Patents by Inventor Clifton J. Ratza
Clifton J. Ratza 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: 7837273Abstract: A seat suspension that includes at least one beam spring that extends across a seat pan. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of such springs is carried by the pan. The springs preferably differ in compliance from one another and from a mesh load supporting grid that is connected to each spring. One such arrangement produces a suspension of progressive construction that enables the seat to handle a wide range of shocks, bumps, jolts, and vibration of varying frequencies and magnitudes.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 7523988Abstract: A vehicle seat, seat shell, suspension, and bolster therefor. Where a bolster is used, the bolster has a positive lock when in an elevated configuration. The suspension includes at least one beam spring that extends across a seat pan. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of such springs is carried by the pan. The springs preferably differ in compliance from one another and from a mesh load supporting grid that is connected to each spring. One such arrangement produces a suspension of progressive construction that enables the seat to handle a wide range of shocks, bumps, jolts, and vibration of varying frequencies and magnitudes. In one preferred embodiment, the seat includes a movable bolster movably attached to either the seat or shell. In a preferred embodiment, the bolster travels along a parabolic path when moved between its down and up positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit of Jason IncorporatedInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 7472959Abstract: A modular folding seat for use in vehicles is provided. The seat includes a base securable to the vehicle; a backrest pivotally connected to the base, and can include a removable backrest panel mounted to the backrest. The base or the backrest includes a pair of outwardly extending bosses disposed on opposite sides that are rotatably engageable within recesses disposed in the other one of the base or backrest. The bosses are held within the recesses by a pair of engagement members disposed adjacent or in each recess. The engagement members are capable of being deflected to a non-securing position whereby the bosses can be inserted into or withdrawn from the recesses to assemble or disengage the backrest to or from the base. A plurality of regions of engagement between the base and backrest keep the backrest from over rotating beyond a fully upright position and resist downward folding of the backrest when in the upright position.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit of Jason IncorporatedInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent Eekhoff, Ryan Millhouse
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Patent number: 6648419Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 6644751Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Publication number: 20030107257Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2003Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 6474738Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat shell that includes a seat section adapted to support a user thereon and a back section extending upwardly from the seat section. The seat shell further includes a pair of first coupler portions, and a bolster having a support section and first and second arm sections juxtaposed across the support section. Each arm section of the bolster includes a second coupler portion matable with the first coupler portions. The first coupler portions and second coupler portions couple with one another to allow the bolster to be rotated between a first position, wherein the support section of the bolster is at a first height relative to the seat section of the seat shell, and a second position, wherein the support section of the bolster is at a second height relative to the seat section of the seat shell and that is above the first height.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Publication number: 20020079733Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 6357830Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: 6302367Abstract: A fishing rod holder includes a cradle shaped to receive and selectively retain a fishing rod therein, and includes a first ratchet half thereon. A support pedestal that has a mount for attaching the fishing rod holder to a support surface, and includes a second ratchet half shaped to selectively lockingly engage with the first ratchet half. A quick-release connector mechanism permits angular adjustment between the cradle and the support pedestal. The quick-release connector mechanism includes an actuator pin extending centrally between the first and second ratchet halves, and rotatably connecting the cradle and the support to permit mutual rotation between a variety of different cradle positions. The actuator pin has a fixed end associated with one of the cradle and the spark pedestal, and a free end associated with the other of the cradle and support pedestal.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Christopher A. Rossman
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Patent number: 6116183Abstract: A pedestal seat assembly for supporting a boat seat thereon includes first and second self-biasing locking mechanisms for restricting rotational and longitudinal movement of the boat seat. A base is configured for mounting to a supporting surface and includes a mounting socket therein. A pedestal or extension has its lower end mounted within the socket of the base. The first self-biasing locking mechanism is mounted within the extension and releasably interconnects the extension and the base, such that the extension is restricted from rotational and longitudinal movement within the base. A seat mount has an upper portion configured to fixedly attach a seat thereto, and a lower portion configured to rotatably mount within the upper end of the extension. The lower end of the seat mount can alternatively be mounted within the socket of the base.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Robert S. Crow, John A. Holtforth, Clifton J. Ratza
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Patent number: 6089669Abstract: A two-piece folding outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a hollow molded seat member and a hollow molded back member. The seat member has an upper surface shaped to abuttingly support a seated user thereon, and a raised rearward portion elevated above the upper surface and shaped to abut the lower back area of the seated user for improved comfort. The raised rearward portion of the seat member includes a plurality of integrally formed hinge fingers extending along an upper portion thereof. The back member has a plurality of integrally formed hinge fingers extending along a lower portion thereof. The hinge fingers on the raised rearward portion of the seat member and the back member are meshed with one another and pivotally interconnected to define a horizontally oriented hinge therealong which permits the back member to be shifted between a lowered storage position and a raised use position.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Clifton J. Ratza, Jason E. Begin
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Patent number: 5704704Abstract: A pole light system for marine craft, which is easily mounted and dismounted and includes a base receptacle having a keyed socket, and a pole having a light assembly at one end and a plug at the other end which is keyed to be received in the socket, whereby insertion of the pole into the socket is limited to a preselected orientation which will permit the use of wiping, self-cleaning electrical contacts on the pole and receptacle. The light assembly includes a base which is securable to the pole, a planar reflector disposed on the base, a hemispherical Fresnel lens which, together with the reflector, define a volume wherein a light bulb is disposed via a two-part, wire form retainer. The reflector which is generally positioned below the lightbulb, in combination with a hemispherical Fresnel lens, efficiently utilize light emitted from the bulb, so that a lower wattage bulb requiring less energy and producing less heat can be used to achieve a desired illumination in a smaller light assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1995Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Brent A. Reichard, Bruce Reniger, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Clifton J. Ratza
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Patent number: 5658047Abstract: A foldable seat includes a seat member having a pair of generally upwardly opening elongate slots, and a backrest having a pair of hingeblades received with the slots. The hingeblades are pivotally connected to the seat member for rotation about a pivot axis. The hingeblades include bearing surfaces which engage stop surfaces located inside the slots on the seat member to prevent backward rotation of the backrest beyond the normal upright position. The pivot axis, bearing surfaces and stop surfaces are all located below the upper seating surface of the seat member and forward of the rear edge thereof, so that major pinch points are generally inaccessible, whereby the risk of injury on account of inadvertent placement of a finger between the bearing surfaces of the hingeblades and the stop surfaces of the seat member are substantially eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Roger J. Quinlan, James J. Betcher
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Patent number: 5088947Abstract: A fuel tank vent for venting air and fumes from a fuel tank of a boat, said vent including an outer and inner restraining means for restraining the flow of water and other foreign materials from passing through said vent and contaminating the fuel in the tank. Each of said inner and outer restraining means includes a unique structure in and of itself and in combination for causing said water and foreign material to take a tortuous path and to be trapped prior to reaching the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1989Date of Patent: February 18, 1992Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Warwick M. Whitley, II, Clifton J. Ratza
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Patent number: D443020Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Christopher A. Rossman
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Patent number: D465360Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
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Patent number: D412259Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1998Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Clifton J. Ratza, Jason E. Begin
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Patent number: D420816Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Attwood CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Clifton J. Ratza, Jason E. Begin