Patents Examined by Alexander Harrison
  • Patent number: 9597989
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a seat frame, and a rod that extends to a region on a seat inside, and that is connected to the seat frame. The rod is connected to the seat frame via a shaft member. The shaft member includes a tubular portion having a through-hole, and a protruding portion protruding toward an outside in a radial direction from one end of the tubular portion in an axial direction. The shaft member is assembled to the seat frame in a state in which the tubular portion is inserted through the seat frame from a seat outside, and an insertion position of the shaft member in the axial direction is restricted by a position where the protruding portion abuts against an outside surface of the seat frame. The rod is inserted in the axial direction through the through-hole in the shaft member, and assembled to the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Hattori, Hayato Matsui
  • Patent number: 9580001
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided having a side shield having a leading edge. The side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion of the seat assembly. The assembly further includes a seat cushion, the side shield positioned adjacent to the seat cushion, the seat cushion having an elongated trench adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield so as to prevent the formation of a gap between the shield and the cushion portion thereby providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user. The seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield. The trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench. The side shield extends around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion and the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manuufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ru Chen Sosnowski, Robert Joseph Hazlewood, Patrick J. Edgar, Kyle E. Rosander, Leon Toma
  • Patent number: 9579996
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The child-restraint harness includes at least two shoulder belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Gaudreau, Jr., David Amirault
  • Patent number: 9573642
    Abstract: A seat structure with function of suspension includes a seat tube and a cushion body installed on the seat tube. The seat tube and cushion body are made of carbon-fiber materials. The cushion body includes an integrated seat and a bracket. The bracket is installed on the seat tube. The bracket is an arc piece. The front end of the bracket and the front end of the seat are integrally molded and connected to form a first angle. The rear end of the bracket and the rear end of the seat are integrally molded and connected to form a second angle. The first angle and the second angle are less than 90°, thereby enabling the seat being good elasticity relative to the bracket, which can effectively reduce the vibration transferred from the seat tube. The seat structure has larger elasticity coefficient and better effect of damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: QUEST COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuanhong Liao
  • Patent number: 9573640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicycle provided with a movable saddle, which comprises: the movable saddle; a saddle moving module connected to the movable saddle and coupled with the seat post area of a bicycle frame so as to move the movable saddle in the direction of travel of the bicycle or in the opposite direction as a wire is pulled or pushed; and a control lever provided in the handle area of the bicycle, wherein the wire is bound thereto, for controlling the pulling or pushing of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CREVEN Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Choon Choo Kim
  • Patent number: 9566881
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a connection mechanism; a seat cushion connected to an interior structure of a vehicle via the connection mechanism and displaced between a first state and a second state at which the seat cushion is arranged at a position closer to a front part-side of the vehicle; and a seat back, wherein the connection mechanism includes an arm part and an attaching part, wherein a sitting surface of the seat cushion at the first state gradually inclines upwardly from the rear towards the front of the seat, and wherein, by inclining the arm part more forwards than at the first state, the seat cushion is displaced to the second state and a front part-side of the seat cushion is moved more downwardly than at the first state, whereby the sitting surface is made more horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 9565947
    Abstract: A standing-up trainer, in particular for use in rehabilitation for mobilizing persons having limited mobility. In order to adjust a seat base between a sitting position and a standing position, a positioning unit that is adjustable by a drive is provided, and at least one securing device for securing the convalescent is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: medica-Medizintechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob Oblak, Zlatko Matjacic
  • Patent number: 9555724
    Abstract: A favorable appearance can be achieved using a simple configuration, even when the configuration is provided with a back shell that moves up and down relative to a back frame. In a vehicle seat 10, the back of a seated person is adapted to be supported by a movable back shell 42 that is supported so as to be capable of moving in an up-down direction relative to a back frame 30. A non-movable back shell 46 that is attached so as to be incapable of displacement relative to the back frame 30 is disposed on a back face side of the movable back shell 42, and the back frame 30 is covered by the non-movable back shell 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Uehara, Tadanori Hisamoto, Masumi Yoda, Tsunekazu Kanno
  • Patent number: 9545864
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a seat frame, and a rod that extends to a region on a seat inside, and that is connected to the seat frame. The rod is connected to the seat frame via a shaft member. The shaft member includes a tubular portion having a through-hole, and a protruding portion protruding toward an outside in a radial direction from one end of the tubular portion in an axial direction. The shaft member is assembled to the seat frame in a state in which the tubular portion is inserted through the seat frame from a seat outside, and an insertion position of the shaft member in the axial direction is restricted by a position where the protruding portion abuts against an outside surface of the seat frame. The rod is inserted in the axial direction through the through-hole in the shaft member, and assembled to the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Hattori, Hayato Matsui
  • Patent number: 9533608
    Abstract: An armrest of a vehicle seat or a seat bench includes an arm support attached to a console element. A bearing arrangement enables swivel movement of the arm support between a support element of the arm support and the console element. In a preferred embodiment, the bearing arrangement is formed by at least three sliding bearings which are disposed so as to be distributed across the width of the armrest and which, in turn, are formed by the console element and the support element, which are made of a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: F.S. FEHRER AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard von Rothkirch und Panthen, Thomas Hessdörfer
  • Patent number: 9522618
    Abstract: A seat is described which comprises a base arranged on a base structure, a backrest and structures for arm rest, wherein the seat comprises at least one retractable auxiliary support parallel to the base structure and rotationally slidable between an extended position with respect to the structure for arm rest and a retracted position with respect to the structure for arm rest, wherein in the retracted position the retractable support is totally inserted in the structure for arm rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: EMBRAER S.A., UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SÃO CARLOS UFScar, USP—UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO
    Inventors: Amanda Mota Almeida, Fabio Sugimoto, Fausto Leopoldo Mascia, Felipe Mujica, Flavia Renata Dantas Alves Silvia Ciaccia, Isabela Gallego, Laerte Idal Sznelwar, Samuel Henrique Sabadine da Cruz, Victor D'afonseca de Silva
  • Patent number: 9504330
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat and a seat mechanism, the seat being coupled to the seat mechanism in such a manner that the seat is, in a front end region, pivotably supported about a first axis of rotation orientated parallel with the axis of a user's knees. In its front end region, the seat is also supported on the seat mechanism so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation orientated perpendicularly to the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Gehner, Heiko Büttner
  • Patent number: 9505328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat portion and a backrest connected to the seat portion by a hinge mechanism. A seat element selected from among the backrest and the seat portion comprises a shell, which is made of a plastic material and the side edges of which are overmolded onto composite reinforcement inserts. Each of the inserts comprises a core perpendicular to the medium plane of the seat element, and two side flanges parallel to the medium plane of the seat element. The insert is formed by assembling two composite parts having an L-shaped cross-section and forming a portion of the core and one of the side flanges of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: FAURECIA SIEGES D'AUTOMOBILE
    Inventors: Thierrry Renault, Amit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 9499071
    Abstract: An adjusting device for a hinge mount of a motor vehicle seat has a housing part, a drive unit, a gear unit which is mounted downstream of the drive unit, is driven by the drive unit, has at least one self-locking gear and drives an output shaft, an element which can be adjusted about an axis of the hinge mount, is rotationally connected to the output shaft and can be adjusted in an angle range ?360°, preferably ?90° about the axis of the hinge mount, and at least one stop mechanism which delimits the swivel range of the arm in at least one swivel direction. The stop mechanism is mounted between a) the self-locking gear and the drive unit, b) the self-locking gear and the housing part and/or c) the drive unit and the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Karthaus
  • Patent number: 9493242
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly for an aircraft seating unit that includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart base rails, each including fore and aft fittings for connecting the base rails to an aircraft deck. The base rails define a transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails. A swivel assembly is mounted between the pair of base rails in the laterally-extending horizontal plane. The swivel assembly provides a low profile seat with a spar that forms a part of the swivel assembly and transfers loads from the seat efficiently to the aircraft deck. A slide assembly enables the seat occupant to slide the seat fore-and-aft and side-to-side independent of the rotation of the seat on the swivel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Oleson
  • Patent number: 9486081
    Abstract: The invention relates to an item of seating furniture (2), in particular an office chair, with a substantially curved supporting shell (14) which has two raised, curved, flexible curved arms (24) and a rigid central piece (16) arranged between said curved arms. Furthermore, the item of seating furniture (2) comprises a covering (30) which is clamped in the manner of a secant between the curved arms (24) of the supporting shell (14), wherein, when the covering (30) is loaded, at least one curved arm (24) is at least partially increasingly raised and/or is at least partially curved in the direction of the central piece (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HAWORTH, INC.
    Inventors: Armin Sander, Martin Potrykus
  • Patent number: 9469221
    Abstract: A fitting system for a vehicle seat having a fitting (10), which has a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which fitting parts can be locked to one another and can be rotated relative to one another about an axis (A). A transmission rod (7) rotates during an unlocking process to unlock the fitting (10) against the torque and follows a characteristic curve (M35) generated by a spring arrangement (35). A hand lever (5) initiates the unlocking process, the actuation of which rotates the transmission rod (7). A shaped spring (61) is active between a first component (63) and a second component (64) which rotate, relative to one another during the unlocking process. The torque generated by the shaped spring follows a non-linear characteristic curve (M61) which, together with the approximately linear characteristic curve (M35) of the spring arrangement (35), produces an overall characteristic curve (Moverall).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns, Uwe Assmann
  • Patent number: 9462891
    Abstract: A chair has a body support structure with a membrane that can be stretched in an intended three-dimensional shape. The structure includes a frame member in a three-dimensional shape and forming a three-dimensional body support face expanding in three axes (y-axis direction), (x-axis direction), and (z-axis direction) orthogonal to each other and a membrane with peripheral edge portion fixed to the frame member under no tension or tension lower than tension required of the body support face, which has different heat shrinkage ratios in two directions, and to which the tension required of the body support face is imparted by heat shrinkage by heating after the fixing and a difference in tension generated in the heat shrinkage of the membrane forms the three-dimensional body support face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Takano Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Isao Okamoto, Yousuke Shirotori
  • Patent number: 9463721
    Abstract: A head rest for motor vehicle seats has a center part and side parts that are arranged on either side of the center part and can be adjusted relative to the center part to provide lateral support of the head. At least one hollow body that can be filled with fluid is provided, by the filling of which the at least one side part is pivoted in the direction of the area in which the head is accommodated. Two lever arms pivotable about a respective pivot axis are provided, each having a first lever arm section and a second lever arm section arranged at the opposite end of the first lever arm section. The first of the lever arm sections lie in the stroke range of the hollow body and the second of the lever arm sections cooperates with a side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Reese
  • Patent number: 9457692
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle: a locking mechanism that is interposed between a seat cushion and a seatback and selectively switches inclining of the seatback between a permitted state and a regulated state with respect to the seat cushion; a first operation member that performs a first unlocking operation which allows the seatback to incline with respect to the seat cushion within a angle range with respect to the locking mechanism; a second operation member that performs a second unlocking operation which allows the seatback to incline with respect to the seat cushion to a forward tilt position exceeding the angle range with respect to the locking mechanism; and a stopper mechanism that regulates a rearward tilt of the seatback at a regulation angle position included within the angle range in a state of the second unlocking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto, Yasuhiro Kojima