Patents Examined by Timothy J Brindley
  • Patent number: 12128798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat for a vehicle configured to variously adjust a seat position between, for example, a full-flat mode, a relaxation mode, a cushion tip-up mode, a full-bed mode, a walk-in mode, and a rear-view mode using a first hinge shaft to rotate the entire seat, including a seatback and a seat cushion, and a second hinge shaft to rotate the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Young Yun, Sang Do Park, Ho Suk Jung, Mu Young Kim, Jun Hwan Lee, Chan Ho Jung, Hyeok Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 12128993
    Abstract: A boat chair cover comprises longitudinally successive seat and backrest cover sections of towel-like material having respective compartments that are expandable to receive and resiliently engage a cushioned seat and cushioned backrests, respectively, of the boat chair. Mutually engageable strap segments extend transversely from opposite longitudinal edges of the cover for securing the cover about the backrest of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Skipper Seat LLC.
    Inventors: Stephanie Foschini, Christopher Foschini
  • Patent number: 12122276
    Abstract: A skin locking clip that is firmly supported by a pad is provided. The skin locking clip (10) is disposed in a groove (8) of a pad (5) of a vehicle seat or the like, and fixes a locked portion (6c) attached to a skin material. The skin locking clip (10) includes a base plate (11), a locking piece (12) erected on the base plate (11) to lock the locked portion (6c), and an overhanging piece (13) erected on the base plate. Since the overhanging piece (13) is supported by the pad (5), the skin locking clip (10) is firmly supported by the pad (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhei Chinomi, Kazuya Aoki, Kenta Kikuchi, Kei Okuma
  • Patent number: 12122274
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seating portion and a backrest portion coupled to the seating portion. The seat also includes a temperature-control system associated with at least one of the seating portion and the backrest portion. The temperature-control system includes a base layer and an intermediate layer disposed adjacent to the base layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to allow fluid to flow through it. The temperature-control system includes a cover layer disposed adjacent to the intermediate layer. The temperature-control system includes at least one heating element disposed between the intermediate layer and the cover layer. The temperature-control system further includes a fluid pump to provide fluid flow through the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurang Gupta, Wentao Wang, Adnan Esmail
  • Patent number: 12122273
    Abstract: An air cushion arrangement installable in an interior of a seat having a seat surface may have at least one air cushion and an air supply system for variably supplying the at least one air cushion with air, wherein at least one air cushion is assigned a pulsation generator, the at least one air cushion being non-fluidically connected to the pulsation generator. The air cushion and the pulsation generator are configured to generate a pulsation in a direction of the seat surface of the seat (e.g., if the air cushion arrangement were installed in the interior of the seat). A seat assembly including such an air cushion arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Alfmeier Präzision SE
    Inventors: Erich Dörfler, Helmut Auernhammer, Ronny Gehlmann, Jürgen Baumgartl
  • Patent number: 12116034
    Abstract: A backrest adjusting mechanism disposed between a backrest tube and a frame of an infant carrier includes an outer cover fixed at the frame, an inner cover connected to the backrest tube and pivoted to the outer cover, a driving member movably disposed between the outer and inner covers, a locking member movably disposed on the driving member, and an operating member connected to the driving member for driving the driving member between first and second positions. Switching of the driving member between the first position and the second position drives the locking member to selectively lock or release the outer cover and the inner cover. Two first locking portions are disposed on the outer cover, a second locking portion is disposed on the inner cover, and the locking member is cooperated with the second locking portion and selectively cooperated with one of the two first locking portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: HaiTao Wu
  • Patent number: 12108886
    Abstract: Furniture entertainment hubs are disclosed that are integrated in a piece of furniture to conveniently control the piece of furniture, while at the same time providing a convenient means of communicating with and charging a remote smart device such as a smart phone or tablet. The entertainment hubs can be in many different locations in the piece of furniture, with some embodiments embedded in an armrest with the hub having a touch screen accessible at the top surface of the armrest. The entertainment hub provides a sleek, aesthetic and easy to mechanism for controlling the chair/sofa and interfacing with remote devices. One embodiment of an entertainment hub for a seating apparatus comprising a body with a plurality of planar surfaces, wherein one of said plurality of surfaces comprises a substantially flat control panel. The control panel comprises a plurality of visual touch buttons, a remote device wireless charging pad, and a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ABBYSON LIVING LLC
    Inventor: Rodd Rafieha
  • Patent number: 12097791
    Abstract: A seating system for a vehicle includes a first seat assembly having a first seat base and a first armrest that is convertible between an armrest position and a center seat position, and a second seat assembly having a second seat base and a second armrest that is convertible between an armrest position and a middle seat position. The seating system also includes a convertible third seat assembly located between the first and second seat assemblies and having a third seat formed by the first armrest and the second armrest in the middle seat position, wherein the first and second armrests are moveable between the armrest position and the center seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jung Jeon, David William Gaines, Kurt Leon Kormos, Macit Aktas, Shawn Anthony Dixon, Craig Rackers
  • Patent number: 12090902
    Abstract: A mesh integrated seat pad assembly delivers vibration output from a massage module to the entire seat pad to prevent the vibration from being reduced by the pad. The mesh integrated seat pad assembly includes a pad provided in a seatback supporting the back of a passenger or a seat cushion supporting the hip and the thigh of the passenger to provide additional comfort to the passenger, a mesh mounted on one side surface of the pad, and a massage module installed to be in contact with the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.
    Inventors: Sang-Hark Lee, Sang-Do Park, Deok-Soo Lim, Chan-Ho Jung, Sang-Soo Lee, Beom-Sun Kim, Sang-In Woo, Hyun-Seok Song
  • Patent number: 12083980
    Abstract: A seat assembly of a vehicle includes a seat cushion, and a plurality of inflatable tubes located in the seat cushion. An inflation apparatus is operably connected to the plurality of inflatable tubes to selectably inflate the plurality of inflatable tubes upon detection of a crash event. A method of operating a seat assembly of a vehicle includes detecting a crash event, and selectably inflating a plurality of inflatable tubes in a seat cushion of the seat assembly in response to detection of the crash event. One or more inflatable tubes may be provided in a seat back, headrest and/or side bolster of the seat assembly to enhance active and passive safety features and to improve occupant comfort. This feature can be extended to a seat backrest, seat bolster and seat headrest to enhance active and passive safety features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ramachandra M R Rao, Pramod Joshi, Naresh Kini
  • Patent number: 12082705
    Abstract: A modular furniture assembly includes a base, a back, a removable seat, and a first bracket. The base defines an interior cavity. The first bracket includes first and second portions. The first portion is configured to connect the back with the base. The second portion is configured to support the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Flexsteel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alek Eglinton, Tyler Bond
  • Patent number: 12082711
    Abstract: Disclosed is a parasol with a chair which allow users such as the elderly sit and rest on a chair by installing the chair on a prop of a parasol installed in a crosswalk, a park, etc., is made lighter and has construction convenience by extruding the chair into a fiber-bonded form, has a high tensile strength to make discoloration inhibition caused by ultraviolet rays excellent while being easily damaged, has non-toxic flame retardant properties to implement high resistance to fire, and has excellent tensile strength, improved strength, and excellent water pressure resistance by using glass fiber, thereby achieve long lifespan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: YOUFUNI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jeong Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 12084187
    Abstract: Described are devices and methods for arresting forward motion of a passenger seat back in a controlled manner using an energy absorbing element connected between structural elements of a pivotally-attached passenger seat back. The energy absorbing element includes an interference element and an energy absorbing element that are operably connected with each other so that, in an upright configuration, the combination of the energy absorbing element and the interference element resists movement of the passenger seat back with respect to the first structural element of the passenger seat back, and in transition to a folded-forward configuration, the interference element deforms the energy absorbing element to slow forward movement of the passenger seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Bentley, Marc W. Kinard
  • Patent number: 12083940
    Abstract: A seat back frame for automobile includes a first side frame and a second side frame that are arranged apart from each other in a vehicle width direction, an upper frame that connects an upper end portion of the first side frame and an upper end portion of the second side frame, and an upper bracket that is attached to the upper end portion of the first side frame and guides a seat belt. The first side frame includes a columnar member made of an aluminum alloy extruded material and having a closed cross-section portion in a cross-section perpendicular to a vehicle vertical direction, and a plate-shaped reinforcing member made of high-tension steel, joined to the columnar member, and extending to a vehicle rear side of the columnar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 12077236
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an adjustable child's seating system for attaching to the frame of a bicycle. The seating system comprises a crossbar on which a connection hub is mounted. The connection hub attaches both a saddle and leg assembly to the crossbar. The connection hub is adjustable to adjust the angle of tilt of the saddle and/or the angle of the leg assembly relative to the saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Kids Ride Shotgun Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Gregory Munro, Thomas Charles Hayward
  • Patent number: 12077302
    Abstract: Described are passenger seat assemblies that include a passenger seat frame (212), a first passenger seat element (224) connected with the passenger seat frame, and a second passenger seat element (226) configured to removably connect with the first passenger seat element. Each of the first and second passenger seat elements includes a respective conductive touch fastener (228, 232) that, together, complete a circuit when the second passenger seat element is connected with the first passenger seat element. The circuit can be used as a sensor to determine whether the first and second passenger seat elements are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN SEATS USA LLC
    Inventor: Tyler L. Newbold
  • Patent number: 12071043
    Abstract: To provide a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from a seat in which a seated occupant is seated, and a seat equipped with a sensor unit. A sensor unit includes a sensor module including a biological sensor that detects a biological signal of a seated occupant, and a wireless communication unit that is connected to the biological sensor to wirelessly transmit the detected biological signal to an outside; and a sensor holder that holds the sensor module. The sensor holder includes a seat attachment portion detachably attached to an attached portion that is provided in a front surface of a seat cushion at a position at which the seated occupant is abuttable against the attached portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaku, Ryuichiro Hirose, Atsushi Kusano, Munetaka Kowa
  • Patent number: 12071056
    Abstract: A seat back includes: a top-surface seat cover disposed on the top surface; a top-surface cushion pad arranged on a back side of the top-surface seat cover; a contact-surface seat cover disposed on the contact surface; a contact-surface cushion pad arranged on a back side of the contact-surface seat cover and under the top-surface cushion pad; and an airbag having adjustable internal air volume, wherein a lower end portion of the top-surface seat cover is fixed to a first anchorage within the seat back, while covering a lower surface of the top-surface cushion pad, and an upper end portion of the contact-surface seat cover is fixed to a second anchorage within the seat back, while covering an upper surface of the contact-surface cushion pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiya Makiguchi, Masakazu Okada, Jun Otsuki, Ryosuke Nakashima
  • Patent number: 12065063
    Abstract: A kinetic seat assembly including a primary seat cushion frame including a rear rod extending between opposite rails, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of clamps provided on the rear rod of the primary seat cushion frame, and a pair of vertical dampers coupled between the secondary seat back frame and the pair of clamps on the primary seat cushion frame, each clamp receiving an end of a corresponding vertical damper. In embodiments, the vertical dampers are arranged in a V-shape such that the vertical dampers are oriented at an angle relative to one another such that a distance between a first end of each vertical damper is greater than a distance between a second end of each vertical damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rupert Muck, Charles P. Patterson, Peter J. Moegling, Matthew R. Speck, Leon T. Toma
  • Patent number: 12059984
    Abstract: An infant carrier includes an infant support portion, a carrying handle and a locking mechanism. The carrying handle includes a handle part and a side segment, the side segment being pivotally connected with the infant support portion, and the handle part being slidably connected with the handle part, the handle part and the side segment being rotatable in unison relative to the infant support portion for adjusting an inclination of the carrying handle, and the handle part being slidable relative to the side segment for adjusting an extension of the handle part from the side segment. The locking mechanism is carried with the handle part and is operable to lock the handle part to the side segment so that the handle part is held at a desired extension from the side segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Rui-Bin Chen, Hongbin Xu