Patents Examined by Laurie K. Cranmer
  • Patent number: 7146771
    Abstract: A cap sheet for cold-applied adhesive roof installations includes a reinforcement mat saturated with and encapsulated within SBS modified bitumen. Bitumen layers above and beneath the mat have top and bottom major surfaces. The top surface of the top bituminous layer has a first edge portion extending inward from and along a first lateral edge. The bottom surface of the bottom bituminous layer has a second edge portion extending inward from and along a second lateral edge. The bitumen in the edge portions is a pressure-sensitive adhesive that is covered by release liners for protection prior to installation. When the cap sheets are installed, the release liners are removed from the edge portions and overlapping edge portions of the cap sheets are pressed and adhesively bonded together to immediately form effective watertight, weather-secure seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: Raymond C. Swann
  • Patent number: 7144084
    Abstract: A chair having a metal rod frame back assembly where the frame includes generally horizontal top, bottom and middle members and spaced apart generally vertical side members. Two seat brackets are welded to the middle and bottom members and attach to a seat board and two rod segments are welded to the side members. The seat board is covered with foam and upholstery. The back frame may be covered with springy mesh to give a thin elegant, yet comfortable back structure. Alternatively, foam is glued to a structural material and the material and foam combination and the frame are covered with upholstery. Arms and armrests are attached to the seat board and the seat and back assemblies with arms are mounted to a pedestal connected to a five spoke base riding on casters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons, Rick Rimer, Odie Eaves, Brian Yeckering, Gary Schmitt, John Stevens
  • Patent number: 7144079
    Abstract: A seat assembly arranged to pivot about a horizontal axis and capable of being repositioned between a forward seated position and a tailgate position. The assembly includes a first assembly including a pin. The assembly further includes a second assembly including a recliner link. The recliner link is arranged to engage or disengage the pin based on rotation of the seat assembly. Engagement of the pin with the recliner link locks the seat assembly into tailgate position and prevents the first assembly from inadvertently folding into a position parallel to said second assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn F Syrowik, Alan R Mackey, Catherine A DeVoss, Lei Cao, Matthew R Abate, Ravi Hosalli, Ronald J Kaip
  • Patent number: 7140680
    Abstract: A fold down seat back has an ergonomic support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the lumbar support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded down. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley. These attachments of the sleeve end and the wire end cause the wire to be drawn axially through the sleeve when the seat back is folded up, extending a lumbar support, and cause the wire to be relaxed when the seat back is folded down, flattening the lumbar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Robert Renato Colja, Lukic Zeljko
  • Patent number: 7137664
    Abstract: A fold down seat back or seat bottom has at least one ergonomic support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the ergonomic support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded up. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Robert Renato Colja, Lukic Zeljko
  • Patent number: 7134716
    Abstract: An automotive seat assembly 10 is provided, including a primary seat structure 12 having a seatbase portion 14 and a seatback portion 16. The present invention further includes a headrest support assembly 26 including an upper headrest support section 28 and a lower headrest support section 30 rotatable about a headrest pivot point 34 positioned between the upper headrest support section 28 and the lower headrest support section 30. An energy absorbing deformable plate 40 is mounted to the lower headrest support section 30 at an upper plate end 42 and is mounted to the primary seat structure 12 at a lower plate end 44. The energy absorbing deformable plate 40 is deformable rearwards 43 during a rear-end collision. As the energy absorbing deformable plate 40 deforms rearward, the upper plate end 42 moves the lower headrest support section 30 rearward and the upper headrest support section 28 is thereby rotated forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Stanislaw Andrzej Wieclawski
  • Patent number: 7134718
    Abstract: An upper end portion of a seat backrest and a lower end portion of a head rest are superposed together. A rear end portion of an upper portion cushion member and a lower end portion of the seat backrest are superposed together. These superposed portions are sewn together by thin threads which break when pressing force of a predetermined value or greater is applied to the seat backrest. Thus, when pressing force of the predetermined value or greater is applied to the seat backrest, the thin threads break. A portion of the seat backrest which a shoulder portion of a seated occupant contacts, and a portion of the seat backrest which buttocks of the seated occupant contact, are enlarged, and impact force can be damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yasuda, Shunichi Doi, Katsuya Ibaraki, Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Seiji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7128371
    Abstract: A seat structure includes a seat frame, a three-dimensional net stretched over the seat frame, a skin material for selectively covering the three-dimensional net, and a fastener for connecting a portion of the skin material and the three-dimensional net. The fastener is selectively opened or closed to change a surface rigidity of the seat structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Kawasaki, Shusuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7121629
    Abstract: A healthy chair comprises an inclined seat plate, a plurality of feet, and a frontal torso positioning device. The seat plate has a front side and a rear side that is higher than the front side. The frontal torso positioning device is fastened to the seat plate at the rear side thereof and extends forward and upward. Support bars for resting the feet of a user are positioned near the feet of the chair below the rear side of the seat plate. Thereby an upright sitting position is automatically assumed by the user, with the upper body and the thighs enclosing an angle of more than 90 degrees, resulting in a better sitting position, straightening of the spine and better health.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Shang-Wei Chou
  • Patent number: 7104605
    Abstract: The present invention is a cushion. The cushion has a seat cushion and a back cushion that are attached with an attachment element. The cushion is intended to provide comfort to a patron using a stadium seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Integrated Stadium Seating
    Inventor: Troy Jones
  • Patent number: 7100999
    Abstract: Modular storage and/or display system including substantially rectangular modules each including opposed first and second sides, opposed third and fourth sides perpendicular to the first and second sides and coupled thereto. A male connecting member is provided on an outer surface of each of the first and third sides and a female connecting member is provided on an outer surface of each of the second and fourth sides. The female connecting member has a structure complementary to the male connecting member. An additional male or female connecting member is provided on each of the first and second sides. By providing the same male and female connecting members on all sides of the modules, each module is connectable to any other module by coupling a connecting member on that module to an opposite connecting member on the other module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: David M. Stravitz
  • Patent number: 7100982
    Abstract: The present invention relates to shopping cart seat covers for comfort and safety of one or two children when seated in the shopping cart. The present invention is particularly adaptable for providing a safe area for seating one or two children inside the extending platform of shopping carts. The present invention can be used in conjunction with any shopping cart that has a pivoting or extending platform, including large shopping carts, which are designed/made to seat two children, or smaller shopping carts, which are designed/made to seat only one child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Mia F. Lundgren
  • Patent number: 7093904
    Abstract: A convertible chair is disclosed that has pivotable side cushions for pivoting between a lowered position and a raised position. A frame includes a generally horizontal seat, as well as a pair of pivot supports each fixed to a respective side of the seat. Two sets of bars are included, each bar being pivotably supported at one end thereof to one of the pivot supports and pivotably supported thereby. Each set of bars are fixed to and support one of the side cushions. In the lowered position the side cushions each provide additional seating area, whereas in the raised position an outer edge of the each cushion may be used as an armrest for a person sitting in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Carl McMillen
  • Patent number: 7093901
    Abstract: A seat frame of a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion frame on a seat cushion side, a seat back frame on a backrest side, and a reclining device provided between the seat back frame and the seat cushion frame for adjusting an angle of incline of the seat back frame relative to the seat cushion frame. Either one of the seat back frame or the seat cushion frame includes a first member having a first fitting plane portion to the reclining device and a second member connected to the first member by holding a first space therebetween, and a hollow portion connected to the first space provided on an outer periphery of the first fitting plane portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7093900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat with a stable base wherein the angle of inclination of the seating surface can be moved around a pivot provided between the base and the seating surface, the latter being forced to move continuously and cyclically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Gisela Schon
  • Patent number: 7090317
    Abstract: A wire basket includes a storage portion and base portion removably connected together and providing sliding operation. End caps connected to the storage portion are configured to allow for the removable connection. Glide members having a curved portion and connected to the base portion are configured to allow for the sliding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Clairson, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee E. Remmers
  • Patent number: 7090300
    Abstract: The structure is formed by serially connecting a torsion bar and a coil spring via a arm and a supporting frame to thereby elastically support a flat-type supporting member, and by disposing a cushioning member for seat cushion provided with a spring characteristic closely analogous to a load-to-deflection characteristic (spring characteristic) of the muscle of a human body above the flat-type supporting member. Accordingly, it is possible to make a spring characteristic for working when supporting a load of a human different from a spring characteristic for working when removing vibration even with an extremely simple structure. In other words, the structure has an excellent function to make the spring constant at work when removing vibration, especially when removing a high frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Etsunori Fujita
  • Patent number: 7086702
    Abstract: A compactable kneeling stool apparatus includes a base portion and a seat portion which is operably coupled to the base portion via a seat post member disposed between the seat portion and the base portion. The pivot connection selectively enables the seat post member to pivot with respect to the base portion, thereby selectively adjusting a height dimension defined between the seat portion and the base portion to a desired one of a plurality of distinct pivot positions about an axis defined by the pivot connection. The selective adjustment is preferably provided by a releasable locking mechanism that is operable with the seat post member to selectively position the seat portion in a desired one of a plurality of distinct predetermined locations with respect to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Legacy Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Hurt
  • Patent number: 7080887
    Abstract: A chair includes a base frame unit, a leg rest frame, an operating unit, and a linkage device. The base frame unit includes a seat frame with front and rear frame portions. The leg rest frame is connected pivotally to the front frame portion of the seat frame, and is pivotable relative to the seat frame between a folded position, where the leg rest frame is disposed under the seat frame and is generally parallel to the seat frame, and an unfolded position, where the leg rest frame is generally coplanar with the seat frame. The operating unit is mounted rotatably on the base frame unit. The linkage device interconnects the operating unit and the leg rest frame, and is responsive to operation of the operating unit for moving the leg rest frame between the folded and unfolded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuen-Jong Tseng
  • Patent number: 7080880
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has an upper body side protection device that is integrated in the back rest. The protection device comprises a gas bag which has an elongated, oval chamber via which, in the case of an intrusion, the force is introduced into the occupant principally in the region of the hip and the shoulder, in order to displace him in the direction towards the center of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Sven Hofmann, Jürgen Hirth, Norbert Ellerbrok, Andreas Loos