Patents Examined by Stephen D'Adamo
  • Patent number: 6773065
    Abstract: A reclining seat having a L-shaped base unit and a seat with a reclining seat portion is described. The seat may be pulled out from the base unit, rotated with respect to the base unit and the reclining seat portion reclined to form a substantially horizontal surface, which may be used as a diaper-changing surface. If the reclining seat is a car safety seat, the base unit may accommodate a safety belt. The present invention also comprises a method of changing a child's diaper without removing the child from a car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Laura Stamper
  • Patent number: 6773067
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reclining device for a rear seat of an automobile. According to the present invention, a bracket connects a seat back to a seat cushion and has a recliner connecting recess in which a control rod is inserted, and a seat back connecting recess in which a connecting rod of a seat back frame is inserted. A recliner connecting link and a seat back connecting link are installed in the bracket to selectively lock and unlock the control rod and the connecting rod. When the seat back is moved, movement of the seat cushion is restrained so that the weight of an occupant of the seat is not transferred to the reclining device. Thereby, the occupant can adjust an angle of the seat back easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seok Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6769737
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking a recliner of a front seat in an automobile comprises a supporting panel installed in a seat frame of a seat back for supporting the back of a passenger. A sliding bar is attached to the supporting panel and moves up and down following a guide bracket installed in both ends of the seat frame. A spring connects the sliding bar to the seat frame in order to enable the sliding bar to move elastically. An upper gear bar is downwardly attached on the lower end of the sliding bar and is provided with gear teeth on the front end thereof. A lower gear bar has gear teeth following the longitudinal direction thereof and connects both ends of the seat cushion frame. The lower gear bar engages with gear teeth of the upper gear bar selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung Young Choi
  • Patent number: 6769739
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially for aircraft, includes a seat part (10) and a backrest (12) displaceable relative to each other by at least one adjustment device (14). The adjustment device (14) is provided with a plurality of articulation points (16) interconnected via a bar-type supporting frame (18) with individual bar elements (26, 30, 32, 36, and 40). The frame raises and supports the seat part (10) relative to the vehicle or cabin floor and effects a displacement movement by an actuator (28). The seat part (10) can be brought from an initial position (1) into at least one further position (II, III) and back. Depending on the number of articulation points and bar elements of the frame, the number of possible movements and the degree of freedom of movement of the seat part is substantially higher than in known systems. The seat part and the backrest can be safely positioned within a very wide range of adjustable positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Uwe Salzer, Hans-Dieter Abt
  • Patent number: 6769751
    Abstract: Provided herein is a storage shelf upon which various wares which are commonly stowed during times of their non-use, including kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, and other wares having handles intended to be grasped by their user. The present invention provides a sliding storage assembly which stores such wares with their handles in a stowed position, until the storage shelf of the invention is moved laterally, such as pulling towards the user, at which time the handles of the wares are automatically caused to be tilted upwards towards the user for ready grasping and added convenience over storage devices of like import contained in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Randall J. Harbison
  • Patent number: 6767055
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a vehicle seat with an integrated frame and restraint assembly that is particularly suited for a truck. The frame assembly includes a seat frame mounted to a slide rail pedestal anchored to the vehicle floor, and a back frame joined to the seat frame. The frame has a lightweight construction and includes a conventional recline assembly for maintaining the seat back in one of a variety of recline positions. The restraint assembly has a lap and shoulder belt that is firmly secured to the frame. The seat frame has a pair of upwardly extending struts with rearward facing angled surfaces. The back frame has a pair of forwardly extending struts with forward facing angled surfaces. The angled surfaces flushly engage each other when the seat is in an upright position. Should the recline mechanism fail during a sudden deceleration or accident, the forward rotation of the back frame will stop at its upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bostrom Seating, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Michael Sparks
  • Patent number: 6764136
    Abstract: The objects of the present invention is to reduce a backlash at the time of locking of a seat back and to reduce clearance in the thrust direction of a worm so as to prevent generation of an abnormal noise with a simple structure suitable for mass production. Substantially cone-shaped recesses 15 and 16 are provided respectively on both end faces of the worm 4 pivotably attached on a seat cushion, and inside end faces of a pair of holders 13 and 14 to support these two end portions, and at the same time balls 17 are rotatably housed respectively in a pair of spaces formed in the recesses 15 and 16 facing each other to form a pair of bearings 11 and 12 which rotatably support the worm 4. A press means composed of a coil spring 25 and the like which presses the worm 4 to the worm wheel 5 is provided in a locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6761408
    Abstract: A linear recliner for a vehicle seat assembly providing selectively lockable pivotal adjustment of a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions. A housing is fixedly secured to the seat cushion. The housing includes a bore extending between front and rear ends of the housing. A chamber is formed within the housing adjacent and open to a portion of the bore. A rod extends between one end pivotally coupled to the seat back and an opposite end slidably carried within the bore of the housing for axial displacement of the rod within the bore during pivotal movement of the seat back. The rod includes a rack of teeth extending towards the chamber. A pawl lockably engagable with the rack of teeth in the rod for preventing axial displacement of the rod within the bore is pivotally coupled to the housing for movement in and out of the locking engagement with the rack of teeth in the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Kung M. Lim, Pius Ng
  • Patent number: 6761400
    Abstract: A bicycle seat, including a seat frame; a first cushion joined to the seat frame, the first cushion being adapted to rotate forward and rearward; a second cushion joined to the seat frame, the second cushion being adapted to rotate forward and rearward; at least one first elastomer support joined between the first seat cushion and the seat frame; and at least one second elastomer support joined between the second seat cushion and the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Hobson
  • Patent number: 6752457
    Abstract: A support cushion for newborns, infants and toddlers that is adjustable with the growth of the child. The cushion is formed of an upper panel, a lower panel and adjustable side flaps that aid in supporting the head, neck and body of an infant. The upper panel contains a padded section with a corresponding depression to support an infant's head. The side flaps are removable so that the upper and lower panels provide a cushioned head and body support for a toddler that can be placed in a carseat, baby jogger or stroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Gold Bug, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Gold, Wendy A. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6752461
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seat proper, a back presenting at least a folding portion, a rigid plate between the seat proper and the folding portion, a control mechanism for locking the folding portion, and a control member. The control mechanism has a control piece that is pivotally mounted about an axis, said control piece being urged about the axis towards a rest position, the piece having a guide slot in which there slides a peg that is secured to the rigid plate, a first lateral branch extends to a closed end for receiving the peg when the folding portion is raised, and a second lateral branch extending to a closed end receives the peg when the folding portion is folded down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Hamelin
  • Patent number: 6742843
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an overload protection mechanism for a cable actuated feature on an office chair. The overload protection device allows a person seated in the chair to move a handle to actuate the particular feature of the chair, for example, a reclining backrest, even when the seated person's weight on the backrest prevents the backrest locking mechanism from engaging or disengaging. The movement of the handle causes the cable to move even when the locking mechanism connected to the opposite end of the cable is unable to engage or disengage. The mechanism stores the motion of the cable in a spring device connected to the movement actuators by a rack and pinion gear system. When the binding is released from the actuators, the mechanism moves as originally intended, motivated by the force of the decompressing springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventor: Arkady Golynsky
  • Patent number: 6742844
    Abstract: In the case of a subassembly for a vehicle seat, in particular a fitting for a motor vehicle seat, having a first component (11) and having a second component (12, 21) which can move relative to the first component (11) and by means of regions (15, 17, 19) which are assigned to the first component (11) is mounted, guided and/or supported with respect to the first component (11) or interacts therewith in another manner, the first component (11) is at least partially hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Paul Pollack
  • Patent number: 6739663
    Abstract: A back mounting arrangement for a chair in which a back member is pivotable relative to a seat member. The back mounting arrangement includes a flexible bar-type pivot member interposed between the seat member and the back member. The pivot member includes an upper section received within a passage associated with the back member, and a lower section received within a passage associated with the seat member. The pivot member is formed of a resilient material and is flexible so as to enable the back member to be pivoted rearwardly relative to the seat member, and to provide a forward bias to the back member for resisting rearward pressure applied to the back member. A limit member, in the form of a limit strap, is engaged with the pivot member for limiting rearward pivoting movement of the back member relative to the seat member. The limit strap includes an opening which receives a protrusion associated with the pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Gevaert
  • Patent number: 6739662
    Abstract: An ergonomically correct swinging chair assembly has a body support cooperating with a foot rest; which footrest may be moved in order to simplify a seating process while a person is being seated, and then returned to a proper position when desired or after the person is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Ignacio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6729693
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat belt apparatus having a webbing which traverses an occupant's body. The webbing includes two lap belts which are secured at their ends to a lap belt retractor. The lap retractor is secured below the seat and in a forward position relative to the seat. The lap belt retractor is configured to simultaneously retract the lap belts to thereby retain the position of the buckle assembly over the mid abdomen section of an occupant. The opposing ends of the lap belts are secured in a fixed manner to a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor is secured below the seat and in a rearward position relative to the seat. The lap belt anchor may further incorporate a pretensioner which pulls the lap belts rearward and downward. The lap belts slidably engage a buckle assembly along a mid section of the lap belts. The webbing further includes shoulder belts which are secured at their ends to shoulder belt retractors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Pontus Soderstrom, David Funnell
  • Patent number: 6729688
    Abstract: The invention relates to seat and backrest arrangements in seat furniture, in particular office chairs, which comprise a seat plate, a seat-plate support and a backrest support and in which the seat plate (1), in the region of its front, knee-side edge (2), is connected moveably to the seat-plate support (3) and, in the region of its rear edge (5), is connected moveably to the backrest support (6), the backrest support (6) being coupled displaceably to the seat-plate support (3). The seat and backrest arrangements according to the invention are characterized in that a spring means (4) for cushioning the seat plate (1) and the backrest support (6) is arranged in the region of the front, knee-side edge (2) of the seat plate (1)—between the seat plate (1) and seat-plate support (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Giroflex-Entwicklungs-AG
    Inventor: Anton Erne
  • Patent number: 6726277
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and steering wheel sunshade including a main covering and at least one side panel. The main covering includes a front portion for covering a steering wheel region of a vehicle, a rear portion for covering a seat back region of a vehicle seat, and an intermediate portion between the front portion and the rear portion for covering a seat region of the vehicle seat. The at least one side panel depends from the main covering for providing enhanced covering of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas J. Samaha
  • Patent number: 6712428
    Abstract: It is provided for a reclining device for chairs and the chair with said reclining device, comprising an elastic element with linear strain (8) having a first end (8a) abutting against the primary body (2) of a chair, and a half-shell element (12) adapted to house at least a portion of the elastic element (8) starting from a second end (8b) of the latter, said half-shell element (12) having two abutment portions (12b) for a pair of pushing extensions (13) integral with the support element (4) of the reclining back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: CO.FE.MO.S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Moreschi
  • Patent number: 6709061
    Abstract: A tubular seat frame member is provided which has a run of ductile metal tubing with at least two headrest guide tube mounting passages formed therein and extending transversely there through. Each of the mounting passages has an upstanding wall encircling the mounting passage and extending outwardly from one side of the tubular seat frame member. Each upstanding wall is formed from an integral with the run of ductile metal tubing. Each of the mounting passages has a first end proximal the run of tubing and a second end distal the run of tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Triton Tubular Components Corp.
    Inventors: John McWhinnie, Bill Frenke