Patents Examined by Peter R. Brown
  • Patent number: 8328281
    Abstract: A web extension and retraction device on a child seat. A pair of retractors are mounted to the device and have webs extendable therefrom with connectors releasable with vehicle anchors both when the child seat faces forward and rearward in the vehicle. In one embodiment the retractors slide in cavities provided on opposite sides of the child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, Jason Boyer
  • Patent number: 8328278
    Abstract: A child positioning insert including a frame with a first column and a second column, where the first and second columns are positioned vertically. The first column has a first guide and the second column has a second guide, where the first and second guides extend along a portion of the length of each column. A shoulder roll connects to the frame via the first column and the second column, so that the shoulder roll is perpendicular to the first column and the second column. The shoulder roll has a backing that connects to the first guide and to the second guide such that the backing can move vertically along the first and second guides. A head support member connects to the frame in a position above the frame and above the shoulder roll, so that the head support member includes a first support member to substantially prevent lateral motion of a person's head in a first direction and a second support member to substantially prevent lateral motion of the person's head in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Beth G. Rumack
  • Patent number: 8322792
    Abstract: This invention concerns a sofa which solves the problems of the prior art by providing a sofa that can easily be assembled or disassembled by the end consumer at home. The furniture set described can be assembled so the major piece is either to the left of the secondary piece or to the right of the secondary piece. The way this invention accomplishes these results is as follows: Chaise sections can be assembled by placing the seat back flat on the ground and placing the seat frame/arm upright on top of the seat back. A metal threaded rod is used to connect the seat frame and the seat back. A metal nut is used to secure the seat frame to the back using a wrench that comes provided in the package of the kit. The legs are then twisted onto the bottom of the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Lionel T. Chen
  • Patent number: 8322784
    Abstract: A collapsible chair constructed of tubing and fabric that is for use at the beach, camping or outdoors where portability is important to the user. The chair included folding support members that allow the chair to fold up into a small package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: William Henry Ayre, Timothy J. C. O'Shea
  • Patent number: 8313140
    Abstract: A backrest frame 5 is provided with a cushion plate 31 of one substantially square plate form positioned behind the waist from the upper part of the back of a vehicle seat occupant, movably back and forth by way of a plurality of upper and lower parallel seat springs, one end of either one of a pair of right and left seat springs 34B of the plurality of upper and lower parallel seat springs is connected to a pair of lower link mechanisms 35 provided rotatably on the backrest frame 5, and a rear end collision sensor 40 is formed by the cushion plate 31 between the seat springs 34B for moving a headrest 4 forward, and a coupling part 39 of the other end of the seat spring 34B is directly attached to the lower link mechanism 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Hirooki Negishi, Jinichi Tanabe, Koji Uno, Tatsuya Terauchi, Koji Sano
  • Patent number: 8297678
    Abstract: A retractable seat for a vehicle includes: a first leg with a proximal end that is rotatably attached to a seat cushion and a distal end that is rotatably attached to a floor; a second leg that is rotatably attached to the seat cushion; and an interlocking member that couples the first leg to the second leg so that the second leg is move in accordance with movement of the first leg. Rotating the first leg with respect to the floor moves the seat cushion from a use position to a retracted position. The rotation of the second leg through the interlocking member, from a position at which a second leg stands upright with respect to the seat cushion to a position which the second leg extends along the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakao, Tatsuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8297697
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to an extended inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has a padding defining a seat area, and a padding support below said padding. The restraint device is arranged between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts by means of a locking element (e.g. detent recesses (28) or the like) provided for locking the restraint device in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Harald Mund
  • Patent number: 8297702
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a two-position, at rest, seat angle adjustment assembly that locks the seat in two distinct positions. In a first position, the seat is generally horizontal, while in a second position, the seat is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal. The assembly includes left and right adjustment mechanisms, a rod, and a lever. The left and right adjustment mechanisms are mounted to the seat and the back assembly on each side thereof. Each of the mechanisms includes a housing, and a cam. The cam is received in the housing and the rod is fixably received within the cam. The lever is attached to the rod proximate the right adjustment mechanism. The lever is utilized to rotate the cams within their respective housings thereby moving the seat with respect to the back assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia
  • Patent number: 8297704
    Abstract: A connector for a vehicle seat includes a ratchet, a guide, and engagement pieces. The engagement pieces are supported so as to be movable only in the radial direction of the guide, and prevent relative rotation between the ratchet and the guide when engaged with an inner peripheral toothed face of the ratchet. The inner peripheral toothed face is formed in the inner peripheral face of an annular wall that extends from the outer peripheral portion of a disc portion of the ratchet in its axial direction. The inner peripheral face is in contact with and supported by outer peripheral faces of guide walls that project in the axial direction from the inner disc face of the guide. Thus, the ratchet and the guide are coaxially fitted together so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Endo, Hideki Uramichi
  • Patent number: 8276983
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A head restraint is slidably coupled to an upper end of the seat back for vertical movement between a use position spaced apart from the upper end and a stowed position adjacent the upper end. A mechanism is operative for automatically moving the head restraint between the use and stowed positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 8272684
    Abstract: A swiveling folding chair is provided. The chair includes a fabric seat; a plurality of legs; a primary control tree having a first control shaft and having first, second, third, and fourth collars mounted on the control shaft. The legs are each attached to the first control collar, and, support arms are each attached to the second control collar and to the fabric seat. Elongate support members are each attached at one end to one of the legs and at the other end to the fourth control collar. Elongate brace members are each attached at one end to one of the arms and at the other end to the third control collar. The second control collar rotates about the first control collar so the seat rotates independently of the legs. The seat and legs fold into a stowed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Revolve, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Obolewicz, Craig A Hills
  • Patent number: 8272690
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a juvenile vehicle seat includes a base providing a seat bottom, a backrest extending upwardly from the base, and a movable headrest. The headrest is mounted for up-and-down movement on the backrest. The juvenile vehicle seat also includes a headrest-height controller configured to control the height of the movable headrest relative to the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis J. Brandl, Andrew B. Mendenhall, Richard W. Glover
  • Patent number: 8267474
    Abstract: A portable self-contained pneumatic lift chair is provided with a motor operated compressor and controls for pumping air into a bladder and exhausting air from the bladder to raise and lower patients seated on the chair. The seat is guided up and down by loops on the seat surrounding guideposts extending upward on a base under hand operated controls. Braces between the posts are used to make the chair sturdy and can be adjusted to control the distance the chair is raised and lowered and, with post height and bladder size, used to control maximum and minimum height of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Valentine A. Fetisoff
  • Patent number: 8267472
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of seats comprising foldaway trays. More precisely, the seat according to the invention is specifically adapted in order to fold away large-dimension screens. It comprises at least one armrest and a foldaway display screen. The screen comprises an articulated supporting arm mounted on a movable carriage and the armrest comprises a circularly arcuate rail, the top end of the rail being substantially vertical and the bottom portion substantially horizontal, the carriage being secured to said rail and being able to move in translation between a first bottom position for stowage of the screen and a second top position of the screen. The screen may also comprise a cover so that it can be used as a tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Serge Large, Stéphane Poveda, Patrick Vouillon
  • Patent number: 8262163
    Abstract: An upholstered recliner chair includes a base, a seat unit disposed on the base, a backrest frame pivotably mounted on the base and hingedly mounted to the seat unit to be displaceable between upright and tilted positions, a sidewise fixed lever extending radially from the backrest frame to be movable with the backrest frame, a backrest padding disposed to be slidable relative to the backrest frame in a lengthwise direction, and a pulling unit coupled to the backrest padding, the backrest frame, the sidewise fixed lever, and the seat unit such that the backrest padding is moved with the sidewise fixed lever during displacement of the backrest frame between the upright and tilted position to thereby vary a distance between the backrest padding and the seat unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Chieh-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 8251456
    Abstract: A locking mechanism comprises an elongate body having first and second rails each having a first end and a second end and a void disposed therebetween. Lock slots are disposed in the first end of each rail and a pad is connected to each of the rails at the second ends to join the first and second rails. A mid bar is rotatably connected to the first and second rails and positioned within the void. An extension is disposed on a second end of the mid bar, wherein the extension provides a visual indication of both a locked state and an unlocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kustom Seating Unlimited
    Inventors: Michael A. Nolan, William J. Luebke
  • Patent number: 8240755
    Abstract: A folding table assembly comprising a base including a wall surrounding a hollow interior for containing a folding table, the folding table moveable between a folded and an unfolded position and a jack moving the folding table between the folded position inside the hollow interior of said base and an unfolded preferably substantially horizontal position removed from the hollow interior, wherein operation of the jack permits the folding and unfolding of the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Kaveh Valaei Khiabani
  • Patent number: 8235467
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a cushion plate mounted on upper and lower seat springs, a seat cushion provided on a front side of the cushion plate, an auxiliary plate provided between the seat cushion and the cushion plate for pushing out the seat cushion forward. The cushion plate includes an upper plate located higher than the lower seat spring and a lower plate located lower than the lower seat spring. The lower plate has such elastic force that when the lower plate receives, through the seat back cushion, pressure from a person properly seated on the seat, the lower plate can move backward by a greater distance than the distance of rearward movement of the lower seat spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8235464
    Abstract: Seat to accommodate a child in a vehicle, the seat being adapted for secure connection to the vehicle e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: HTS Hans Torgersen & Sons
    Inventors: Johannes Henderikus Rikhof, Hendricus Johannes Vertegaal, Willem Mees Van der Bijl, Rob Cristian Heinemeijer
  • Patent number: 8231171
    Abstract: A folding chair comprises a cross folding supporting frame with two X-shaped cross folding bars. Each of the cross folding bars has a front and rear leg connected crossly to each other in the middle. The upper portions of the two front legs form a first upper portion and the upper portions of the two rear legs form a second upper portion. The seat has a first and second side which are parallel to each other. The first side is pivotally connected to the first upper portion of a cross folding supporting frame. A supporting bar is disposed in the bottom of the seat and can slide between the first side and the second side. The two ends of the supporting bar are connected to the second upper portion of the cross folding supporting frame. The chair folds by a supporting bar sliding along the bottom of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: New-Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Luhao Leng