configured to restrain an occupant of the seat when the restraint member is moved to an occupant restraint position. At least one lock may be mounted to the vehicle and configured to secure the restraint member to the vehicle when the restraint member is in the occupant restraint position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip J. Davis, Brian Hood
  • Publication number: 20120056737
    Abstract: A restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a coupling member, a coupling apparatus configured to receive and engage the coupling member, at least one indicator, and an electrical circuit configured to determine whether the coupling member is engaged with the coupling apparatus and to control the at least one indicator to indicate whether the coupling apparatus is either of engaged and disengaged with the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: INDIANA MILLS & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Marius Magdun, David D. Merrick
  • Patent number: 8113584
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint system comprises a portable base having a mounting assembly and a restraint assembly. The portable base may be a booster seat. The mounting assembly mounts the base the base to the seat of a vehicle and the restraint assembly restrains an occupant of the base. The mounting assembly may wrap around at least a portion of the vehicle seat to mount the booster seat to the vehicle. The restraint assembly may comprise a five-point or a four-point restraint and may include a lateral support assembly. The restraint assembly may further include a torso support assembly. A method of mounting a portable base to a vehicle seat is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman, Thomas P. Woellert, James T. Anthony
  • Patent number: 8061781
    Abstract: A configurable restraint system (10-10vi) for a vehicle seat (12, 12?) may comprise a first restraint harness (30-30?) coupled to a first engagement member (32), a second restraint harness (34-34?) coupled to a second engagement member (36), and a third engagement member (50-50??) configured to be movable between first and second positions relative to the vehicle seat. The first position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the first engagement member (32) may releasably engage the third engagement member (50-50??) to restrain a first occupant of the vehicle seat via the first restraint harness (30-30?). The second position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the second engagement member (36) may alternatively releasably engage the third engagement member (50-50??) to alternatively restrain the first occupant of the vehicle seat via the second restraint harness (34-34?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W Foye, Aaron J Acton, Guy R Dingman
  • Patent number: 8002348
    Abstract: A restraint system for may include a vehicle seat suspended above a floor of a vehicle and a restraint harness coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to restrain an occupant of the seat. The restraint harness may include at least one shoulder web configured to extend over a shoulder of an occupant of the seat and at least one lap web configured to extend over a lap of the occupant. At least one deformable member may be attached to the vehicle seat and configured to deform and dissipate energy when a force is applied thereto by the at least one shoulder web in response to an upward transient force of sufficient magnitude applied to the vehicle seat. A restraint harness pre-tensioning system may be responsive to a signal produced by a vehicle event sensor to tighten the at least one lap web about the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, David D. Merrick
  • Patent number: 8001634
    Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ayette, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7976092
    Abstract: A vehicle safety seat may comprise, among other things, a vehicle seat having a seat base configured to be mounted to a support surface of a motor vehicle, and a roll sensor mounted to the seat base. The vehicle seat may be a suspension seat. The vehicle seat may have other sensors, event detection systems or the like mounted thereto. The vehicle seat may include a number of vehicle/occupant safety mechanisms integral therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Meredith, James R. Chinni
  • Patent number: 7922246
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have a frame mounted within the vehicle, a clamp member movably mounted to the frame and a blocking member movably mounted to the frame. The frame may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The clamp member may be movable relative to the frame under quasi-static conditions to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the second end of the frame. The blocking member may be configured to move relative to the frame under dynamic loading conditions to a position that blocks movement of the clamp member sufficiently to retain the object between the clamp member and the second end of the frame under the dynamic loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7862124
    Abstract: A web adjuster device for securing and varying a length of a web. The web adjuster device comprising a connector portion and an adjuster portion. The adjuster portion comprising a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a housing including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The connector portion comprises a hook portion integrally attached to the web adjuster portion, the hook portion rising generally upwardly and away from the bottom surface of the web adjuster portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7861341
    Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ayette, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7810779
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for preventing actuation of a seat position adjustment device coupled to a vehicle seat that is adjustably mounted to a vehicle seat frame. The apparatus may comprise a stop member mounted to the seat position adjustment device, and at least one biasing member configured to normally bias the stop member into engagement with the vehicle seat to prevent actuation of the seat position adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Douglas Wayne Bittner
  • Patent number: 7810220
    Abstract: A coupling device for engagement with an anchor member is provided. The coupling device includes a lever that moves between a closed position that substantially covers the mouth of the device and an open position in which the mouth is substantially uncovered by the lever. The lever may be moved to the open position by camming forces or by direct manipulation of a portion of the lever by a user. The coupling device may include a cover with a recognizable shape such as a pet or fictional character. The protruding ears and/or head of the recognizable shape aid in the gripping and operation of the device and the mouth receives the anchor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7789603
    Abstract: A retractable tie down device may comprise a frame, a spool including a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted to the frame, a flexible web having one end mounted to the spool, a power spring configured to rotate the spool in a web take-up direction, a handle movably mounted to the frame, a ratchet pawl movably mounted to the handle and biased toward the ratchet wheel, and a lock pawl movably mounted to the frame and biased toward the ratchet wheel. The handle may be configured to move the lock pawl away from the ratchet wheel, and the frame may be configured to maintain the ratchet pawl away from the ratchet wheel, when the handle is in a position adjacent to the frame so that the spool is rotatable in a web pay-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Huck
  • Patent number: 7770969
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint system comprises a portable base having a mounting assembly and a restraint assembly. The portable base may be a booster seat. The mounting assembly mounts the base the base to the seat of a vehicle and the restraint assembly restrains an occupant of the base. The mounting assembly may wrap around at least a portion of the vehicle seat to mount the booster seat to the vehicle. The restraint assembly may comprise a five-point or a four-point restraint and may include a lateral support assembly. The restraint assembly may further include a torso support assembly. A method of mounting a portable base to a vehicle seat is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman, Thomas P. Woellert, James T. Anthony
  • Patent number: 7631896
    Abstract: A sleeper bunk restraint system comprises a sleeper bunk configured to be carried by a vehicle, a curtain extendable over an occupant-supporting top surface of the bunk, and a curtain support member configured to support the curtain away from the top surface of the bunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7607697
    Abstract: A load control device comprises a frame defining a first anchor slot configured to receive a first restraint member, and a second anchor slot configured to receive a second restraint member. At least a portion of the frame yields under a load between the first and second anchor slots that is in excess of a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Esler, Michael A. Wiseman, James R. Anthony, David D. Merrick, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7566086
    Abstract: A seat mounting system for a vehicle comprises an elongated track mounted to a floor of the vehicle and a number of seat coupling members. The elongated track defines a length and a continuous first channel along its length. Each of the number of seat coupling members is configured to be received and retained within the first channel anywhere along the length of the elongated track, and to be secured to a vehicle seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry E. Gray, Christopher W. Foye
  • Patent number: D610036
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
  • Patent number: D667339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan R. Bailey, Jeffrey A. King, Scott R. Latuszek