Patents Examined by Alexander Harrison
  • Patent number: 9421894
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Balakrishna Reddy
  • Patent number: 9420892
    Abstract: A seat box assembly and method of fabricating utilizing a drop-in webbing assembly secured into a main box and back frame assembly. The webbing assembly has a rectangular frame with elongate members and shorter members and a central girder with a cutout extending between mid-portions of the elongate members. The central girder attachable to the seat box and a central vertical frame member of the back frame assembly. The elongate members having stub portions that fit into slots in the main seat box. A method of repair includes replacing a damaged drop-in assembly with a different drop-in assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jon Lejcher, Timothy A. Brandtner, Aaron Boe
  • Patent number: 9409614
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle structure includes a saddle portion having two elastic supporting bodies in a bottom surface thereof and a nose position pivoted to the saddle portion, the elastic supporting bodies are circular spiral-shaped, which can provide a buffer force to the rider, so as to improve the riding comfort. The nose portion can be selectively located at the same level as or vertical to the saddle portion via a pivoting unit, the saddle can be changed to the nose-shaped saddle or the saddle without nose portion, so as to improve the applicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Nan Kai University of Technology
    Inventor: Teng-Ruey Chang
  • Patent number: 9403451
    Abstract: A headrest device comprising: a headrest stay that is coupled to an upper end portion of a seatback of a vehicle seat, and that supports a headrest pad; an internal structure that is embedded inside the headrest pad, that is supported from a rear by the headrest stay, and that supports a head of an occupant from the rear during a vehicle rear-on collision via a support face that is formed at a front face of the internal structure; and a forward projection portion that is configured by a portion of the headrest stay that projects forward, that is disposed at an upper side or a lower side of the support face within the headrest pad, and that suppresses the head supported by the support face from tilting backward or tilting forward by pivoting about the support face as a pivoting center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomu Munemura, Kensuke Nagai, Tadanori Hisamoto
  • Patent number: 9403456
    Abstract: A headrest support structure of a conveyance seat includes: an upper frame that is provided with a pair of fitting holes and that constitutes a back frame; and a pair of cylindrical headrest holders, each of which fits in one of the pair of fitting holes to be fixed to the upper frame. A transverse cross-section of a fitting portion of each headrest holder fitting in the corresponding fitting hole has an asymmetric shape about a fitting axis parallel to a fitting direction in which the headrest holder fits in the fitting hole, the transverse cross-section being a cross-section in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis. The pair of fitting holes is formed such that each headrest holder is allowed to fit in only one of the pair of fitting holes provided at a position set as a fixing position of the headrest holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihide Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9403452
    Abstract: A seat bottom assembly includes a seat bottom frame and an anti-submarining device having a pivot shaft and a panel. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis between a front edge and a rear edge and the pivot shaft is mounted on the frame. The panel extends along the longitudinal axis between a front edge and a rear edge and is mounted to the pivot shaft for pivoting movement between a design position and an open position angularly spaced from the design position. The panel opposes forward displacement of an occupant supported by the frame while in the open position. The rear edge of the panel is spaced forward of a midpoint of the frame such that only a forward portion of the seat bottom assembly between the midpoint and the front edge of the frame opposes forward displacement of the occupant when the panel is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Arunkumar Subramanian, Prasanna Venkatakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9403460
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a vehicle seat having a body. The body includes a center portion and four corner portions. A breathable coverstock covers a seating surface of the body. A plenum chamber is disposed below the body and is configured to receive and store a fluid. A cupped nozzle is disposed at each of the center portion and four corner portions. Each cupped nozzle includes a tapered base and a wide mouth proximate the coverstock. Fluid passageways extend through the body and connect the plenum chamber with the tapered base of each of the cupped nozzles. Pressurized fluid from the plenum chamber flows through the passageways to the cupped nozzles to deliver targeted airflow to a seated passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Prescott Hickey, Joseph August Himmel, IV
  • Patent number: 9404528
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a locking assembly including a joint device and a safety lock mechanism. The joint device includes a first joint component, a second joint component and a button assembly. The second joint component is pivoted to the first joint component. The button assembly is slidably disposed between the first joint component and the second joint component, and the button assembly is for locking a pivotal movement of the first joint component and the second joint component. The safety lock mechanism movably passes through the second joint component to selectively engage with the button assembly, so as to lock the button assembly selectively. Therefore, it increases the operating safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurseygoods Company Limited
    Inventor: Lin-Hai Shan
  • Patent number: 9399417
    Abstract: An improved safety seat buckling system and method of using the same for facilitating placement of a person into a safety seat is disclosed. A series of slots or fasteners placed on the armrest of the safety seat are fitted to interface with the buckle male end portions of the harness assembly. By placing each buckle male end portion into the corresponding slot, placement of a person into the seat prior to securing the person into the seat becomes easier. Less time is required to secure the person into the safety seat, and the need for the person to lean forward while securing the person into the seat is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventors: David Grey, Stacy Grey
  • Patent number: 9387781
    Abstract: A disc recliner includes a gear plate disposed between fixed and movable plates. The gear and fixed plates are operatively coupled by a pawl that is selectively engaged with the gear plate. An eccentric element is operatively coupled between the gear and movable plates such that inward-facing teeth on the movable plate are meshingly engaged with outward-facing teeth on the gear plate. When the pawl is disengaged from the gear plate, the movable plate rotates with the gear plate relative to the fixed plate to pivot a seat back to a folded position. When the pawl is engaged with the gear plate, rotation of the eccentric element shifts the engagement point between the inward and outward-facing teeth and causes wobbling rotational movement of the movable plate relative to the gear and fixed plates to pivot the seat back between a plurality of reclined seating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventor: Samuel James Matt
  • Patent number: 9380880
    Abstract: The inventive device described in the instant application is a leg rest with collapsible capabilities. It is made with light weight metal and thin airy cloth to rest the user's legs on. It can be used by the user anywhere because of the devices collapsibility and portability it is an efficient and convenient way to transport a leg rest. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Carol Alexander
  • Patent number: 9381834
    Abstract: The child safety seat disclosed in the present invention includes a seatback, a headrest and a belt. The headrest is disposed on the seatback, and is adapted to move relative to the seatback up and down. The headrest includes an inclined guiding portion disposed on a bottom portion of the headrest, and an indentation of the inclined guiding portion points upward. The belt is disposed between the seatback and the headrest. The belt slidably contacts the headrest when a passenger sits the child safety seat and is constrained by the belt, and the headrest moves downwardly so that the inclined guiding portion drives the belt to be close to a center of the headrest. A height of the headrest is adjustable, a shoulder belt of the belt automatically moves when the height of the headrest is adjusted, and the neck of the passenger can be constrained by the shoulder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventor: James M.F. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 9376045
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat structured such that stress is applied to a frame member of an upright seat back on a virtual diagonal line that connects one side of an upper portion of the seat back with another side of a lower portion of the seat back in response to tension received from a band member, the frame member is formed by a first member being connected to a second member, and one member from among the first member and the second member crosses the virtual diagonal line. The one member is more rigid than the other member that is different from the one member, and the other member is lighter than the one member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Maeta
  • Patent number: 9376088
    Abstract: Apparatus for adapting an adult three-point seatbelt for securing a child, the seatbelt comprising a belt extending from above the shoulder to an anchor point connected to chassis of vehicle, and a clasp attached to the chassis on opposite side of an occupant of the seat, such that the belt may be drawn downwards and across the occupant to engage the clasp, thereby restraining the occupant with both sash and lap sections of the seatbelt, the apparatus comprising: a mat with side catches for engaging the lap section of the seatbelt and holding it down over the legs of the child, and a strap fixed to the mat and having a clip at a distal end thereof, for extending behind the child, and the clip for clippably engaging the belt extending from the drum, to bring the sash section of the belt down, over the shoulder of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: CARFOLDIO LTD.
    Inventor: Jon Sumroy
  • Patent number: 9371102
    Abstract: A bicycle seat assembly can include a mounting portion, a seat portion, a locking portion, and an actuator portion. The mounting portion can be configured to engage a frame of a bicycle. The seat portion can be pivotally mounted to the mounting portion. The locking portion can be disposed to selectively lock the mounting portion and the seat portion with respect to one another in a plurality of different seat positions. The seat portion can be moveable among the plurality of different seat positions when the locking portion is in an unlocked configuration and can be fixed in one of the plurality of different seat positions when the locking portion is in a locked configuration. The actuator portion can be engaged with the locking portion and operable to shift the locking portion from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. The actuator portion can be hand-operated. Another bicycle seat assembly can include a mounting portion and a seat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Botkin
  • Patent number: 9352672
    Abstract: An inertial latch system includes a floor bracket, a seat cushion bracket, an inertial weight and an inertial weight damper assembly. The seat cushion bracket is rotatable between a down position, an up position and an intermediate position between the down and up positions. The inertial weight damper assembly is selectively coupled to the inertial weight and includes a detent plunger and a contact plug coupled to the detent plunger. The detent plunger is movable between an extended condition and a retracted condition. In each of the up and down positions, the detent plunger is in the extended condition and inhibits movement of the seat cushion bracket from the up and down positions, respectively, and the contact plug inhibits movement of the inertial weight. In the intermediate position, the detent plunger is in the retracted condition, and the contact plug does not inhibit movement of the inertial weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Robert Elton
  • Patent number: 9333884
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes: a seat base; a support portion which supports the occupant from the back side; a flip-up mechanism which flips up the seat base; a biasing member which biases the support portion forward; an engagement portion which is engaged with the support portion to hold the support portion in a upright state against the biasing force; a cancel mechanism which cancels the engagement between the engagement portion and the support portion; and a return mechanism which returns the support portion from a state where the engagement with the engagement portion is canceled by the cancel mechanism to a state where the support portion is engageable with the engagement portion. The return mechanism performs the return operation in accordance with the inclination angle of the support portion inclined forward by the biasing member after the engagement between the engagement portion and the support portion is canceled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tachikawa, Masato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9333881
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat shell, includes a first upper rail, which is arranged on the tunnel side and is movably guided in a first lower rail, and a second upper rail, which is arranged on the sill side and is movably guided in a second lower rail. The first upper rail can be displaced relative to the second upper rail, and due to that displacement the seat shell carries out a rotation about a vertically extending pivot axis. A main memory device is provided on the second upper rail, and at least one spring unit is provided, which acts upon the first upper rail relative to the second upper rail in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Roth, Markus Jung
  • Patent number: 9333133
    Abstract: A wheelchair having an adjustable seat includes a seat frame including first and second side support members. The side support members are extendable between a first position defining a first length and a second position defining a second length greater than the first length. A seat member is coupled at a first side thereof to the first side support member and at a second side thereof to the second side support member. The seat member extends between the first and second side support members to define a seat area having an initial depth corresponding to the first length of the side support members and a width corresponding to a distance between the side support members. The seat member includes an auxiliary portion for extending the seat member to an extended depth corresponding to the second length of the side support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Drive Medical Design & Mfg.
    Inventor: Michael Serhan
  • Patent number: 9334004
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure allowing a reduction in the weight of a seat while ensuring cushioning performance. The seat includes a base plate member with an outer frame forming an outer periphery of the seat, and concave portions with seating positions and a seat back position on an inner peripheral side of the outer frame made concave in a direction of a seating load. In addition, the seat includes a fabric member that is provided in a tensioned state in such a manner so as to close open sides of the concave portions for supporting an occupant's weight. A first cushion member is provided in positions on the fabric member, at least corresponding to the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Kawatani, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Yukinori Kurakawa