Patents Examined by Shin H Kim
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Patent number: 11390201Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first seatback and a second seatback. The first seatback may include a first seatback upper portion and a first seatback lower portion. The second seatback may include a second seatback upper portion and a second seatback lower portion. The seat assembly may further include an intermediate back section including an intermediate upper portion and an intermediate lower portion. The first seatback lower portion and the second seatback lower portion may be arranged on opposite sides of the intermediate lower portion. The seat assembly may also include a carrier frame to which the first seatback upper portion, the second seatback upper portion, and the intermediate upper portion may be connected. At least one of the first seatback upper portion, the second seatback lower portion, and the intermediate upper portion may be adjustably connected to the carrier frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Carsten Schroeder, Bernd Rager, Norman Windham, Ingo Riede
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Patent number: 11390196Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seat back with a seat back frame, a seat cushion with a seat cushion frame and one first and second links. The first link is mounted pivoting relative to the seat cushion frame around a first transverse axis, and relative to a seat support around a second transverse axis. The second link is mounted pivoting relative to the seat cushion frame around a third transverse axis, and relative to a seat support around a fourth transverse axis. The first and second links are configured in order to allow lifting a rear part of the seat cushion frame relative to said seat support.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'AutomobileInventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid
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Patent number: 11383842Abstract: A seat assembly includes an external structure, at least one seating support surface, a valve, and at least one air distribution passageway. The external structure has a cavity therein. The at least one seating support surface is configured for contact with an occupant. The valve is disposed within the cavity and is in fluid communication with an external air supply. The at least one air distribution passageway is in fluid communication with the valve and is interposed between the valve and the at least one seating support surface. Air from the external air supply is directed to the seating support surface via the valve and the at least one passageway.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Eric J. Bultemeier
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Patent number: 11378309Abstract: Two-stage vortex tube assemblies including an internal vortex generation chamber for generating a main vortex and a compressed air inlet having a tangential outlet port for creating a pre-vortex in an inflow of compressed air in a direction of flow of the main vortex. The two-stage vortex assemblies may be utilized in low pressure and low flow applications such as seat climatization, local heating or cooling, etc. Further disclosed are seat constructions and seat climatization systems utilizing a two-stage vortex tube as a single source for heating or cooling.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Peter A. Stahl, Christopher Wilson
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Patent number: 11375820Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a seat portion, a back portion, a support member caused to move between first and second positions, and a back recline lock arrangement that includes an actuator, a lock member caused to move between a locked position when the actuator is in an engaged position where the lock member prevents the support member from moving from the first position toward the second position, and an unlocked position when the actuator is in a disengaged position, and wherein the actuator is configured to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position when the chair back is in the reclined position, and the lock member is prevented from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position until the back assembly is moved from the reclined position to the upright position.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson, Russell T. Holdredge, Nathan Brock
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Patent number: 11370337Abstract: A climate controlled system comprising: a movable member disposed in a recess of a cushion and forming part of an occupant support surface with the cushion; a heater overlaying the cushion and the movable member, the heater including: a flexible substrate, a heating element, and an adhesive layer, wherein the flexible substrate includes adhesive on opposing longitudinal edge regions and the adhesive directly or indirectly connects the heater to the cushion; and wherein the adhesive layer anchors the heater as the flexible substrate stretches or moves with the movable member as the movable member moves.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Gentherm GmbHInventor: Shane Kyle Greenwood
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Patent number: 11364820Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) is provided with a cushion frame (5) that can be moved up and down by means of a link mechanism (6). To assist the upward movement of the cushion frame (5), a torsion bar (14) is disposed in a connection pipe (12) having both ends secured to a pair of left and right rear links (11, 11). A position holding member (24) holds the torsion bar (14) and is supported by the connection pipe (12), whereby the positional shift of the axis of the torsion bar (14) is suppressed. The position holding member (24) engages an extension portion (16) extending perpendicular to the shaft portion (15), and thus, does not rotate around the axis relative to the torsion bar (14). Therefore, in the position holding member (24), portions requiring reinforcement against a transverse force from the torsion bar (14) are limited a narrow range, and the position holding member (24) can be reduced in size and weight.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Takatoshi Nakazawa, Wataru Honda, Hiromi Taniguchi
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Patent number: 11358503Abstract: A seal for sealing a gap between a seat back of a seat in a vehicle, the seat back including a fabric construction, and a shelf located adjacent the seat back includes a trim member laterally spanning from a first distal end of an engagement edge of the shelf that engages with the seat back of the seat to a second distal end of the engagement edge of the shelf. The trim member includes a seal member laterally spanning and attached to the trim member that engages with the seat back. The seal member is constructed of an unwoven fabric material.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Benjamin M. Oros, Carlington George Demetrius, Akira Miyazaki, Yuichiro Umeda, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Yoshiaki Ikeda
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Patent number: 11357333Abstract: Proposed is a wearable chair with a truss structure, the wearable chair including: an upper rod extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and connected to a wearer's thigh; a lower rod extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and connected to a lower leg of the wearer, the lower rod being coupled to a lower end part of the upper rod at an upper end part of the lower rod and being in contact with the ground at a lower end part of the lower rod when the wearer sits; and a support rod slidably coupled to the upper rod at an upper end part of the support rod and rotatably coupled to the lower rod at a lower end part of the support rod to support a compression force between the upper rod and the lower rod in a longitudinal direction of the support rod when the wearer sits.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Ki Hyeon Bae, Kyung Mo Jung, Kyu Jung Kim, Ju Young Yoon, Dong Jin Hyun
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Patent number: 11358500Abstract: A lateral protecting mechanism includes a fixing base, a protecting block, a locking component, a driving component and an operating component. The fixing base is fixedly disposed on a lateral portion of a child carrier. The protecting block includes a pivoting shaft and is pivotally disposed on the fixing base by the pivoting shaft. The locking component is slidably disposed inside the fixing base. The driving component is disposed inside the fixing base. The operating component is coupled to the driving component. The operating component drives the driving component to drive the locking component to protrude out of the fixing base to abut against the protecting block for restraining a pivoting movement of the protecting block when the operating component is operated.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AGInventor: Zong-Wang Cui
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Patent number: 11351899Abstract: Provided is an armrest capable of preventing the outer layer of a side surface of an armrest body from being rolled up by the cover of a rotating mechanism or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.Inventor: Koji Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11351897Abstract: A vehicle seat, comprising: a lower frame, intended to be connected to the floor of a vehicle, having: a base, intended to be connected to the floor of the vehicle, and a seating portion frame, comprising at least two seating places to accommodate at least two users, a first backrest pivotally hinged to the base, a second backrest pivotally hinged to the base, wherein the seat further comprises a connection system connecting the first backrest to the seating portion frame, configured so that the pivoting of the first backrest relative to the base causes the simultaneous movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the seat, in the two pivoting directions of the first backrest relative to the base.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'AutomobileInventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid
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Patent number: 11344135Abstract: An upholstered sofa comprises a sofa frame covered with fitted upholstery. The fitted upholstery provided by a form fit upholstery cover or covers formed of upholstery material and comprising stitched upholstery panels and pieces, the cover having upholstery edge portions with attachment means for securement of the edge portion without staples to the sofa frame. The attachment means may be a resilient polymer channel sewn to the upholstery material. The attachment means may be a plurality of elastic cords with connectors on distal ends of the cords. The elastic cords may be stretched and attached to features on the sofa frame or to features on the upholstery cover thereby keeping the upholstery cover assembly taught on the sofa frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, LLCInventors: Earnest Gates, Steve Koon, James Anthony Sudduth, James A. Lewis, Wayne Bramlitt
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Patent number: 11324324Abstract: A seating or furniture assembly may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and a lumbar adjustment assembly. The seatback is disposed adjacent the seat bottom and includes a seatback frame. The lumbar adjustment assembly may be mounted to the seatback frame and may include a rail, a threaded rod disposed within the rail, a first slider block slidably engaging the rail, a second slider block slidably engaging the rail, a third slider block engaging the rail, a lumbar pad, and a plurality of links connecting the lumbar pad to the first, second, and third slider blocks. The threaded rod includes a first threaded section having threads with a first handedness and a second threaded section having threads with a second handedness that is opposite the first handedness. The first and second slider blocks threadably engage the first threaded section. The third slider block threadably engage the second threaded section.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Brandon Bucholz, Alexander M. Hegedus, Larry P. LaPointe
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Patent number: 11318869Abstract: An air distribution system that includes a plenum, which has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall connected to the bottom wall and extending around a periphery of the plenum to define one or more open spaces in the plenum, and one or more connection recesses in the bottom wall adapted to connect to a blower. A top surface of the peripheral wall is configured to contact a bottom surface of a cushion of a vehicle seat to enclose the one or more open spaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: Shane Kyle Greenwood, Ajay Murgod, Chad Vincent Pacilli, Denis Michel Miron, Tim Normand, Vladimir Jovovic
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Patent number: 11312273Abstract: A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seat pad including at least one trench, a plurality of discrete fasteners positioned within the at least one trench, and a mat placed on the seat pad. The mat comprises a main portion that includes an electrical element and at least one extension panel extending outwardly from an outer edge of the main portion and being devoid of the electrical element. The at least one extension panel includes fastener openings with each fastener opening being aligned with one fastener of the plurality of discrete fasteners when the at least one extension panel is tucked into the at least one trench. A seat cover has an inner surface that faces the mat and includes an attachment feature that is aligned with the fastener openings. The attachment feature extends through the fastener openings and engages the plurality of discrete fasteners to secure the mat between the seat pad and the seat cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLCInventor: Jeffery Bonk
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Patent number: 11312277Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vibration device configured to be integrated into a vehicle seat and comprising a vibrator capable of generating vibrations. This device further comprises an attachment mechanism capable of attaching the vibrator to the back or underside of a support layer integrated into a member of the seat, and a damper which is in contact with this support layer and with the vibrator, and which is capable of reducing, in the support layer, the vibrations generated by the vibrator.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'AutomobileInventors: Sophia Bennis, Lionel Leteve, Jérôme Planson
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Patent number: 11299079Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a body portion having a cushioned component, wherein the cushioned component includes first and second portions spaced-apart from one another. The cushioned component includes a porous lattice matrix. A duct assembly includes a main inlet and first and second outlets that are operably coupled to the first and second portions of the cushioned component, respectively. The duct assembly further includes first and second channels fluidically coupled to the first and second outlets, respectively. An air diverter member is pivotally supported between first and second positions and includes a channel disposed therethrough. The channel of the air diverter member opens into the first channel when the air diverter member is in the first position, and opens into the second channel when the air diverter member is in the second position for directing airflow to the first and second outlets, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hannah Skrbis, Nicholas Mazzocchi, Daniel Robert Staves
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Patent number: 11299076Abstract: A seat has a seat cushion unit including: a seat cushion frame; a seat pad which lies over the seat cushion frame; and a trim which covers the seat pad. The trim includes: a trim main body which mainly covers a top surface of the seat pad; a first trim joiner which extends from the trim main body to a backside of the seat cushion frame at the rear of the seat pad, and is fastened to the seat cushion frame; and a second trim joiner which is connected to a back surface of the trim main body in at least one of left and right end regions of the rear of the seat cushion unit, extends to the backside of the seat cushion frame at the rear of the seat pad, and is fastened to the seat cushion frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Onji, Takafumi Fujino, Yohei Nagato
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Patent number: 11299119Abstract: A seatback subframe is swingable laterally of the vehicle with respect to a seatback main frame. A backrest is attached to the seatback subframe. Side airbag modules are attached to the seatback subframe at side edges.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Nagai, Kohshi Katoh, Takashi Sugimoto, Osamu Oda, Masatoshi Hada