Patents Examined by Laurie K. Cranmer
  • Highly adjustable safety belt for child restraint
    Patent number: 7591510
    Abstract: A seatbelt for a child in a child seat provides a broad range of adjustment by configuring a belt to be threaded through an adjustment cleat with a loose end. The seatbelt adjustment range can be increased by supplying adjustments on two sides of a claspable belt. A sleeve surrounds a portion of the belt to reduce the size of any free loops. The seatbelt retainers can be placed close to one another so that a snug fit for the child in the child seat can be obtained with the seatbelt. The seatbelt configuration provides a secure, simple to manipulate adjustment mechanism that fits a wide range of children for a variety of child seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Safe-Strap Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Giampavolo
  • Tie strap for climate controlled seat
    Patent number: 7591507
    Abstract: A conduit for a climate controlled seat assembly. A first port is at a first end of the body and is in communication with the fluid passage. A second port is at a second end of the body and is in communication with the fluid passage, An attachment device comprising a base that is coupled to the body and a strap that is configured to be wrapped around a wire bundle and be secured to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Amerigon Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven C. Giffin, Scott R. Wolas
  • Headrest mounted entertainment system
    Patent number: 7591508
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a headrest entertainment system is provided that includes a frame, a DVD player, a monitor, and a cover. The frame is configured to be positioned within a vehicle headrest. The DVD player has a slot through which a digital video disc (“DVD”) can be inserted. The DVD player is coupled with the frame such that the slot is adjacent an upper surface of the headrest when the frame is positioned within the headrest. The monitor is coupled with the frame and configured to reproduce at least a video portion of the DVD. The cover has a first position in which the access aperture is exposed such that the DVD can be inserted through the slot and a second position in which the slot is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Chung Lung Chang
  • Seat reclining device for vehicle
    Patent number: 7588294
    Abstract: A seat reclining device includes a base member formed with a shaft hole; a rotating member including an internal gear; at least three lock members each including an external gear; a shaft portion formed integrally with the base member and including a convex guiding surface for swinging the lock member along a circular orbit; a cam provided with an axially projecting portion passing through the shaft hole; and at least three guide projections formed integrally with the base member. The axially projecting portion includes a centering outer peripheral surface which is slidably in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole. The guide projections and the lock members are located alternately in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsumoto, Tetsuya Ohba
  • Ergonomic closeout
    Patent number: 7585025
    Abstract: A head restraint assembly of this embodiment includes a bun and a post. The post is adapted to attach the head restraint assembly to a vehicle seat. The head restraint bun includes a head restraint core and a trim cover. The trim cover surrounds at least a portion of the head restraint core. The trim cover includes a close-out section at which the trim cover is closed after the head restraint core is placed within the trim cover. A retainer clip is attached to the head restraint core at an attachment region. The head restraint assembly also includes a close-out retainer bracket which is attached to a close-out section of the trim cover. When the trim cover is in a closed position, the close-out retainer bracket is secured to the retainer clip. A method of assembly head restraints is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Welch, William Parusziewicz, Larry Hulme
  • Vehicle seat frame structure and method of assembling a portion of a vehicle seat frame
    Patent number: 7581792
    Abstract: A vehicle seat frame includes a first upper back frame member having at least one tab suitable for supporting to a dynamic head restraint system. The first upper back frame member has upper and lower mating surfaces suitable for attachment to upper and lower mating surfaces of a second upper back frame member operable to support a non-dynamic head restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Mohammad Saberan
  • Triggering device
    Patent number: 7575274
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a an actuation unit having a triggering device for the moving of a headrest into a predetermined position, with the triggering device comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator and a triggering member which is movable from a blocking position into a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Frank, Josef Storath, Uwe Albrecht
  • Seat backs for vehicular seats
    Patent number: 7575278
    Abstract: A seat back for a vehicular seat has a plate member for supporting a back of a pad and an elastic support mechanism for holding the plate member for moving the plate member in a forward and backward direction. The plate member includes a thoracic vertebra avoiding portion having at least one of a hole and a recessed portion recessed in a direction away from the thoracic vertebrae of a user, so as to avoid a pushing force to the thoracic vertebrae. In addition the thoracic vertebra avoiding portion is vertically elongated at a substantially widthwise center position of the plate member and has a width of 40 to 100 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku America, Inc
    Inventors: Dan Wissner, Mike Hard, Doug Krueger, Katsuhito Yamauchi, Yukihide Hamajima, Satoshi Nonoyama, Tomoki Nii
  • Bleacher cushion
    Patent number: 7575275
    Abstract: A seat cushion includes a cushioned bottom portion and a back portion. The back portion is flexibly connected to the bottom portion. An attachment mechanism is provided to attach the bottom portion to a bleacher. A constraint element restrains the back portion for rotating beyond a desired angle with respect to the cushioned bottom portion. The back portion does not include any rigid cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Integrated Stadium Seating, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Jones
  • Fitting for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 7571962
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (26, 27) driven by a driver (21, 26) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12) together form a disc-shaped unit held together by a clamping ring (51), and a third fitting part (74) can be both pivoted relative to the first fitting part (11) and locked with respect to the first fitting part (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Thiel, Ralf Flesch, Martin Stilleke, Tony Ferenc, Ray Weir
  • Chair, in particular office chair
    Patent number: 7566097
    Abstract: A seat, in particular an office chair, has a synchronous mechanism with a weight-adapting mechanism. An automatic adaptation of a spring force acting on the synchronous mechanism depends on the weight momentarily exerted on the seat. Therefore, the spring force is transmitted to the synchronous mechanism via a lever whereof the active arm length of the lever can be modified to adjust the spring force. The weight-adapting mechanism is configured such that the active arm length is automatically adapted to the weight momentarily exerted on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: Armin Sander, Christopher Schmidt
  • Seat for vehicle
    Patent number: 7559608
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle comprises a seat cushion, a seat back, a headrest having a neck-support portion, a headrest pole member to support the headrest, and a rotational support device. The rotational support device supports the headrest in such a manner that the neck-support portion of the headrest is rotated around a rotational axis that extends in substantially a width direction of the seat back and held at a specified angle relative to the seat back, wherein the headrest is its lowest position, the neck-support portion of the headrest is configured to be allowed to be rotated forward from its rearmost stored position by the rotational support device. Accordingly, a neck portion of a passenger can be supported by the neck-support portion of the headrest properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tamio Miyahara, Kouichi Nakaya, Nanae Michida, Hiroshi Okiyama, Akihiro Kobayashi
  • Latch actuator system
    Patent number: 7556315
    Abstract: An actuator for a latch assembly for securing a latched member that is linked to a trigger. The trigger may be a shape memory alloy actuating element that is actuated in response to receiving an electrical signal. The trigger may be mechanically reset to a locked state by the latched member. A method of operating the latch is also disclosed wherein the trigger is actuated in response to an electrical signal resulting in a force being applied in a first direction to a cable that connects the trigger to release the latch. The trigger is reset by exerting mechanical force on the trigger in the opposite direction. The latch system may be applied to a vehicle seat having a seat back that pivots relative to a seat base to allow the seat back to pivot over the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Nathan, H. Winston Maue
  • Elevating structure for armrests
    Patent number: 7556316
    Abstract: An elevating structure for armrests includes an adjusting member including a main part having an engaging slot formed therein corresponding with a successive toothed groove mounted in an auxiliary part including a push button attached on the top end thereof for receiving a first spring. The first spring abuts against the main part, and the auxiliary part is pushed downward. Each tooth of the the toothed groove is provided with an inclined pushing surface corresponding to a locking recess arranged in the engaging slot. A rail member includes a lock member axially fixed thereon for being pressed by a second spring. A lid covers the lock member. The rail member further includes a window arranged thereon so that the lock projection is inserted into the rail member through the window. Thus, the lock projection is biased to engage with one of the locking recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Yu-Shan Lai
  • T-member for use in an armrest or interior component of a vehicle
    Patent number: 7549708
    Abstract: A seam for use in a vehicle armrest or other interior component. The seam includes a first material and a second material joined to the first material. The seam also includes a T-member connected to the first material and the second material to form a French seam appearance on the outer surface of the material. The T-member is then used to align with a groove in a foam of an armrest or other interior component to create an exterior seam on an armrest or interior component of a vehicle. The seam is created using a guide member attached to a sewing machine that will allow for sewing of the first material and second material to the T-member in a simultaneous process at a predetermined speed thus increasing efficiency of manufacturing the upholstery panel and reducing costs to the manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Wieczorek, William B. Berghoff, Bryan W. Busha, Daniel Muller
  • Structure of fold-down automotive seat
    Patent number: 7543890
    Abstract: A fold-down automotive seat with spiral spring element for biasing a seat back thereof towards a seat cushion thereof is of such a structure wherein a first engagement element is fixedly disposed on the seat back side, whereas a second engagement element fixed to a base plate on the seat cushion side. The second engagement element is situated at a predetermined point forwardly of and distant from the first engagement element. One movable end of the spring element is normally engaged with the first engagement element. Upon folding down the seat back, such movable end of spiral spring element is engaged with the second engagement element, which blocks application of biasing force of the spring element to the seat back, whereupon the seat back is temporarily stopped at the afore-said predetermined point and prevented from being abruptly folded down onto the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hideya Shiotani
  • Vehicle seats
    Patent number: 7543888
    Abstract: A vehicle seat can include a seat back and a head rest. The seat back includes an upper half corresponding to a shoulder portion of a passenger, a lower half corresponding to a waist portion of the passenger, and an head rest height adjustment mechanism. The seat back upper half is connected to a structural component of the head rest or a movable component of the head rest height adjustment mechanism, so as to be vertically moved relative to the seat back lower half when the head rest height adjustment mechanism is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Device that automatically rocks a rocking a chair and similar articles
    Patent number: 7537285
    Abstract: A device that automatically rocks a rocking chair and similar articles. The rocking chair has a pair of rocker bars to provide rocking motion on a floor surface and a pair of arm rests. The device comprises a housing, a mechanism for attaching the housing onto a forward end of one of the rocker bars in a removable manner, and a mechanism within the housing, for raising and lowering the forward end of the rocker bar with respect to the floor surface, to automatically rock the rocking chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventor: Laverne L. Stewart
  • Arm assembly for a chair
    Patent number: 7533939
    Abstract: An office chair is provided with includes a chair arm assembly on each opposite side thereof for supporting the arms of a user. The arm assemblies each include a latching assembly to permit adjustment of the height of an arm cap thereof while maintaining the arm cap at a selected elevation. The latch assembly is engageable with an inner liner provided within a support post. Further, the armrest assembly has a plurality of interconnected and relatively movable plates which permit adjustment of the angular orientation of the arm cap along with adjustment of the arm cap in the front-to-back direction and the side-to-side direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Fookes, Tracy Cook, Keith Shoemaker, Brian Gessler, Rick Roels
  • Comfort belt lumbar
    Patent number: 7530636
    Abstract: A seat support includes a panel that is connected to opposite sides of the seat through a pair of fixtures and is operated by an actuator that is connected to at least one of the fixtures. The panel includes a recessed center channel that is bounded by flat side plates and that has apertures extending across the channel. The panel can be made from a single piece of material and may also include top and bottom extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Renato Colja, George Kukurozovic