Patents Examined by Mark R Wendell
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11634057
    Abstract: A lower leg support device for a vehicle seat, with a bracket and with a lower leg support displaceably arranged on the bracket, which can be moved between a non-use position and a use position upstream in longitudinal extension, wherein the lower leg support has at least two support parts which are moveable relative to each other to increase or reduce a lower leg support surface of the lower leg support. It is provided that the support parts can be moved transversely to the longitudinal extension to each other in order to increase or reduce the width of the lower leg support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arne Stahl, Tim Brueckner, Matthias Koehler, Christian Busch
  • Patent number: 11634047
    Abstract: A suspension mat for a vehicle seat comprises a spring element, and a guiding support for at least one electrical cable. The guiding support is molded onto the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Sascha Kupietz, Didier Duriez
  • Patent number: 11635154
    Abstract: A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to be connected to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to be connected to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to be connected to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a membrane disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third chamber and coupled to the membrane and configured to move the membrane between a first position wherein the first fluid passage is opened and the third fluid passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first fluid passage is closed and the third fluid passage is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Norbert Seltner
  • Patent number: 11629746
    Abstract: The invention concerns a unit (210) for a locking device, comprising: a nut (212) comprising two coaxial taps in opposite directions; and a ring (213); said ring including a third tap (38); the first (18) and third (38) taps being capable of engaging with a single first thread (22); said ring including a second thread (40) capable of engaging with the second tap (20) of the nut. The unit further comprises a washer (214) configured (274) so as to be inserted around one (212) of the nut and the ring, the washer comprising an elastic engagement means (272) for engaging with the other (213) of the ring and the nut in an installation position of the unit, so as to prevent the ring and the nut from rotating relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: LISI AEROSPACE
    Inventors: Martial Broucke, Gildas Boleis, Alan Philippe, Pierre Petit
  • Patent number: 11623751
    Abstract: A passenger seat includes a spreader with one or more open slot. The slot may be positioned on a lateral side of the spreader and may receive a portion of a seat base of the passenger seat within the slot. In some aspects, the slot may be elongated, and an insertion opening for the slot is provided in a top side of the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventor: Charles Michael Parker
  • Patent number: 11622637
    Abstract: A sofa frame covered by a form fitting upholstery sack where the upholstery sack incorporates integrated support webbing comprising a plurality of webbing straps. With the upholstery sack properly positioned on the back rest portion, the support webbing is positioned on the front of the back rest portion frame. The upholstery sack is pre-formed to snugly fit over the back rest portion of the sofa frame. Installation time is decreased when compared to the time required for conventional webbing and upholstery installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Allen Lewis, Philip Lee Stokes, James Anthony Sudduth, Jimmy Dale Holley
  • Patent number: 11623554
    Abstract: A storage device for a vehicle has a guide unit and a hinge element, which can be guided on the guide unit and which is guided for sliding in the manner of a drawer along the guide unit. The hinge element has a contact surface and at least one side wall angled thereto. The side wall has a plurality of fold regions, such that a first hinge part and a second hinge part are formed between the fold lines in such a way that the storage device, in a usage position, forms a stable base surface for objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellchaft
    Inventors: Hannes Berg, Julia Schiller
  • Patent number: 11623548
    Abstract: A support base for a child safety seat includes a support leg operable to retract and expand at a bottom of the support base, a first and a second locking mechanism, and a linking assembly. The support leg includes multiple segments, and a first and a second sliding connection each of which respectively coupling two adjacent ones of the segments. The first locking mechanism includes a first latch operable to lock the first sliding connection, and a first actuating part operable to urge the first latch to move for unlocking the first sliding connection. The second locking mechanism includes a second latch operable to lock the second sliding connection, and a second actuating part operable to urge the second latch to move for unlocking the second sliding connection. The linking assembly couples the two locking mechanisms so that the first and second sliding connections can be concurrently unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Clyde S. Harmes V, Robert S. Anderson, Curtis M. Hartenstine
  • Patent number: 11617443
    Abstract: A chair add-on, a chair, a chair modification, a chair hinge, and/or a hinge system that may be used to provide enhanced seating comfort to users. It is preferred, but not necessary, that the chair add-on, the chair, the chair modification, the chair hinge, and/or the hinge system is easy to use by users of all ages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Martin Levin
  • Patent number: 11618351
    Abstract: A device for tilting a seat cushion of a fold and dive seat includes: a pair of seat cushion side frames spaced apart from each other; seat back side frames connected to the pair of seat cushion side frames; a seat cushion main-frame connected to the seat back side frames; guide brackets, one of which disposed on a first side of a front portion of the seat cushion main-frame and another of which disposed on a second side of the front portion of the seat cushion main-frame, wherein each of the guide brackets has a longitudinal through-hole; a tilting support bar, both ends of which extend through the through-holes, respectively; tilting support links, each of which connected between the tilting support bar and each seat cushion side frame; a mounting bracket disposed on the front portion; and a tilting drive device disposed between the mounting bracket and the tilting support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Daechang Seat Co., Ltd-Dongtan, Hyundai Transys Inc.
    Inventors: Mu Young Kim, Hyeok Seung Lee, Ho Suk Jung, Sang Do Park, Chan Ho Jung, Jun Young Yun, Kyeong Ju Kim, Jun Sik Hwang, Won Young Lee, Tae Ju Jeong, Myeong Su Lee
  • Patent number: 11618359
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an armrest for a set of seats of a motor vehicle, the armrest comprising an internal frame, a first insert, and a second insert, the internal frame comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first insert comprises a first surface, at least one hole, and at least one first lug, and the second insert comprises a second surface, at least one hole, and at least one second lug, wherein the first side and the second side of the internal frame each comprise at least one protuberance, the at least one protuberance being shaped for insertion into the at least one hole of the first insert or into the at least one hole of the second insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventor: Mathieu Cluet
  • Patent number: 11612254
    Abstract: A convertible lounge sofa system for seating, lounging, and working having a sofa seat bottom having a dual armrest/headrest positioned on one end, sofa seat bottom is configurable thereto a side facing chaise lounge seat having a back support segment, a center segment, a seat pan segment, and a lower leg support segment, and a sofa seat back configured to be opened, with deployable working surface, a storage feature, a power/data feature, and a lighting feature, and, thus, functions to enable seating configurations that utilize reduced floor space with smaller foot prints, and enable multi-person seating as in 1-2 or more and then conversion into a single person lounge or work seating by rotating 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 11612250
    Abstract: An assembly has a chair with at least one arm. The arm has a cavity formed therein. The cavity has a bottom and a side wall. A cup is removably received in the cavity. The cup has a bottom surface and an outer wall. The cup is rotatable within the cavity. The cup has at least one projection extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cup. This projection is adapted to support a phone thereagainst. The cup is movable between a first position in which the projection is exposed outwardly of the chair, a second position in which the projection is stowed in the cavity and a third position in which the cup is positioned beneath the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Lawrence K. Lee
  • Patent number: 11607973
    Abstract: An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Adam Kanitz
  • Patent number: 11607981
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that includes: at least one support element defining a cavity, an air pump, and at least one olfactory diffuser arranged in the cavity and fluidly connected to the air pump, the olfactory diffuser having an outer casing defining an inner volume, the outer casing defining an air inlet and an air outlet, the olfactory diffuser further having at least one olfactory substance carrier arranged in the inner volume defined by the outer casing. The air pump causes the circulation of a flow of air through the inner volume from the air inlet to the air outlet toward the outside of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Laurent Carle, Anne-Isabelle Mallet-Da Costa
  • Patent number: 11607977
    Abstract: An alternative seating arrangement of a vehicle with a variety of vehicle restraints and occupant safety systems that are associated with the alternative seating arrangement. Many embodiments include rear facing and side facing seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gareth Lee, Scott Anderson, Sohel Merchant, Clint Semler, Richard Kim
  • Patent number: 11597180
    Abstract: Provided is a composite material for vehicles capable of substantially preventing the occurrence of wrinkles caused by ease stitching. This composite material for vehicles is a layered product of a skin material and a polyurethane foam sheet. The skin material has a play structure which, when the composite material for vehicles is stitched, allows the skin material to follow deformation caused by the stitching with a smooth state of a surface of the skin material maintained. The skin material is a woven fabric including warp yarns and weft yarns. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns include two or more types of yarns having different total finenesses, and form the play structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: SEIREN CO., LTD., TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Wada, Hayato Wakatsuki, Toshio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11597305
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided having a track assembly to allow a seat bottom to slide in a fore-aft direction. A lock assembly is connected to the track assembly and moveable between a locked status and an unlocked status, wherein in the locked status the seat bottom is prevented from sliding, and in the unlocked status, the seat bottom is allowed to slide. A seatback is pivotally connected to the seat bottom. When the seatback is pivoted forward to a first inclined position, the seatback engages and moves the lock assembly to the unlocked status. In the unlocked status, the seat bottom is biased to slide rearward to a rear storage position. In the rear storage position, the lock assembly is moved to the locked status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Hu, Suhua Zhou, Tao Yin, Jianliang Ma