Patents Examined by David E Allred
  • Patent number: 11772797
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger entertainment device for an aircraft passenger seat is disclosed having a cover member attached to the seat so as to serve as a functional accessory for providing additional functions other than a seating function to the seat; a display screen movably attached to at least one surface of the cover member; and a controller embedded on a surface or inside of the cover member and in communication with the display screen. The cover member is attachable and detachable to a rear facing surface of a backrest of the seat above a passenger knee level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS (CHINA) ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Andreas Maurmaier, Alejandro Morales-Anton, Yiwen Mai, Yuxin Luo
  • Patent number: 11738667
    Abstract: A retainer apparatus including a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, a wireless transceiver, and a sensor. The sensor includes a first sensor portion physically contained within the first retainer portion and a second sensor portion physically contained within the second retainer portion. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The sensor is configured to detect the first retainer portion being disconnected from the second retainer portion and generate a warning signal. The wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit the warning signal to a controller in a vehicle to activate an audible warning alert to warn a user in the vehicle of the first retainer portion being disconnected from the second retainer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: FRIEDMAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Mark J. Friedman
  • Patent number: 11731543
    Abstract: An accessory for a vehicle has a base and a pivot part that can be pivoted relative to the base in opposite first and second pivoting direction between first and second end positions. A first latch and a second latch can lock the pivoting movement of the pivot part in at least one of the directions. An actuator automatically and/or manually moves the latches between a latched position in which the first latch and the second latch engaged and a released position in which the latches disengaged. One of the latches has a rotatable wheel rotatable having first blocking surfaces. The base or the pivot part has a first teeth engaging second teeth of the wheel. The other latch is provided with second blocking surfaces that engage the first blocking surfaces in the latched position and disengage therefrom in the released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Ralph Nuss
  • Patent number: 11730283
    Abstract: A multifunctional foldable highchair includes a front support frame and a rear support frame. The front support frame and the rear support frame are arranged in a foldable manner, and the front support frame and the rear support frame are both in a “U” shape. Two vertical parts of the front support frame are respectively provided with a left sleeve member and a right sleeve member. The left sleeve member and the right sleeve member are height-adjustable. Inner side surfaces of the left sleeve member and the right sleeve member are respectively provided with a detachable left armrest connecting rod and a detachable right armrest connecting rod. Top front ends of the left armrest connecting rod and the right armrest connecting rod are respectively provided with a left armrest and a right armrest. A dining tray is provided between the left armrest and the right armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TJ (fujian) Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianbo Yang
  • Patent number: 11731546
    Abstract: The technology provides a seat release blocker that covers a seat release latching mechanism, where the latching mechanism would enable a passenger to fold down one or more seats of a vehicle. This can be particularly beneficial when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous driving mode, because certain areas within the vehicle may be restricted from passenger access. For instance, access to the trunk or cargo area may be limited to authorized service personnel. The seat release blocker includes a cover member that is fixedly secured to a seat such as a middle seat, using one or more fastener members such as a screw. Once the cover is releasably secured to the seat, the side of the cover with the fasteners may be completely or substantially covered by the side of an adjacent seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Zhaokun Wang, Richard Morabito, Thomas Southworth, Dillon Arellano
  • Patent number: 11712983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system for a vehicle seat in a commercial vehicle operating a vehicle seat motion actuation when the commercial vehicle is about to collide with an obstacle, comprising: —at least one actuator unit that comprises at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat from a driving position to a safety position—at least one control unit connected to said actuator unit to control the at least one seat actuator—at least one proximity sensor connected to said control unit and configured to detect an obstacle before the commercial vehicle collides it wherein the control unit, upon receiving an imminent and unavoidable collision alert signal from the proximity sensor, controls the at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat to the safety position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Raphaël Ribero, Thomas Partarrieu
  • Patent number: 11701989
    Abstract: A turnable headrest includes a headrest body and a headrest rod. The headrest body is wrapped around and hinged to a horizontal rod of the headrest rod, and two vertical rods of the headrest rod are inserted into a seat. The turnable headrest further includes a fixed tooth, a torsion spring, a rotary tooth, and a reset tension spring. A headrest body locking portion, a headrest body rotary tooth portion, and a turned headrest body locking portion are disposed on the fixed tooth. A rotary tooth portion is disposed on the rotary tooth. When the rotary tooth portion is mated with the headrest body locking portion on the fixed tooth, the headrest body is locked at an initial use position. When the rotary tooth portion is mated with the headrest body rotary tooth portion on the fixed tooth, the headrest body is at a turnable position. When the rotary tooth portion is mated with the turned headrest body locking portion on the fixed tooth, the headrest body is locked at a flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: YANFENG INTERNATIONAL SEATING SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yaowei Cao, Min Zhu, Xia Li, Donghai Xu
  • Patent number: 11697363
    Abstract: Adjustable seat device for a vehicle, comprising: -a base portion (10), -a seat portion (20) that is movable with respect to the base portion (10) between a first position, referred to as retracted, and a second position, referred to as extended, -an articulation system (30) forming a deformable parallelogram, which is connected to the base portion (10) and to the seat portion (20) and comprises at least one diagonal support arm (31) connected diagonally to the deformable parallelogram, characterized in that the diagonal support arm (31) is designed to have a first length when the seat portion (20) is in the first position and a second length when the seat portion (20) is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Erik Rydsmo, Anders Ahlqvist
  • Patent number: 11697362
    Abstract: Provided is a conveyance seat capable of reducing the number of components and reducing swing of a seat cushion while a vehicle is travelling. The conveyance seat is a seat including a cushion lock apparatus turnably coupling a seat cushion to a seat back and configured switchable between a seatable state and a housing state. The cushion lock apparatus includes a lock member attached to a seat cushion side, a lock target member attached to a seat back side and engaging with the lock member to lock turning motion of the seat cushion, and a position holding member holding at least one of the positions of the lock member and the lock target member to hold a state in which a clearance is, in the seatable state, formed between an engagement portion provided at the lock member and an engagement target portion provided at the lock target member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masao Hayashi, Yuji Ueno, Takamasa Kubo
  • Patent number: 11690458
    Abstract: A frame for a unitary component of a sectional seating apparatus having a corner portion having a foundation and an elongate lateral portion having a foundation, interconnected by a longitudinal foundation member extending along a back side of the foundations and a transverse foundation member commonly supporting a side edge of the corner portion and supporting a side edge of the lateral portion intermediate opposing ends of the unitary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Max Home, LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Policicchio, Joshua Silver
  • Patent number: 11684162
    Abstract: A seating apparatus cushioned for providing comfortable seating of a body for living room, office and other seating environments. The seating apparatus includes a frame for a seat, a back component, arms and legs and includes one or more supports fixed with respect to the frame and extending from the seating apparatus to provide stationary anchors for use by the body in exercising and for ingress and egress from the seating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Roger Anton Sramek
  • Patent number: 11684173
    Abstract: An infant care apparatus includes a base; a drive mechanism disposed on the base; a controller electronically coupled to the drive mechanism; and a support device coupled to the drive mechanism. The support device is configured to be moved in both a horizontal and vertical direction relative to the base by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is controlled by the controller to move the support device in a plurality of motion profiles relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Thorley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Karl Hopke, Henry F. Thorne, Mary J. Koes, Robert D. Daley
  • Patent number: 11678745
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a base. Returning spring units are disposed on two sides of the base and rockers are disposed on outer sides of the returning spring units. An extending assembly is disposed at the top of each rocker. A drive unit is arranged between the extending assemblies on the two sides and includes a front driving rod. A reciprocating device is disposed at the middle of the front driving rod and a rear driving rod is disposed at an output end of the reciprocating device. Bent members are fixedly connected to two ends of the rear driving rod. Each bent member is pivotally coupled with a driving member I and the middle of the driving member I is pivotally coupled with a driving member II, with the other ends of the driving member I and the driving member II being pivotally coupled with the extending assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Jiangsu Carya Smart Home Hardware Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guoli Zou, Jianbo Sha, Wei Lu
  • Patent number: 11672346
    Abstract: There is provided an outdoor seat collapsible from an open position to a closed position. The seat including: a back rest that rotates until the back rest abuts a top of a seat rest to move to the closed position; a plurality of legs connected to the seat rest, the back rest, or both; and a front flap rotatably connected to the back rest or the seat rest, the front flap rotates to cover front facing portions of the back rest and the seat rest while in the closed position. Also provided is a hinge assembly, including an elongated hinge that defines a hole proximate to a first end and a slot proximate to a second end; the hole receives a first pin to permit rotation of a first portion, the slot receives a second pin to permit rotation and lateral movement of the hinge relative to a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dempsey, Heather Burns
  • Patent number: 11659939
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Avrokin Surnilla, Nikhitha Bekkanti, John Craig Elson
  • Patent number: 11660993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for influencing a backward movement of a seat, in particular a backrest part of the seat, with at least one deformation element arranged in a hinged area of the seating part of the seat, the deformation element being configured such that the deformation element can be deformed due to a force acting on the seating part and/or the back part at a predefined torque curve. The invention also relates to a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, comprising a seating part, a backrest part and the type of device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Oezkan Demirci, Dirk Eckenroth, Rolf Schueler
  • Patent number: 11654807
    Abstract: Described are ergonomic passenger seats that may include monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs, cellular suspension cushions, and tray tables with support arms that may be located within the interior volume of the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs when in their stowed positions. The passenger seats offer enhanced passenger comfort and space while providing a lightweight, simple to manufacture design. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may form integral parts of passenger seats to support additional loads without need for heavy, complex structures. The space within the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat back may then be used for storage or suspension cushions that offer improved comfort with a lighter seat frame. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may also facilitate the adoption of several other seating mechanisms, such as new seat mounts that allow for improved seat motion that allows for passenger recline with reduced impingement on other passengers' space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Nguyen Tien Phuc Le, Reza Mansouri, C. Michael Parker, Jeffrey L. Sikorski
  • Patent number: 11642988
    Abstract: A lock assembly for a vehicle seat includes a lever that has a body and a retention tab that extends from the body, a biasing member that is operably coupled to the body of the lever, an engagement member that is proximate to the lever, and an inertia member that has a weighted head and a retention hook. The inertia member is operable between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Susko
  • Patent number: 11639122
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system that includes a seat mounted in a vehicle. The seat includes a base, a back support, a hinge, and a seat belt integrated into the seat. The back support is capable of rotating relative to the base and thereby reclining. The hinge is between the base and the back support and is configured to lock the back support in positions in relation to the base. The seat belt has a shoulder portion and a lap portion and is attached to the seat at a shoulder anchor in the back support and a base anchor in the base. When a generated torque, created from a forward force applied by the shoulder portion of the seat belt, exceeds a threshold amount of torque, the hinge is configured to unlock and back support is configured to rotate forward from a reclined position towards an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Daniel, Daniel Lynn Larner
  • Patent number: 11634050
    Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes a driver. The driver includes a drive unit, a support shaft, a movable seat pan supported by the support shaft such that the movable seat pan is inclinable in a front-rear direction, a guide groove, a movement pin that is movable along the guide groove, a link that couples the movable seat pan to the movement pin, and an energy absorber. The guide groove includes a first guide groove portion in which the movement pin moves when the movable seat pan is inclined rearward and a second guide groove portion in which the movement pin moves when the movable seat pan is inclined forward. The energy absorber is configured to absorb at least part of a forward load from an occupant when the movement pin moves in the second guide groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kojima, Tadashi Yamada, Takashi Iida, Hajime Kitte, Kenichi Fukurono, Joji Aoyama