Patents Examined by Anthony D. Barfield
  • Patent number: 6024405
    Abstract: A head restraint assembly 10 is disclosed having an adjustable head restraint member 11 which is securable in position between a forward position and a rearward position by a helical coil locking member 14. The locking member 14 is, in a normally relaxed state, of smaller internal diameter than the external diameter of a transverse support rod 24 with which it is engaged. By rotation of one end portion 19 of the locking member 14 with respect to the other end portion 21 the locking member 14 is partially unwound thereby releasing its locking grip on the support rod 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Rover Group Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Douglas MacAndrew, Paul Sharman
  • Patent number: 6022075
    Abstract: A portable cushion to use with a chair having a seat with upwardly extending elements which may be hip supports or arm rests on each side of the seat having a material thickness sufficient to raise the seating area above the plane of the arm rests or hip supports so as to effectively increase the seating area of the seat. The cushion includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a forward wall, a rearward wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the respective wall defining a material thickness. The first side wall and the second side wall each have an indentation formed therein to accommodate the upwardly extending arm rest or hip support when the cushion is placed upon the seat of the chair. The material thickness of the cushion is such that the upper wall of the cushion extends at least to the height of the upwardly extending elements thereby effectively creating a wider seat, unencumbered by the upwardly extending elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Angeles Group Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, Ray G. Kelly, Sharon A. Turnbough, Francois Seve
  • Patent number: 6022076
    Abstract: A reclining chair having a base frame (1) supporting a reclining unit (2) by a mechanism having downwardly converging swing links (15 and 16) pivoted at their upper ends at (22 and 23) respectively to the frame, a rigid member (14) pivotally connected to the lower ends of the swing links (15 and 16 at 20 and 21). The rigid member (14) has a link (13) rigidly connected to it which in turn is rigidly connected to the reclining unit (2). The center of gravity of the reclining unit with its occupant is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane as the unit moves from upright to reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Ilan Samson
  • Patent number: 6019424
    Abstract: A headrest (23) which pivots forward, by lever action, as a result of the mass of the upper body of a vehicle occupant acting on a pressure-bearing surface in the event of an impact from the rear. In order that in case of both a rear-end crash and a head-on crash of the vehicle, the headrest (23) follows the head of an individual sitting on the vehicle seat, the headrest (23) is positioned on a headrest carrier (17) which can be pivoted out of the backrest (3) in the forward direction and can be pivoted outward about a pin (19), this pin being located at a lower level than that of the pivot pin (21) of the headrest (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Ewald Witte GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Edvard Ruckert, Norbert Kruger
  • Patent number: 6017088
    Abstract: An infant restraint system including an infant carrier, a base couplable to the infant carrier via an improved locking mechanism and having an improved recline mechanism. The infant restraint system further includes an improved handle and an improved belt system, the belt system having a mid-belt adjuster disposed in front of the infant when the infant is positioned in the infant restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Stephens, Brian P. Egan
  • Patent number: 6017087
    Abstract: A rotary coupling to attach an infant seat to the passenger seat of a vehicle. This invention is a child-restraining device for mounting in the passenger seat of a vehicle that has at least one rigid member fixedly mounted in the bite between the passenger seat's seat portion and back portion. In particular, the child-restraining device of this invention has a child seat and at least one rotary coupling to attach the child seat to the rigid member. The rotary coupling is characterized by: a rigid hollow cylinder with two notches in one end, a piston that slides back and forth inside the cylinder, a spring to push the piston toward the notches; a means to prevent the piston from sliding out of the cylinder, and a means to attach the rotary coupling to the child seat. The coupling is operated by pushing the piston back within the cylinder and placing the rigid member in the cylinder's notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Anthony, Harold L. Forth
  • Patent number: 6017090
    Abstract: A seat recliner for interconnecting a seatback for pivotal movement relative to a seat bottom is provided. The seat recliner includes a housing and a recliner rod having one end supported for movement relative to the housing, a lock pawl retained in a predefined memory position relative to the housing for movement between a locked position and a released position, and a recline actuator assembly which can be selectively actuated for moving the lock pawl from its locked position to its released position to adjust the use position of the seatback. The seat recliner further includes a lock pin supported from the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, and a dump actuator assembly for selectively moving the lock pin from its first position to its second position. In its first position, the lock pin retains the lock pawl in the memory position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery T. Bonk
  • Patent number: 6017089
    Abstract: An arrangement in a chair especially for regulating the level of the seat, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Hans Christian Mengshoel
  • Patent number: 6015188
    Abstract: A swivel seat for a vehicle that provides a fixed seating platform surrounding a swivel seating platform and a smooth transition from the edge of the vehicle seat to the seating platform. In one version of the invention the swivel seat includes a rotatable inner portion and a fixed outer portion surrounding the inner portion. Preferably, the inner portion is elevated above the surrounding outer portion only enough to allow the inner portion to rotate freely. That is, the inner and outer portions are nearly flush with one another. In a second version, the seat includes a rotatable seating platform and a curved lip disposed adjacent to and extending away from the seating platform. The lip is configured to conform generally to the edge of a vehicle seat to provide a smooth transition from the edge of the vehicle seat to the seating platform. These two novel features may be combined in a swivel seat that includes the two piece seating platform and the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Nellie K. Yundt, Dan KinKaid
  • Patent number: 6015187
    Abstract: A tilt control mechanism for an office chair includes a spring arrangement which permits forward and rearward tilting of the chair while also urging the chair to a normal upright position. The spring arrangement includes front and rear springs which act in combination such that the upward acting forces acting on the chair can be varied during use. The forces being applied by the front spring are adjusted by a side-actuated tension adjustment mechanism which incorporates a wedge block for adjusting the spring forces. Further, the rear springs provide a variable spring force such that the spring force is maximized when in the normal position but is decreased substantially once the chair is fully reclined. This reduction in spring force allows a user to maintain the chair in the fully reclined position with significantly less force than was required to tilt the chair rearwardly while a sufficient spring force continues to be applied by the front spring to urge the chair to the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Roslund, Jr., Patrick Nelson, Larry Allen Wilkerson, Troy Roark, Joel Dral, Steve Simpson, John Clark
  • Patent number: 6012776
    Abstract: A reversible back for a bench seat is disclosed, in particular a back for the rear seat of a vehicle, such that parts of the back can be folded down into a flat transport position and returned to an upright seat position individually and independently of one another. A middle seat-back part (10) is provided, which can selectively be folded down either together with one or both of the laterally adjacent, outer seat-back parts (12, 14) or by itself, independently of the two outer seat-back parts (12, 14), as desired. The middle seat-back part (10) can be locked to each of the two outer parts (12, 14) individually. A central actuating mechanism (20) is provided in the middle seat-back part (10) so that the locking mechanisms (16, 18) on the two sides thereof can be jointly and simultaneously disengaged or engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ulrich Schneider, Markus Grave
  • Patent number: 6012771
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly is provided for a vehicle including a seat back and a seat bottom pivotally mounted relative to the seat back and movable between a seating position and a folded upright position. A detent mechanism provides a resistance to movement of the seat bottom from the folded upright position and the seating position. An inertia latch mechanism is provided for engaging the seat bottom in the folded upright position in response to a rapid deceleration of the vehicle such as caused by a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Paul H. Shea
  • Patent number: 6010186
    Abstract: A combination desk and chair includes two pairs of foldable legs with a desk surface supported thereon and the chair having two legs pivotally extending from the underside thereof. Two connecting devices are connected between the chair and the legs of the desk, each connecting device including an outer tube and an inner tube that is slidably received in the outer tube so that the distance between the desk and the chair is adjustable. The foldable legs of the desk and the chair with the legs thereof are foldable to make the combination desk and chair have a compact size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Jenn-Long Tsay
  • Patent number: 6010184
    Abstract: A multi-purpose child support device comprises a frame having a base for placement on a floor surface and a support section positioned above said base. A seat element is configured for receiving a toddler child in a sitting position and is coupled with the support section above the floor surface for forming a high chair. The seat element is removably mounted to the frame and is operable for being selectively removed from the support section such that the support section receives an infant child carrier for supporting an infant child carrier above a floor surface. A mounting element is positioned on the frame and engages the removed seat element for securing the removed seat element to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: John A. Helmsderfer
    Inventors: Greg Lee, John A. Helmsderfer
  • Patent number: 6007153
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism has a fixed cheek-plate and a pivoting cheek-plate that can be prevented from moving relative to the fixed cheek-plate by toothed slugs under the control of a cam. Between the two cheek-plates, there is disposed a circular guide having radial gaps which receive the slugs and which hold them in a retracted position once they have become disengaged from the radial gaps. The circular guide can be prevented from moving relative to the pivoting cheek-plate by actuating a control plate which disengages the slugs from the gaps. The pivoting cheek-plate can thus turn freely in one direction and then in the opposite direction before locking again in its initial angular position once the radial gaps of the circular guide come back into register with the slugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Romain Benoit, Yann Reubeuze
  • Patent number: 6007150
    Abstract: A motorcycle seat having a backrest that is angularly adjustable, height adjustable and removable, all without requiring any tool. The backrest is mounted by a bracket to a pivot bracket carried by a frame of a backrest adjustment assembly all of which are disposed below the surface of the seat cushion. The assembly has a prime mover coupled to the frame and pivot bracket and communicates by cable with an actuator allowing selective angular backrest adjustment. The prime mover preferably is a gas cylinder, such as a rigid-in-compression gas spring, or a ball screw. The mounting bracket is pivotally coupled to the pivot bracket and has a coil spring between brackets which urges the mounting bracket rearwardly against the pivot bracket permitting the backrest to be manually urged forwardly to permit entry or exit from the seat and returning to its adjusted position when released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Colin R. Clerkin, Richard R. Sinur, Dean G. Troller
  • Patent number: 6007154
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle headrest system comprises a pair of laterally spaced upstanding support shafts or bolt members for threaded engagement within internally threaded or tapped holes, sockets, or sleeves defined within an automotive vehicle seat frame. The headrest component includes bracket members, having disk members incorporated therein, which are mounted upon the shafts or bolts such that the bracket/disk assemblies are normally mis-aligned with respect to each other, and the disk members define two-point contact systems with the shaft or bolts so as to support the headrest at a predetermined elevational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Eric G. Parker, Craig L. Simdon
  • Patent number: 6003950
    Abstract: A device for ventilating chairs which has an air-permeable covering portion (13, 14) which is applied over the filling (7) of the chair, an insert (15; 59) located between the covering portion and the filling and a suction device (26) which through a system of suction openings in the covering (57, 60) and the insert (40, 56) evacuates the ventilating air. The insert (15) is joined with the covering (9) of the chair to an integrated unit, which is tightened against the filling (7), and from the insert (15) there extends a duct connection (40, 25) tightly separated from the filling, which leads the air to the suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Walinov AB
    Inventor: Stefan Gunnar Larsson
  • Patent number: 6003951
    Abstract: A steering fixture for a seat belt in a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, is pivotable during its normal use within a certain angle range. The pivotability is limited by a predetermined breaking point. If the steering fixture is subjected to a particular load, the connection breaks and the steering fixture can turn freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Hennig, Ingo Schmiedel
  • Patent number: 6003939
    Abstract: In a seat structure having a side air bag device, a longitudinal groove (36) is formed in a seat back pad (14) along the longitudinal direction of the seat back pad, and an insert wire (40) which holds a seat outer cover, is embedded in the longitudinal groove (36). Bent portions (44) are formed in portions of the insert wire (40), which portions oppose the air bag device. Each of the bent portions (44) is bent in a substantially U-shaped configuration, and a slab pad (46) is wound around an outer peripheral portion of a base portion (44A) of each bent portion. Further, the bent portions (44) of the insert wire (40) are each provided to extend rearwardly and diagonally toward the inner side of a seat back (10) so that the embedded length of the insert wire (40) embedded in the seat back pad (14) is made longer, and adverse influences on riding comfort are thereby suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Araco Kabushiki Kaisha, Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeharu Nakai, Masanori Oyabu, Hisaaki Kato, Makoto Asano, Hideyuki Yamanaka, Yasuji Onuki