Patents Examined by Rodney B. White
  • Patent number: 11304533
    Abstract: The portable beach stool comprises a leg and a seat. The portable beach stool may be adapted for a user to sit upon while at a beach. An auger at the bottom of the leg may be configured to bore into sand such that the leg may stand upright in the sand. The seat may detachably couple to a plurality of support struts located on the top half of the leg such that the seat is retained in a horizontal orientation above the leg. The plurality of support struts may collapse for transportation and storage when the seat is detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Rickey Horton
  • Patent number: 11304868
    Abstract: A protective cover improves the hygiene of patient procedure chair/table, such as a toe cover. There is a need to for an improvement on the ability to effectively disinfect all components of a universally adaptable protective cover applied to the toe area of healthcare furnishing/patient procedure chair. The embodiments of the present protective cover is universally adaptable to various shapes and sizes found in patient procedure chairs. Textiles selected for use include vinyl, medical grade upholstery vinyl, or other textiles that may be used in healthcare settings so that all components can be disinfected with intermediate grade disinfectants. The design also allows for decoratively enhancing the patient environment. Dental patient chair will be used to demonstrate images. The design can be adapted to various patient chairs and tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Marta Gainza
  • Patent number: 11297949
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for joining the individual pieces of modular furniture together which includes a plurality of fastening devices that align and strengthen the frame of the furniture by tightly joining abutting pieces of the modular furniture assembly together. Also included is an elongated bar which passes through the individual pieces of the back boxes forming the back of the furniture so as to align and strengthen the abutting pieces of the back boxes of the modular furniture assembly. Additionally, a plurality of spool-like devices are placed at strategic locations on the lower edges of the frame of abutting pieces of the modular furniture assembly so as to strengthen and align the frame pieces on their bottom edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Benjamin Andrew Galjour
  • Patent number: 11299068
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided including a base section fixed to a floor of a vehicle, a pair of seat sections that are disposed opposing each other as viewed along a seat width direction, that are each supported by the base section so as to be capable of tilting between a horizontal position and an upright position, and that each include plural cushion sections disposed in series and configured to support the body of an occupant, and a hinge mechanism that attaches the pair of seat sections to the base section such that the seat sections are capable of tilting, and that couples the plural cushion sections together such that the cushion sections are capable of swinging about an axis running along the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Kenichi Katsube, Donghyoun Kim, Takuma Oki
  • Patent number: 11291310
    Abstract: A seat or back for a chair comprises a frame having a first edge strut and a second edge strut, the first and second edge struts being on opposite edges of the seat or back. The first edge strut has a groove along all or most of its length, an elongate insert, and a mesh, the mesh being attached to the insert along an edge of the mesh. The insert has a section shaped to correspond to the section of the groove, such that the insert can be urged into the groove, the compression of the groove holding the insert in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BLUE CUBE LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Plant, Daniel Chi Man Ho
  • Patent number: 11291303
    Abstract: A foldable chair comprises a seat (1) and a back (2) available according to at least an angular position in which an angular distance between the same is minimum and another angular position in which the angular distance between the same is maximum; and first rotational means configured to define a first axis of rotation and arranged for a first relative angular movement between the seat (1) and the back (2); in addition to second rotational means configured to define a second axis of rotation and arranged for a second relative angular movement between the seat (1) and the back (2). In accordance with this arrangement, the first rotational means and the second rotational means are arranged independently with respect to one another for independent angular movements of the seat (1) and of the back (2) with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FIGUERAS SEATING SOLUTIONS, S.L.
    Inventor: Pablo Borras Pons
  • Patent number: 11292371
    Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat having a seat base and a seat back, a temperature control unit disposed at least partially in the seat back, and/or an ECU connected with the temperature control unit. The ECU may be configured to receive an input related to (i) a first state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with dysmenorrhea and/or (ii) a second state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with sciatica. The ECU may be configured to operate the seat assembly according, at least in part, to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: David Gallagher, Francesco Migneco
  • Patent number: 11279260
    Abstract: A seat cushion tilting apparatus may include a fold-and-dive seat for vehicles in which tilting of a seat cushion is independently adjusted regardless of the position of a seat back, and thus, a passenger may realize a desired relaxation posture, where both reclining of the seat back of the fold-and-dive seat and tilting of the seat cushion, in which the front end portion of the seat cushion is raised or lowered regardless of the reclining position of the seat back, are enabled, and thus, body pressure may be easily distributed to the passenger's hips and thighs and fatigue to the passenger's lower body may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mu Young Kim, Sang Do Park, Jun Young Yun, Chan Ho Jung, Ho Suk Jung
  • Patent number: 11279488
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat assembly and backrest unit attachable to a seat assembly, the backrest being pivotally attached or fixed, and the backrest unit including at least one frame member having adjacent weakened and intact sections provided along a peripheral edge, the weakened section having a first failure load and the intact section having a second failure load greater than the first failure load such that, when a load on a backside of the backrest unit exceeds the first failure load, the weakened section fails and the intact section deforms allowing a portion of the backrest unit to tilt forward beyond an upright sitting position to absorb impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford D'Alessio, Ryan Suhre, Stephen Puglisi
  • Patent number: 11272789
    Abstract: A seat includes a backrest, and a fan that is installed on the backrest at a position corresponding to a height of a head of a sitter sitting on the seat and generates an airflow flowing from a front toward a rear of the backrest. The seat may further include a sitter detector that detects the height of the head of the sitter, a lifting-and-lowering motor that adjusts a height of the fan, and a lifting-and-lowering controller that controls the lifting-and-lowering motor. The lifting-and-lowering controller may control the lifting-and-lowering motor to adjust the height of the fan to the height of the head of the sitter detected by the sitter detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11267372
    Abstract: A seat device includes a holding member that holds an air tube and is located below a seat cushion. The holding member includes a base wall that defines a holding surface for the air tube, a locking portion that locks air tubes routed along the holding surface on the base wall, and a side wall extending in a routing direction of each of the air tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Sakai, Ryosuke Mizuno, Tomokazu Seki, Katsuya Nozue, Shunsuke Tanaka, Kenji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11266244
    Abstract: Stackable or nestable single person seating assemblies that include a leg support defined by a plurality of legs and a crossbar that extends between the plurality of legs. The seat assembly includes a back that is rotatably coupled to the plurality of legs and a seat that is rotatably coupled to the back. A biasing element extends from the leg support to the seat and is coupled to a respective leg. Respective portions of the biasing element provide a third pivot axis and a fourth pivot axis that are activated when the back is reclined relative to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Barrett Studios, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Barrett
  • Patent number: 11267375
    Abstract: An infant carrier is included in a child restraint that may also include a carrier-mount base adapted to be anchored to a passenger seat in a vehicle. The infant carrier includes a shell for holding an infant and a carry handle coupled to the shell and adapted to be gripped by a caregiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Olfers, Robért Sjang Josine Van Dijk, Sander Gerardus Toonders
  • Patent number: 11253073
    Abstract: A modular furniture assembly includes: a base member having a frame assembly, a transverse member having a frame assembly, a foot configured to contact a support surface, and a mounting platform having a plurality of apertures therethrough. The mounting platform is configured to be mounted on the base member frame assembly and the transverse member frame assembly, thereby connecting the frame assemblies. The foot is selectively mounted on the mounting platform, such that the foot is configured to contact the support surface when the modular furniture assembly is in an upright configuration. The mounting platform connects the base and transverse member frame assemblies together and also acts as a platform for receiving a variety of different types of feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Lovesac Company
    Inventors: Shawn D. Nelson, David M. Underwood
  • Patent number: 11253076
    Abstract: An ergonomically improved chair in which the user's thoracic region is supported by a narrow and generally flat or moderately convex thoracic cushion in the midrest region of the chairback. The design omits or greatly minimizes support for the user's scapulae and other areas of the back outside the thoracic region, excepting lumbar and cervical support features in some embodiments. The design differs from the prior art at least in that the thoracic cushion is narrow and configured not to complement that user's spinal curvature. By appropriate selection and design, a chair incorporating the invention may comprise a fabric covering portions of the chairback without significantly affecting functionality. Other embodiments include a chairback comprising regions having differing levels of firmness and/or differing cushion height at appropriate regions to promote concentrated support of the user's thoracic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Unchair LLC
    Inventors: Adam Motley, Ivan Calvachi, William Belcher
  • Patent number: 11254247
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a lumbar support assembly, wherein the inclination of a mat is controlled by upward and downward movement of a single nut, thereby making it possible to reducing weight and manufacturing cost of the assembly. According to one embodiment of disclosed herein, a lumbar support assembly includes: a mat having opposite sides that are rotatably connected to opposite sides of a seat frame, respectively; a driving unit coupled to the mat, and including a nut that is configured to be moved upward and downward; and a tension unit having first and second sides that are respectively coupled to the first and second sides of the seat frame, and coupled to the nut while surrounding a rear portion of the mat, wherein the nut allows the mat to be moved frontward or rearward by pulling or loosening the tension unit according to direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Hun Yeong Jun, Hyun Chul Woo, Lyang Sun Kim, Jin Oh Kim, Chan Ki Cho
  • Patent number: 11246421
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a breathable cushion. The cushion includes a thigh support portion, a hip support portion, and a waist and back support portion. The thigh support portion includes a plurality of thigh support structures each having an opening structure; the hip support portion includes a plurality of hip support structures each having an opening structure; and the waist and back support portion includes a plurality of waist and back support structures each having an opening structure. The area of the opening structures of the thigh support structures and/or the area of the opening structures of the waist and back support structures is greater than the area of the opening structures of the hip support structures. The cushion has the following advantages. The cushion has an ergonomic design and structure, and provides reasonable and reliable supports. In addition, the light-weight and highly comfortable cushion has good air permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Bedsure Tech Co., LTD
    Inventors: Zongde Cai, Mi Xiang
  • Patent number: 11246417
    Abstract: A tilt-swivel chair employing a bearing base assembly in communication with connection plate or seat plate of the chair is provided. The tilting mechanism in forward and backward direction is provided by the spring which has a pushing and pulling action and the swiveling action is done along the side axis of the bearing base assembly, and the side axis is a cylindrical shape section with a bushing cap onto which a lever base is equipped and is connected to the connection plate or seat plate. The balance ball feeling is provided with the spring action. A cam and lever mechanism is provided at the base of the side axis in corporation with the base section of the assembly. The cam and lever mechanism provides a smooth swiveling action to the seat and to lock and shut down and take a break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Chen Raizman
  • Patent number: 11246420
    Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support system for a chair having a single swing bar. An actuator is mounted between the lumbar support base and the chair frame and may be motorized. Extending the extension shaft of the actuator provides additional support to a user seated in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rigoberto Marquez
  • Patent number: 11241094
    Abstract: An elevated mount chair includes: a base; a pair of arms; a seat positioned above the base between the arms; a backrest; a first ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the base, the seat and the backrest; and a footrest mechanism attached to the seat and the first ottoman, the footrest mechanism being coupled to the reclining mechanism. The seat includes a T-cushion positioned above a seat frame, the T-cushion having lateral wings that are positioned forward of the arms. The reclining and footrest mechanisms comprise a plurality of pivotally interconnected links configured to move the chair between an upright position, a TV position, and a fully reclined position. In moving between the upright, TV and fully reclined positions, a front portion of the seat experiences substantially no forward or rearward movement relative to the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy