Patents Examined by Milton Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12269378
    Abstract: A child restraint configured to be securable to and separable from a base installed in a vehicle, the child restraint comprising an illuminator positioned on an external portion of the child restraint, configured to operate in a first mode, illuminating a first region external to the child restraint wherein, in the event that the child restraint is not secured to the base, and the child restraint is moved, the illuminator will be activated in its first mode, illuminating the first region external to the child restraint for the purpose of aiding securement to the base, and wherein in the event that the child restraint is secured to the base, the first mode will be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Britax Römer Kindersicherheit GmbH
    Inventors: Nabil Kzaiz, Martin Haas, Michael Fürstenberg, Hubert Kaltenegger
  • Patent number: 12268311
    Abstract: A baby bouncer comprising a telescopic base, a seat, and an insert. The telescopic base comprises an outer shell portion and an inner extending portion located at least partially within the outer shell portion; an adjustable upper support pivotally coupled to the telescopic base; a connection limb having a first end operatively coupled to the adjustable upper support and a second end operatively coupled to the inner extending portion; an actuation pedal for adjusting an angle of the adjustable upper support in relation to the telescopic base; and a safety lock disposed on the telescopic base. The bouncer seat has a receiving area and an attachment pocket. The removable insert is received in the receiving area of the seat and receives an infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: The ERGO Baby Carrier, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward William Skilnick, Kevin Dann Scheiferstein, Eric William Childs, Rodney V. Telford
  • Patent number: 12263765
    Abstract: A rotatable child safety seat can include a seat shell for receiving a child therein. a rotating pedestal, and a seat base. The pedestal and seat shell can rotate with respect to the seat base. The pedestal can include a locking pin and the seat base can include a multitude of pin receiving apertures that allow a user to rotate the seat shell and pedestal in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction at a number of different angles or positions. The child safety seat can also include two separate seat belt/LATCH tether pathways. One seat belt/LATCH tether pathway can be provided on the seat back of the seal shell and can be used when the child safety seat is in a forward-facing configuration and the other seat belt/LATCH tether pathway can be provided in the seat base and used when in a rearward-facing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: GRACO CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Brunick, Thomas Jake Mitchell, Andrew Phillip Kitchens, David Hotard
  • Patent number: 12257936
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 12258086
    Abstract: A device has a seat cover suitable for being fastened to a seat of a motorcycle, whose upper surface is divided in a plurality of portions, each positioned on a right side or a left side of the seat cover, each portion of the plurality of portions being associated to a respective vibration motor, configured to generate vibrations perceivable by a motorcyclist sitting on the seat of the motorcycle, and an electronic unit configured to control the vibration motors and provided with connectors to an onboard electronic box of the motorcycle. The electronic unit is configured to receive from the onboard electronic box a signal relating to an activation status of directional indicators of the motorcycle and to control the vibration motors as a function of the signal relating to the activation status of the directional indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Vincenzo Maresca
  • Patent number: 12252203
    Abstract: A Method and Apparatus for Heating and Cooling a Motorcycle Seat have been disclosed. In one implementation a plurality of heating and cooling elements are used to affect heating and cooling a motorcycle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Hanagan, Rick Walterson
  • Patent number: 12245704
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an arm rest for a seat including a connection shaft formed to be fixedly coupled to the seat; a body unit coupled to the connection shaft to rotate about the connection shaft; a fixed unit having a first teeth portion, and fixedly coupled to the connection shaft; a movable unit having a second teeth portion engaged with the first teeth portion, and installed to be rotatable and positionally movable on the body unit; and a stopping unit fixedly installed on the body unit, and engaged with the second teeth portion to stop the rotation of the movable unit at a stop position as the movable unit positionally moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: HYUNDAI IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kang Mok Shin, Il Hang Choi, Dae Hwan Yoon, Sung Chol An, Min Soo Kim, Min Gyu Lee
  • Patent number: 12246801
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus having a submersible seating surface attached to a watercraft. The submersible seating surface may be raised to serve as a table when not in use as a seat. A tension member provides upward force on the seat, allowing it to be easily raised from a lowered position to a raised position. In some embodiments, a tether is used to provide additional security for the apparatus. In embodiments, a hydrofoil cup holder is affixed to the seat to provide additional lift when a watercraft is moving forward, urging the seat upward and out of the water. The hydrofoil cup holder further includes an opening in a top surface of the cup holder to secure an item such as a beverage container. Embodiments may further include a submerged safety indicator to alert nearby swimmers and/or people on the watercraft of the submerged seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Inventor: David Prescott
  • Patent number: 12233764
    Abstract: A vehicle seat system includes a support surface having a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side. A first seat rail is coupled to the first side of the support surface. A second seat rail is coupled to the first side of the support surface spaced from the first seat rail. A seat member includes a first stanchion moveably supported at the first seat rail, a second stanchion moveably supported at the second seat rail, and a member arranged between the first stanchion and the second stanchion. A magnet is mounted at the second side of the support surface. A levitation controller is operatively connected to the magnet. The levitation controller is activated to drive the magnet to repel the member and raise the first stanchion and the second stanchion relative to corresponding ones of the first seat rail and the second seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: David M. Aller
  • Patent number: 12232632
    Abstract: A self-covering outdoor furniture unit configured for human seating includes a seating surface and a backrest extending upwardly from the seating surface. Carried by the furniture unit is a substantially planar and rigid weather-protective panel. The panel is retained by guide members for linear displacement behind the backrest between a lowermost, storage position and an uppermost position, with the panel in a vertical orientation in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the seating surface. When the panel is in the uppermost position, it can be pivoted forwardly into a deployed position in which it is disposed substantially horizontally over the seating surface, thereby shielding the seating surface from precipitation, blown debris, and sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Gary Donald Sherman
  • Patent number: 12233752
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure a computer-implemented method comprising receiving sensor data from one or more vibration sensors that are embedded within a seat, where the sensor data includes data associated with speech by an occupant of the seat, and at least one of processing, transmitting, or storing the sensor data based on the data associated with the speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Yu Du
  • Patent number: 12232635
    Abstract: A baby bouncer with assistance having a base, a seat to receive a baby, a joint connecting the seat with the base and configured to support the seat above the base, and an actuator connected between the base and the seat. The joint permits reciprocating motion of the seat relative to the base. The actuator can impart a driving force on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Chiaro Technology Limited
    Inventors: Elise Rebecca Filleul, David Connell, Simon Peter Cross, Benjamin David Garbutt
  • Patent number: 12220064
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding seat which comprises a chair pocket, a first supporting assembly, and a second supporting assembly, the chair pocket is sheathed on the first supporting assembly and the second supporting assembly. The first supporting assembly comprises a supporting rod and a supporting base, the supporting rod is hinged in the supporting base and rotates in a preset range. The second supporting assembly and the first supporting assembly have the same structure and arranged opposite to each other detachably. By arranging the first supporting assembly and the second supporting assembly detachably to support the chair pocket, the folding seat can be fixed. By dissembling the first supporting assembly and the second supporting assembly, then rotating and adjusting the supporting rods in the first supporting assembly and the second supporting assembly, the folding seat can be folded and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SHENZHEN THOUSANDSHORES TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ding He, Zhi Liu
  • Patent number: 12221025
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle seat system, having at least two first fluid-fillable bladders and at least one second fluid-fillable bladder connected via a supply line to a common line and to a pump via this line and are fillable with fluid via this line, each first bladder having its own discharge outlet, and the second bladder not having its own discharge outlet, and having a controller which controls the filling or emptying of the bladders, the controller being configured to empty the second bladder via a discharge outlet from one of the first bladders, the second bladder being evacuated by detecting which of the first bladders is empty or is currently not used, establishing a fluid connection between the second bladder to be evacuated and the empty first bladder, and opening the discharge outlet belonging to the empty first bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Jacek Lasak, Maciej Such, Michal Szott
  • Patent number: 12214905
    Abstract: Described is a passenger seat having a center console. The center console has a stationary portion including: a stationary portion structural member positioned at a connecting end of the stationary portion; and a disconnect panel. The center console has a separable modular portion having: a separable modular portion structural member positioned at a connecting end of the separable modular portion and coupleable to the stationary portion structural member; and an electrical wiring consolidation device that includes: an electrical cable bundle; and an electrical connector coupleable to the disconnect panel. The stationary portion structural member, the disconnect panel, the separable modular portion structural member, and the electrical wiring consolidation device form a quick connect structure for coupling the separable modular portion with the stationary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventor: Rafael Lozano Segura
  • Patent number: 12208903
    Abstract: An endurance haptic system is disclosed herein. The endurance haptic system includes a plurality of tactors, a plurality of air bladders, a tactor driver operably coupled to the plurality of tactors and configured to send vibration commands to the plurality of tactors in response to a first signal received from an aircraft controller, and an air bladder driver operably coupled to the plurality of air bladders and configured to inflate and deflate the plurality of air bladders in response to a second signal received from the aircraft controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Kassidy L. Carson, John L. Hampton, Glen Shaw, Daniel R. Tribble, Larry Parker, Donald Borchelt, John R. Skola, James Donald Womack
  • Patent number: 12202393
    Abstract: An electric headrest sliding device includes a slider configured to be movable upwards and downwards by driving of a motor, a front frame of a headrest, and a rotation link configured to connect the slider to the front frame, wherein the rotation link is rotated forwards or rearwards to push or pull the front frame during upward-and-downward movement of the slider, thereby accurately adjusting the front and rear positions of the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, SEOYONCNF
    Inventors: Sang Uk Yu, Tae Hoon Lee, Sang Ho Kim, Seung Young Lee, Jun Namgoong, Yong Jun Shin
  • Patent number: 12202381
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with an embedded occupancy detector system and manufacturing method for same, and an occupant protection system including an occupancy detector system embedded in a vehicle seat as described herein. Examples include a molded vehicle seat with one or more inserts including an occupant detection system with one or more sensor pads. A gap housing one or more sensor pads of an occupant detection system may be provided between a surface of an insert and a recessed surface of the molded vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Eccleston, Daniel Scott Armagost, Anthony Iannone
  • Patent number: 12202382
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an occupancy sensing device for detecting the occupancy of a seat of a vehicle, comprising: a flexible substrate having a first main face and a second main face opposite to the first main face, a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes, capable of detecting the state of occupancy of the seat, conductive tracks connected to the capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes, the capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes and the conductive tracks being fixed on the first main face of the flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate is made of an elastic and impermeable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventor: Mamadou Balde
  • Patent number: 12193979
    Abstract: A chair with lifting mechanism including a linear actuator connected to an underneath side of the seat of a chair. A front edge of the seat is secured to the chair's frame by a pivot, whereas the rear edge of the seat is unattached, thereby permitting the seat to rotate about the pivot. The configuration of the actuator, this is extended or contracted, is dictated by control buttons located on the armrests of the chair that can be pressed by the user to assist him with standing. The actuator is powered by a power source that can be a cable cord for stationary use or a battery that allows the present invention to be relocated. The chair with lifting mechanism presents assistance for those who have mobility problems and struggle with standing from regular chairs. By including a seat that can be raised to a predetermined angle, the user can be lifted until he reaches a comfortable position to continue on his own.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventors: Timothy Goodman, Bradley Goodman