Patents by Inventor David Grable

David Grable 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: 8197001
    Abstract: A pivoting headrest assembly incorporated into a rear row vehicle seat including a base and a pivotally supported seatback. A first bracket is fixedly supported atop the seatback and exhibits a striker. A second bracket is pivotally supported to the first bracket in a biased direction away from the striker and includes a headrest bun support. A hook is supported upon the second bracket in a first biased direction engaging the striker. A release element associated with the second bracket is biased direction and which, upon being actuated in a second counter-biased direction, engages a projecting portion associated with the hook. A cable is secured at a first end to a fixed location associated with the seat and extends through a redirection location an offset distance from a pivot location of the seatback, the cable securing at a second end to the release element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Stephen Bruck, Jason Hamilton, David L. Quittschreiber
  • Publication number: 20110148170
    Abstract: A pivoting headrest assembly incorporated into a rear row vehicle seat including a base and a pivotally supported seatback. A first bracket is fixedly supported atop the seatback and exhibits a striker. A second bracket is pivotally supported to the first bracket in a biased direction away from the striker and includes a headrest bun support. A hook is supported upon the second bracket in a first biased direction engaging the striker. A release element associated with the second bracket is biased direction and which, upon being actuated in a second counter-biased direction, engages a projecting portion associated with the hook. A cable is secured at a first end to a fixed location associated with the seat and extends through a redirection location an offset distance from a pivot location of the seatback, the cable securing at a second end to the release element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: BAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Grable, Stephen Bruck, Jason Hamilton, David L. Quittschreiber
  • Publication number: 20110084533
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: BAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Patent number: 7896420
    Abstract: An improved seat assembly in which the first and second pairs of seatback and floor mounted latches associated with first and second sides of prior dump and tumble assemblies are substituted by an improved design incorporating a single reinforced lock and release seatback latch and either a single or pair of floor latches arranged on opposite sides of the seat. Additional supports include a free pivoting and secondary seatback latch, as well as an optional floor supported riser assembly in lieu of the second floor latch and which are positioned at alternating inboard/outboard seatback and floor locations of the seat assembly. In cooperation with the redesigned fully functional latches, the free pivot seatback and optional floor riser latches provide a cost advantageous design exhibiting reduced part count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Tavis Lutzka, Stephen Bruck, Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Patent number: 7871127
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Patent number: 7780234
    Abstract: An inertial latch assembly including a planar shaped sector pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced apart support plates. The sector exhibits a bottom including a central projecting shoulder separating first and second bottom surfaces. An arcuate interior channel in the sector is offset from its pivotal mounting location, a pin extending through a second channel defined in a selected support plate and seating within the arcuate channel so that the pin exerts a bias against the sector during travel along the arcuate interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the support plates and proximate the bottom extending surface of the planar shaped sector, an arcuate edge thereof seating against a selected bottom extending surfaces of the rotatable sector, depending upon a pivoted position established between the sector and the support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7677666
    Abstract: A seat recliner assembly established at a hinge location between a seat bottom and a pivotally associated seat back including a base plate and an inwardly teethed and package supporting sector secured to the seat back and seat bottom, respectively and sandwiched together in selectively rotatable fashion relative to define a component receiving space therebetween. A shaft projects through an aperture of a rotatably slaved cam situated within the space. A pair of locking pawls with exteriorly toothed surfaces are displaceable to engage with inwardly teethed locations of the package supporting sector. A pair of anti-chuck pawls are selectively engagable both by the cam and with the locking pawls. The cam is biased in a first rotational locking condition to influence the anti-chuck pawls outwardly against the locking pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David Grable
  • Publication number: 20100026069
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20090243324
    Abstract: An improved seat assembly in which the first and second pairs of seatback and floor mounted latches associated with first and second sides of prior dump and tumble assemblies are substituted by an improved design incorporating a single reinforced lock and release seatback latch and either a single or pair of floor latches arranged on opposite sides of the seat. Additional supports include a free pivoting and secondary seatback latch, as well as an optional floor supported riser assembly in lieu of the second floor latch and which are positioned at alternating inboard/outboard seatback and floor locations of the seat assembly. In cooperation with the redesigned fully functional latches, the free pivot seatback and optional floor riser latches provide a cost advantageous design exhibiting reduced part count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Tavis Lutzka, Stephen C. Bruck, Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Publication number: 20090174247
    Abstract: A seat recliner assembly established at a hinge location between a seat bottom and a pivotally associated seat back including a base plate and an inwardly teethed and package supporting sector secured to the seat back and seat bottom, respectively and sandwiched together in selectively rotatable fashion relative to define a component receiving space therebetween. A shalt projects through an aperture of a rotatably slaved cam situated within the space. A pair of locking pawls with exteriorly toothed surfaces are displaceable to engage with inwardly teethed locations of the package supporting sector. A pair of anti-chuck pawls are selectively engagable both by the cam and with the locking pawls. The cam is biased in a first rotational locking condition to influence the anti-chuck pawls outwardly against the locking pawls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David Grable
  • Patent number: 7500707
    Abstract: A seat assembly incorporating a combination of seat latches including seatback, front floor and rear floor latch subassemblies. A release handle actuates the seatback latch to facilitate seatback dump against a seat bottom. Pluralities of cables are associated with the seatback latch subassembly, as well as a separate seat release module secured to an accessible location of the seat operate and, in cooperation with the front and rear latch assemblies, operate according to first and second operational protocols to accomplish forward seat tumble or, alternatively, rearward seat removal from the vehicle within which the seat is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20080211281
    Abstract: An inertial latch assembly including a planar shaped sector pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced apart support plates. The sector exhibits a bottom including a central projecting shoulder separating first and second bottom surfaces. An arcuate interior channel in the sector is offset from its pivotal mounting location, a pin extending through a second channel defined in a selected support plate and seating within the arcuate channel so that the pin exerts a bias against the sector during travel along the arcuate interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the support plates and proximate the bottom extending surface of the planar shaped sector, an arcuate edge thereof seating against a selected bottom extending surfaces of the rotatable sector, depending upon a pivoted position established between the sector and the support plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7374242
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly including a stanchion support and a pivotally secured seat supporting bracket. A batwing shape sector is slaved to rotate with the bracket between the bracket and stanchion support. A sector bottom surface is interrupted by a shoulder projection and an arcuate interior channel is offset from a slaved rotating connection of the sector to the bracket. A pin extends through another channel defined in the stanchion and seats within the sector channel to bias the sector during travel along the interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the bracket and stanchion and includes an upper edge configuration proximate a selected location of the bottom surface of the rotatable sector, depending upon a rotatable position established between the first seat component and a second seat component. The pendulum responds to an inertial impact condition by engaging the shoulder projection to prevent rotation of the first seat component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Champ, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20070273170
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly including a stanchion support and a pivotally secured seat supporting bracket. A batwing shape sector is slaved to rotate with the bracket between the bracket and stanchion support. A sector bottom surface is interrupted by a shoulder projection and an arcuate interior channel is offset from a slaved rotating connection of the sector to the bracket. A pin extends through another channel defined in the stanchion and seats within the sector channel to bias the sector during travel along the interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the bracket and stanchion and includes an upper edge configuration proximate a selected location of the bottom surface of the rotatable sector, depending upon a rotatable position established between the first seat component and a second seat component. The pendulum responds to an inertial impact condition by engaging the shoulder projection to prevent rotation of the first seat component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: William Champ, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20070182231
    Abstract: A seat assembly incorporating a combination of seat latches including seatback, front floor and rear floor latch subassemblies. A release handle actuates the seatback latch to facilitate seatback dump against a seat bottom. Pluralities of cables are associated with the seatback latch subassembly, as well as a separate seat release module secured to an accessible location of the seat operate and, in cooperation with the front and rear latch assemblies, operate according to first and second operational protocols to accomplish forward seat tumble or, alternatively, rearward seat removal from the vehicle within which the seat is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20070029858
    Abstract: A seatback assembly including a frame exhibiting a side-disposed and arcuate edge. An arm is pivotally secured to the frame. A pawl is in turn pivotally secured to the arm and is biased in engaging fashion relative to the arcuate extending edge via alternating and mating teeth and recess configurations established between the pawl and along at least one of first and second spaced apart locations defined along the arcuate edge. A cam is mounted to a further location of the seatback arm and biases the pawl against the frame. The cam is actuated to cause the pawl to disengage from the first configured sector location, the seatback arm pivoting towards the seat frame, whereupon the pawl matingly engages the second location along the arcuate seat sector edge to lock the seatback in a forwardly rotated and stowed position relative to the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: David Grable, Stephen Bruck, Eric Trombley, David Quittschreiber
  • Patent number: 6910739
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having bottom and a pivotally secured back. A release mechanism is operably engaged to the back and includes an actuating handle extending from the bottom. A plate is secured to the back at a first location and pivotable along with the back about an axis defined at a second location, an arcuate exterior surface defined by the plate exhibiting a recessed detent. A floor release lever is secured to the bottom proximate the plate and is pivotally associated with the release mechanism by a cable extending to a floor latch mechanism associated with the vehicle. A male detent is pivotally secured to the seat bottom in inter-disposed fashion between the floor release lever and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Publication number: 20050052064
    Abstract: A seatback recliner mechanism including a frame incorporated into a seat bottom and a seatback arm pivotally secured to the frame. The seatback arm includes a lower arcuate surface upon which are defined a first plurality of serrations. A pawl is hingedly secured to the frame and incorporates a second plurality of serrations, the pawl further includes an interior aperture defined by an inner wall configuration. A cam is rotatably secured to the frame in seating fashion within the inner wall configuration, the cam exhibiting a specified exterior configuration. A lever is pivotally secured to the cam and extending from an outer plate associated with the frame. In use, the cam is rotated in a first direction, such that said exterior configuration engages the inner wall configuration of the pawl and to bias the second plurality of serrations in abutting contact against the first plurality of serrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20050046261
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having bottom and a pivotally secured back. A release mechanism is operably engaged to the back and includes an actuating handle extending from the bottom. A plate is secured to the back at a first location and pivotable along with the back about an axis defined at a second location, an arcuate exterior surface defined by the plate exhibiting a recessed detent. A floor release lever is secured to the bottom proximate the plate and is pivotally associated with the release mechanism by a cable extending to a floor latch mechanism associated with the vehicle. A male detent is pivotally secured to the seat bottom in inter-disposed fashion between the floor release lever and the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 6733076
    Abstract: A seatback recliner mechanism incorporated into a vehicle, the seat including a seat bottom and a pivotally engaged seatback. The recliner mechanism includes a pair of lower supports forming a part of the seat bottom and secured to at least one of first and second sides of the seat bottom. A first gear is fixed between the lower support and at a generally upper end and a pair of upper supports are pivotally secured to the lower supports and include a second rotatable gear meshingly engaged with the first gear. The seatback includes an upper arm pivotally secured to the upper support in coaxial fashion relative to a third rotatable gear meshingly engaged with the second gear. A first lever is operative to pivot the upper support relative the lower support over a specified range of forward incline and rearward recline. A second lever is operative to pivot the upper arm, relative to the upper support, to a substantially forward and horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Industies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley