Patents Examined by Laurie K. Cranmer
  • Patent number: 7665805
    Abstract: It is a subject to provide a chair capable of realizing a condition in which movements of a seating person are preferably followed and a condition in which a back of the seating person can be preferably supported. For this purpose, a chair C comprising a lower frame portion that is supported to be rockable between a standing position and a rearward tilting position of a back frame with respect to the base and an upper frame portion that is supported to be rockable between a normal position and a rear end position, wherein the chair is further comprised with a movement range setting mechanism with which a movement range through the rocking movement of the upper frame portion with respect to the lower frame portion is made changeable in accordance with the position of the lower frame portion with respect to the base during the rocking movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kokuyo Furniture Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 7661756
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle assembly comprises a saddle body including a wider posterior portion for supporting bicycle rider's buttocks and a narrow anterior portion which fits between bicycle rider's crotch. The saddle body further includes a concave portion provided between the wider posterior portion and the narrow anterior portion. The saddle body has a highest area located on the wider posterior portion and a lowest area located on the concave portion to define an opening space with a sufficient depth above the concave portion so that, as riding, bicycle riders can arrange his perineal areas comfortably on the saddle body to relieve pressure placed thereon and dissipate heat generated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jia-Pin Chen, Kuo-Chin Chao
  • Patent number: 7658449
    Abstract: Child restraint for a vehicle with a rectangular flexible sheet, a pair of attachment rings, a mating device, a seatbelt mating device, and a rigidifying strip. The attachment rings are attached to one edge of the flexible sheet so that the rings align with the back seat center and either right or left female seatbelt buckles found in most passenger cars. The seatbelt mating device capable of structurally uniting the right and left shoulder harnesses in the middle of the backrest in cars without center shoulder harnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Dave Burns
  • Patent number: 7651160
    Abstract: The present invention can include a vehicle seat having a table, the table including a table main body, a shaft member, a first hinge structure that pivotably connects the table main body to one face of the vehicle seat and a second hinge structure that pivotably connects the shaft member to the one face of the vehicle seat. The table main body includes a holding member which is capable of slidably holding a front end portion of the shaft member and a lock member which is capable of engaging with the shaft member, and the lock member is provided at a position different from the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Okumura, Teruyuki Hadatsuki, Noboru Kadokura
  • Patent number: 7648200
    Abstract: A headrest device for supporting a headrest with respect to a seat. A lower frame is connectable to the seat, and an upper frame is provided for supporting the headrest thereon. A pair of link brackets connects the lower frame to the upper frame for pivotal motion of the upper frame with respect to the lower frame through a limited range of motion between a forward tilt limit position and a rearward tilt limit position. A motor is operatively connected one of the link brackets to move the upper frame between the forward tilt limit position and the rearward tilt limit position in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Toyoshi Fukuda
    Inventor: Shigeo Oda
  • Patent number: 7644981
    Abstract: A portable two-frame collapsible chair comprised of an inner and outer frame with the frames hingably joined for rotating between a first position for carrying and a second position for sitting. The chair includes a flexible seat member connected to both frames. The chair further includes a flexible backrest hingably connected to the outer frame with optional armrests hingably attached. The frames can be folded into substantially the same plane when in the first position for carrying. The position for carrying includes a variety of configurations including a backpack configuration, wherein the user uses shoulder straps to carry the chair, and a roller bag configuration wherein the chair has wheels and a pull handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Fred Hensley
  • Patent number: 7641284
    Abstract: A slideable armrest, which may form a lid of a vehicle console compartment, comprises a cover and a base slideably connected to each other by slideable engagement between at least one guide and at least one guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Jones, Jeremy Lee
  • Patent number: 7637569
    Abstract: A device for guiding air for air conditioning a body support device, that may include a carrier layer including a contact surface and a opposing surface; a heating conductor disposed upon the contact surface; an air guiding layer including an air-impermeable wall, wherein the air guiding layer is disposed on the opposing surface of the carrier layer; an air-feeding device connectively disposed to the air guiding layer or the air-impermeable wall; and at least one adjusting device including a bladder with a bladder wall, wherein at least a portion of the bladder wall is formed by the air-impermeable wall of the air guiding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Martin Krobok, Markus Köpferr
  • Patent number: 7631936
    Abstract: The invention provides a reclining apparatus which can make a width of an apparatus small. The reclining apparatus of the present invention is provided with a first bracket (1) attached to a seat back (10), a second bracket (2) attached to a seat cushion (11), a first shaft (3) forming a rotation center of the first bracket (1), a spiral spring (5) spirally wound around the first shaft (3) and biasing a rotation in a forward direction of the first bracket (1), and a rotary damper (6) decelerating a rotating speed of the first bracket (1) against an biasing force of the spiral spring (5). The rotary damper (6) and the spiral spring (5) are arranged in parallel, and an arm (7) rotating a casing (6a) of the rotary damper (6) on the basis of a rotation of the first bracket (1) is provided between the rotary damper (6) and the second bracket (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Fukukawa, Masaaki Takii, Hiroshi Yokoyama, Nobuhito Kanae
  • Patent number: 7628450
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to collapsible chairs in which the backrest, seat, and legrest portions can be folded into a relatively compact configuration. The present disclosure provides a collapsible chair including a backrest having an upper portion and a lower portion, a legrest having an upper portion and a lower portion, a seat having a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the rearward end of the seat is functionally connected to the lower portion of the backrest and the forward end of the seat is functionally connected to the upper portion of the legrest, an armrest including an armrest bar, and a foldable base of support, wherein a seat slide fixed on the foldable base of support is configured for sliding interaction with a side bar of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The Coast Distribution System, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Castagnola, Steven J. Paventy
  • Patent number: 7625043
    Abstract: A car seat is formed with a seat member pivotally connected to a base member for positional adjustment in desired reclined positions controlled by an intuitively operable adjustment mechanism. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat member to be oriented in a shipping position or an operative position. A latching mechanism secures the seat back to the seat member in the operative position. The seat back is provided with a head rest that is vertically movable relative to the seat back to uncover routing openings in the seat back as the child grows and the head rest is positioned accordingly. The harness is routed through selected routing openings in the seat back before passing over a hanger at the top of the seat back so that the length of the harness remains constant irrespective of the positioning of the harness in conjunction with the size of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Sharon A. Gillett, Robert E. Haut
  • Patent number: 7625042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a remote mechanism and systems including a remote mechanism for securing a chair to a game machine and for effecting release of the chair from the game machine. The present mechanisms and systems are adapted to be used in conjunction with conventional and novel quick release bracket apparatus and provide remote locking and unlocking mechanisms therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Top Line Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Friedrich
  • Patent number: 7621098
    Abstract: Vertical segmented support and media consolidation plates swingably mounted about pivot points on the vertical segmented support, incorporate media-facing surfaces swingable outwardly from the vertical support means into the surrounding media. Varying segmented lengths form the segmented vertical segmented support. The novel segmented apparatus and installation method further provide for a centering collar 113, an anchor positioning means at level force pivoting plates 194, and pivoting plates 194 positioned 40-50 degrees from vertical. A frusto-cone 197 dx equal to a predetermined distance of one-half inch forms gap 204. The novel method installs an anchor and foundation device in the earth by preparing a hole in the earth, lowering into the hole a segmented anchor or foundation device having swingable media facing plates, and applying force to swing the plates outwardly into the surrounding media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: MFPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Reinert, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7614695
    Abstract: A seat back structure includes a back frame and a flexible sheet-like member. The back frame formed into a frame-like skeleton of a seat has a fixing portion. The flexible sheet-like member is provided within the back frame so as to support a back portion of a passenger. The flexible sheet-like member comprises a first supporting portion that is engaged with the fixing portion to regulate a substantial backward movement of the first supporting portion over a predetermined distance. The first supporting portion is slidable in substantially upper and lower directions with respect to the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Satou, Toshirou Oosaki, Terumitu Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7611205
    Abstract: A safety seat assembly includes a seat body and an armrest device. The seat body includes a seat portion and an armrest support disposed on a lateral side of the seat portion. The armrest device includes an armrest component connected pivotally to the armrest support, and a locking component disposed between the armrest component and the armrest support, coupled movably to the armrest component, and rotatable with the armrest component relative to the armrest support between first and second positions. The locking component is movable to engage the armrest support for retaining the armrest component at the first position. The armrest device further includes a control component operable between a locking position for preventing disengagement between the locking component and the armrest support, and an unlocking position for permitting disengagement between the locking component and the armrest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Jian-Qun Li
  • Patent number: 7607725
    Abstract: A collapsible support structure for use with a wheeled or non-wheeled chair includes a plurality of pivotally connected rigid poles which are parallel to one another in a collapsed position. Stretchable tension straps are strung on the poles to provide tension therebetween when in an erected position. A first collapsible assembly includes a front hub and four struts pivotally connected thereto. A second collapsible assembly includes a rear hub and four struts pivotally connected thereto. The hubs are slidably mounted on a spar. Four legs are pivotally connected to the spar and respectively to one of the struts. A collapsible seat is connected to first and second seat poles each having first and second telescoping segments, each pivotally connected respectively to one of the struts. Two arm poles are respectively pivotally connected to the first segments and to two back poles, which are respectively pivotally connected to each second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Promen-Aid Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. Dickie, Steve A. Copeland
  • Patent number: 7607724
    Abstract: An apparatus including a support structure movable between an erected position and a collapsed position and including a threaded shaft, a first collapsible assembly having a first portion pivotally mounted on the threaded shaft, a second collapsible assembly having a second portion pivotally mounted on the threaded shaft, where at least one of the first and second portions is threadably engaged to the threaded shaft such that the first and second portions are relatively movable toward and away from each other through a rotation of the threaded shaft to move the support structure between the erected and collapsed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Promen-Aid Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. Dickie, Steve A. Copeland
  • Patent number: 7604297
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism includes a first sub-assembly, a bolt disposed on the first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly. The bolt is configured to receive a force in a radial direction relative to an axis of the bolt. The second sub-assembly is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the first sub-assembly by means of the bolt. The rotatability of the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly is configured to be reduced by a positive connection created using plastic deformation between the bolt and at least one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Weber
  • Patent number: 7600812
    Abstract: A transportable shelter providing convective heat and a heated seat for the user's comfort, and providing heat to prevent the formation of ice in an enclosed fish hole when ice-fishing. Generally a box-like design, where the front of the box has no bottom or top, and is placed over a fish hole when ice-fishing. The rear of the box has a seat mounted thereon over a partial bottom, overlooking the front opening. A heat source is placed on the partial bottom, under a heat deflector, creating a heating chamber which provides heat for the seat, directs escaping heat to the user, and which will keep a fish hole from freezing over. A canopy frame attaches, over which a tarp can be draped containing heat and providing additional shelter from extreme weather. A sled or wagon assembly is provided for pulling the unit out to a spot for ice-fishing or hunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Emil E. Godbout
  • Patent number: 7600816
    Abstract: A memory device, for a rail longitudinal guide for a motor vehicle seat, comprising two longitudinal guide rails displaceable towards each other, for the setting of the longitudinal seat position, a first memory module, which may be displaced along one of the two guide rails to set a memory position, a locking device for locking a set memory position, a second memory module, arranged on the second of the guide rails and a stop which, on reaching a relative position of the two guide rail corresponding to one of the memory positions, engages with a counter stop on the first memory module. The second memory module comprises a base body made from plastic, by which the latter is fixed to the second guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Andrea Bauersachs, Andreas Prause, Gregor Kröner, Wolfgang Suck, Alwin Macht