Patents by Inventor Benjamin Kulhawik
Benjamin Kulhawik has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20240017644Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Kulhawik, Antonio Del Puerto, Ryan John Craig
-
Patent number: 11801776Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Kulhawik, Antonio Del Puerto, Ryan John Craig
-
Publication number: 20220176850Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Kulhawik, Antonio Del Puerto, Ryan John Craig
-
Patent number: 11007908Abstract: A seatback assembly includes a pair of lateral seatback assembly frame members and a moveable thoracic back support defining a support surface operably coupled with an upper thoracic support bracket. An attachment assembly operably couples the thoracic back support to the upper thoracic support bracket, and includes a pair of mounting lugs disposed on either of one of the upper thoracic support bracket or the moveable thoracic back support, and a pair of mounting bosses disposed on the other of the upper thoracic support bracket or the thoracic back support. The seatback assembly is assembled by aligning the pair of mounting lugs with the pair of mounting bosses as the moveable thoracic back support is horizontally positioned above the lower seatback insert, whereby the pair of mounting lugs are received within the pair of mounting bosses, and vertically lowering the moveable thoracic back support relative the lower seatback insert.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Arya Sabeti, Benjamin Kulhawik
-
Patent number: 10906446Abstract: A convenience assembly includes a work surface coupled to a support structure by a mounting structure. A switch protrudes from the support structure toward an underside of the mounting structure. A switch-actuation assembly is positioned between the support structure and the work surface and is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the switch to indicate a rotational position of the work surface relative to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Benjamin Kulhawik, Diego Santillan gutierrez, Raul Javier Elias
-
Publication number: 20200406790Abstract: A seatback assembly includes a pair of lateral seatback assembly frame members and a moveable thoracic back support defining a support surface operably coupled with an upper thoracic support bracket. An attachment assembly operably couples the thoracic back support to the upper thoracic support bracket, and includes a pair of mounting lugs disposed on either of one of the upper thoracic support bracket or the moveable thoracic back support, and a pair of mounting bosses disposed on the other of the upper thoracic support bracket or the thoracic back support. The seatback assembly is assembled by aligning the pair of mounting lugs with the pair of mounting bosses as the moveable thoracic back support is horizontally positioned above the lower seatback insert, whereby the pair of mounting lugs are received within the pair of mounting bosses, and vertically lowering the moveable thoracic back support relative the lower seatback insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Arya Sabeti, Benjamin Kulhawik
-
Publication number: 20200317105Abstract: A convenience assembly includes a work surface coupled to a support structure by a mounting structure. A switch protrudes from the support structure toward an underside of the mounting structure. A switch-actuation assembly is positioned between the support structure and the work surface and is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the switch to indicate a rotational position of the work surface relative to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: David William Gaines, Benjamin Kulhawik, Diego Santillan gutierrez, Raul Javier Elias