Patents Examined by David E Allred
  • Patent number: 11963619
    Abstract: A lounge having a matrix mat and a plurality of modules capable of being inserted into the matrix mat. The lounge may include a frame configured as a rigid frame, a modular frame, and combinations thereof. The modular frame may further include a tri-cable suspension. The tri-cable suspension may be attached to a dilator retractor mechanism. The modules may be a mushroom cap module, a spider spring module, a web module, a lighting module, an electronics module, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Donald J. Molenda
  • Patent number: 11963621
    Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a support shell including a seat portion and a chair back portion each configured to support a seated user, the chair seat portion having a front region and a rear region and the chair back portion having an upper region and a lower region, where the rear region of the seat portion is coupled to the lower region of the chair back portion, a control member including a substantially flexible front support and an attachment point, where the front support engages the support shell in the front region of the seat portion and the control member engages the back portion, and a substantially rigid second support attached to the control member at the attachment point, wherein the control member is an integral, one-piece component including multiple flex regions configured to allow the support shell to move between an upright and reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: James Ludwig, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt Heidmann, Bruce Michael Smith, Mark Spoelhof
  • Patent number: 11952128
    Abstract: An arm rest assembly and aircraft passenger seat including the same. The arm rest includes a friction mechanism for resisting abrupt rotational movements of the arm rest. A rotationally fixed frame member defining a rotational axis and receives a rotational member of the arm rest configured to rotate around the rotational axis. A groove formed in an outer circumferential surface of the rotational member seats a O-ring disposed between the groove and an inner circumferential surface of the frame member. Tolerance between the frame member and arm rest is such that the O-ring is held in the groove in a compressed state and frictionally engagement each of the rotational member and the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Ponjican, Ryan J. Suhre, Stephen A. Puglisi
  • Patent number: 11951950
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat that includes a base and a removable support member pivotably coupled to the base and movable between a closed position and an open position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a seatback and an attachment assembly disposed between the removable support member and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Arturo Aguilar Ruelas, Jonathan Eli Contla Valenzuela, Amparo Sonia Sala Macias, Jessica Yobana Mayo Anzurez
  • Patent number: 11952123
    Abstract: A table device for a vehicle cabin, in particular for a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The table device includes an active surface which is coated with at least one active material that is photoactive and antimicrobial. The table device furthermore includes an irradiation device, which is configured to irradiate the active surface with light. A passenger seat or a vehicle cabin may incorporate such a table device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Kohlmeier-Beckmann
  • Patent number: 11944200
    Abstract: A self cleaning chair assembly for suctioning up hair as it is cut from a client includes a base, in which a vacuum module is positioned, and a chair. The chair is rotatably engaged to and is selectively extensible from the base. A tube is engaged to the chair and extends along a rear edge of a seat of the chair. A plurality of openings is positioned in the tube. An intake pipe is engaged to and extends from the vacuum module. The intake pipe extends substantially circumferentially around a lower end of the base. A plurality of apertures extends through the base and into the intake pipe. A hose is engaged to and extends between the intake pipe and the tube. The vacuum module suctions hair trimmed from the client from a surface proximate to the base, through the apertures, and from the chair, through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kerry Reeves
  • Patent number: 11945346
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat crash securing device (1) used for a vehicle seat of a motorized vehicle. The vehicle seat crash securing device (1) comprises a locking device for locking a height of a seat cushion frame. An actuator (3) is actuated in the case of a crash for tightening a belt rope (5). A blocking element in a blocking position holds a locking element of the locking device in an unlocked position. In a releasing position, the blocking element releases the locking element. The locking element is biased by a spring element into the locked position. The blocking element can be moved by a friction force generated by the actuator (3) from the blocking position into the releasing position. Preferably, the friction force is generated by a follower (8) (e.g. a friction wheel (9)), the follower (8) being pressed against the belt rope (5). The movement of the follower (8) is coupled to the movement of the blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Junk, Dimitri Unrau, Dominik Seitzer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 11945353
    Abstract: There is shown and described, inter alia, a holder for supporting a headrest, which holder can be fixed in a retaining structure of a vehicle by insertion in a first mounting direction, wherein the holder is formed with a guide passage for receiving a retaining rod of the headrest, and wherein the holder has fixing means for fixing to a retaining structure of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GRAMMAR AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Schmitt, Stefan Bergler
  • Patent number: 11938853
    Abstract: A multi-actuator capable vehicle headrest includes a headrest support and a multi-cam release mechanism mounted to the headrest support. The multi-cam release mechanism includes a first cam and a second cam. A headrest shell member is pivotally mounted to the headrest support through the multi-cam release mechanism. An actuator is mounted to the headrest shell member. The actuator includes a first actuator portion operable to disengage the multi-cam release mechanism based on a first input and a second actuator portion operable to disengage the multi-cam release mechanism based on a second input that is distinct from the first input allowing the multi-actuator capable vehicle headrest to transition between a deployed configuration and a folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John J. Berndtson, David Wayne Milodrowski, Obert Burch, Joshua Miguel Rivera Torres, Edeena Alicia Reader
  • Patent number: 11938847
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stepless brake device of a vehicle seat. The coupling piece formed on the plate cover disposed on the outermost rear surface is caulked and coupled to the housing cover disposed on the outermost front side. Therefore, the components are firmly coupled, and no axial gap occurs between the components. Also, tolerance accumulation of the components does not occur, so that the tilt of the roller is reduced, and thus, collision noise of the roller during the release operation is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DAS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jae Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11930925
    Abstract: A multi-functional, space-saving, and economical furniture item, made of wood, that converts shape and function to provide storage, seating, a desk-top workspace, and a countertop-height workspace. The furniture item is a bench that provides seating and has a flap that can be “actioned” (folded down) to provide a table for writing. The bench is integrally formed in a unitary structure that affords multimodal transformation and practicality for ease-of-use and desired functional range. By lifting the bench seat clockwise and lowering the backrest, the furniture item transforms into a countertop or a desktop workspace. Undoing the said steps transforms the countertop back to the bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: David Silverman, Eylon Winterstein
  • Patent number: 11912415
    Abstract: A vibration-reducing insert is usable to reduce vibration or play between two metal aircraft components. The insert rotates on a fastener, and includes a shelf that projects into the gap and operates as an indexable cam to establish an appropriate compression in an engaged portion of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Alan Thisius, Tim Todd Razey
  • Patent number: 11884402
    Abstract: A holder for holding a rolled-up newspaper comprises one or more elastic members and a grip that has a shaped surface for positioning against a rolled-up newspaper. When the one or more elastic members are secured to a rear surface of a vehicle seat back or to a literature pocket positioned on the rear surface of a vehicle seat back, the one or more elastic members urge the shaped surface of the grip towards the rear surface of the seat back, or of a literature pocket positioned between the grip and the rear surface of the seat back, such that when a rolled-up newspaper is positioned between the shaped surface of the grip and the rear surface of the seat back or the rear surface of the literature pocket, the newspaper is held in place between the shaped surface of the grip and the seat back or the literature pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ACRO AIRCRAFT SEATING LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Hughes, Andrew Wolfenden
  • Patent number: 11877666
    Abstract: A cover for cushions of a seat. The cover has a major panel with spaced longitudinal edges and a pair of side panels. The side panels have a curvilinear upper edge secured to the longitudinal edges to constrain the major panel to define a domed configuration. The major panel extends beyond the side panels to have a pair of flaps to overlie a seat frame and has releasable fasteners to secure the cover to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: 2724889 ONTARIO INC.
    Inventor: Jacek Styrc
  • Patent number: 11877668
    Abstract: A neck pillow comprising a cylindrical body that can encircle a neck of a human body, wherein the neck pillow is wearable around and detachable from the neck, wherein the cylindrical body has hardness for stably supporting the neck of the wearer and is provided with a fastener that is openable and closable on a front side of a wearer, and wherein degree of opening of the fastener can be adjusted by a millimeter unit from an upper edge of the cylindrical body in accordance with a height of the lower jaw of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MOGU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ishida
  • Patent number: 11872916
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a damper system for a suspension of a vehicle seat. A linkage of the damper system can be configured to cause a damper to provide different damping characteristics when the suspension moves towards a neutral position than when the suspension moves away from the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEATS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nemec, Kole Wacker
  • Patent number: 11865955
    Abstract: A method for making a seat includes the step of overmolding a carrier onto a fabric seat surface. The fabric surface is formed from a woven fabric material having heating element fibers. The heating element fibers are placed in contact with a conductor. The carrier and the conductor are then positioned into a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Martin Oomen, Randy James Sayers, Samuel Smith, Manfred Mueller
  • Patent number: 11865055
    Abstract: A seat positioning system includes a base frame having a pair of forward slots and a pair of rear slots, and a seat frame having a front end and a back end. The seat frame is coupled to the base frame and movable relative to the base frame. A first pair of linkages is slideably coupled to the pair of forward slots and connects the frames. A first pair of locking devices has a locked configuration adapted to prevent the first pair of linkages from sliding relative to the pair of forward slots and an unlocked configuration adapted to allow the first pair of linkages to slide relative to the pair of forward slots. A second pair of linkages slideably is coupled to the pair of rear slots and connects the frames. An actuator is pivotally connected to both the seat frame and the base frame and is configured to extend and contract to move the seat frame relative to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Mulhern, Stephen J. Antonishak
  • Patent number: 11866176
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a backrest that is configured to recline over a reclination range, and a variable reclination range limiter that is configured to selectively adjust a limit of the reclination range limit. A variable reclination range limiting method for a seat assembly includes allowing a backrest of the seat assembly to recline over a reclination range, and selectively adjusting a limit of the reclination range by a variable reclination range limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Cloud, Christopher Edward Plass, Raymond Roeder, Dean Hettick, Anis Noorani
  • Patent number: 11857471
    Abstract: A seat cushion assembly includes a base defining a leg support and a support portion recessed relative to the leg support, and an air pad assembly positioned on the recessed support portion, the air pad assembly including a plurality of independent air support zones that are configured to be separately inflated and deflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PERMOBIL, INC.
    Inventors: Ross Peyton, Conor Sullivan