Patents Examined by David E Allred
  • Patent number: 11819138
    Abstract: The invention provides a customizable seating support for a seat base that is particularly useful for supporting a physically disabled person in a chair, such as a wheelchair. The seating support includes a posterior portion and a pair of thigh supports that are connected to the posterior portion, via a multi-directional connection, so that the position of at least one thigh support is independently adjustable to tilt upwardly or downwardly or to pivot outwardly relative to the posterior portion to an abducted position. In some embodiments, at least one of the thigh supports may be configured to pivot inwardly relative to the posterior portion to an adducted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Roger Thomas Mascull and Elizabeth Jocelyn Mascull as Trustees of the RT and EJ Mascull Family Trust
    Inventor: Bruce Gordon Mascull
  • Patent number: 11820267
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat bottom including a panel pivotable from a first position to a second position. The assembly includes a track supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes a spring in the track and urging the panel toward the second position. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic actuator maintaining the spring in compression and actuatable to release the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mangesh Kadam, Yuqin Zhao, Srinivas Reddy Malapati
  • Patent number: 11820266
    Abstract: A shock mitigation seat 10 including a plurality of individual shock absorbing members 16 resilient to compression from a shock impact, the shock absorbing members 16 being positioned one adjacent another and such that at a certain stage of compression an individual shock absorbing member 16 resiliently deforms and comes into contact with one or more adjacent individual shock absorbing members 16 which thereby increases resistance to further compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHOCK-WBV LIMITED
    Inventors: Graham Brown, Tom Coe
  • Patent number: 11805920
    Abstract: A foldable mechanism is applied to locking an infant carrier and includes first and second mounts and a locking member. The second mount is pivoted to the first mount and has first and second mating portions. The infant carrier is locked in the folded state when the first mount rotates to a first rotating position, and is locked in the expanded state when the first mount rotates to a second rotating position. The locking member is movably disposed between the first and second mounts and has a positioning portion and a locking portion. The positioning portion is engaged with the first mating portion to lock the first mount at the first rotating position. The locking portion is engaged with the second mating portion to lock the first mount at the second rotating position. A depth of the first mating portion is shallower than a depth of the second mating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Chengkai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11805923
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved structure for a children bounce chair, comprising a base module, two telescopic support assemblies, a plurality of bounce assemblies and a table and chair module, wherein the telescopic support assemblies are assembled on the base module, one end of the bounce assemblies is respectively assembled on the corresponding telescopic support module, and the other end of the bounce assembly is respectively assembled on the table and chair module, so that the children bounce chair can be easily assembled, used or disassembled and stowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TUNG TZU INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-I Lai, Yen-Wen Lai, Wei-Jia Lai
  • Patent number: 11794619
    Abstract: To reduce the weight of a cross member bridged between right and left sides of a seat frame. A seat frame includes an upper frame forming an upper portion of a seat back frame, and a cross member bridged at the upper frame. The cross member includes right and left end portions in a seat width direction, the right and left end portions being fixed to the upper frame; and a first recessed portion that is recessed upward or downward and provided between the right and left end portions. The first recessed portion is provided at a center portion of the cross member in the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Baba, Yuki Hosokawa, Takaya Kurisu
  • Patent number: 11793697
    Abstract: A system includes an adapter and a lock. The adapter includes a flexible collar and an attachment structure. The flexible collar is configured to at least partially surround a portion of the wheelchair such that the flexible collar engages the portion of the wheelchair and aids in preventing rotation of the adapter relative to the portion of the wheelchair. The attachment structure has a first arm attached to and extending from the flexible collar and a second arm attached to and extending from the flexible collar. The lock includes a body and a mounting platform attached thereto. The body of the lock is configured to engage the attachment structure to aid in maintaining the flexible collar in a closed position. The mounting platform has one or more coupling mechanisms attached thereto for use in removably mounting one or more accessories to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Mohammad Sayed
  • Patent number: 11786422
    Abstract: A support device has a main support surface for a person's body, including an auxiliary device influencing the main support surface shape. The auxiliary device includes: a group of supports supporting the main support surface, positioned on the side of the main support surface facing away from the body-supporting side, the supports each including a sub-support surface; an adjuster for each sub-support surface influencing the height of each sub-support surface. The device also includes a monitor for each sub-support surface monitoring the height of the respective sub-support surface; and a programmable control unit controlling the adjuster. The supports include an elastically bendable plate connected to the adjuster. The bending plate is connected to the sub-support surface to influence its height depending on the extent of bending imposed by the adjuster. The adjuster includes an electromotor on the concave side of the bending plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: HANS VOORWINDE BEHEER B.V., TINKE 7 MEI B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Voorwinde, Cornelis Willem Tinke
  • Patent number: 11772571
    Abstract: A ski rack configured for an interior of a vehicle is described. Embodiments of the ski rack include a main body and at least one strap. The ski rack can be adapted to secure to a backside of a rear seat in a vehicle and receive one or more pairs of skis thereon. The main body of the ski rack can include a front section sloping up to a second flat section. The at least one strap can be located in the second section and can be implemented to secure the pairs of skis to the ski rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Cynthia Wark
  • 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: 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: 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: 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