Patents Examined by Richard Lowry
  • Patent number: 9126518
    Abstract: A vehicle seat frame (10) includes a plurality of frame components (16, 40, 42, 50, 60, 62, 64). At least one of the frame components (16, 40, 42, 50, 60, 62, 64) is fixedly connected to another of the frame components (16, 40, 42, 50, 60, 62, 64), defining a fixed joint (84, 86, 88, 90). In each fixed joint (84, 86, 88, 90), one of the frame components (16, 40, 42, 50, 60, 62, 64) is connected to another of the frame components (16, 40, 42, 50, 60, 62, 64) only by at least one of structural adhesive, a fastener (72, 74), and a fixed swaged joint (76).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Adragna, Michael Powell, Karl Henn, David J. Abdella
  • Patent number: 8960802
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle seat with a seat upper part comprising a seat part and a back rest, and with a seat lower part, wherein between the seat upper part and the seat lower part is arranged a height-adjustable seat frame with at least two scissor arms connected rotatably together, wherein at least a first end of at least one of the scissor arms is connected with at least one slide element for sliding displacement of the first end in at least one displacement direction along at least one guide rail, wherein the slide element has at least one flexibly formed pressure force element to exert a pressure force directed against the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Frank Himmelhuber
  • Patent number: 8944504
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventor: Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Patent number: 8925681
    Abstract: A ultra-light, concealable toilet or chair apparatus (10) configured to be suspended from an object to suspend the apparatus above ground is provided. The apparatus comprises of a suspension system (12) configured to be coupled to the object to suspend the apparatus above the ground. The suspension system includes at least one securing device (12) (14) coupled through the primary tensile support member (20) which extends downwardly and sub-divides into left linear side (20a) and right linear side (20b) portion that transitions into a concaved seat when human sits there on, provided, adjustable interlocking latch (22a) is coupled to corresponding ridged interlocking latch (30e), and adjustable interlocking latch (22b) is coupled to corresponding ridged interlocking latch (30f), forming a pair of loops that will surround left and right legs of the human operator, completing structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Victor Raymond Mattingly
  • Patent number: 8899675
    Abstract: A heat ventilating chair includes a backrest unit, a seat unit, and a connecting unit connecting the backrest unit to the seat unit. One of the backrest unit and the seat unit includes a hollow member having an air pump, a pressure valve, and a channel that communicates fluidly the air pump and the pressure valve. The connecting unit is connected between the air pump and the other one of the backrest unit and the seat unit. The connecting unit drives the air pump to expel hot air in the channel to the ambient via the pressure valve when the backrest unit is forced to incline rearward. The connecting unit drives the air pump to draw ambient cool air into the channel via the pressure valve when the backrest unit is restored from a rearwardly inclined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: I-Shou University
    Inventors: Tai-Hsi Wu, Yi-Hao Chang, Chi-Sheng Wang, Kuo-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 8894143
    Abstract: In a drive device for a vehicle seat (1), having a frame (10) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), an output (14a, 14b) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), is hinged to the frame (10) and is pivotable relative to the latter about an axis (A), and a geared fitting (16), the two fitting parts (16a, 16b) of which perform a relative rotational movement with superposed tumbling movement in a drive situation. One fitting part (16a) acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the other fitting part (16b) is supported on the frame (10). A transmission element (25, 35, 37) is provided between the fitting part (16a) which acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the output (14a, 14b). The transmission element (25, 35, 37) is torsionally rigid in the circumferential direction of the axis (A) and simultaneously flexible in the radial direction of the axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns
  • Patent number: 8894151
    Abstract: A child seat assembly for use on a vehicle seat includes a seat portion, a base and a backrest. The seat portion is adapted to be supported on the vehicle seat and includes a cavity. The base is disposed at least partially within the cavity of the seat portion. The seat portion is operatively coupled to the base for selective sliding movement of the seat portion in a longitudinal direction relative to the base. The backrest is coupled to the seat portion and pivots about an axis extending in a lateral direction in response to the sliding movement of the seat portion relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Clek Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Joseph Poniatowski, Rohanna Marie Lindhorst, Mark Anthony Brockman
  • Patent number: 8888183
    Abstract: A chair has a supporting frame, a seat portion for supporting an occupant, and a back portion for supporting the back of a seated occupant. The portion is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between a generally upright position and a generally reclined position. A preference control is operatively engaged between the back portion and a chair component, wherein displacement of the back portion toward the generally reclined position causes displacement of the chair component. The preference control is adjustable to vary the amount of displacement of the chair component caused by a given amount of displacement of the back portion toward the generally reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Paul Michael Wilkinson, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Daryl Owen Neal, Martyn Walter Goodwin Collings, Peter Alan Tierney
  • Patent number: 8882196
    Abstract: A child seat can comprise a seat shell having two protruding rails extending at an underside of the seat shell, at least four latches disposed in two symmetric pairs adjacent to the two rails, wherein the latches are operable to lock the child seat with a base, and a release mechanism operable to drive the latches to unlock from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Bruce L. Williams, Gregory S. Sellers, Curtis M. Hartenstine
  • Patent number: 8882201
    Abstract: Seat element, comprising a frame, a seat associable to said frame, the frame and the seat being made separately from each other and being attachable and detachable from each other by the interposition of first coupling means. Advantageously, the first coupling means comprise at least one elastic hook and a protuberance, able to form a snap coupling with each other, the elastic hook being positioned so as to intercept the protuberance in a vertical assembly direction. The elastic hook has a coupling end and a hook end, flexible in relation to the coupling end, so as to snap hook onto an undercut of the protuberance in the vertical assembly direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Arper S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Gorza
  • Patent number: 8876202
    Abstract: A berth sleeper system including a platform portion and a seat portion, the seat portion defining an axis of rotation and being rotatable relative to the platform portion about the axis of rotation, wherein the seat portion includes a seat base, a backrest and a recline mechanism, the recline mechanism supporting the seat base and the backrest in an upright configuration and a horizontal configuration, wherein the seat base is substantially co-planar with the platform portion, while the backrest is disposed at an angle relative to the seat base in the upright configuration, and wherein the seat base and the backrest are substantially co-planar with the platform portion in the horizontal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Olliges
  • Patent number: 8870285
    Abstract: A child safety seat assembly includes a detachable child seat and a base. The child seat has a seatback, and a foremost end opposite to the seat back. The base includes a shell body, an adjustable platform and a latch mechanism. The shell body has a first and a second end edge opposite to each other. The first end edge is at a height that is greater than that of the second end edge. The adjustable platform is operable to releasibly attach with the child seat. The adjustable platform and the child seat attached with each other are movable in unison between a first state where the foremost end is near the first end edge, and a second state where the foremost end is away from the first end edge and below the first end edge of the shell body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Bruce L. Williams, Gregory S. Sellers, Curtis M. Hartenstine, Nathanael Saint
  • Patent number: 8870282
    Abstract: An infant car seat configured to allow a substantial amount of the car seat's weight to rest on a user's arm is described herein. The car seat generally has an ergonomic handle and a seat shell. The handle includes a handgrip that has a first handle arm and a second handle arm that both extend from the handgrip. In some instances, a first end of the first handle arm and a second end of the second handle arm are rotatably connected to the seat shell. Additionally, while the first handle arm typically comprises a first bowed portion that opens in a first direction and a second bowed portion that opens in a second direction, the second handle arm comprises a third bowed portion that opens in the first direction. In some cases, the car seat also comprises a handhold disposed on a lateral side of the seat shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Tew
  • Patent number: 8864235
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a guide bushing. The guide bushing has a body and a biasing member. The body has an opening for receiving a support post and first and second engagement features that are configured to flex. The biasing member exerts a biasing force on the first and second engagement features to bias the first and second engagement features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Menges, Karsten Mueller, Frank Kunert, Achim Tscherbner, Bernd Rolf Schwerma
  • Patent number: 8857908
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back having a backrest, a backrest support, and a linkage arranged to interconnect the backrest and the backrest support. The linkage is configured to support the backrest for movement relative to the backrest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Brncick, Dana J. Lowell, Adam Mack, Timothy R. Proulx
  • Patent number: 8845016
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of visual and/or acoustic privacy features. For example, exemplary embodiments are disclosed that include visual and/or acoustic privacy features for furniture (e.g., office chair, desk, table, cubicle, etc.). The visual and/or acoustic privacy features are movable relative to the user and/or furniture between at least a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the visual and/or acoustic privacy features may be configured such that they do not inhibit the user from interacting with others. In the second configuration, the visual and/or acoustic privacy features may be configured to provide the user with at least some visual and/or acoustic privacy and isolation from others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Domash Design Source LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Niles Domash
  • Patent number: 8845032
    Abstract: A restraining device eases the loading, unloading and securing of an infant/child to a car seat by holding the shoulder straps of the harness assembly away from the seating area of the car seat. A common, central body is secured to the carrying handle of the infant car seat by at least one of the at least one radial extension. Another of the at least one radial extension is used to secure the harness shoulder strap temporarily to the carrying handle while the infant/child is placed in the seating area of the car seat. The harness shoulder strap is subsequently released from the carrying handle and returned to its original position within the seating area for properly securing the infant/child to the car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Ashley Renee Bruce, Dylan Stewart Bruce, Patricia Laine Hoehne
  • Patent number: 8840175
    Abstract: The present invention is a convertible multifunction overbed table and chair, or more specifically, the present invention is a medical furnishing that serves as an adjustable overbed table in a first configuration and a wheeled transport chair in a second configuration. The present invention may also serve as a medical staff work station, provide storage of patient records and medical charts, storage for the patient's personal effects, personal mirror, IV stand, catheter bag stand, secure storage for portable oxygen, and serve as a patient walker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: J. Gordon Short
  • Patent number: 8833860
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 8833857
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a pair of lower rails that are attached to a vehicle floor and extend parallel to one another, a pair of upper rails that are slidably attached to the lower rails, and a seat cushion that is attached to the pair of upper rails. The seat cushion includes i) a pair of pipe members, each pipe member being a single member that includes a long portion that extends along the corresponding upper rail, and a leg portion that extends downward from a first end portion of the long portion and that is attached to the corresponding upper rail; ii) a first connecting pipe that connects the first end portions of the pair of long portions together; and iii) a pair of plate members extending from the upper rails to the long portions, and attached to second end portions of the long portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Hara, Yuichi Matsui, Yukinori Sugiura, Tatsuya Ono, Takashi Okada