Patents Examined by Mark R Wendell
  • Patent number: 11518313
    Abstract: Methods for using a carseat tray and carseat tray devices are disclosed. The device includes a front section, a rear section that is seamlessly attached to the rear section, a rim that is attached to the front section and the rear section, wherein the rim at the front section is on an incline with respect to the horizontal axis, and wherein the rim at the rear section is perpendicular to the horizontal axis, a plurality of raised surfaces on an internal surface, and a fastener attached to an external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Aubrey Michael Gray
  • Patent number: 11518276
    Abstract: In an arrangement which includes: a seat support body slidably supported on a fixed rail fixed to a floor; a power supply device supplying power to an electrical component on a seat side; and a drive device driving the seat support body in a front-and-rear direction and having a motor and a transmission member disposed so as to pass longitudinally through an interior of the fixed rail, the power supply device includes: a housing an electric wire for power supply; and a slider linked to the seat support body and slidable within the fixed rail. The electric wire is drawn out from the housing, retained by the slider and slidable within the fixed rail. The slider has an interference-avoiding portion for avoiding interference with the transmission member disposed so as to pass longitudinally through the interior of the fixed rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Meguro, Toshiaki Shimada, Nobuyuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11517117
    Abstract: A sofa includes a sofa seat and a sofa seat accessory. The sofa seat includes a seat frame, a first outer wrapping, and first snap buckles. The first outer wrapping wraps the seat frame. The first snap buckles are disposed on at least one side of the seat frame. The sofa seat accessory is configured to be detachably mounted on the sofa seat. The sofa seat accessory includes an accessory frame, a second outer wrapping, and second snap buckles disposed on the accessory frame. When the sofa seat accessory is mounted to the sofa seat, each of the second snap buckles is matched to each of the first snap buckles to form a quick connection between the sofa seat and the sofa seat accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: JINGNING MEIGE OPERATION MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jiada Sun
  • Patent number: 11519453
    Abstract: A threaded fastening assembly includes a nut body and a screw body. The internal thread of the nut body includes a nut thread crest and a nut thread root. The external thread of the screw body includes a screw thread crest, a screw thread root, a fourth side wall located on one side of the screw thread crest, and a fifth side wall located on the other side of the screw thread crest. A locking notch located on one side of the nut thread crest is arranged on the internal thread. The locking notch includes a first side wall and a bottom wall. One end of the first side wall is connected to the nut thread crest, and the other end of the first side wall is connected to one end of the bottom wall. The bottom wall is spirally distributed around the axis of the nut body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN MEITU PLASTIC IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wenhui Zhou
  • Patent number: 11517115
    Abstract: A modular seat and method of assembling the same are provided. The modular seat includes a first seating component having one or more seating component attachment apertures. The modular seat also includes a first arm component having a first arm component shelf support configured to be received by one of the seating component attachment apertures. The modular seat may include one or more other components, such as attachment members, additional seating components, back support components, and/or additional arm components. A corresponding method of assembling a modular seat is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: MCCREARY MODERN, INC., HELIX SLEEP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert McCreary, Bobby Gantt, Seth Tulman, Jerry Lin
  • Patent number: 11511657
    Abstract: [Object] To inhibit leg rests from colliding with each other and to allow a leg rest of his/her own seat to operate even in the case where a power source failure or the like occurs. [Solving Means] A seat apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a seat body; a control unit; and a setting means. The seat body includes a leg rest. The control unit includes a controller. The controller determines whether the seat body is in a first state in which the seat body does not face a front seat or a back seat of the seat body or a second state in which the seat body faces one of the front seat and the back seat. The controller enables, where the controller has determined that the seat body is in the first state, a tilt operation command for the leg rest to tilt forward, and invalidates, where the controller has determined that the seat body is in the second state, the tilt operation command. The setting means fixes the determination result by the controller to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Murase, Takao Okura
  • Patent number: 11511653
    Abstract: A palm rest assembly includes a palm rest bracket and a palm rest pad. The palm rest assembly is for a console assembly of a vehicle. The center console assembly includes a console frame. The palm rest bracket includes a generally C-shape. The palm rest bracket includes a base wall, a side wall, and an upper wall. The base wall is mounted to the console frame. The side wall extends between the base wall and the upper wall such that the upper wall is cantilevered. The palm rest pad is coupled to the upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Nishio, Roy Thorsell, Jake McNamara
  • Patent number: 11505096
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reclining device for a seat, which can adjust a seatback at various angles through movement of a striker installed in a vehicle body. The reclining device for a seat includes a latch installed on a side of a seatback and configured to be rotated together with the seatback, and a striker module in which the latch is engaged with a striker installed in a vehicle body, where the striker moves in a certain section overlapping a rotation trajectory of the latch in a state where the latch is engaged and reclines the seatback together with the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Suk Won Hong, Jong Seok Han, Jun Yong Kim, Sang Do Park, Sang Man Seo, Sung Hak Hong, Myung Soo Lee, In Chang Hwang, Kyoung Min Cho
  • Patent number: 11498684
    Abstract: A seat with self-stowage capability is provided. The seat includes a seat pan lever which is rotatable between stowed and open positions, a fixed seat structure and an elastic assembly. The fixed seat structure includes an annulus. The elastic assembly includes a damper and an arc-spring disposable within the annulus to permit first rotations of the seat pan lever from the stowed position to the open positions and to urge second rotations of the seat pan lever from the open positions to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sreekanth Koti Ananda Rao, Pradeep Acharya
  • Patent number: 11492124
    Abstract: A retention system for an aircraft seat dress cover defines a cable channel sewn around the periphery of a back portion. A cable in the cable channel is tightened to tighten the aircraft seat dress cover around an aircraft seat back. Adjustable buckles at terminals of the cable interlock and allow the cable to be tightened. A midpoint strap is disposed on opposing sides of the periphery to allow the aircraft seat dress cover to more fully conform to the structure of the aircraft seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ashby, David Poole, Joseph Meals, Andrew Mooney, Michael Kreitz, Adam Brown, Mack Thomas Moore, David Genco, Gregory Bonomo, Zakarya Peterson
  • Patent number: 11490203
    Abstract: A passenger suite for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a seat having an adjustable backrest, multiple forward sound drivers, left side drivers, right side drivers, at least one sensor detecting the position of the backrest, and a controller in communication with the drivers and operable to adjust an output of at least one of the drivers based on the position of the backrest. A third driver may be positioned within or behind the seat in communication with the controller. The forward drivers may be tweeter drivers; the side drivers may be midrange drivers; and the third driver may be a woofer driver. In some embodiments, a particular left side driver and a particular aligned right side driver are active to deliver audio content according to the position of the backrest. A surround sound system installable in an aircraft cabin, such as within an aircraft passenger suite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, David J. Druckman
  • Patent number: 11485292
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. The seatback includes a rear portion and a substantially horizontal strap including first and second ends fixed to the rear portion. The substantially horizontal strap further includes an intermediate attachment area fixed to the rear portion between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Vanderpool, Dustin Shedlarski, Victoria Leigh Schein, Timothy Owen Hamlin
  • Patent number: 11479150
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a motor vehicle seat may have a seat rail that can be connected to the vehicle seat, and a floor rail, which can be connected to a vehicle floor and on which the seat rail is displaceably guided. The longitudinal adjuster may have a drive device for adjusting the seat rail relative to the floor rail along the longitudinal direction. The drive device may have a spindle fixed to the floor rail or to the seat rail. A rotatable spindle nut may be mounted on the spindle via a thread engagement. An electric motor may be operatively connected to the spindle nut for driving the spindle nut. A drive-side output shaft of the electric motor may be oriented parallel to the spindle. The floor rail has a cut-out and the electric motor is at least partly arranged through the cut-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Erik Sprenger
  • Patent number: 11479978
    Abstract: A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Jan Eddy De Rick, Bruno Paul Louis Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 11470976
    Abstract: This present invention relates to furniture, and more specifically to an ottoman that can be folded into different positions to become a sofa, a recliner or a bed. The foldable ottoman comprises a base frame having supporting members and four legs, a center segment, a first end segment and a second end segment. The center segment has a base that is pivotally attached to two of the four legs. The first end segment has a base pivotally attached to two of the four legs and is also linked to a supporting platform, a pivotable leg handle is attached to the first segment base, and a supporting platform connected to the base. The supporting platform is able to tilt off the base at varying angles. The second end segment has a second end segment base that is pivotally attached to two of the four base frame legs and a pivotable leg handle attached to the second end segment base and may also be linked to a supporting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Abedan Kanthasamy
  • Patent number: 11472322
    Abstract: A lumbar adjuster for use in a vehicle seat including a lumbar mat, a frame member, and a support member. The lumbar mat is configured to face towards a backrest cushion when the lumbar adjuster is assembled to the vehicle seat. The frame member is configured to carry the lumbar mat. The support member is operatively coupled to the frame member and provided with a finger configured deflect from an extended position to a compressed position to bias portions of the lumbar mat towards backrest cushion to minimize a gap between the lumbar mat and the backrest cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Matthew Baibak, Philip Bartko, Anil Bhat
  • Patent number: 11473611
    Abstract: A locking nut system includes a threaded member with a first threaded area having a first thread direction and a second threaded area having a second thread direction opposite the first thread direction in which a plurality of crests extend across the first and second threaded areas with a constant pitch between the crests such that minimal material is removed, structural integrity is maintained, and a first nut secures the threaded member to a workpiece and a second opposing nut renders the first nut stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Keith Stewart
  • Patent number: 11465541
    Abstract: This air pump device is provided with: an electric pump unit including a pump mechanism and a motor; a case; and a vibration-proof member. The pump mechanism and the motor are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the motor. The pump mechanism has an inlet and an outlet at an end in the axial direction on the opposite side of the motor. The case has a first wall and a second wall which are located on opposite sides in the axial direction of the motor and which face the electric pump unit. The vibration-proof member is provided with: a first axial vibration-proof unit interposed between the electric pump unit and the first wall; and a second axial vibration-proof unit interposed between the electric pump unit and the second wall. The first axial vibration-proof unit covers the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Sakai, Ryosuke Mizuno, Tomokazu Seki, Katsuya Nozue, Yasuo Kidena, Shunsuke Tanaka, Kenji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11457745
    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: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Burrow, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan Clabots
  • Patent number: 11458873
    Abstract: A method for determining a fluid pressure in a pneumatic bladder of a pneumatic adjusting device of a vehicle seat is disclosed, wherein the pneumatic bladder is connected to a valve for the filling or emptying of the bladder with or of fluid. Fluid start pressure at the valve is provided as initial pressure for determining of the fluid pressure in the bladder. Fluid throughflow through the valve device is determined using a first assignment rule which assigns the fluid throughflow to the fluid start pressure at the valve. The fluid throughflow obtained using the first assignment rule over a predetermined period of time is summed to determine a fluid quantity that has flowed through the valve. Fluid pressure present in the bladder is determined using a second assignment rule which assigns the fluid pressure present in the bladder to the determined fluid quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Stefan Bauer