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).
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Patent number: 7377571Abstract: A stowable seat assembly for a vehicle, the seat assembly including a seat, a seat receiving recess in a floor of a vehicle, an upper riser mechanism, a lower riser mechanism and a panel. The upper riser mechanism is coupled to the seat for movement of the seat between an elevated position and a collapsed position. The lower riser mechanism is coupled to the seat receiving recess for movement of the seat between a collapsed position and a stowed position. The panel is positioned between, and coupled to, the upper and lower riser mechanisms. The panel is arranged to conceal the seat receiving recess when the seat is in an elevated position, and is movable into the seat receiving recess when the seat is in a collapsed position to permit the seat to be stowed in the seat receiving recess.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Chrysler LLCInventors: David J Ewers, Gary A Kavanagh, Glen M Kondratek, Carl Mather
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Patent number: 7243978Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided. The door assembly includes a guide track attached to a door, a slider positioned within the guide track, and a connecting member connecting the slider to the vehicle door frame. The connecting member has a vehicle end and a slider end and is arranged to be attached to the vehicle at the vehicle end and to the slider at the slider end. The connecting member and the slider are arranged to enable the door to translate relative to the vehicle along the guide track.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Carl Mather, Todd R Teasdale, Samer Shamon, William E Hughes, Daniel T Griffin, David E Dawkins, Richmond P Thomas
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Publication number: 20070090663Abstract: A stowable seat assembly for a vehicle, the seat assembly including a seat, a seat receiving recess in a floor of a vehicle, an upper riser mechanism, a lower riser mechanism and a panel. The upper riser mechanism is coupled to the seat for movement of the seat between an elevated position and a collapsed position. The lower riser mechanism is coupled to the seat receiving recess for movement of the seat between a collapsed position and a stowed position. The panel is positioned between, and coupled to, the upper and lower riser mechanisms. The panel is arranged to conceal the seat receiving recess when the seat is in an elevated position, and is movable into the seat receiving recess when the seat is in a collapsed position to permit the seat to be stowed in the seat receiving recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2005Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: David Ewers, Gary Kavanagh, Glen Kondratek, Carl Mather
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Publication number: 20070085374Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided. The door assembly includes a guide track attached to a door, a slider positioned within the guide track, and a connecting member connecting the slider to the vehicle door frame. The connecting member has a vehicle end and a slider end and is arranged to be attached to the vehicle at the vehicle end and to the slider at the slider end. The connecting member and the slider are arranged to enable the door to translate relative to the vehicle along the guide track.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2005Publication date: April 19, 2007Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd Teasdale, Samer Shamon, William Hughes, Daniel Griffin, David Dawkins, Richmond Thomas
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Patent number: 7178848Abstract: A utility rack for a vehicle is provided. The utility rack includes a platform, at least one support rail positioned on the platform, and a plurality of storage rails connected to the at least one support rail. The plurality of storage rails have a stowed position generally parallel to the upper surface, and a deployed position generally perpendicular to the upper surface. The plurality of storage rails are arranged to pivot between the stowed position and the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Carl Mather, Todd R Teasdale, Samer Shamon, William E Hughes, Daniel T Griffin, David E Dawkins, Richmond P Thomas
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Patent number: 7077451Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Patent number: 7066519Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Publication number: 20050264067Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2005Publication date: December 1, 2005Inventors: Louis Rhodes, Douglas Quigley, Joseph Salani, Carl Mather, John Keane, David Ewers
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Patent number: 6962384Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Patent number: 6955386Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Patent number: 6932424Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Patent number: 6869138Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
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Publication number: 20040100116Abstract: A seat assembly is disclosed for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above the tub. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
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Publication number: 20040100130Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
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Publication number: 20040100117Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
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Publication number: 20040100115Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
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Publication number: 20040100114Abstract: A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis A. Rhodes, Douglas J. Quigley, Joseph L. Salani, Carl Mather, John V. Keane, David J. Ewers
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Patent number: 6098855Abstract: A system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle includes a tire mounting member having a bracket fixedly attached to a rear surface of the motor vehicle. The system further includes a license plate carrier pivotally connected to the bracket for rotation about a pivot axis. The license plate carrier includes a display portion oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced from the rear surface of the motor vehicle. A plurality of threaded shafts rearwardly extend from the tire mounting member for mounting the spare tire thereto. The license plate carrier includes a boss portion for receiving one of the threaded shafts to thereby selectively prevents rotation of the license plate carrier about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Norbert E. Grabowski, Joseph M. Geraci, Timothy W. Anness, Carl Mather
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Patent number: 6039382Abstract: A folding top for a convertible motor vehicle has a frame provided with frame elements for supporting a flexible cover. The frame is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position supporting the top in a position of use. The retracted top is stowed in a storage compartment behind the rear seat. The storage compartment is open at the top to receive the retracted top. The compartment is normally closed by a pivoted tonneau.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Carl Mather, Douglas J. Quigley, Glen M. Kondratek
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Patent number: 6019410Abstract: A fold out bed extender for a motor vehicle includes a rear panel, a first set of swing panels and a second set of swing panels articulable from a stowed position to an operable position. Each set of swing panels preferably has a leading panel, a trailing panel and a hinge pivotally interconnecting the leading panel and trailing panels. Each leading panel is adapted to be pivotally attached to the bed of the vehicle and each trailing panel is detachably coupled to the rear panel when the first and second sets of swing panels are in the operable position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: DaimlerChryslerInventors: Mark C. Trostle, Carl Mather, Nigel Giddons, David H. Walter