Patents Examined by Joe Edell
  • Patent number: 7445285
    Abstract: Presented herein is an article of furniture for play and education, comprising a set of attachable cushions, each of which has at least one concave surface. When the set of cushions is arranged with the concave surfaces creating a substantially concentric interior surface, the article of furniture forms a substantially spherical shape with the substantially concentric interior surface forming a hollow core in the middle of the article of furniture. This hollow core provides an area in which a child may stand, hide, sit, or roll and the like. The cushions may also be configured into a variety of other shapes, such as a rocking chair, a crib, a ball with a large inner cavity for rolling or hiding, a down-turned hemisphere on which a child may sit, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Jessica Beth Cohen
  • Patent number: 7393055
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, has at least one seat component which can be adjusted in its position, such as a seat part. The seat part can be mounted with its seat frame structure (3) by swivelable support legs (7, 11) above a floor structure (1). The support legs (7, 11) act on the seat frame structure (3) in pairs in the area of the front edge (9) and rear edge (5) of the seat of the seat part. An actuating mechanism is connected by action to a pair of support legs (7, 11) for producing a swiveling motion of the support legs (7, 11) causing a change in the position of the seat part. The actuating mechanism is coupled to the assigned pair of support legs (7, 11) by a differential mechanism (13) which converts the swiveling motion of the support legs (11) into a change of the effective length of the assigned pair of support legs (11). The length determines the vertical distance between the seat frame structure (3) and the floor structure (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Dieter Abt
  • Patent number: 7370913
    Abstract: A locking mechanism of a child car seat includes a locking member which is capable of being engaged with a pin disposed in an armrest of a stroller body and disengaged therefrom, a stopper which is rotated together with the locking member, and a stopper unlocking member having an engagement portion capable of being engaged with a stopper staged part of the stopper and disengaged therefrom. In order to detach the child car seat from the stroller body, an unlocked state of the locking mechanism is maintained. The engagement portion of the stopper unlocking member has an inclined surface which is inclined away from the stopper staged part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Takamizu, Katsuhiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 7367616
    Abstract: A folding boat seat system mountable to a vertical mounting surface such as a bulkhead of the boat. The system includes a seat; a pair of guide followers extending from opposite sides of the seat; a pair of guides mountable to the mounting surface and configured for receiving the guide followers; a substantially U-shaped frame member having opposite ends pivotally mounted adjacent the guide followers; and a pair of bias struts, each having a first end pivotally mounted adjacent one of the guides and a second end pivotally mounted to support the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Triton Boat Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Roark H. Summerford
  • Patent number: 7367622
    Abstract: A tilt control mechanism for an office chair includes a spring assembly therein which controls the tilt tension on the back assembly. This tilt control mechanism includes a tension adjustment assembly having a cam wedge which supports the legs of a pair of coil springs and a cooperating drive block assembly which cooperates with the cam wedge to drive the cam wedge upwardly and downwardly to vary the tilt tension. The drive assembly includes drive blocks mounted on a threaded shaft which are displaceable sidewardly toward and away from each other to either drive the cam wedge upwardly when the drive blocks move together or downwardly when the drive blocks move away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Roslund, Matthew Rutman
  • Patent number: 7360830
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes first and second cup holders and a seat bottom located between the first and second cup holders. The juvenile vehicle seat is adapted to be mounted in a restrained position on a seat in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Philip W. Burbrink, Ronald F. Munn, William Horton
  • Patent number: 7360829
    Abstract: A small mouse table integrated with an ergonomic arm support. The table and arm support can be mounted to a conventional arm rest on an office chair. The arm support and table are positioned in order to place the user's arm in a healthy and stable orientation for use of the mouse. A forearm channel is provided to receive and hold the user's forearm. A wrist channel is provided—in combination with a downward offset—to attach the forearm channel to the small table on which the mouse resides. Two pivot joints are provided so that the mouse table can be swung out of the way when it is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: William J. Bufkin
  • Patent number: 7360832
    Abstract: Impact absorption structure is provided in side frame element of seat cushion frame, wherein the side frame element is basically of a closed cross-section portion therein, including forward and backward support points therein. In the structure, an opened cross-section area is defined in the closed cross-section by forming a cut-away portion in a lower part of a forward local region of such closed cross-section portion between the forward and backward support points, so that the opened cross-section area is deformable at said cut-away portion by a great load transmitted from a seat back frame thereto, thereby absorbing a corresponding impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yokota, Masamitsu Minai
  • Patent number: 7353639
    Abstract: The present invention is a free standing portable deck for use with recreational vehicles. The deck further comprises a polygonal shape lower support frame. The support frame further comprises a plurality of removably interconnected rails. A flat planar platform portion is being removably mounted upon the lower support frame. A plurality of leg members are being disposed underneath the lower support frame at each corner such that the platform portion is held in a substantially level position at a predetermined height in relation to the recreational vehicle door. Each leg member is removably connected to each corner of the lower support frame. The upper support frame is removably connected to the lower support frame and extends linearly upward. At least one step means provides for ingressing and regressing onto the platform portion. The at least one step means is located at a predetermined distance from the lower support frame and at a predetermined height in relation to the ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Sonny Carson
  • Patent number: 7341310
    Abstract: An office chair includes a base structure having a pan mounted thereon. A motor driven scissor lift is positioned on the pan that expands and contracts to raise and lower a chair member. A pair of buttons control the motor allowing a user to automatically raise and lower the chair member to a desired height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Betty Ross
  • Patent number: 7338133
    Abstract: The body support chair for the physically challenged and disabled comprises a frame supporting an articulated structure comprising a back, a seat, a foot rest (33) supported by two uprights and means for holding the legs, at least in part immovable. The holding means comprise: two cross-members, each fitted on an upright (27) of the foot rest for extending into a working position (T) towards the front of the chair and provided in the front part with fastening means (80) arranged in the working position (T) at a corresponding distance from the upright (27); and an immovable front support element for the user's two legs, fitted on the fixation means (80) of the cross-members, in such a fashion as to extend between the cross-members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lifestand International SA
    Inventor: Francois Xavier Laffin
  • Patent number: 7338129
    Abstract: A foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, of the type having a frame element provide therein, with two local portions of the frame element projecting outwardly therefrom. The trim cover assembly used has two extensions, with an opening defined therebetween. Both two extensions are bent to and juxtaposed on one cover material portion thereof, thereby forming a three-layer portion therein. The three-layer portion is sewn so as to define an unsewed region therein. The unsewed region has two spaced-part through-holes formed therethrough, hence providing two spaced-apart continuous through-hoes. The two local portions of frame element are inserted through the respective two spaced-apart continuous through-holes, so that the unsewed region is stretched horizontally to keep the corresponding portions of the juxtaposed two extensions and cover material portion in close contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tabata
  • Patent number: 7331630
    Abstract: A folding backrest in a vehicle, comprises a bearing arm which is assigned to the backrest and is connected to a positionally fixed bearing block in an articulated manner, the bearing arm being assigned a locking element which, when the bearing arm is rotated rapidly about the joint, is guided by the bearing arm along a slotted guide toward a stop or into an end region of the slotted guide, but, upon slow rotation, allows the bearing arm to rotate freely, and the slotted guide has a recess which, when the bearing arm is rotated slowly, allows the locking element to get out of the way of the pivoting region of bearing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kochendorfer & Kiep Metallverarbeitung GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Emmrich
  • Patent number: 7328941
    Abstract: An infant support includes a seat and an upright portion that extends from the seat. A tray has a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member of the tray is configured to be removably coupled to the upright portion. Additionally, the second member of the tray is configured to be removably coupled between the first member and the third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Asbach, Maarten Van Huystee
  • Patent number: 7328947
    Abstract: A vehicle seat backrest suitable for allowing the attachment of a child seat, the backrest comprising a rigid structure and an anchoring system comprising an anchor rod to permit to a coupling member belonging to the child seat to be anchored on the anchor rod via the rear face of the rigid structure. The anchoring system comprises a rigid plate comprising retainer suitable for retaining the anchor rod by abutment contact when the coupling member of the child seat exerts forces on the said anchor rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Alain Laporte, Stephan Fomperine, Augusto Da Costa
  • Patent number: 7325871
    Abstract: An infant car seat includes a base including a belt path along which a vehicle belt can be secured to the base, and a carrier to detachably couple to the base. The carrier is positionable in a first, reclined position and a second, upright position. The belt path is fixed in location on the base such that the carrier can be positioned in either the first, reclined position or the second, upright position without adjustment of the vehicle belt relative to the base. This two-position infant carrier provides improved fit to child, The infant car seat also can include grips on the carrier of the infant car seat for improved carryability, grips on the base of the infant car seat for improved gripping of the vehicle seat and easier installation, and an adjustable height mechanism in the base for improved fit to vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva M. Gangadharan, Jason A. Carpenter, Charles E. Crane, Damaso A. Lamos, Thomas M. Perrin
  • Patent number: 7322644
    Abstract: A cushioned saddle construction, for bicycles, motor-cycles or the like, comprises a saddle covering or body, associated with a framework, wherein the saddle covering or body and framework are coupled by a cushioning system, operated by a magnetic force generated by a plurality of permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Selle Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Riccardo Bigolin
  • Patent number: 7316454
    Abstract: Ends of each supporting pin are projected to both sides of each link plate. Each supporting shaft is fixed by welding to each link plate at a position near one end side of the plate. A pipe-like connecting shaft is axis-aligned to and fitted on an end portion of the supporting pin which projects inward from each link plate, so as to be supported between link plates. An end portion of the supporting pin which projects outward from each link plate is passed through a side frame section and fixedly riveted over. Further, each link plate is fixed by welding to both ends of the connecting shaft, and a link base frame is assembled between side frame sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7306285
    Abstract: In the case of an adjuster (3) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with a drivable geared fitting, the driven geared fitting moving a component of the adjuster (3) and/or of the vehicle seat (1), a gear stage (21) with a fluctuating transmission ratio is connected upstream of the geared fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7306282
    Abstract: A table unit for seats in vehicles, especially airplane seats, includes a first table element (10) provided with the functions of a table, and a second table element (12) provided with at least one other table function. Both table elements (10, 12) can be rotated relative to each other about a first pivotal axis (14) by a hinge (18, 20), and can be fixed in a predetermined position. Various table functions can be integrated in a single table unit since both table elements (10, 12) can be rotated about a pivotal axis (16) by another joint (20, 22), and can be fixed in a predetermined position. The possible table surface and position thereof can be varied in such that certain table functions are protected and service personnel can have access to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Uwe Salzer, Hartmut Schürg