Patents by Inventor Brandon W. Nichols
Brandon W. Nichols 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).
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Patent number: 10065546Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Balakrishna Reddy
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Patent number: 9527419Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A thigh support is pivotally coupled to and extends forward from the seat base. The thigh support is spring-biased relative to the seat base to a raised position. A lever is operably coupled to a center portion of the thigh support by a hinge. The lever is spring-biased to a raised position relative to the thigh support and includes a rack with a plurality of teeth proximate the hinge. The teeth of the rack are configured to engage a catch projecting from the seat base. A handle extends transversely from the lever. The handle is operable to disengage the rack from the catch.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Johnathan Andrew Line, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Jason William Nisbett
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Publication number: 20160355114Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Balakrishna Reddy
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Patent number: 9421894Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Balakrishna Reddy
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Patent number: 9365142Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A seatback is operably coupled to a rear of the seat base. First and second independently moveable thigh supports include a top side, a bottom side, an exterior side, and an interior side. A slide assembly is operably coupled to each of the thigh supports. Each of the thigh supports are independently laterally translatable forward relative to the seat base. A button assembly operably secures each of the thigh supports at any of a multitude of lateral positions. The button assembly is disposed on the exterior side of each thigh support. A spring assembly urges each thigh support to a fully forward lateral position. A pivot member operably couples each of the thigh supports to the seat base. Each of the thigh supports are rotatable relative to the seat base.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Paul Iacoban, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
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Patent number: 9333882Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assembly operably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brian John Roorda, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
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Publication number: 20160096449Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assembly operably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brian John Roorda, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
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Publication number: 20150283931Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Balakrishna Reddy
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Publication number: 20150274050Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A thigh support is pivotally coupled to and extends forward from the seat base. The thigh support is spring-biased relative to the seat base to a raised position. A lever is operably coupled to a center portion of the thigh support by a hinge. The lever is spring-biased to a raised position relative to the thigh support and includes a rack with a plurality of teeth proximate the hinge. The teeth of the rack are configured to engage a catch projecting from the seat base. A handle extends transversely from the lever. The handle is operable to disengage the rack from the catch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Johnathan Andrew Line, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Jason William Nisbett