Patents Examined by Rodney B. White
  • Adjustable lumbar support
    Patent number: 11723472
    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: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rigoberto Marquez
  • Multiple sitting position chair
    Patent number: 11717089
    Abstract: A reconfigurable chair includes features that open up new sitting and resting positions for the user. The chair includes rotatable lateral side rests and a tilt adjustable back rest which when reconfigured, provide auxiliary resting platforms to support the body in different sitting and resting positions. The backrest may include a rotatable feature so that the backrest may be moved from an upright position to a flat position adding another level of support. A height adjustment mechanism may adjust the height of the backrest to add to the reconfigurability of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LOST LUGGAGE ID LIMITED
    Inventors: Daniel Lazar, Sam Adedamola Olawale
  • Packable chair for transporting containers
    Patent number: 11707134
    Abstract: A packable chair is provided that is transformable between multiple configurations, including a storage configuration and a chair configuration. In the storage configuration, the portions of the packable chair are arranged and fastened to define an enclosed volume in which containers and other items can be stored. A user can wear the packable chair like a backpack in this storage configuration to transport the contents from, for example, a car to a location on a beach. Then, the contents can be removed from the enclosed volume, and the portions can be rearranged to form the chair configuration where a user can lounge and access the contents of the containers. The chair is also capable of achieving a travel configuration in which the chair can be worn as a backpack for convenient transportation without stowing a user's items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FIIYA LLC
    Inventor: Elijah Lee
  • Portable sunshade
    Patent number: 11700945
    Abstract: A portable sunshade configured for removable connection to a chair backrest has first, second and third sections removably connected to one another. The first section having a pair of first frame tubes, a pair of first cross tubes, a pair of second cross tubes, and joint connecting the first and second pairs of cross tubes to the frame. The second section is removably mounted to one end of the first section and has a pair of second frame tubes, a first fabric panel supported by the second frame tubes, and a pair of first hinge mechanisms connecting end portions of the second frame tubes to respective first end portions of the first frame tubes of the first section so as to permit the second section to undergo pivotal movement relative to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Bernadette Geselle Moore
  • Support apparatus
    Patent number: 11700944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to support apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a gluteal region of a user while the user is seated in a seating apparatus comprising a seating surface, a back support surface and a transition region at the intersection of the seating surface and the back support surface. The support apparatus a support member structured to support at least a portion of the gluteal region of the user. The support apparatus further comprises a support element structured to position the support member at the transition region of seating apparatus such that the support member extends between the seating surface and the back support surface of the seating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BANYAN LICENSING L.L.C.
    Inventors: Edmund Scott Davis, Scott Allen Sattizahn, Timothy James Rohm
  • Upholstered furniture including molded furniture components
    Patent number: 11696644
    Abstract: An upholstered chair, recliner, or sofa with a frame including a pair blowmolded hollow arm rest forms, wherein frame members extend between the forms. Further components may be blowmolded such as a backrest. The arm rest forms and backrest may be reinforced with metal plates and assembled into a recliner. The connections to the arm rest forms providing a geometrically rigid and robust frame that is weighs less, is quicker to assemble, and is more robust. Upholstery sacks are easily attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandtner, Nicholas J. Robinson
  • Apparatus and method for manufacturing a fabric suspension seat structure
    Patent number: 11690454
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a fabric component having a seat surface and a frame including an interior segment directly attached to the fabric component. The interior segment extends from an exterior segment that has a greater flexural resistance than the interior segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Craig Martin Oomen, Samuel Smith, Robert A. Bratty, Michael Long, Kelly Washburn
  • Synchronous-tilt reclining chair
    Patent number: 11690455
    Abstract: A synchronous-tilt reclining office chair includes a seat, a backrest interconnected to the seat, and an arrangement providing a synchronous-tilt mechanism that controls synchronous movement of the backrest and seat between a normal non-reclined position and a reclined position. Recline tension provided by the arrangement is a function of a force required to compress at least one tensioning spring mounted below the seat, a weight applied on the seat by a seat occupant, and a location of the weight on the seat relative to front and rear portions of the seat, whereby, as the weight is applied toward the front portion of the seat, recline tension is reduced and, as the weight is applied toward the rear portion of the seat, recline tension is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Dinkar Chellaram
  • Chair with flexible internal support
    Patent number: 11690457
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chair back assembly with an outer frame and an inner frame, wherein the outer frame is manufactured of different material than the inner frame to allow for a variety in support throughout the chair back assembly, resulting in localized support throughout the back of the chair. The availability of localized support results in an improvement in comfort and may also improve production in embodiments utilizing a foam covering. Specifically, the inner frame of the chair back assembly may include at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member to provide additional support to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: John Koch
  • Support surface
    Patent number: 11672344
    Abstract: A support surface including a cutout on a bottom surface of the support surface. The cutout, which can include a plurality of cutouts, provides a controlled structural collapse of the support surface by varying a stiffness in a cross-section. That is, the area in which the cutouts are positioned collapses more easily than the surrounding area of the support structure, thus making the area with the cutouts perceived as being softer. The cutouts can reduce the peak pressures on the portion of the user's body (for example, the user's ischial tuberosities) that is positioned over the cutouts. The support surface can also include a low-friction interface extending across a top surface of the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Anthro Form, LLC
    Inventor: Steven DuFresne
  • 4-star base for a chair
    Patent number: 11672343
    Abstract: A base for a chair is described. The example base for the chair includes a central support coupled to a seat pan of the chair, a first pair of legs extending radially from the central support, and a second pair of legs extending radially from the central support. The first pair of legs extend in a direction opposite the second pair of legs. A first angle between the first pair of legs is larger than a second angle between the second pair of legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Anthro Form, LLC
    Inventor: Steven DuFresne
  • Chair
    Patent number: 11666496
    Abstract: A chair includes a frame unit including a seat frame, a leg rest that is pivotally mounted to the seat frame, and a rest adjusting mechanism that is connected between the leg rest and the seat frame. The rest adjusting mechanism is convertible between an unlocked state, where the leg rest is permitted to pivot relative to the seat frame, and a locked state, where the leg rest is not permitted to pivot relative to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Xiaojian Zhang
  • Furniture spring system
    Patent number: 11659933
    Abstract: A furniture spring system includes a lid configured to provide a seating surface. The lid includes a frame having two opposing frame members and a retention member associated with at least one of the two opposing frame members. The furniture spring system further includes a slat extending between the two opposing frame members. The slat includes a plurality of slat portions adjustably coupled to each other, such that a total length of the slat is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Lovesac Company
    Inventors: Shawn D. Nelson, David M. Underwood, Brian Kuchler, Clint Gibson
  • Athletic chair with adjustable heating and height
    Patent number: 11653763
    Abstract: A seating assembly for athletes includes seats having a back and seat portion, a base, an adjustable element, a user interface device, and a controller. The back portion includes a back heating member that provides heat to a user's torso. The seat portion includes a lower limb heating member that provides heat to the user's lower limbs. The base supports each seat. The adjustable element is coupled to the base and one of the seats and adjusts height of the seat. The user interface device receives an input regarding a desired temperature of the back heating member and the lower limb heating member. The controller receives the input and adjusts an operation of the back heating member and the lower limb heating member to achieve the desired temperature. The user interface device receives a second input to adjust the a height of the seat relative to the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Deer Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Troy Rohan Flanagan
  • Seatback assembly attachable to a wall
    Patent number: 11653767
    Abstract: A seatback assembly structured to at least partially support a seated individual on a wall, specifically but not exclusively, a pre-existing or newly constructed wall configured to facilitate one or more individuals to sit on an exposed portion thereof. The seatback assembly includes a back support orientation to and extending along the length of the wall and a connector assembly disposed in an operative position interconnecting the back support to the wall. The connector assembly includes at least one or a plurality of brackets, each including a base and a support segment and an anchor interconnecting each of the one or more brackets at least partially on the interior of and in stabilizing relation to the wall. A supporting orientation of the back support includes it connected to the wall in receiving, engageable relation to a seated individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lee Michael Jackson, Richard Willis Jackson
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11642983
    Abstract: A wire harness connected to a sensor is positioned on a back surface of a pad of a vehicle seat supported by a panel. The vehicle seat (1) includes a panel (4); a pad (11, 51) supported by the panel; a skin material (12, 52) covering a front surface of the pad; and a sensor (32) provided between the front surface of the pad and the skin material for acquiring information on a seat occupant, wherein the pad is provided with a through hole (35, 58) passed from the front surface of the pad to a back surface of the pad, and a recess (45, 61) formed in the back surface of the pad and connected to the through hole, the wire harness connected to the sensor extending in the through hole and the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ozawa, Naohiro Sasaki
  • Vehicle seat with integral air ducting
    Patent number: 11642991
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes vehicle seats having integral components for use with ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating systems. Air ducting can be incorporated into the seat base and the seat back. Further, air can be directed through a rear-facing outlet vent in the seat back, providing improved ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating for rear passengers of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas LaBerge, Kyle Ness
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11642994
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising: a seat cushion frame that structures a frame of a seat cushion and that is configured to support buttocks of a seated vehicle occupant; a seat cushion pad mounted to the seat cushion frame; and a pelvis supporting portion having a push-up portion that is provided at a seat lower side of the seat cushion pad along a seat left-right direction and that, by being displaced toward a seat upper side, pushes a seat rear side portion of the seat cushion pad toward the seat upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Katsube, Katsutoshi Imanari, Yuma Terada
  • Chair
    Patent number: 11633044
    Abstract: A folding chair includes front and rear supports that fold and/or retract into central beams to reduce the space occupied by the chair in a folded configuration. A backrest is coupled to the central beams with a hub that allows an angle of the backrest relative to the central beams to be selected and for the backrest to be folded flat relative to the central beams. One or more actuators and pin actuators may control the relative movements of the backrest, front support, rear support, and central beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sunflow, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Hsu Besner, Jeffrey Servaites
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11634048
    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 25, 2023
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Kenichi Katsube, Donghyoun Kim, Takuma Oki