Patents by Inventor Craig M. Oomen

Craig M. Oomen 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: 11654808
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer, a compression limiter layer, a load distribution layer, and an adjustment module. The seating base layer is arranged on the frame. The compression limiter layer is arranged adjacent to the seating base layer and comprises a wave portion forming a knee support. The load distribution layer is connected to the compression limiter layer. The adjustment module is movable between a rear position and a forward position and is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The wave portion has one of more first wave elements formed as springs and one or more second wave elements formed as springs. The first wave elements are offset from the second wave elements in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Publication number: 20220324362
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer, a compression limiter layer, a load distribution layer, and an adjustment module. The seating base layer is arranged on the frame. The compression limiter layer is arranged adjacent to the seating base layer and comprises a wave portion forming a knee support. The load distribution layer is connected to the compression limiter layer. The adjustment module is movable between a rear position and a forward position and is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The wave portion has one of more first wave elements formed as springs and one or more second wave elements formed as springs. The first wave elements are offset from the second wave elements in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Patent number: 11420546
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer arranged on the frame and a compression limiter layer arranged on the seating base layer. The compression limiter layer includes a coil portion and a wave portion having a curved profile. The wave portion includes a plurality of wave elements and one or more ribs connected between the wave elements. The seat assembly further includes a load distribution layer connected to the compression limiter layer and an adjustment module movable between a rear position and a forward position. The adjustment module is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Patent number: 11207850
    Abstract: A method for conditioning a load bearing surface includes positioning an oriented polymeric membrane in a mount and applying a force to the polymeric membrane so as to create a stress in the membrane. The stressed membrane is heated to a temperature no less than about a temperature that the load bearing surface is expected endure in use. The membrane is maintained at the temperature for a first period of time sufficient to heat the entirety of the membrane and the it is cooled while maintaining the stress on the membrane. Following a predetermined cool down period, the applied stress is removed for availability of the end use product. A seating surface for use in a vehicle that is subjected to an elevated temperature is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bratty, Craig M. Oomen
  • Publication number: 20210039534
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer arranged on the frame and a compression limiter layer arranged on the seating base layer. The compression limiter layer includes a coil portion and a wave portion having a curved profile. The wave portion includes a plurality of wave elements and one or more ribs connected between the wave elements. The seat assembly further includes a load distribution layer connected to the compression limiter layer and an adjustment module movable between a rear position and a forward position. The adjustment module is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Patent number: 10912388
    Abstract: A cushioned load bearing seating surface includes a suspension layer, a membrane and a load distribution layer. The membrane is positioned between the suspension layer and the load distribution layer. The membrane includes a base and a plurality of molded, oriented, piston-like projections extending from the base. The membrane defines intermediate portions between each projection and the base that extend in a direction opposite the projections. The projections are compressible from a first state to a compressed state under load and return to the first state upon removing the load. The intermediate portions flex to accommodate at least a portion of the projections as the projections are compressed. A molded, piston pixelated membrane and a method for making the membrane are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Publication number: 20190183249
    Abstract: A cushioned load bearing seating surface includes a suspension layer, a membrane and a load distribution layer. The membrane is positioned between the suspension layer and the load distribution layer. The membrane includes a base and a plurality of molded, oriented, piston-like projections extending from the base. The membrane defines intermediate portions between each projection and the base that extend in a direction opposite the projections. The projections are compressible from a first state to a compressed state under load and return to the first state upon removing the load. The intermediate portions flex to accommodate at least a portion of the projections as the projections are compressed. A molded, piston pixelated membrane and a method for making the membrane are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Craig M. Oomen
  • Publication number: 20190126574
    Abstract: A method for conditioning a load bearing surface includes positioning an oriented polymeric membrane in a mount and applying a force to the polymeric membrane so as to create a stress in the membrane. The stressed membrane is heated to a temperature no less than about a temperature that the load bearing surface is expected endure in use. The membrane is maintained at the temperature for a first period of time sufficient to heat the entirety of the membrane and the it is cooled while maintaining the stress on the membrane. Following a predetermined cool down period, the applied stress is removed for availability of the end use product. A seating surface for use in a vehicle that is subjected to an elevated temperature is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Bratty, Craig M. Oomen