Patents Examined by Timothy J Brindley
  • Adjustable single axis tensioner for movable aircraft headrests
    Patent number: 11679883
    Abstract: A headrest adjusting bracket surrounds posts from the headrest. A screw displaces one side of the bracket to apply a frictional force to the headrest posts. Protrusions on the interior surface of the bracket, proximal to each post, increases the surface area contact between the bracket and the posts when the screw is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Anthony Calvillo Reveley, Keith M. Ferguson
  • Seat post assembly capable of adjusting total height
    Patent number: 11673622
    Abstract: A seat post assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube movably disposed upwards and downwards in the outer tube. A bushing has an upper sleeve disposed on the top end of the outer tube and penetrated by the inner tube, and a lower sleeve movably mounted upwards and downwards on the inner tube. A connecting structure is disposed to the bushing for enabling the lower sleeve to be connected with the upper sleeve and moved along the axial direction of the outer tube relative to the upper sleeve. Further, the connecting structure allows the position of the lower sleeve relative to a protrusion of the inner tube to be adjustable. As such, when the bottom end of the lower sleeve is abutted against the protrusion of the inner tube, the inner tube cannot be raised to achieve the effect of adjusting the total height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: J.D COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-An Lin
  • Support driver for seat and support assembly including same
    Patent number: 11673491
    Abstract: Proposed is a support driver for a seat and a support assembly including the same. The support driver is configured to operate within a limited space while supporting an occupant comfortably and safely. The support assembly has a structure in which the links push the central portion of the cushion in close contact therewith while remaining in intersection with each other. Advantageously, the links are able to push the cushion with a minimum amount of power within a limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DAECHANG SEAT CO., LTD-DONGTAN
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, Gun Young Park, Jin Oh Kim, Jun Kyu Park, Jeon Il Kang
  • Chair back and seat assembly
    Patent number: 11672347
    Abstract: A chair back and seat assembly is revealed. The assembly includes a seat base having an assembly recess with two long locking hole on two side walls, and a back support which includes a connection portion on one end and a driving member at the connection portion and connected with locking bars of the connection portion. During assembly, a pull plate of the driving member is pushed by a recess opening of the assembly recess when the connection portion of the back support is mounted into the recess opening of the assembly recess. Thus the driving member is moved backward and driving the two pre-retracted locking bars to be protruding and further locked by the locking holes of the assembly recess. Thereby the assembly is completed easily and conveniently. The design also prevents the seat base and the back support from unexpected loosening while seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Comfordy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ling Wu
  • Vehicle seat connecting element
    Patent number: 11673497
    Abstract: A connecting element for a vehicle seat includes a body on which a backrest and a seat cushion of the seat are intended to be mounted. The body has a first edge and at least a first through slot extending longitudinally along a first direction from the first edge and defining a first inner end. The connecting element further includes a first bridge extending along at least a portion of the first edge opposite the first slot, with the first bridge having a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Bernard Denis, Sabrina Serra, Larry Narison, Gabrielle Hennequart
  • Infant carrier and backrest adjusting mechanism thereof
    Patent number: 11667316
    Abstract: A backrest adjusting mechanism disposed between a backrest tube and a frame of an infant carrier is disclosed. The backrest adjusting mechanism includes an outer cover, an inner cover, a driving member, a locking member, and an operating member. The outer cover is fixed at the frame. The inner cover is connected to the backrest tube and pivoted to the outer cover via a pivot shaft. The driving member is movably disposed between the outer cover and the inner cover. The locking member is movably disposed on the driving member. The operating member is connected to the driving member for driving the driving member to move between a first position and a second position. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: HaiTao Wu
  • Lumbar support for vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11660990
    Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle seat includes: a support panel made of an elastic material and supporting the user's lumbar vertebra; a first guide rod supporting the support panel; a second link bracket fastened to the first guide rod to be movable up and down; a first link bracket disposed under the second link bracket to be movable up and down with respect to the second link bracket, and having an operation block providing a supporting force to the lumbar vertebra; a first rotary screw vertically extending, thread-fastened to the first link bracket, and moving up and down the first link bracket by rotating about a longitudinal axis; and a second rotary screw vertically extending, thread-fastened to the second link bracket, and moving up and down the second link bracket by rotating about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GUMCHANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Yel Song, Hai Tai Choi, Chae Sung Song, Se Gil Shin, Sung Su Park, Sang Ho Lee, Man Gi Lee, Se Jong Kim, Yong Choi, Young Jin Hong
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11660987
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat having a seat back that can be folded forward, in which the buckle is prevented from interfering with the seat back when the seat back is folded forward. A seat cushion frame rotatably attached to the seat back frame includes a pair of side frames extending in a fore and aft direction, a front frame extending between front parts of the side frames, and a rear frame extending between rear parts of the side frames and provided with a curved portion protruding forward in a middle part thereof. A buckle support arm is located behind the curved portion, the curved portion being dimensioned so as not to interfere with the buckle when the buckle support arm is in a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazaki, Shigekazu Otake
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11654806
    Abstract: A cushion support member 41 includes: a lower region 42 whose left-right full width is less than an interval between a pair of side frames 14 of a seat back frame 12; an upper region 45 located above the lower region 42 and having a left-right full width greater than the lower region 42. the upper region 45 is divided into a central region 46 including a central part in the left-right direction and provided with a predetermined left-right width, and outer regions 47 provided on outer sides with respect to the central region 46 in the left-right direction, and the central region 46 is arranged as a retracted region which is cut off to leave the outer regions 47 or is recessed to a side opposite to a cushion member with respect to the outer regions 47.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Ishihara
  • Moldable bicycle saddles, external saddle heaters, fitting procedures, and related technologies
    Patent number: 11654992
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Reform Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Perreten, Aaron Brown, Dylan Schuetze, Thomas Edstrand
  • Electric latch of a motor vehicle backrest
    Patent number: 11654801
    Abstract: An electric lock for a fold-down seat of a motor vehicle is situated inside a housing. The lock includes a locking means, a blocking element, a transmission lever attached to the blocking element so as to move it between a position of blocking the locking means in the catch retention position and a position in which it is effaced with respect to the movement of the locking means. The lock includes an actuator comprising an electric motor, the actuator being able to move the transmission lever. The transmission lever of the lock is able to move about an axis of rotation and has two arms extending radially from the axis, the first arm at its end having a handle and the second arm at its end having a means of attachment to the blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: U-SHIN FRANCE
    Inventor: Jerry Godard
  • Seat post control system
    Patent number: 11649002
    Abstract: A seat post assembly includes a seat post that is electrically adjustable in height. The adjustability may be based on one or more pressures sensed by one or more sensors within the seat post assembly, respectively. The disclosed seat post assembly includes an electronics module. The electronics module may be carried under the seat or saddle and may include a pressure sensor or pressure sensor circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan, Sage Hahn
  • Human-powered vehicle control device
    Patent number: 11649003
    Abstract: A control device including an electronic controller for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control an adjusting device that is configured to adjust a seat height of the human-powered vehicle upon determining the human-powered vehicle is being stopped while traveling uphill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Shahana, Yuta Mizutani
  • Vehicle seat belt device
    Patent number: 11643045
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt device including: a buckle that is positioned so as to face a corner formed by a seat cushion and a seat back those constitute a rear center seat, and to which a tang of a seat belt is detachably attached; a webbing that connects the buckle to a lower floor; a loop portion formed on a side surface part of the buckle; and a first band that is inserted into the loop portion, is engaged with the buckle at one extending end, and is fixed to the seat back at the other end, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Kimura, Yusuke Ogata, Mitsuru Nakano, Hiroaki Azumi, Hidenori Watanabe, Kenta Oguma, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Vehicle seat assembly and method of assembling
    Patent number: 11639125
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first frame with a guide member extending outwardly along a first axis. A second frame has a second guide member extending outwardly. One of the first and second guide members is received in translation along the first axis by the other of the first and second guide members to connect the second frame to the first frame. A first locking element is engaged to couple the first frame to the second frame and limit translational movement of the first frame relative to the second frame. A method of assembling a seat assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Blair, Matthew Wholihan, Joshua Hallock, David Abdella
  • Screwless shoulder bezel attachment for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11628755
    Abstract: A lever assembly includes a lever housing attached to a seat back of a vehicle seat. The lever assembly includes a bracket attached to the lever housing, and the bracket includes a bracket opening. The lever assembly includes a lever bezel including a bezel opening, the lever bezel is received in the lever housing, and the bezel opening aligns with the bracket opening. The lever assembly includes a lever pivotally mounted to the level bezel and a clip received in the bezel opening and the bracket opening to secure the lever bezel to the lever housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumihiko Matsuyama
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11628752
    Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Seat frame
    Patent number: 11628753
    Abstract: A seat frame includes a cushion frame, a back frame, a recliner plate, a bracket arranged to be in contact with a side surface of each cushion side frame, a nut, an end nut, a bolt, and an end bolt. The bracket includes a nut fixing portion and a pipe fixing portion. The bolt is fixed to the nut in a state of being inserted through a bolt hole and a bolt insertion hole. The end bolt is fixed to the end nut in a state of being inserted through an end bolt hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimiyasu Kurokawa, Yoshiyuki Kumazaki, Keigo Matsumoto
  • Vehicle seat assembly with impact energy management
    Patent number: 11623552
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a seatback frame adapted to be mounted to a vehicle interior. The seatback frame has a front region facing a forward direction, and a rear region. A first bracket is mounted to the front region of the seatback frame. A second bracket is mounted to the first bracket and the rear region of the seatback frame. At least one head restraint post is mounted to the first bracket or the second bracket and spaced apart from the seatback frame so that upon a rear vehicle impact, the second bracket deforms as the at least one head restraint post is translated toward the seatback frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Pistilli, Florian Gerbl, Marvin Kokott, Tino Schneider, Rajdeep Rajput, Gopal Gangurde, Michael Schuhbauer, Alexej Niederhaus, Arunkumar Boda, Mathias Busch
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11623547
    Abstract: A vehicle seat configured to accommodate at least two users, comprising a base, and a seating portion frame comprising at least two seating areas, a first and a second backrest which are 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, and wherein the second width portion of the seating portion frame is connected to the base, by means of a connection mechanism, configured to enable movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base during the movement of the seating portion frame relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Siéges d'Automobile
    Inventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid