Patents Examined by David E Allred
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Patent number: 11154139Abstract: A fitness stool includes a sliding system, a support and connection frame and an elastic device. One end of the sliding system is inserted into and fixed to the ground of the earth and the other end of the sliding system is connected with the support and connection frame. The support and connection frame can be moved upwards and downwards relative to the ground, and the sliding system comprises a sliding rod and a sliding cavity. The elastic device realizes elastic damping and elastic return between the ground and the support and connection frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: ZHUHAI SHIQIANG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Zhicheng Ge
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Patent number: 11148569Abstract: A turnover mechanism is disclosed. The turnover mechanism includes a bracket assembly, a rotatable cam, a cam resetting component, a locking pawl piece, a rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft resetting torsion spring. The cam is axially disposed on the bracket assembly. The cam resetting component is connected to the cam and the bracket assembly. The locking pawl piece is axially disposed on the bracket assembly. The cam drives the locking pawl piece to move between a locked state and an unlocked state through forward and reverse movements. The rotating shaft is axially disposed on the bracket assembly and is provided with a locking tooth plate. When the locking pawl piece is in the locked state, a locking pawl in the locking pawl piece and a locking groove on the locking tooth plate are locked and engaged, and the rotating shaft and the bracket assembly are restricted from relative rotation by the locking tooth plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: YANFENG ADIENT SEATING CO. LTD.Inventors: Jie Xu, Qing Song, Donghai Xu
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Patent number: 11148556Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge assembly including a base plate, a seat support assembly, and an off-center hinge. The base plate is configured to mount to a vehicle and the seat support assembly is configured to mount to the seat. The off-center hinge of the vehicle seat hinge assembly is positioned at one corner of the base plate and pivotally couples at least part of the seat support assembly to the base plate. The base plate has a base plate centerline and the off-center hinge has a hinge axis that is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the base plate centerline.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Mahindra N.A. Tech CenterInventors: Owen T. Smith, John P. Pacella, Robert B. Mooney, Michael Berta
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Patent number: 11142108Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a bushing arrangement for a headrest assembly of a seat in a vehicle. In one example of the present disclosure, the headrest assembly includes a rod configured to connect the headrest assembly to a seat back, and a head restraint. The head restraint includes a bushing configured to contact the rod and a spring configured to impart a force on an outer surface of the bushing. This arrangement allows a user to smoothly raise and lower the head restraint, and increases the stability of the head restraint relative to the rod.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Daimay North America Automotive, Inc.Inventors: Yintai Jiang, Jianhua Wang, Guojun Tang
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Patent number: 11142099Abstract: A lifter device includes: an output shaft; a support member supporting the output shaft; an input member coupled to an operation handle; a feed portion transmitting forward and reverse rotation of the input member to the output shaft; a lock portion locking the rotation of the output shaft; and a friction generating portion applying a frictional force to the rotation of the output shaft. A rotating cam of the friction generating portion is a switching structure of switching to: a friction-suppression state when the operation handle is in a neutral position and when the operation handle is turned from the neutral position in a direction of raising the seat; and a friction-on state when the operation handle is turned from the neutral position in a direction of lowering the seat. In the friction-on state, a rotating member is pressed against a fixed member and friction is generated.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yusuke Kajino, Yasuaki Suzuki, Masataka Iwata
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Patent number: 11134782Abstract: A lounge chair includes a support structure that is designed to allow the chair to be positioned in a forward facing position, and also be flipped rearwards so that it can be usable as a chair when facing in a rearward position.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Inventor: Grant Stousland
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Patent number: 11135952Abstract: A seat cover for a vehicle may include a lower or bench portion sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat. The lower portion may include a first section and a second section separated by a slit. The seat cover for the vehicle may also include an upper or backrest portion coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may be sized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicle seat.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Inventor: James Umlauf
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Patent number: 11130429Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat main body that includes a seat cushion and a seatback that is connected to a seat rear side end portion of the seat cushion and that is rotatable in a seat front-rear direction with respect to the seat cushion; and a lifter device that moves the seat main body in a seat up-down direction, wherein the seat main body is moved toward a seat upper side by the lifter device in a case in which a reclining angle of the seatback is greater than a predetermined angle and the seat main body is lower than a predetermined height.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Makoto Sekizuka, Hiroyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 11130430Abstract: A vehicle seat back may include an integrated suspension structure including a suspension wire and suspension mounting guides coupled to both sides of the suspension wire; and a seat back pad foamed for integrating with the integrated suspension structure in a state in which the integrated suspension structure is inserted into a mold for seat back pad formation.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.Inventors: Ju Hyun Cha, Gil Ju Kim, Seon Chae Na, Chan Ho Jung, Teh Chiang Wang
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Patent number: 11124093Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner heart may include supporting a guide plate of the recliner heart with a first support member, positioning a first block onto the guide plate opposite the first support member, positioning a second block in a recess of the guide plate, and applying a force to the first block. The second block may be disposed in the recess such that a gap is formed between the guide plate and the second block. A force may be applied to the first block such that material of the guide plate moves into the gap formed between the guide plate and the second block.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Ralph L. Schmitz, Sapan M. Poptani, Barnabas Bancsov
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Patent number: 11124097Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a support plate having an arm. The arm defines a receiving well. A retention member is coupled with the support plate. A latch member is operably coupled with a seat base frame and the arm of the support plate. The latch member is selectively engaged with the retention member. A release assembly is operably coupled with the latch member. The release assembly includes a latch link coupled with the latch member at a first end. A rod link is rotatably coupled with a second end of the latch link and is fixedly coupled with a torque rod. Movement of the first end of the latch link toward a front of the seat base frame is configured to rotate the latch member and the torque rod.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Mark Caye
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Patent number: 11117498Abstract: A child seat including a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child seat to a vehicle seat is provided herein. The child seat, which may be front- and/or rear-facing, includes a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat base can receive an untensioned belt to secure the child seat to a vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. A tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion and is rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the backrest portion and a second position disposed therefrom. In the second position, the tensioning mechanism can receive a portion of the belt. In the first position, the tensioning mechanism applies tension to the portion of the received belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. Methods of manufacturing child seats are also provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC.Inventors: Lynn Curtis Strong, Mark Gunter, Scott Alan Reed
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Patent number: 11117504Abstract: The invention relates to a headrest comprising two legs, a transverse strut connecting the upper portions of the legs, a housing rotatably mounted on a transverse axis with a locking device. The locking device locks the housing in the raised position, with a first spring for actuating the housing to the lowered position when the device is deactivated. The locking device has two locking catches each formed in an upper portion of each of the legs, a locking crosspiece provided with two locking projections fitting into one of the catches each when the crosspiece is in the locking position. The invention includes a an actuator for actuating the crosspiece to the unlocked position, and a second spring for actuating the crosspiece to the locking position when the housing is in the raised position and when the actuator is not activated.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: TESCA FranceInventor: Albert Soy
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Patent number: 11117501Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Thomas Daniel, Daniel Lynn Larner
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Patent number: 11110840Abstract: A latching device for motor vehicle applications, in particular to a multi-position backrest latch for locking and unlocking seat backrests in motor vehicles. The basic structure of the device has a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a catch and pawls, and also has a locking pin that interacts with the locking mechanism, and a cam element, which acts upon the locking pin in the direction of an open position. According to the invention, the cam element acts on a blocking element which engages over the locking pin.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Robert J. Hunt, Robert S. Pettengill
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Patent number: 11103071Abstract: A collapsible chair is provided, including a seat frame tube, and a support bracket having a mirror structure, wherein the support bracket including a first front leg tube, a second front leg tube, a rear leg tube, and a connecting plate, a top end of the first front leg tube is hinged with an upper portion of the seat frame tube, a bottom end of the first front leg tube is hinged with the top end of the second front leg tube, a top end of the rear leg tube and one end of the connecting plate are hinged with a lower portion of the seat frame tube, and a hinge portion of the first front leg tube and the second front leg tube is slidable along the connecting plate, and the second front leg tube is hinged with the rear leg tube at a certain position.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: ZHEJIANG HENGFENG TOP LEISURE CO., LTDInventor: Baoqing Yang
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Patent number: 11096497Abstract: A seating arrangement includes an upwardly-extending back arrangement movable between upright and reclined positions, and a seat arrangement that includes a first link member extending horizontally and having forward and rearward portions, a second link member spaced from the first link member, a third link member coupled to the first and second link members and substantially flexible along a majority of a length thereof, and a fourth link member operably coupled to the first and second link members, the fourth link member being substantially rigid along a majority of a length thereof, wherein the link members cooperate to form a four-bar linkage assembly, and wherein the seat arrangement moves in a rearward direction as the back arrangement is moved between the upright position and the reclined position.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: James Ludwig, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt Heidmann, Bruce Michael Smith, Mark Spoelhof
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Patent number: 11089874Abstract: A seat includes a support having a first coupling hole and a second coupling hole disposed therein. The seat also includes a seat cradle having a back, a bottom, a first side fixedly connected to the back and the bottom, and a second side fixedly connected to the back and the bottom. The seat cradle has a neutral position in which a top portion of the back is positioned forward of a bottom portion of the back, and a rear portion of the bottom is positioned below a forward position of the bottom. The seat also has a first cradle coupler extending from the first side of the seat cradle, such that the first cradle coupler cannot rotate with respect to the first side. The seat further includes a second cradle coupler extending from the second side of the seat cradle, such that the second cradle coupler cannot rotate with respect to the second side. The first cradle coupler is received in the first coupling hole and the second cradle coupler is received in the second coupling hole.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: SIMTEC, INC.Inventors: Dennis Colonello, James E. Grove
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Patent number: 11076696Abstract: The invention relates to a seat (1), in particular an office chair, comprising a seat support (3) for a seating surface (6) and comprising a backrest support (4) of a backrest (5), which is held on the seat support (3) so as to be able to move in a tiltable manner to the side, wherein the backrest support (4) comprises two support arms (4a, 4b) which are configured to be flexible and/or articulated laterally and spaced apart from one another. Preferably, the seating surface (6) and/or the backrest (5) comprises a curved seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) provided with a cover (6b, 5b) with a number of flexible curved ribs (15, 16) on the edge of the shell, wherein the cover is stretched by the seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) such that when the cover (6b, 5b) is loaded, the bending of the curved ribs (15, 16) is altered.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Haworth, Inc.Inventors: Armin Sander, Martin Potrykus
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Patent number: 11077782Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest connected to the seat base and an leg rest assembly, also referred to as a leg rest assembly. The leg rest assembly includes a deflectable leg support panel pivotably connected to the seat base. The deflectable leg support panel and deflects under a load of legs of the user and returns with a restoring force back to an initial position upon removing the load of the legs of the user. The leg rest assembly may be connected to the vehicle seat by a pivoting structure, that allows the leg rest assembly to be pivoted to a non use position. The leg rest assembly may also be fixedly connected to the vehicle seat a support base front cross structure. This fixed connection then forms an only pivot axis of the leg rest assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Adient Engineering and IP GmbHInventor: Kurt Seibold