Patents by Inventor Charles S. Hansen

Charles S. Hansen 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: 10144331
    Abstract: Vehicle seat assemblies may include a table that is moveable between stowed and operative positions. The table may provide a generally horizontal working surface when in the operative position. The table may be part of an assembly that may be disposed in a cavity in the seat assembly, such as in the rear surface of a seat back. The cavity in the seat assembly may be configured to receive different modules depending on how the seat assembly is to be configured. For example, the seat assembly may receive a table assembly or a trim piece. The trim piece may be used to cover the cavity when a table is not desired as part of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Ryan S. Tan
  • Patent number: 10040378
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket where the bracket has a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion. The seat bottom portion is arranged at an angle ? with respect to the seat back portion so as to generally form a right angle. A main pivot axis extends through the seat bottom. The distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket is pivotally connected to the main pivot. The distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket is connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. The seat back is configured to rotate on top of the seat bottom to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
  • Publication number: 20180099598
    Abstract: Vehicle seat assemblies may include a table that is moveable between stowed and operative positions. The table may provide a generally horizontal working surface when in the operative position. The table may be part of an assembly that may be disposed in a cavity in the seat assembly, such as in the rear surface of a seat back. The cavity in the seat assembly may be configured to receive different modules depending on how the seat assembly is to be configured. For example, the seat assembly may receive a table assembly or a trim piece. The trim piece may be used to cover the cavity when a table is not desired as part of the seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Ryan S. Tan
  • Patent number: 9840176
    Abstract: Vehicle seat assemblies may be foldable in a plurality of configurations. The seats may be foldable so as to provide a space between a seat bottom and a seat back. Seats may be foldable so as to provide a space in front of the seat bottom and the seat back. A moveable table may be a component of the seat assembly in the vehicle, with the table operable to provide a relatively flat surface when in an operative position. The table may utilize the space provided between the seat bottom and the seat back and/or the space provided in front of the seat bottom and the seat back when in the operative position. Additionally, the table may be stowed under the seat when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Ryan S. Tan
  • Publication number: 20170274800
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket where the bracket has a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion. The seat bottom portion is arranged at an angle ? with respect to the seat back portion so as to generally form a right angle. A main pivot axis extends through the seat bottom. The distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket is pivotally connected to the main pivot. The distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket is connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. The seat back is configured to rotate on top of the seat bottom to a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
  • Patent number: 9764661
    Abstract: A stowable seat for a vehicle is provided including a seat portion pivotably connected to a back portion, the back portion having a first base portion and a first extendable portion, the first extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the first extendable portion is spaced apart from the first base portion the seat portion having a second base portion and a second extendable portion, the second extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the second extendable portion is spaced apart from the second base portion. The seat assembly may be configured to move to a stowed position only after the first extendable portion of the back portion and the second extendable portion of the seat portion are moved to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck, Christopher M. Vargo, Vasudeva S. Murthy, John J. Salvia, III
  • Publication number: 20170190267
    Abstract: A stowable seat for a vehicle is provided including a seat portion pivotably connected to a back portion, the back portion having a first base portion and a first extendable portion, the first extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the first extendable portion is spaced apart from the first base portion the seat portion having a second base portion and a second extendable portion, the second extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the second extendable portion is spaced apart from the second base portion. The seat assembly may be configured to move to a stowed position only after the first extendable portion of the back portion and the second extendable portion of the seat portion are moved to the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck, Christopher M. Vargo, Vasudeva S. Murthy, John J. Salvia, III
  • Patent number: 9669740
    Abstract: The vehicle includes a passenger compartment, a seat assembly, a folding seat, and a center console. The passenger compartment includes a storage space. The storage space is provided in an interior side wall of the passenger compartment. The seat assembly is provided in the passenger compartment. The seat assembly includes a mounting base. The folding seat has a seat mounting structure. The folding seat is movable between a folded position and a seated position. The center console has a console mounting structure. The folding seat and the center console are each configured to be stored within the storage space of the passenger compartment. The seat mounting structure of the folding seat and the console mounting structure of the center console are each configured to be mounted to the mounting structure of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Hamshivraj S. Dhamrat, Andrew E. Lund
  • Patent number: 9592756
    Abstract: Seat assemblies for vehicles are disclosed. A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a back portion, a seat portion pivotably connected to the back portion, a first release assembly connected to the back portion and the seat portion, a second release assembly connected to the seat portion, and a handle mechanically coupled to the first release assembly and the second release assembly. The first release assembly is configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The second release assembly is configured to transition between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. When the handle is rotated from a first position to a second position, the first release assembly transitions between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration such that the back portion pivots relative to the seat portion, and the second release assembly transitions between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
  • Publication number: 20170036572
    Abstract: The vehicle includes a passenger compartment, a seat assembly, a folding seat, and a center console. The passenger compartment includes a storage space. The storage space is provided in an interior side wall of the passenger compartment. The seat assembly is provided in the passenger compartment. The seat assembly includes a mounting base. The folding seat has a seat mounting structure. The folding seat is movable between a folded position and a seated position. The center console has a console mounting structure. The folding seat and the center console are each configured to be stored within the storage space of the passenger compartment. The seat mounting structure of the folding seat and the console mounting structure of the center console are each configured to be mounted to the mounting structure of the seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Hamshivraj S. Dhamrat, Andrew E. Lund
  • Patent number: 9487066
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided having a door positioned between a first pillar and a second pillar, the first pillar having a first surface, the second pillar having a second surface. A bar is contained within the door, the bar having a first end and a second end, the bar extending between the first pillar and the second pillar, the bar at least partially bowed as defined by a first position. In the event of a collision, the bar moves to a second position where the bar is extended, the second position further defined when the first end of the bar is in contact with the first surface and the second end of the bar is in contact with the second surface of the pillar thereby distributing the force to the first pillar and the second pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
  • Patent number: 4709955
    Abstract: A device for transporting trees and the like is shown in the preferred embodiment as a trailer including front, center, and rear frame portions. The front frame portion includes a connector for connecting to a power unit and the rear portion includes wheels for providing mobility. The center frame portion is pivotally mounted to and between the front and rear frame portions about a frame pivot axis. Hydraulic actuators are provided for pivoting the center frame portion about the frame pivot axis. First and second pods are pivotably mounted to the center frame portion about pod pivot axes which are perpendicular to the frame pivot axis. Hydraulic actuators are further provided for pivoting the pods about the pod pivot axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Art Dahlquist
    Inventors: Douglas C. Peters, Charles S. Hansen