Patents by Inventor Curtis Hudson
Curtis Hudson 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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Publication number: 20210188134Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly and a method of controlling a vehicle seat assembly are provided. The vehicle seat assembly has a seat back frame rotatably connected to a support frame, and a seat back frame positioning assembly connected to the support frame and the seat back frame. The seat back frame positioning assembly has an electric motor, and a worm connected to the motor shaft for rotation. The seat back frame positioning assembly has a reduction gearset with a first gear in meshed engagement with the worm and driving a second gear. The second gear is connected to the support frame. A controller controls the motor such that the motor shaft rotates at a first speed and at a second speed greater than the first speed, with the seat back frame is rotated relative to the support frame in response to rotation of the motor shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Curtis HUDSON, Mark R. KEYSER, Mladen HUMER
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Patent number: 10830310Abstract: A gear assembly includes motor, a first gear, one or more planet gears, a first ring gear, and/or a second ring gear. The motor may be configured to rotate the first ring gear at a first speed and/or a second speed. The first gear may be configured to rotate the one or more planet gears. The planet gears may be configured to engage the first ring gear and/or rotate the second ring gear. The second speed may be greater than the first speed. Each of the one or more planet gears may include a first portion and/or a second portion. The first portion may include a first radius, and/or the second portion may include a second radius. The first radius may be larger than the second radius.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Curtis Hudson, Mladen Humer, Mark R. Keyser
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Publication number: 20200278009Abstract: A gear assembly includes motor, a first gear, one or more planet gears, a first ring gear, and/or a second ring gear. The motor may be configured to rotate the first ring gear at a first speed and/or a second speed. The first gear may be configured to rotate the one or more planet gears. The planet gears may be configured to engage the first ring gear and/or rotate the second ring gear. The second speed may be greater than the first speed. Each of the one or more planet gears may include a first portion and/or a second portion. The first portion may include a first radius, and/or the second portion may include a second radius. The first radius may be larger than the second radius.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2019Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Curtis Hudson, Mladen Humer, Mark R. Keyser
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Patent number: 10625630Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seat bottom and a seat back pivotably connected to the seat bottom. A first motor may operate to pivot the seat back relative to the seat bottom with a first gearing. A second motor may operate to pivot the seat back relative to the seat bottom with a second gearing. A transmission member may be disposed between the first motor and the second motor such that operation of the first motor drives the first gearing and rotates the elongate transmission member, thereby driving the second gearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Mark R. Keyser, Curtis Hudson
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Publication number: 20200009994Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seat bottom and a seat back pivotably connected to the seat bottom. A first motor may operate to pivot the seat back relative to the seat bottom with a first gearing. A second motor may operate to pivot the seat back relative to the seat bottom with a second gearing. A transmission member may be disposed between the first motor and the second motor such that operation of the first motor drives the first gearing and rotates the elongate transmission member, thereby driving the second gearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2018Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Mark R. KEYSER, Curtis HUDSON
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Patent number: 10352399Abstract: An actuator assembly having an actuator, a worm gear, a first gear unit, a second gear unit, and a biasing member. The actuator may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in first rotational directions while the biasing member may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in second rotational directions.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Curtis Hudson, Mark R. Keyser, Andrzej Dlugokecki
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Patent number: 10351019Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving a vehicle seat on a track includes an actuation cable having a first end and a second end, an actuation gear unit having an output gear with a spool feature attached to the first end of the actuation cable, a first biasing member, and an actuator in communication with the actuation gear unit. The output gear rotates about a first axis, the actuation cable partially windable upon the spool feature. Characteristically, the actuator when actuated rotates the actuation gear unit to wind the actuation cable onto the spool feature thereby retracting the actuation cable from a first position to a second position. Advantageously, the first biasing member biases the actuation gear unit to move the actuation cable from the second position to the first position.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Mark R. Keyser, Curtis Hudson, Greg Cook, Gary Holt
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Patent number: 10239420Abstract: A system and method for positioning a seat arrangement in a vehicle includes moving the seat arrangement forward by a first amount when a certain criteria are met. The criteria may include at least one criterion related to occupancy of a seat directly behind the seat arrangement and at least one criterion related to a likelihood of an impact into the vehicle from behind the seat arrangement. The method may also include not moving the seat arrangement forward by the first amount when at least one of the criteria is not met.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Arjun Yetukuri, Mladen Humer, Karl Henn, Jasmine Pizana, Curtis Hudson
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Patent number: 10202051Abstract: A back-drive speed control system for incorporation into an actuated vehicle seating system includes an actuator having a permanent magnet and a coil that can move relative to each other to create a voltage across a first terminal and a second terminal. The actuator is adapted to move a linkage in an actuated vehicle seating system. A biasing member moves one or both of the permanent magnet and the coil such that the first terminal has a positive potential relative to the second terminal. The back-drive speed control system further includes a first diode and a Zener diode in series connected across the first terminal and the second terminal such that the forward current direction of the first diode is oriented in the opposite direction to the forward current direction of the Zener diode.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Curtis Hudson, Craig Elder, Mark R. Keyser
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Publication number: 20190016234Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving a vehicle seat on a track includes an actuation cable having a first end and a second end, an actuation gear unit having an output gear with a spool feature attached to the first end of the actuation cable, a first biasing member, and an actuator in communication with the actuation gear unit. The output gear rotates about a first axis, the actuation cable partially windable upon the spool feature. Characteristically, the actuator when actuated rotates the actuation gear unit to wind the actuation cable onto the spool feature thereby retracting the actuation cable from a first position to a second position. Advantageously, the first biasing member biases the actuation gear unit to move the actuation cable from the second position to the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: MARK R. KEYSER, CURTIS HUDSON, GREG COOK, GARY HOLT
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Publication number: 20190009696Abstract: A back-drive speed control system for incorporation into an actuated vehicle seating system includes an actuator having a permanent magnet and a coil that can move relative to each other to create a voltage across a first terminal and a second terminal. The actuator is adapted to move a linkage in an actuated vehicle seating system. A biasing member moves one or both of the permanent magnet and the coil such that the first terminal has a positive potential relative to the second terminal. The back-drive speed control system further includes a first diode and a Zener diode in series connected across the first terminal and the second terminal such that the forward current direction of the first diode is oriented in the opposite direction to the forward current direction of the Zener diode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: CURTIS HUDSON, CRAIG ELDER, MARK R. KEYSER
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Publication number: 20180170215Abstract: A system and method for positioning a seat arrangement in a vehicle includes moving the seat arrangement forward by a first amount when a certain criteria are met. The criteria may include at least one criterion related to occupancy of a seat directly behind the seat arrangement and at least one criterion related to a likelihood of an impact into the vehicle from behind the seat arrangement. The method may also include not moving the seat arrangement forward by the first amount when at least one of the criteria is not met.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Arjun YETUKURI, Mladen HUMER, Karl HENN, Jasmine PIZANA, Curtis HUDSON
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Patent number: 9902296Abstract: A seatback drive assembly includes a lower bracket, a seatback pivotally mounted to the lower bracket, and a lock cam pivotally mounted to the seatback. The lock cam holds the seatback in an upright position when the lock cam engages the lower bracket. A biasing spring moves the seatback to a folded position when the lock cam is disengaged from the lower bracket. The seatback drive assembly also includes a gear pivotally mounted to the lower bracket and having a set of gear teeth. A motorized pinion engages the gear and is driven by an electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Mark R. Keyser, Curtis Hudson
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Publication number: 20170341538Abstract: A seatback drive assembly includes a lower bracket, a seatback pivotally mounted to the lower bracket, and a lock cam pivotally mounted to the seatback. The lock cam holds the seatback in an upright position when the lock cam engages the lower bracket. A biasing spring moves the seatback to a folded position when the lock cam is disengaged from the lower bracket. The seatback drive assembly also includes a gear pivotally mounted to the lower bracket and having a set of gear teeth. A motorized pinion engages the gear and is driven by an electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: MARK R. KEYSER, CURTIS HUDSON
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Publication number: 20170314643Abstract: An actuator assembly having an actuator, a worm gear, a first gear unit, a second gear unit, and a biasing member. The actuator may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in first rotational directions while the biasing member may rotate the worm gear, first gear unit, and second gear unit in second rotational directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2016Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Curtis Hudson, Mark R. Keyser, Andrzej Dlugokecki