Patents Examined by David E Allred
  • Patent number: 5971478
    Abstract: A J-strip is adapted for attaching an edge portion of a trim cover material to a vehicle seat frame component. An elongated extruded plastic strip includes a substantially J-shaped cross-section with a flat portion and a curved portion extending from the flat portion. The curved portion is configured to cooperate with the frame component for receiving the frame component therein. A plurality of hooks extend from the flat portion and from the curved portion. A plurality of loops extend from the edge portion of the trim cover for engagement with the plurality of hooks in a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement for securing the trim cover to the frame component such that the trim cover is wrapped at least partially around the curved portion when attached. A method of forming a crease in a seat cover using hook-and-loop fasteners is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Hurite
  • Patent number: 5967607
    Abstract: A shopping cart cushion for placement into the mini basket portion of a shopping cart is comprised of a body, left extension and right extension. A strap is attached to the left extension and passes through a loop on the right extension for securement of a child sitting within the device. An optional bar protector is either fixedly or removably attached to the body and is wrapped around the handle bar of the shopping cart. The device folds up and is easy to transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Thelma J. Waldroup
  • Patent number: 5964505
    Abstract: An adjustable headrest assembly including a mounting post for mounting the headrest assembly to a vertically adjustable tower. The headrest including an elongated body portion extending horizontally between first and second ends and defining a tubular opening for receiving a mounting post for securing the headrest to the tower. A cavity is integrally formed in the first end of the body portion and a ratchet mechanism is disposed in the cavity for pivoting the headrest in both the forward and rearward direction. The ratchet mechanism including a ratchet pivotally support by the mounting post and a rack having a plurality of rack teeth mounted along an arcuate path in the cavity of the headrest body. The assembly further including a tower cover including an expandable window portion connected between the tower and the seat back for automatically expanding coverage of the tower upon movement of the tower between a lower position and a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Lear Corp.
    Inventors: Kirk P. Koenig, Ricardo O. Quincoses, Dean Rinke, Don H. Bernhardt, Mark Alan Farquhar
  • Patent number: 5964504
    Abstract: An automobile neck rest cushion which can be detachably connected to the upright portion of an automobile seat. The cushion is shaped so that it tapers from the thickest portion at the center of the cushion outwardly toward the thinnest portion which is the point at which the front portion meets the rear portion. The shape is designed for providing support for the neck while not restricting or interfering with the neck and jaw when the driver turns his head to either side. A strap is provided which is used to attach an position the cushion onto the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hogan & Schuman Development L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jule Hogan, Steven G. Schuman
  • Patent number: 5961182
    Abstract: Apparatus for preventing or limiting spinal injuries to a passenger seated in a forward facing position in a moving vehicle during vehicular impact or sudden deceleration. The apparatus includes a vehicle-installed supporting seat for the passenger, the seat having a support portion behind the seated passenger which includes a resilient surface in contact with the supported passenger. The resilient portion is supported on an underlying stiff support shell. The support shell is rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the passenger pressing against the resilient surface of the support portion as a result of a rear end impact at the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Ronald P. Dellanno
  • Patent number: 5957531
    Abstract: A child restraining apparatus for mounting in a passenger seat of a vehicle is provided. In one embodiment, the child restraining apparatus has an improved vehicle seat belt pathway to accommodate vehicles having particularly forward or high seat belt anchor positions. The child restraining apparatus can also include easily identifiable seat belt pathways corresponding to the seat's forward seat-facing and rear seat-facing orientations and an adjustable harness with easily identifiable harness placements corresponding to the seat's forward facing and rearward facing orientations. In the forward facing orientation, the improved vehicle seat belt pathway generally provides an entry point for a vehicle seat that is disposed forward of, and above, the seating surface of the child car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fisher Price Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Kane, Peter J. Kelch
  • Patent number: 5956100
    Abstract: The background light shield has multiple generally rectangular panel elements which slide one relative to the other to adjust for attachment around a video display cabinet. The panel elements would normally be constructed of thin metal or other suitable material to hold their shape when attached to the video display cabinet to form a broad frame. The background light shield when attached forms a frame approximately parallel to the plane of the video screen of the video display and may be attached at the front of the cabinet to be substantially in the plane of the video screen. The background light shield is of dark color, such as black, and of rough texture for low reflectivity and contrast with the video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Jim Gorski
  • Patent number: 5954408
    Abstract: A console enclosure for supporting various computer or electronic components is provided with an adjustable monitor supporting shelf within the enclosure, and adjustable keyboard table and a shielding canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Infra-Structures, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Bogucki
  • Patent number: 5954402
    Abstract: A size-adjustable load supporting device comprising a load supporting top panel and a size-adjustable support frame. The support frame is adjustable laterally and longitudinally to fit a variety of wheelchairs and to accommodate different sized patients. The load supporting top panel is removably attached to the size-adjustable frame with VELCRO.RTM.. The support frame is comprised of four T-shaped components which are nestingly interfit with one another and slidable relative to one another to form a generally square support frame. With the top panel removed, the length and width of the support frame can be quickly adjusted by sliding the T-shaped components relative to one another to vary the amount of nesting. Once the support frame is adjusted to the desired size, the top panel is reattached, thereby securing the support frame. Four J-shaped brackets are provided, two on each side, to allow the device to be easily mounted on a standard wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. McInturff
  • Patent number: 5947553
    Abstract: A folding chair includes front and rear leg frames which are pivotally connected to a seat frame, a backrest frame having a lower end portion pivoted to the rear leg frame, a pair of armrest members which have front ends pivoted to the front leg frame and rear ends pivoted to the backrest frame, and a pair of connecting rods which have front ends pivoted to the front portion of the seat frame and rear ends pivoted the backrest frame. A pair of locking plates are fixedly attached to the backrest frame and have lower portions which are movable towards two side tubes of the seat frame when the chair is unfolded. The side tubes of the seat frame are provided with resilient protrusions which are automatically engageable with engaging slots of the locking plates, respectively, when the chair is unfolded, thereby eliminating the need to operate the locking plates during folding and unfolding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Shin Yen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuen-Jong Tseng
  • Patent number: 5947572
    Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) drawer includes an outer casing fixed inside a computer and an inner casing which receives an HDD therein. The outer casing has two opposite side walls defining an open front end for removably receiving the inner casing therein. Each of the side walls has a guide slot extending from the front opening to an inner end and a second slot extending from the inner end of the guide slot to a top side of the outer casing in a direction substantially normal to the guide slot. The second slot has two opposite walls. The inner casing has a handle having two side limbs pivoted thereto to allow the handle to be rotatable between an insertion position and a securing position. The handle limbs are slidably receivable in the guide slots of the outer casing for inserting the inner casing into the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Cheng-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 5944383
    Abstract: An easy entry seat track assembly with full memory comprises a lower track assembly and an upper track assembly, releasably slidable on the lower track assembly. A master latch assembly in a latching position releasably secures the upper track assembly to the lower track assembly at an initial position. A rod is affixed to the lower track assembly, preferably on a lower track, and a memory register comprising a wrap spring is positioned around the rod. A memory actuation mechanism moves the memory register from a normal condition to a memory position and disengages the master latch, allowing the upper track assembly to slide over the lower track assembly to a free position. Return of the upper track assembly to the initial position returns the master latch to reengage the lower track assembly, and then returns the memory register to the normal condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Owen Mathey, Mark R. Truman, Christopher George Pasternak, Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Patent number: 5941599
    Abstract: An infant and child chair which includes a body typically shaped in the configuration of an animal or character having a head which acts as a pillow and typically seated on a weighted base. The body may incorporate an infant pouch seat and a storage compartment for toys and books. The infant and child chair of this invention further includes a body frame for supporting bendable appendages or arms, as well as legs, that may be shaped and positioned to embrace an infant or child sitting in the chair, or to define arm rests. The chair body is typically filled with a particulate material such as STYROFOAM (polystyrene) beads or like pellets to facilitate conformity to a seated child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Sheri K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5938282
    Abstract: A control device is disclosed for vehicles, in particular towing vehicles used for agricultural purposes which have a mounting located near the front of the armrest of the driver's seat for a group of control members used to control various functions of the vehicle. A group of control members consisting of a plurality of switches or buttons and a manually-operated lever are provided to minimize fatigue when the vehicle driver is seated for a long period of time. A hand support is also included near the control members to support the palm of the vehicle driver's hand. The switches or buttons and lever are arranged so that the switches or buttons can be reached and operated comfortably with the outstretched fingers and the switching lever is located between the thumb and index finger, while the hand is resting on the hand support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Agco GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Johann Epple
  • Patent number: 5938279
    Abstract: A dynamic head restraint mount (18) includes an low swinging impact plate (22) which swings back below a seat back frame top tube (10) in response to a sudden vehicle deceleration. As it swings back, the plate (22) causes the upper ends of a pair of upstanding head restraint support post guide tubes (24) to rock forwardly of the top tube (10), tilting the head restraint 14 forward. Concurrently, a linkage activated by the same impact plate (22) motion independently causes the support posts (12) of the head restraint (14) to slide up to a consistent highest position above the top tube (10), regardless of the adjusted position within the guide tubes (24) from which the support posts (12) began.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: James Douglas Schubring, James Bolsworth, Todd Hughes Smith, Radu Gabriel Munteanu
  • Patent number: 5927816
    Abstract: A collapsible safe rocking chair includes a main body, two step plates, two rocking plates, a supporter, a seat, and a grip. All the components are made of foam material to make the rocking chair safe to use by children. The two step plates are releasably combined under the main body for two feet to step on, and the two rocking plates are releasably combined under the two step plates to make the chair rock on the ground. The seat is releasably combined on the supporter and on the main body for a child to sit on, with the grip releasably combined on a front end portion of the main body for a user to grip with two hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Kevin Hsu
  • Patent number: 5924781
    Abstract: A wall mounted storage cabinet includes a compartment having a front cover which is pivotable between a substantially horizontal open position and a substantially vertical closed position. The front cover is spring biased toward the closed position. An inner storage bin or binder holder is pivotally mounted inside of the compartment. The inner storage bin is pivotable between an upright position and an angled forward position. The inner storage bin is constructed to remain in either the forward or upright position, whichever is its current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Raspberry Med, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5918937
    Abstract: A folding seat comprises a support frame, a seat back and a seat bottom extending generally horizontally in a first position. The bottom is pivotally connected to the frame to permit the bottom to pivot to a generally vertical second position. The seat bottom is connected to a pivot arm system which typically connects to the seat back at a position at or near the bottom of the seat back and which pushes the bottom of the seat back rearwardly as the seat bottom is raised from the first to the second position. The pivot arm system also moves the bottom of the seat back forwardly as the seat bottom is lowered from the second to the first position. This system can optionally include a three point safety belt system or a plurality of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Co.
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Karim Youssef Mikhail
  • Patent number: 5915787
    Abstract: A small child and infant restraint device is disclosed which can be used with an existing seat of a transportation member such as an aircraft passenger seat. The restraint device includes a base member connected to a back panel by a hinge member. A seat pan provides a seating surface for the child or infant. A seat belt path is defined between the seat pan and the base member for disposal across the base member of a seat belt associated with the existing passenger seat, for attaching the restraint device to the existing passenger seat. The restraint device can be utilized in a forward facing configuration or in an aft facing configuration. The forward facing configuration is utilized with small children and toddlers, while the aft facing configuration is utilized with infants and small children without sufficient neck development. When the device is not in use, the back panel is folded down towards the base member to form a relatively thin stowable assembly where it can be properly stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: DME Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Brookman
  • Patent number: 5915782
    Abstract: A chair (110) with a fabric sling backrest (143) and seat (153) which are suspended under tension when the chair is expanded from seat support members (151, 152) and back support members (141, 142). The chair (110) collapses by releasing the back stretcher member (144) which swivels parallel to the back support tube (142). The back support members (141, 142) also pivot down adjacent to seat support members 151, 152 with the stretcher tubes (121, 131) released from receiver connectors (123, 133) and rotating ninety degrees to be parallel with the seat support tubes (151, 152). The chair (110) then easily folds into a compact carrying size. The chair fits into a carrying bag, or alternatively, carrying straps are sewn directly onto the fabric sling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: G. Richard Geldbaugh