Patents Examined by Alexander Harrison
  • Patent number: 9789790
    Abstract: A vehicle seat support carrier includes an upper seatback panel having a flexible body portion. A first set of flexible suspension members undulate in a first direction. A second set of flexible suspension members undulate in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. A lower seatback panel is operably coupled to the upper seatback panel. The lower seatback panel includes a border member defining a central aperture and first and second bolster supports. A central portion of each of the first and second bolster supports includes a plurality of flexible suspension members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, S. M. Akbar Berry, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr., Johnathan Andrew Line, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 9789795
    Abstract: A headrest is provided including a movable unit that can be shifted to multiple positions in the front-rear direction in a normal mode. A headrest includes first and second headrest pillars, a stationary unit disposed between the first and second headrest pillars, a movable unit movable apart from or close to the stationary unit toward a front or rear direction, an X linkage connecting the stationary unit to the movable unit and including an inside linkage segment and an outside linkage segment rotatably connected each other at a central connecting intersection, and a front-rear locking mechanism including a lock receiver and a locking component engageable with the lock receiver, to lock or unlock the movable unit movable relative to the stationary unit toward the front or rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9751441
    Abstract: A cover anchor clip comprising a base section; an anchor portion including a pair of extension portions that stands up from the base section so as to face each other, a pair of anchor claws that is formed at respective leading ends of the pair of extension portions and that projects out toward sides where the extension portions mutually face each other, and a protrusion that is formed at each leading end of the extension portions and that projects out to the opposite side to the mutually facing sides of the extension portions; and upstanding portions standing up from the base section, each of the upstanding portions can make contact with either one of the protrusions in the event that either one of the extension portions is elastically deformed and the pair of anchor claws move away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Sato, Ryuji Tsunoda, Ryo Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9744891
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lumbar support assembly. The present disclosure provides a lumbar support assembly installed at a seat back frame at the inside of a vehicle seat and configured to support the back region of an occupant, comprising: a suspension mat coupled to the seat back frame; a guide box coupled to the suspension mat; an actuator coupled to the guide box and including a spindle shaft disposed at one side thereof so as to be positioned within the guide box; a pair of spindle nuts screw-coupled to the spindle shaft and slidably moved in opposite directions to each other along with the rotation of the spindle shaft; and a pair of cables coupled at one ends thereof to the seat back frame and coupled at the other ends thereof to the pair of spindle nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DAE CHANG SEAT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, In Ung Yeon
  • Patent number: 9737147
    Abstract: A folding chair has a backrest, a seat and legs that are coupled to two hinges. The folding chair has an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the backrest portion is parallel to the seat portion and in the open position the angle between the seat portion and the backrest portion is greater than 90 degrees. The hinges are made of two elongated rod structures each having a helical center section. The two elongated rod structures are coupled together with a bolt to form the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Shape Field Office
    Inventor: Karson Shadley
  • Patent number: 9725021
    Abstract: Provided is a seat frame for a vehicle seat capable of supporting the back of a seated person during a rear-end collision by using a simple structure and few component portions. The seat frame includes a top frame portion on the top of the seat, lateral frame portions on the right and left of the seat, and a connection frame connecting the tops of the lateral frame portions to bridge them. The connection frame includes a bent protrusion portion bent in the longitudinal direction and arranged in a standing condition from a surface formed by the connection frame, at a position between a pair of the lateral frame portions. The bent protrusion portion is provided over the entire length of the up and down direction of the connection frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujita, Hiroyuki Itoi
  • Patent number: 9714002
    Abstract: A vehicle safety chair includes a safety belt buffering mechanism applied to a shoulder belt and a crutch belt. The safety belt buffering mechanism includes a first belt connecting component applied to the shoulder belt, a second belt connecting component applied to the crutch belt, and a pivoting component. The first belt connecting component includes a first body whereon a first pivoting hole and a first buffering unit are formed, and a first belt fixing portion disposed on the first body. The first buffering unit is located adjacent to the first pivoting hole. The second belt connecting component is rotatably assembled with the first belt connecting component. The second belt connecting component includes a second body whereon a second pivoting hole is formed and a second belt fixing portion disposed on the second body. The pivoting component passes through the first pivoting hole and the second pivoting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventor: Chin-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 9675178
    Abstract: An electric support system for sofa includes a linear drive device and at least one adjusting assembly, the adjusting assembly includes a side plate, a slider, a first connecting link, and a second connecting link, the slider is slidably configured on the side plate and driven by the linear drive device to slide on the side plate, one end of the first connecting link is pivotally connected to the slider, the other end of the first connecting link is pivotally connected to one end of the second connecting link, the other end of the second connecting link is an end adapted for fixing headrest, and the second connecting link is also pivotally connected to the side plate with a pivot configured between the two ends of the second connecting link. The headrest can be adjusted to any angle or any position without limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN WEIHONG HARDWARE AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Lu
  • Patent number: 9668579
    Abstract: A reclining chair includes a stationary frame having first and second sides, a seat, a seat back, and a foot rest mounted to the frame, a linkage mechanism mounted to the frame and configured to move the seat, the seat back, and the foot rest between a sitting position and a reclining position and having a driving arm adjacent to the first side and configured to drive the linkage mechanism, and a rotatable arm mounted to the first side of the stationary frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sauder Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9661930
    Abstract: A chair back assembly includes a substantially rigid peripheral frame defining a central opening, and a substantially flexible back shell coupled to the peripheral frame and spanning at least a portion of the central opening, wherein a first portion of the back shell is fixed with respect to the frame at a first position, a second portion of the back shell is fixed with respect to the frame at a second position that is different than the first position, a third portion of the back shell is constrained with respect to the frame in at least one direction of motion at a third position located between the first position and the second position, and wherein a fourth portion of the back shell is free from constraint with respect to the frame at a fourth position located between the third position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Norman, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Todd Quigley, Mark J. Dinneweth
  • Patent number: 9663001
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle seat with a seat part, a backrest part and a seat substructure to be arranged on a body part of a commercial vehicle is provided. The seat substructure comprises a lateral swinging means with a cross carriage part, which can be swung transversely to the longitudinal extension of the commercial vehicle and by which at least the seat part is mounted, and comprises a locking means for fixing the cross carriage part on the base support part, wherein the locking means has two locking units which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal extension of the commercial vehicle and which have a respective locking element which is mounted such that it can swivel about a vertical swivel axis and can be deflected synchronously by an actuating element which is arranged at least in part therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Erwin Haller, Nikolas Haller
  • Patent number: 9656579
    Abstract: A headrest comprising a pad member that includes a recess shaped housing portion open to a rear side when the headrest is assembled to a vehicle seat and that is a resilient body that supports the head of an occupant; and an attachment member that has a portion housed in the housing portion, that is formed with an opening portion for attaching a display device to, and that further has an outer peripheral portion of the opening portion that is disposed further to the rear side than the pad member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Tomohiro Hirose, Masaharu Sanpei
  • Patent number: 9649954
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has a seat part and a backrest which is provided with a backrest frame which runs all around as a load-bearing structure. The backrest frame has a lower crossmember, two side parts and an upper crossmember. The backrest can pivot relative to the seat part by at least one fitting which is attached to the backrest frame. At least one corner piece is provided as part of the backrest frame, which corner piece connects the lower crossmember to one of the seat parts. The fitting is attached to the corner piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Dill, Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 9637030
    Abstract: Vehicle seat (1), with a seat part (2) and a backrest (3), which comprises a lumbar support (7), wherein the lumbar support (7) has a lumbar apex (7.1) towards the back of a seat occupant and tapers from there and that the lumbar support comprises a suspension 9, 11, 12) that results in load distribution with a primery load uptake (8. 1) at the lumbar apex (7.1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt Seibold, Alexander I Balin, Ingo Kienke, Jorg Linnenbrink
  • Patent number: 9616784
    Abstract: A vehicle seat in which an angle of a seatback with respect to a seat cushion is adjustable and which includes an ottoman in front of the seat cushion includes: an association mechanism which operates the seatback and the ottoman in association with each other; and an association prohibition mechanism, wherein when a tilting operation to tilt the seatback forward from a normal usage position is performed so as to decrease a relative angle of the seatback with respect to the seat cushion, the association prohibition mechanism disables an association function of the ottoman caused by the association mechanism according to the tilting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetaka Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 9616785
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a bottom frame, a seat back connected to the frame, and an armrest capable of upward and downward movement. The armrest includes a seat bracket connecting the armrest to the frame and a vertically variable adjustment mechanism. The mechanism has a control disposed in the armrest, a lock actuated to an engaged or disengaged position by the control, a rack disposed in a generally vertical direction, and a one-way bearing acting as pinion and having two rotational states. The first rotational state is a locked state where the lock is engaged and prevents the one-way bearing from rotating, preventing the rack and armrest from a downward movement. The second rotational state is a free state where the lock is in the engaged position and a force is applied in the upward direction, the one-way bearing can rotate, allowing the rack and armrest an upward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PAC SEATING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Hector Noel Marini, Michael Edward Boyle, Kenneth Raymond Davie, Sean August Kimpel, Charles Christopher Tufano
  • Patent number: 9616775
    Abstract: A seat depth adjustment device for a vehicle seat has a seat structure (3) that includes a support plate (6) that is displaceable relative to the seat structure (3) with the aid of a linear guide (7) of the seat structure (3). The seat structure (3) is designed for receiving an upholstery cover. The upholstery cover is pretensioned with the aid of a cover return (22), and wherein the cover return (22) is connected to the support plate (6). Accordingly, the cover return (22) is connected to the support plate (6) in a manner positionable infinitely variably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Benjamin Rehfuss
  • Patent number: 9609954
    Abstract: A space saving convertible seat and chest of drawers apparatus having a first chair superimposable inverted onto a second chair wherein a seat of the first chair nestles into a seat of the second chair when said first chair is inverted, a back of the first chair fits flush overlying a front apron of the second chair, and a front apron of the first chair nestles flush into a back of the second chair, each back of the first and second chairs thereby formative of respective sides of a chest of drawers, each of said first and second chairs having a slidable drawer disposed in position underneath each seat thereof, whereby the first and second chairs are arrangeable as a set of two chairs or as a single chest of drawers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Poland Hamburg
  • Patent number: 9610875
    Abstract: A trim cover assembly of extremely soft property comprises a surface cover element, a wadding cover, and a thick foam wadding sandwiched therebetween, wherein the thick foam wadding has a compressed thin end surface region sewn with the surface cover element and wadding cover. Sewing method for forming such trim cover assembly involves: pressing and collapsing an end surface of the thick foam wadding in downwardly slantwise direction to provide a compressed thin area, thereby allowing direct access thereto of a conventional sewing machine; operating the sewing machine to sew the compressed thin area with the surface cover element, thereby producing a sewn trim cover having a compressed thin end region therein; and thereafter sewing the wadding cover with such sewn trim cover in correspondence with the compressed thin end region. As such, a trim cover assembly having the thick foam wadding is easily formed by the conventional sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tabata
  • Patent number: 9603463
    Abstract: A juvenile seat assembly includes a seat back mounted for pivotable movement relative to a seat bottom. The seat back can be locked in different positions relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James R Varney, John A MacNeill, Scott A Leclerc, James M Ormond