Patents by Inventor Carl Mather

Carl Mather 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).

  • Patent number: 8794688
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided and may include a door selectively movable relative to the vehicle between an open state and a closed state. A first track may slidably support the door relative to the vehicle between the open state and the closed state and a second track may be spaced apart from the first track, may slidably support the door relative to the vehicle between the open state and the closed state, and may include a first track portion and a second track portion. The first track portion may be operable to slide relative to the second track portion when the door is moved a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd Teasdale
  • Patent number: 8708393
    Abstract: A seat assembly can include a seat bottom, a pair of front and rear legs and an articulation arrangement. The front legs can have an upper and a lower end, where each upper end can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. The articulation arrangement can include a pair of rotating members, a pair of guide channels, a pair of first and second guide members, and an assist arrangement. The rotating members can be rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the front legs, and the pair of guide channels can have the first guide members positioned therein. The second guide members can be coupled to the lower ends of the front legs and positioned in the guide channels. The assist arrangement can include a biasing member coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed position to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, David M. Savinsky
  • Patent number: 8702146
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a propshaft, a vehicle body and a seat assembly. The propshaft is coupled to a source of rotary power and a rear axle of the vehicle. The source of rotary power may be disposed in a front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle body includes an occupant cabin defined by a floor panel and a back wall panel. The floor panel is disposed above the propshaft and defines a lower boundary of the occupant cabin. The back wall panel extends upward from the floor panel and defines a rearward boundary of the occupant cabin. The seat assembly is disposed above the propshaft and is movable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat assembly may be at least partially received in a space of the vehicle body that is separate from the occupant cabin when the seat assembly is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Publication number: 20140091589
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Publication number: 20140091590
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a propshaft, a vehicle body and a seat assembly. The propshaft is coupled to a source of rotary power and a rear axle of the vehicle. The source of rotary power may be disposed in a front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle body includes an occupant cabin defined by a floor panel and a back wall panel. The floor panel is disposed above the propshaft and defines a lower boundary of the occupant cabin. The back wall panel extends upward from the floor panel and defines a rearward boundary of the occupant cabin. The seat assembly is disposed above the propshaft and is movable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat assembly may be at least partially received in a space of the vehicle body that is separate from the occupant cabin when the seat assembly is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Publication number: 20140077536
    Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat bottom and a seatback. The seat bottom may include a seating surface and a first cargo surface. The seat bottom may be movable between a first position in which the seating surface may face upward and a second position in which the first cargo surface may face upward and the seating surface may face downward. The seatback may include a backrest surface and a second cargo surface. The seatback may be movable relative to the seat bottom between a third position in which the backrest surface may face a front end of the seat assembly and a fourth position in which the second cargo surface may face upward and is substantially level with the first cargo surface when the seat bottom is in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Carl Mather
  • Patent number: 8651550
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back pivotably coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A first floor panel can be fixed to the pair of front legs. An access panel can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can selectively articulate from a deployed to a stowed position where the seat is adapted to be received in a stowage recess of the vehicle. The articulation of the seat can automatically open the access panel to provide access to the recess and then close the access panel upon the seat being in the stowed position. The first floor panel can automatically move to a substantially horizontal position relative to a vehicle floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale
  • Patent number: 8632113
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle having a floor can include a seat bottom, a seat back, a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs. The seat bottom can have a seating side and an opposite lower side facing the floor. The front legs can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and to the seat bottom via releasable locking mechanisms. The rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and releasably coupled to the vehicle. A pair of linking members can pivotably couple the front and rear legs to each other. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed to a stowed position whereby the seat bottom can be pivoted forward about the front and rear legs while maintaining the seat bottom lower side facing the floor and the front and rear legs pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale, David M. Savinsky, Dorinel Neag
  • Publication number: 20130341952
    Abstract: A seat assembly can include a seat bottom, a pair of front and rear legs and an articulation arrangement. The front legs can have an upper and a lower end, where each upper end can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. The articulation arrangement can include a pair of rotating members, a pair of guide channels, a pair of first and second guide members, and an assist arrangement. The rotating members can be rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the front legs, and the pair of guide channels can have the first guide members positioned therein. The second guide members can be coupled to the lower ends of the front legs and positioned in the guide channels. The assist arrangement can include a biasing member coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed position to a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, David M. Savinsky
  • Publication number: 20130186002
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided and may include a door selectively movable relative to the vehicle between an open state and a closed state. A first track may slidably support the door relative to the vehicle between the open state and the closed state and a second track may be spaced apart from the first track, may slidably support the door relative to the vehicle between the open state and the closed state, and may include a first track portion and a second track portion. The first track portion may be operable to slide relative to the second track portion when the door is moved a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd Teasdale
  • Patent number: 8485583
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A floor panel can be fixed to the seat back. A stowage recess cover can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can be configured to selectively articulate from a deployed position to a stowed position where the seat can be received in a vehicle stowage recess. Pivotably raising the cover can automatically begin articulation of the seat from the deployed position to the stowed position. The floor panel can be in spaced relation to the floor when the seat is in the deployed position and can automatically move to a position in engagement with the floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale
  • Publication number: 20130154299
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A floor panel can be fixed to the seat back. A stowage recess cover can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can be configured to selectively articulate from a deployed position to a stowed position where the seat can be received in a vehicle stowage recess. Pivotably raising the cover can automatically begin articulation of the seat from the deployed position to the stowed position. The floor panel can be in spaced relation to the floor when the seat is in the deployed position and can automatically move to a position in engagement with the floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale
  • Publication number: 20130147227
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back pivotably coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A first floor panel can be fixed to the pair of front legs. An access panel can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can selectively articulate from a deployed to a stowed position where the seat is adapted to be received in a stowage recess of the vehicle. The articulation of the seat can automatically open the access panel to provide access to the recess and then close the access panel upon the seat being in the stowed position. The first floor panel can automatically move to a substantially horizontal position relative to a vehicle floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale
  • Publication number: 20130062903
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle having a floor can include a seat bottom, a seat back, a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs. The seat bottom can have a seating side and an opposite lower side facing the floor. The front legs can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and to the seat bottom via releasable locking mechanisms. The rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and releasably coupled to the vehicle. A pair of linking members can pivotably couple the front and rear legs to each other. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed to a stowed position whereby the seat bottom can be pivoted forward about the front and rear legs while maintaining the seat bottom lower side facing the floor and the front and rear legs pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the seat bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale, David M. Savinsky, Dorinel Neag
  • Patent number: 8172325
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of a seat assembly for a motor vehicle a seat back pivots about a hip axis, a seat bottom pivots about a knee axis, and at least one seat bottom leg is pivots about an ankle axis, so that the seat back folds down against the seat bottom and the seat bottom kneels on the floor to at least partially define a seating load floor. According to another embodiment, a seat bottom and a seat back are articulatable in a forward direction to fold the seat bottom and back down toward a floor of the vehicle to at least partially define a seating load floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Timothy W. Grogan
  • Patent number: 8167179
    Abstract: A roof-rack assembly for a vehicle includes a roof having a first support member extending along a length thereof. A second support member is spaced apart from the first support member and extends along a length of the roof. At least one cross-member extends between and is attached to the first support member and the second support member and is movable between a use position and a stowed position relative to the roof. The at least one cross-member extends away from a surface of the roof in the use position and is received generally within the roof in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Richmond P. Thomas, Brett Ladetto, Jacek Dubiel, Daniel T. Griffin, Carl Mather, David E. Dawkins, Paresh Rana, George Konstantakopoulos
  • Publication number: 20110148163
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of a seat assembly for a motor vehicle a seat back pivots about a hip axis, a seat bottom pivots about a knee axis, and at least one seat bottom leg is pivots about an ankle axis, so that the seat back folds down against the seat bottom and the seat bottom kneels on the floor to at least partially define a seating load floor. According to another embodiment, a seat bottom and a seat back are articulatable in a forward direction to fold the seat bottom and back down toward a floor of the vehicle to at least partially define a seating load floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Timothy W. Grogan
  • Patent number: 7891737
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of a seat assembly for a motor vehicle a seat back pivots about a hip axis, a seat bottom pivots about a knee axis, and at least one seat bottom leg is pivots about an ankle axis, so that the seat back folds down against the seat bottom and the seat bottom kneels on the floor to at least partially define a seating load floor. According to another embodiment, a seat bottom and a seat back are articulatable in a forward direction to fold the seat bottom and back down toward a floor of the vehicle to at least partially define a seating load floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Timothy W. Grogan
  • Publication number: 20080264988
    Abstract: A roof-rack assembly for a vehicle includes a roof having a first support member extending along a length thereof. A second support member is spaced apart from the first support member and extends along a length of the roof. At least one cross-member extends between and is attached to the first support member and the second support member and is movable between a use position and a stowed position relative to the roof. The at least one cross-member extends away from a surface of the roof in the use position and is received generally within the roof in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Richmond P. Thomas, Brett Ladetto, Jacek Dubiel, Daniel T. Griffin, Carl Mather, David E. Dawkins, Paresh Rana, George Konstantakopoulos
  • Publication number: 20080224524
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of a seat assembly for a motor vehicle a seat back pivots about a hip axis, a seat bottom pivots about a knee axis, and at least one seat bottom leg is pivots about an ankle axis, so that the seat back folds down against the seat bottom and the seat bottom kneels on the floor to at least partially define a seating load floor. According to another embodiment; a seat bottom and a seat back are articulatable in a forward direction to fold the seat bottom and back down toward a floor of the vehicle to at least partially define a seating load floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Timothy W. Grogan