Patents by Inventor Charles G Vits

Charles G Vits 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: 7144085
    Abstract: A harness for restraining a passenger in the seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, a car, a van, or a bus, is provided. The harness may be configured to releasably couple with at least one rigid member mounted in the bight of the vehicle's seat between the seat's seat and back portions. The restraining harness may be a harness, a belt system, a child seat, or a booster seat, any of which may be configured to utilize any suitable coupling and to cooperate with the vehicle's own restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, John David Scelsi, Donald C. Boyle, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7040696
    Abstract: A seat system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat spaced longitudinally of the vehicle in a row. A first seat of the plurality of seats having a passive passenger restraint for restraining a passenger occupying a second seat located behind the first seat and having an active passenger restraint comprising a seat belt system mounted on a movable frame mounted to a frame of the seat for restraining a passenger occupying the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, Larry E. Gray, Donald C. Boyle, John David Scelsi
  • Patent number: 7029067
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle seat and restraint system comprising a frame mountable to a vehicle and a restraint member and a seat member coupled to the frame to form a seat for supporting an occupant. The vehicle seat may further comprise a seat back frame movably attached to the frame and a restraint harness affixed to the frame and the seat back frame for securing the occupant thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, Larry E. Gray, Donald C. Boyle, John David Scelsi
  • Patent number: 6886889
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle seat and restraint system comprising a frame mountable to a vehicle and a restraint member and a seat member coupled to the frame to form a seat for supporting an occupant. The vehicle seat may further comprise a seat back frame movably attached to the frame and a restraint harness affixed to the frame and the seat back frame for securing the occupant thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G Vits, Christopher W Foye, Larry E. Gray, Donald C Boyle, John David Scelsi
  • Publication number: 20040239164
    Abstract: A seat system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat spaced longitudinally of the vehicle in a row. A first seat of the plurality of seats having a passive passenger restraint for restraining a passenger occupying a second seat located behind the first seat and having an active passenger restraint comprising a seat belt system mounted on a movable frame mounted to a frame of the seat for restraining a passenger occupying the first seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, Larry E. Gray, Donald C. Boyle, John David Scelsi
  • Publication number: 20030173817
    Abstract: A harness for restraining a passenger in the seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, a car, a van, or a bus, is provided. The harness may be configured to releasably couple with at least one rigid member mounted in the bight of the vehicle's seat between the seat's seat and back portions. The restraining harness may be a harness, a belt system, a child seat, or a booster seat, any of which may be configured to utilize any suitable coupling and to cooperate with the vehicle's own restraint system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, John David Scelsi, Donald C. Boyle, Guy R. Dingman
  • Publication number: 20030025380
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle seat and restraint system comprising a frame mountable to a vehicle and a restraint member and a seat member coupled to the frame to form a seat for supporting an occupant. The vehicle seat may further comprise a seat back frame movably attached to the frame and a restraint harness affixed to the frame and the seat back frame for securing the occupant thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, Larry E. Gray, Donald C. Boyle, John David Scelsi
  • Patent number: 6508515
    Abstract: A passenger restraining harness and support assembly for use with a bench seat mounted in a vehicle. The bench seat includes a frame having a seat support portion and a back support portion. The seat is supported on legs anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes towers pivotally mounted to the bench seat to move with the seat back through a limited deflection. Web slack take-up devices are mounted to the towers and pivot therewith contacting webs mounted to the towers and removing slack therefrom upon deacceleraton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye
  • Patent number: 6485098
    Abstract: A passenger restraining harness and support assembly for use with a bench seat mounted in a vehicle. The bench seat includes a frame having a seat support portion with a front portion and a rear portion, a seatback portion coupled to the seat support portion, and legs or supports anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes a tower member with a slotted bottom end pivotally coupled to the rear of the seat support, a connecting member having one end adapted to fit into the slot in the tower member and a second end connected to the front of the seat support portion, a belt guide connected to the top of the tower member, and an anchor wing connected to the connecting member. A belt or harness attaches to the support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye
  • Publication number: 20020063466
    Abstract: A passenger restraining harness and support assembly for use with a bench seat mounted in a vehicle. The bench seat includes a frame having a seat support portion and a back support portion. The seat is supported on legs anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes towers pivotally mounted to the bench seat to move with the seat back through a limited deflection. Web slack take-up devices are mounted to the towers and pivot therewith contacting webs mounted to the towers and removing slack therefrom upon deacceleraton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye
  • Patent number: 6123388
    Abstract: A passenger restraining harness and support assembly for use with a bench seat mounted in a vehicle. The bench seat includes a frame having a seat support portion with a front portion and a rear portion, a seatback portion coupled to the seat support portion, and legs or supports anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes a tower member with a slotted bottom end pivotally coupled to the rear of the seat support portion, a connecting member having one end adapted to fit into the slot in the tower member and a second end connected to the front of the seat support portion, a belt guide connected to the top of the tower member, and an anchor wing connected to the connecting member. A belt or harness attaches to the support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye