Patents Examined by Peter R. Brown
  • Patent number: 8157321
    Abstract: A variety of cushion presenters may be provided in seats such as motorcycle. These cushion presenters are filled with air to envelop and support the hips of a rider. The cushion presenters may further be used to provide sacrum, support. Additional cushion presenters may be used in the buttock region to relieve tail burn. A linkage may further be provided to provide a actuated backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schukra of North America Co.
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Renato Colja, Larry D. Janzen, Niels S. Mossbeck, Alan Prettyman
  • Patent number: 8157328
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint system for a vehicle seat has a support rod with a lateral portion. A head restraint is moveable relative to the lateral portion in a fore/aft direction. A first locking plate and a second locking plate are each moveably mounted to the head restraint to engage the support rod to lock the head restraint relative to the support rod. A rotary link is pivotally connected to the head restraint and interconnects the first and second locking plates. A biasing member is mounted to at least one of the first and second locking plates to bias the head restraint towards a retracted position. An actuator on the head restraint moves one of the first and second locking plates. The rotary link moves the other of the first and second locking plates for disengaging the first and second locking plates from the support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Brunner, Thomas Frank
  • Patent number: 8157320
    Abstract: There are provided a headrest that can be tilted from a head support state to a storage state by an operation at a position separate from the headrest, and an associated vehicle seat. The headrest includes a pillar mounted on the upper part of the seat back; a headrest frame turnably engaged with the pillar; a spring that urges the headrest frame to one side; a locking element or elements that hinder turning the headrest frame with respect to the pillar; a remote control section provided at a position separate from the headrest; and an inner cable one end part of which is connected to the locking element and the other end part of which is attached to the remote control section. The locking element or elements release by pulling the inner cable by the operation of the remote control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8152232
    Abstract: A release handle is adapted to activate a portion of a chair or sofa, such as a foot rest or a recline mechanism. The handle allows a user to selectively control the movement of functions of the chair. The handle is coupled to a cable, which is used to release a mechanism on the chair, such as the footrest. The handle includes a grip ring that is coupled to an annular tube at one end. The annular tube is adapted to be positioned over sheath of the pull cable. The annular tube protects the cable within the sheath to prevent wear to the cable to prevent breakage. The handle also includes a retention slot positioned at the top of the annular tube, at the junction of the tube and the grip ring. The retention slot is adapted to allow an end fitting of the cable to be snapped into the handle to secure its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: P.I. Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Colboch
  • Patent number: 8152242
    Abstract: A head restraint actuation system includes a head restraint positionable in an upright and folded position. Repositioning of the head restraint is accomplished through the action of a head restraint actuator. The head restraint actuator is in communication with the head restraint. An actuating cable system includes a cable that is in communication with the head restraint actuator and a user operated handle. User initiated movement of the handle causes movement of the cable thereby causing the head restraint to be positioned in the folded position. The activation system is able to simultaneously actuate a plurality of head restraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Arjun Yetukuri, Mladen Humer, Ted Smith, Marc Stauske
  • Patent number: 8152240
    Abstract: A vehicular seat device has a first linking member (21) that is linked to a front portion of a seat cushion frame (16) and to a base member (24) so as to be respectively pivotable, and a second linking member (22) that is pivotably linked to a rear portion of the seat cushion frame (16) and is also pivotably linked to a position on a seatback frame (18) which is upward of a reclining mechanism (26) when the seatback is in a standing state. The seat arrangements thereof include a retracted state in which the seatback (14) is superimposed on the upper side of the seat cushion (12), and an entry/exit state in which the seat cushion (12) is placed in the standing state producing a space for an occupant's entry or exit behind the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamada, Takeshi Tokai, Keisuke Onoda
  • Patent number: 8141949
    Abstract: A computer display viewing support having a display positioning tray, including a vertical unit having a substantially vertical orientation adapted to vary a vertical location of the display tray between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, the vertical unit terminating in horizontal base and a tray pivoting unit supported by the vertical unit and adapted to pivot the display tray from a plurality of pivoting positions between a closed position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: EMA Innovation, LLC
    Inventor: Eran Baru
  • Patent number: 8141954
    Abstract: A switching mechanism of a vehicle seat includes a base element, an output arm pivotally connected to the base element via a first pivot shaft, an input arm having a force input point and pivotally connected to the output arm via a second pivot shaft as a rotational center, and an input arm biasing member. When a force is applied to the input arm, the input arm can be rotated around the first pivot shaft in the normal rotational direction while contacting the first pivot shaft, so that the second pivot shaft can pivot about the first pivot shaft, thereby rotating the output arm about the first pivot shaft with the input arm to rotate the seat back from a seating position into one of a walk in position and a folded position. The input arm may also be configured to rotate the seat back to the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kumazaki, Masumi Konaka
  • Patent number: 8141943
    Abstract: Children's chair having a height adjusting device and a folding device completes folding up by height adjusting. A first leg frame of the children's chair includes a first upper leg and a first lower leg capable moving relatively. When operating the height adjusting device to adjust the first upper leg relative to the first lower leg, an actuator on the first upper leg pushes a slider of the folding device, which locates at the pivot of the first leg frame and a second leg frame. The slider then interferes with a coupler locating at the second leg frame to disengage from a base mounted on the first leg frame. The second leg frame is then rotatable relative to the first leg frame and may be folded to a folding position. The children's chair is easy to perform height adjustment and folding movement by simply operating a button at the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Jun-Jie Hu, Wen-Qu Hu, Shun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 8128164
    Abstract: A human body supporting structure, particularly a bicycle saddle, includes a load-bearing shell having a topside designed to face towards a user and an underside designed to face a bicycle frame. The shell includes at least one continuous sheet element having at least one differently deformable portion located at particularly stressed regions of the user's body. The sheet element is formed of a thermoplastic resin matrix with reinforcement fibers embedded therein. The differently deformable portions have a smaller thickness (Si) and a locally greater average density (pi) than the rest of the extension of the shell, said portions are formed in a thermoforming step wherein a local thickness reduction is carried out by compression and by heating said sheet element to a temperature near the melting temperature of the thermoplastic matrix. A method of making such support structure is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Selle Royal S.p.A.
    Inventor: Stefano Segato
  • Patent number: 8128163
    Abstract: A device for storing luggage for a public transport vehicle, that includes a base defining a reference surface, a first bearing surface, and a second bearing surface, each of the bearing surfaces being essentially planar and inclined relative to the reference surface, and both bearing surfaces converging towards the reference surface and defining a storage volume capable of receiving a piece of luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus
    Inventor: Jerome Alberti
  • Patent number: 8118358
    Abstract: A folding chair includes a back frame including at least one rear leg, a seat frame pivotally connected to the back frame, at least one front leg pivotally connected to the seat frame, a link connected to the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg to pull the front leg toward the back frame when the folding chair is folded, and a seat panel pivotally connected to the seat frame and configured to be separated from the seat frame when the folding chair is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Meco Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas G. Wright, Mark T. Proffitt, George Lawrence Huff, Stephen J. Zwonitzer, Robert B. Holben, Kurt Rampton
  • Patent number: 8113576
    Abstract: One aspect according to the invention can include a cable connecting device including a first cable and a second cable coupled to a first mechanism and a second mechanism of a vehicle seat, respectively, and each having an inner cable member and an outer cable member. A cable receiving member can receive end portions of the first cable and the second cable. A coupling mechanism can coupling the inner cable member of the first cable and the outer cable member of the second cable to each other within the cable receiving member. A recognition enabling device enables recognition of a coupling condition between the inner cable member of the first cable and the outer cable member of the second cable during an operation for coupling by the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiyo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8113577
    Abstract: A connection end portion of an inner member is provided with engagement protrusions, and a connection end portion of a stay is provided with reception grooves capable of axially receiving them. By inserting an operation cable into a tube of a fit-tube portion of an ascent/descent body, the engagement protrusions are axially received in insertion grooves, and are temporarily retained at terminal end portions thereof that are bent in one peripheral direction. When the stay is inserted into the tube of the fit-tube portion, the engagement protrusions are received in the reception grooves, and are transferred to terminal end portions thereof that are bent in the other peripheral direction. Through this operation, an axial connection state is attained in which the operation cable is suspended from the stay, and the headrest is attached to the ascent/descent body to become capable of ascending and descending with respect to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishiura, Atsuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8113589
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest. The backrest has a first axis of rotation and is rotatable about the first axis through at least 90° from a normal position into a loading position. The backrest has pivoting means and is transferable into an armrest position by the pivoting means. A predominant part of the backrest is mounted higher in the armrest position than in the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Helmut Mildt, James Abraham
  • Patent number: 8109563
    Abstract: A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, including a sitting portion secured to two vertical support straps attached to a vehicle and disposed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the sitting portion. Each support strap is a strap sling stretched between vertically spaced-apart anchors on the vehicle and includes a front strap facing the seating portion and a rear strap spaced therefrom. A transverse rod near the rear sitting portion edge reaches into the intermediate space between front and rear straps and is secured in closed fixed loops situated on the rear straps. The sitting portion is braced against the strap slings via supports pivotably connected to side rods of the sitting portion and extending at an angle below the sitting portion to the straps slings. The supports, via a transverse bracing disposed at their lower ends, reach into the intermediate space between front and rear straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: AutoFlug GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 8109567
    Abstract: An active headrest for selectively supporting the head of an occupant, includes a shell, and an actuator disposed within the shell, including a bar linkage system drivenly coupled to the shell, so as to adjust the distance or engagement between the shell and head when displaced, and an active material element drivenly coupled to the system, so as to cause or enable the displacement of the system, and preferably further including a ratchet sector/pawl and latch cooperating to present plural achievable deployment positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Michael G. Carpenter, Leigh A. Berger, Dale M. Drew, Michael E Kilpinen, Clayton J Hayes, James A Smith
  • Patent number: 8104838
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a mounting bracket, a limit member mounted on the mounting bracket, and an armrest support mounted on the limit member. The bottom of the mounting bracket is provided with a slideway which has a first side provided with an upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique limit face. The limit member has a first side provided with an upright mating face abutting the upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique mating face abutting the oblique limit face. Thus, the upright mating face and the oblique mating face are limited by the upright limit face and the oblique limit face respectively, so that the limit member is moved in the slideway smoothly and stably without producing any vibration to facilitate movement of the armrest support relative to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8100469
    Abstract: This invention is a backrest for collapsible or foldable chairs that provides ample and comfortable back support for a seated person. The backrest consists of a Collapsible Back Support Curve that, when incorporated properly into a collapsible chair, is easy to set-up, collapse, store and transport, and it is visually appealing and durable. The invention is incorporated into collapsible chairs by shaping the chair back-rest support members in parallel gradual curves that force a membrane taught between them, evenly along their length, when in an open (non-collapsed) position. The invention, although a stationary part of a chair without complicated moveable parts, is designed to fit people of different heights and different back-arch preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Strongback, LLC
    Inventor: Laurence Lougee
  • Patent number: 8096616
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion coupled between a pair of risers and a seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A pair of front cushion support links and a pair of rear cushion support links are coupled between the seat cushion and the risers for pivotally supporting and guiding the seat cushion. A fold flat mechanism includes a transfer link operatively coupled between the rear cushion support link and the seat back for transferring pivotal movement of the seat back through the transfer link to each of the front and rear seat cushion support links to automatically move the seat assembly between a seating position wherein the seat back is in an upright position and the seat cushion is spaced above the floor, and a stowed position wherein the seat back is pivoted to a fold flat position and the seat cushion is lying flat against the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Seating Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ventura, Bernd Winkelhake, Omar D. Tame, Peter Paul Zeimis, III