Patents Examined by Laurie K. Cranmer
  • Patent number: 7806472
    Abstract: A seat pad assembly is disclosed including a body pad for placement on the seating surface of a child seating device. The body pad has a front side, a back side, and two spaced apart vertical slots through the pad. The seat pad assembly has a head support with a connecting strip extending between a pair of laterally spaced apart cushions. The head support is generally H-shaped and installed on the pad through the slots with the pair of cushions on one side of the pad and the connecting strip on the other side. The head support is slidable along the slots to adjust the vertical position of the cushions. The seat pad assembly can be used on a child seating device such as a children's car seat, an infant carrier, a stroller, an infant swing, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Runk, Sharon L. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 7802846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chassis for a reclining chair comprising at least two contiguous deformable quadrilateral segments, pivot points and at least two force-developing elements. Each quadrilateral segment has four rigid side members and four vertices. Each quadrilateral segment shares one of its side members with at least one other contiguous quadrilateral segment. The pivot points are located at each vertex of each quadrilateral segment. All pivot points have their pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the other pivot points. Each force-developing element independently provides a force to a corresponding one of the at least two quadrilateral segments. The invention also relates to a frame for a reclining chair made of two parallel chassis. A reclining chair made of this chassis and a kit for such a reclining chair are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Pierre Bellefleur
  • Patent number: 7802850
    Abstract: A seat for a motor vehicle, includes a backrest part and a seat part. The backrest part is configured to fold relative to the seat part from a normal position into a folded position and vice-versa. A lower seat structure is included and the seat is configured to move relative to the lower seat structure. At least one front first fastening, one rear second fastening and one diagonal fastening are provided to fasten the seat part to the lower seat structure. The seat is configured to adjust at least into an entry position and into a lowered position distinguishable from the normal position, and the second fastening is configured to release in the entry position. The diagonal fastening is configured to release in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Deiβmann, Hans-Jürgen Caro, Piotr Szablewski
  • Patent number: 7802853
    Abstract: A seat cushion pad for a vehicle and a seat back pad for a vehicle, which produce no discomfort between seat comfort of an under-buttock section and a backrest section and that of the other sections, are provided. A part of or entire seating surface except the under-buttock section of the seat cushion pad is composed of a material Q having a density lower than the density of a material P constituting the under-buttock section. The 25% hardness based on a hardness testing method specified in JASO-B408 of the material Q is smaller than the 25% hardness of the material P. A part of or entire sections except the backrest section of the seat back pad are composed of a material S having a density lower than the density of a material R. The 25% hardness based on a hardness testing method specified in JASO-B408 of the material S is softer than the 25% hardness of the material R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kazushige Ebe
  • Patent number: 7798570
    Abstract: An adjustable headrest assembly for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The assembly has a portion fixed to a seat frame and an adjustable portion that moves relative to the fixed portion on a circular arcuate path under spring forces. Relative movement is triggered by a vehicle rear crash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: E & E Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef Kwiecinski, Mark L. Cutshall
  • Patent number: 7798571
    Abstract: A car seat has a seat structure with a seating surface and a portion configured to rest on a dedicated seat of a vehicle when installed. The seat structure has a front and a pair of opposed sides. An instruction manual is provided with the car seat. The car seat has a compartment that is configured to receive and retain the instruction manual. The compartment is disposed interior to a part of the seat structure and has an access opening that is accessible when the car seat is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Billman, Charles E. Crane, Daniel J. Brunick, Michael N. Langmaid, Matthew A. Morgenstern, Patrick Nolan, Damaso Lamos, Patrick W. Laffan, Andrew P. Skrzypek
  • Patent number: 7789460
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Syntec Seating Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald C. Lamparter, Patrick M. Glance
  • Patent number: 7789465
    Abstract: A headrest lock guide assembly for removably securing a headrest assembly to a vehicle seat can include a lock housing configured to house a headrest post extending through the lock housing, a lock slidably located within the lock housing, and a tool passageway extending through the housing. The lock can be slid against a spring force between a locked and unlocked position by inserting a tool through the tool passageway in the lock housing. A lock housing cover can be provided that is non-movably secured to the lock housing and can include a cover abutment surface adjacent to and blocking a lock body opening in the housing. The lock can include a lock abutment surface and a post engagement member configured and dimensioned to selectively engage a portion of the headrest assembly to lock the portion of the headrest assembly within the lock guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Travis Matthew Reel
  • Patent number: 7784874
    Abstract: A child safety seat tether anchor for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The child safety seat tether anchor may comprise a metal strip cooperating with a plurality of vertically offset pins extending from a surface of an engagement structure and positioned along a length of the metal strip. The metal strip is bent by the plurality of pins along a length of the metal strip so that when pulled in tension, the metal strip slides while bending around the pins to absorb energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Murphy, Reddy Malapati
  • Patent number: 7784862
    Abstract: A tray table assembly for a reclinable seat that includes a tray table support arm including a support arm guide member and a slot for receiving a seat frame guide member therein for providing vertically translation of the assembly with seat movement, a support arm guiding member defining a guiding surface and an assembly stowing detent, a tray table pivotably attached to the tray table support arm, and a mechanical stop for limiting rotating of the tray table support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Nicholas Pozzi, Jadon Clay Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 7780230
    Abstract: A seat assembly (21) for a vehicle including a seat (22), a seat mounting assembly (20) mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate path, a backrest (25) assembly with a backrest member (23) having a lower portion (18) coupled for arcuate motion with the seat (22) and an upper portion mounted for movement in a vertically extending direction. The backrest assembly (25) further includes a recliner frame and mechanism (32, 33). A method of providing a seat assembly also is disclosed including the steps of mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly arcuate path, mounting the backrest (25) proximate the seat, coupling a lower portion (18) of the backrest for movement with the seat (22) and mounting the upper portion of the backrest (23) for vertically extending movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Hector Serber
  • Patent number: 7775590
    Abstract: An improved knockdown chair having opposing substantially C shaped support arms, substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, sock type seating portion cover, front reinforcing member, and bottom reinforcing member, wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms are of laminate construction and have an upper arcuate arm support, front arcuate portion, and substantially straight bottom, the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement having a tubular seat back and tubular sitting portion telescopically interconnected one to the other, and wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms is opposingly removably fastened to the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, the improvement comprising combination with each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms of a substantially S shaped reinforcing member of laminate construction removably fastened to the upper arcuate arm support and the substantially straight bottom for reinforcing each of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Ziming Shen
  • Patent number: 7766425
    Abstract: A rear seat assembly is provided for supporting occupants. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion. A pair of spaced apart outer seat backs is pivotally secured to the seat cushion. A middle seat back is pivotally secured to the seat cushion and disposed between the pair of outer seat backs. Each of the pair of outer seat backs includes a pair of spaced apart bolsters pivotally hinged thereto for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. Each of the outer seat backs also includes an actuating mechanism operatively connected between the pair of bolsters for moving the pair of bolsters between the retracted and deployed positions as one of the outer and middle seat backs pivots relative to the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Poniatowski
  • Patent number: 7766428
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat back and a seat cushion and a pair of recliners hingedly mounting the seat back to the seat cushion providing pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. Each of the recliners has a guide plate configured to be mounted to the seat cushion and a toothed plate rotatably assembled to the guide plate. The toothed disc has a flange having a series of internal teeth thereon. A plurality of pawls is mounted between the toothed plate and the guide plate. The pawls each has a toothed surface and is moveable between a locked position with the toothed surfaces engaging the series of teeth to lock the toothed plate relative to the guide plate, and an unlocked position with the toothed surfaces spaced from the teeth of the guide plate to allow movement of the toothed plate relative to the guide plate. A plurality of guides extends from the guide plate, guiding the pawls between the locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Pius Ng, Randolph Villarroel
  • Patent number: 7766424
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a support plate (7) mounted on the squab (2) of the seat, and a support plate (11) mounted on the back rest (3) of the seat. There is a pivotal interconnection (10) between the plates to enable the back rest to be reclined. The pivotal interconnection is initially retained by a spring (20), in a retaining part (15) of an elongate slot (14). When the back rest (3) is subjected to a rearward force, such as by a seat occupant in a rear impact situation, the spring is deformed and the pivot shaft moves along the slot (14), enabling the back rest (3) to move rearwardly. An energy absorbing element (17) is provided which deforms, whilst absorbing energy, during this second movement of the back rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Lennart Haglund
  • Patent number: 7766422
    Abstract: A device and method is provided for retaining cargo within a vehicle passenger compartment including a retaining portion and a vehicle seat having a lower seat portion, an upper back portion, and a frame. The retaining portion comprises a strap or mat which is operatively attached at one end to a front portion of the vehicle seat, while the other end is accessible within a bite line formed between the mating seat and back portions. The retaining portion is connectable to a front portion of the vehicle seat by means of either an open-ended hook or a snap-hook and an anchor, or by a snap fastener, the retaining portion being configured to secure cargo with respect to one of the seat portions. The device also includes a retractor mechanism such as a spring and spool operable to retract the retaining portion into the bite line for stowage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Edwards, Steven E. Morris, Jennifer P. Lawall, Kurt A. Galazka
  • Patent number: 7766426
    Abstract: A tilt mechanism for a chair includes rotary stop means defining a plurality of selectable tilted positions of the chair seat/back. In another aspect, an anti kick-back feature is provided based. The mechanism includes upper and lower housing parts and a cushioning spring that normally maintains the parts in a rest position with respect to one another while allowing the mechanism to tilt. A further aspect of the invention provides an improved spring tension control that allows the spring to be installed and removed in a fully relaxed condition so that no special tools are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Ram Machines (1990) Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Meidan
  • Patent number: 7762627
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a housing configured to be coupled with a mounting plate of a headrest. The housing can define a first hinge portion. In some embodiments, the system further includes a screen assembly. The screen assembly can define a second hinge portion that cooperates with the first hinge portion to pivotally couple the screen assembly with the housing such that the screen assembly can rotate relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the system further includes a retaining harness fixedly attached to the mounting plate at a first end and fixedly attached to the screen assembly at a second end. The retaining harness can be configured to limit rotation of the screen assembly relative to the housing. Optionally, in some embodiments, the system includes a headrest configured to be installed in a vehicle. The headrest can include a mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Chung Lung Chang
  • Patent number: 7758117
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an entertainment system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a headrest. The housing can define a first hinge portion, a base wall, and one or more sidewalls. The housing can include a lock portion. In some embodiments, the system includes a screen assembly including a viewing screen. The screen assembly can define a second hinge portion that cooperates with the first hinge portion to pivotally couple the screen assembly with the housing. The screen assembly can further define an arm movable relative to the viewing screen. The arm can be configured to interact with the lock portion to retain the screen assembly in a stowed configuration in which the screen assembly is substantially prevented from moving away from the base wall of the housing. The arm further can be configured to be actuated to permit rotation of the screen assembly away from the base wall of the housing. In some embodiments, the system includes a headrest configured to be installed in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Chung Lung Chang
  • Patent number: 7753443
    Abstract: A frame structure of a seatback for a vehicle includes a first frame including at least two panels and a divided portion therebetween and a second frame including tubing and bonded to the first frame substantially along a periphery of the first frame. The second frame includes an elongation deformation allowing portion for allowing a portion of the second frame to be elongated over the divided portion of the first frame in an upper side portion when a predetermined load is exerted on the seatback toward a rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Uchida