Patents Examined by Mark R Wendell
  • Modular seating apparatus and kit
    Patent number: 11672351
    Abstract: A modular seating kit for producing a modular seating apparatus, comprising one or more rectangular base platforms, at least one connecting bracket, one or more vertical supporting structures, one or more secondary vertical supporting structures, a plurality of fasteners, and one or more support legs, each base platform has a plurality of attachment points adapted to receive the support legs and fasteners, the vertical supporting structures and the secondary vertical supporting structures are adapted to be attached to one of the base platforms to function as backrests or armrests, and two or more of the base platforms are adapted to be linked together using the connecting brackets to provide the modular seating apparatus with expandable seating capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Burrow, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan Clabots
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11667221
    Abstract: An adequate mechanical stiffness and strength are afforded to a tumble seat or a vehicle seat having a latch mechanism provided in a rear end of the seat cushion. A cushion frame (F1) of the seat includes a side frame (5) extending in a fore and aft direction, and the side frame includes a first member (10) comprising a channel member having an open side facing sideways and a second member (11) attached to the first member so as to form a closed cross section jointly with the first member, and extending downward further than the first member. A latch mechanism is positioned under the first member and attached to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shoma Sato
  • Supporting cushion apparatus and child safety car seat therewith
    Patent number: 11667847
    Abstract: The present application discloses a fireproof buffering structure which includes a buffering plate and a fireproof plate attached thereto. A combustion rate of the fireproof plate is lower than that of the buffering plate. In contrast to conventional buffering structures, the fireproof buffering structure adopts the combined buffering plate and fireproof plate. The buffering plate has good impact absorbing capacity for providing a soft and comfortable seating environment and buffering and protection effects during a crash accident, and the fireproof plate can reduce the combustion rate of the integral structure when catching fire. Therefore, the fireproof buffering structure achieves the purposes of safety and comfort. The present application further discloses a supporting cushion apparatus which includes a covering member and the aforementioned fireproof buffering structure accommodated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Yong Chao Kou, Feng Xiang Yan, Jian Hui Liu
  • Seat
    Patent number: 11667220
    Abstract: A seat capable of suppressing wrinkles around an opening of a curved-surface-portion of a skin. The seat comprises: a skin in which a curved opening is formed in the curved-surface-portion; an elastically deformable plate-shaped reinforcing-member that reinforces a peripheral portion of the opening, the reinforcing-member being disposed in a curved state along an inner surface of the curved-surface-portion; and a pressing-member that covers the peripheral portion of the opening in a state where the pressing-member presses the peripheral portion of the opening from an outer surface of the curved-surface-portion. The reinforcing-member has a main-body-portion overlapping with the pressing-ember, and extending-portions respectively extending from side edges of the main-body-portion to a range not overlapping with the pressing-member. A slit is formed in each of the extending-portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Onji, Masanao Matsuura, Mizuki Kato
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11660991
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with a speaker-equipped headrest is provided, which is of a relatively simple structure to enable the speaker-equipped headrest to be easily mounted to/dismounted from a seat body after vehicle installation, and also provide increased versatility for installation in vehicles of various vehicle size classes. The vehicle seat with the speaker-equipped headrest includes: a male coupler that is connected to a speaker harness and fitted to a distal end of a headrest stay; and a female coupler that is connected to a main harness on a seat body side, and fitted to a headrest guide bracket supporting a headrest guide. Insertion of the headrest stay into the headrest guide allows the speaker-equipped headrest to be mounted to the seat body, and allows the male coupler and the female coupler to be fitted together to provide a connection between the speaker harness and the main harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhisa Nakamura
  • Modular furniture system with shared support and method therefor
    Patent number: 11659934
    Abstract: A modular furniture has a first modular furniture unit. The first modular unit has a first frame. A pair of front legs is attached to the first frame, wherein a first of the pair of front legs supports and holds one of a first adjacent modular furniture unit or a first arm rest and a second of the pair of front legs supports and holds one of a second adjacent modular furniture unit or a first arm rest. A pair of rear legs is coupled to the first frame, wherein a first of the pair of rear legs supports and holds one of the first adjacent modular furniture unit or the first arm rest and a second of the pair of rear legs supports and holds one of the second adjacent modular furniture unit or the second arm rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Neighbor
    Inventors: Joel Edmondson, Nicholas R. Arambula, Michael D. Fretto, Christopher R. Lee
  • Safety device for motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11660983
    Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle seat comprising: a seat, an electric motor for moving the seat or a part of the seat, and a control device configured for measuring/detecting at least one operating parameter of the motor among the voltage and/or the current of the motor and/or the speed of the motor, when the seat or the part of the seat is moving along a movement path when actuated by the motor, the control device being configured for ensuring that the motor is stopped when the at least one parameter of the current measurement crosses at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Thierry Matha, Farouk Bouzid
  • Rear seat display device
    Patent number: 11654835
    Abstract: A rear seat display device is provided in a vehicle at a position viewable from a rear seat of the vehicle. The rear seat display device includes a display, a built-in speaker, and a controller that (i) acquires a signal relating to control of a sound to be output to a vehicle speaker mounted in the vehicle from an in-vehicle audio device, the vehicle speaker being a different speaker than the built-in speaker, and (ii) controls a sound to be output from the built-in speaker based on the signal relating to the control of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Miho Iwase, Masahiro Koharazawa
  • Grain bin conditioning system using headspace air
    Patent number: 11653600
    Abstract: An air conditioning system and methods of use regulate a moisture content of an agricultural product in a grain bin. The system receives headspace air from the headspace of the grain bin, which generally has a higher moisture content than ambient air. The system further receives ambient air and mixes the headspace air and the ambient air into a ratio comprising a target moisture content. The air mixture is provided into a grain bin plenum, where it then permeates through to agricultural product, thereby regulating the moisture. The system and method can be used to bring the agricultural product to a target moisture content that is preferred when storing the agricultural product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AGI SureTrack, LLC
    Inventor: Johnselvakumar Lawrence
  • Reconfigurable cup holder assembly
    Patent number: 11654813
    Abstract: A reconfigurable cup holder assembly for a vehicle comprises: (i) a base structure, and (ii) a cup holder portion pivotably coupled to the base structure about a pivot axis, the cup holder portion comprising a first cup holder and a second cup holder, each of the first cup holder and the second cup holder defining a space configured to hold a container for liquid, and the cup holder portion is pivotable about the pivot axis to, from, and between a first position relative to the base structure and a second position relative to the base structure; wherein, the pivot axis extends through the space of the first cup holder. The second cup holder can pivot greater than or equal to 75 degrees about the pivot axis when the cup holder portion moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Thomas, Shiran Chen, Stephen Neal Jacobsen, Michele Marie Mathews
  • Modular seat assembly and method of assembly thereof
    Patent number: 11647841
    Abstract: Modular seat assembly having a female connector that is positioned and configured to releasably connect to a corresponding male stud connector on an adjacent seat module. Each female connector includes a plate comprising a raised portion defining an upper opening leading to a downwardly angled channel extending at about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees from a vertical axis into a horizontal portion, such that each male stud connector is slidably and releasably connectable to each corresponding female connector, and such that the channel and the horizontal portion have a width that is narrower than a head of the male stud connector, but wider than a neck of the male stud connector; and wherein said male stud connector is configured to be guided downward by said channel and then loosely contained within said horizontal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Cozey Inc.
    Inventors: Frédéric Aubé, Zhijie Gu
  • Support driver for seat and support assembly including same
    Patent number: 11648863
    Abstract: A support driver for a seat and a support assembly including the same that is using a tube and a structure of a mat that is moved by an inflation and a deflation of the tube. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support driver coupled to a seat frame includes: a support portion coupled to the seat frame; a tube coupled to the support portion; and a mat coupled to the support portion so as to allow the mat to be movable in a direction that is away from the support portion or in a direction that is adjacent to the support portion, with the tube being provided therebetween, in which the tube is configured to push the mat by being inflated according to an operation of a pump that is connected to the tube by a hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, Gun Young Park, Jin Oh Kim, Jun Kyu Park, Jeon Il Kang
  • Multifunctional sofa
    Patent number: 11647843
    Abstract: A multifunctional sofa includes armrest assemblies and seat units. A middle armrest is arranged between the adjacent seat units, and a front end of the middle armrest is provided with a cupholder. An upper end surface of the cupholder is provided with a cup slot, and an outer cover is also provided outside the cupholder. The outer cover may rotate relative to the cupholder to allow the one cup slot to be unfolded or folded. A movable function rack capable of rotating outwards relative to the armrest assembly is arranged in each of armrest assemblies. The movable function rack is provided with a function table. In the hidden position, the movable function rack is entirely located in the accommodating groove. In the use position, the movable function rack rotates outwards from the accommodating groove to protrude from the armrest assembly, and the function table is exposed outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: UE FURNITURE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jun Lou
  • Cushion pad
    Patent number: 11647844
    Abstract: Provided is a cushion pad, in which a seating body portion of a seating portion has a bottomless or bottomed first hole arranged at a position at which the first hole overlaps a pair of ischial bones of a seated person in a horizontal projection plane and three or more bottomless or bottomed second holes with areas that are smaller than an area of the first hole in a horizontal projection plane, a center point O51 of the first hole is on or inside a triangle TR obtained by connecting center points of any three second holes from among the three or more second holes in the horizontal projection plane and in the seating portion, the inside of the first hole is a void space, or a soft material portion is arranged inside the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Archem Inc.
    Inventors: Taisuke Yonezawa, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Taichi Itabashi, Yukiko Yamaguchi
  • Autonomous vehicle adapted for sleeping or resting in a reclined posture
    Patent number: 11648854
    Abstract: A vehicle has a seat movable between an upright position and a reclined position and an automatically adjustable headrest connected to the seat, the automatically adjustable headrest being automatically adjusted for a posture of a head of a user when the user is reclined in the reclined position. The automatically adjustable headrest is automatically adjusted in response to a camera detecting that the user is sleeping or resting either on his or her back or on his or her side, the headrest being adjusted for either a side sleeping posture or a back sleeping posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Matthew Roy
  • Furniture console and methods of using the same
    Patent number: 11647840
    Abstract: A furniture console having a base and at least one of a lighting device selectively mounted to the base, a first charging device supported by the base, a thermal energy transfer assembly configured to heat or cool a first container selectively mounted to the base, and an electricity storage assembly mounted within the base, the electricity storage assembly being configured to power the furniture console. A control assembly configured to control operation of the at least one of the lighting device, the first charging device, and the thermal energy transfer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The Lovesac Company
    Inventors: Shawn D. Nelson, David M. Underwood, Clint Gibson, Jake Forman, Brian Kuchler
  • Seat mounting structure for a seat of a vehicle and vehicle and center seat structure
    Patent number: 11642993
    Abstract: A seat mounting structure for at least one seat in a vehicle having a vehicle structure is provided. The seat mounting structure may have a seat rib cage configured as a universal solitary mounting bracket to which at least one seat can be affixed. The seat rib cage may have a plurality of rib cage elements connected with each other to form the seat rib cage. The seat rib cage may also have a plurality of seat mounting points for mounting the at least one seat to the seat rib cage. The seat rib cage may also have a plurality of vehicle structure mounting points for mounting the seat rib cage to the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: John J. Gomez, James D. Biebel, Raza Bashir, Joseph Gasko, Dalibor Dimovski, Kurt A. Seibold, Xin Wei Jolene Ng, John Bleau, Raymond Anthony Iavasile
  • Silicone-filled capsules for trim coatings
    Patent number: 11639124
    Abstract: A seat includes a framework; a foam body supported by the framework; and a trim cover assembly covering the foam body. The trim cover assembly includes a trim material and one or more coatings, with at least one of the one or more coatings including encapsulated silicone configured to release silicone oil upon abrasion of the at least one coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andre Wetzka
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11634056
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a conjunction mechanism and a locking mechanism. When a seat cushion is placed at a raised position, the conjunction mechanism causes an ottoman to be placed at a stored position closer to the seating surface relative to a standby position. The locking mechanism restricts movement of the ottoman when the seat cushion is placed at a seating position. The locking mechanism includes an anchoring portion, a traction cable, and a wound portion. In response to a change being made in an amount of winding of the traction cable around the wound portion due to the seat cushion being moved, anchoring of the ottoman by the anchoring portion and canceling of the anchoring are caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Sera, Shun Fujishiro
  • Sectional seating system
    Patent number: 11633046
    Abstract: A modular seating system is provided having one or more seat units that are connectable to each other by connection plates. The seat units include first connector components for connection to back units and/or arm units. The back units and arm units include second connector components configured to cooperate with the first connector components. The arm units are provided with two sets of the second connector components for connecting to the seat unit in a first position or a second position different than the first position. The first and second connector components are in the form of a rail and C-shaped bracket that can slide over the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Raad Altemimei