Patents by Inventor Don Bernhardt

Don Bernhardt 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).

  • Publication number: 20120268665
    Abstract: A vehicle has self-contained, stand-alone flexible displays in a wide variety of locations and serving a wide variety or purposes, such as entertainment, safety warnings, operating instructions, maps, vehicle information, etc. The displays may be positioned on a vehicle interior component having a contoured surface profile, or may be movable from a generally concealed storage position to an extended position. The display may be rolled like a scroll in a storage position. The displays may show a single picture, multiple pictures on sequential frames, interactive videos, etc. and may include audio information, touch screen switches, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arjun Yetukuri, Jeff Frelich, Don Bernhardt, David Hein, Thomas S. Hicks
  • Patent number: 8052111
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle seat track assembly. The assembly comprises a first track member having an upwardly facing bearing surface and a second track member for attachment to a vehicle seat, the second track member having a downwardly facing bearing surface. A cage is disposed between the first track member and the second track member. The cage carries a rolling element that is in rolling engagement with the upper and lower bearing surfaces to provide longitudinal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. The cage is provided with at least one pad section for engaging at least one of the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces. In an unloaded state, the at least one pad section separates the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces from each other by a distance which is greater than the diameter of the rolling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Don Bernhardt, Tony Centi, Alan M. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7909407
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom with a frame with a slot or a pivotal connection. A seat back has a frame with the other of the slot and the pivotal connection to cooperate with the seat back for collapsing the seat back upon the seat bottom. A receiver is mounted to one of the seat bottom or the seat back with a first locking component and an insert is mounted to the other with a second locking component. The seat back is assembled to the seat bottom by pivoting the seat back to align the receiver and insert and translating the seat back along the slot until the insert is inserted into the receiver and the locking components are locked. The vehicle seat connection permits the seat bottom and seat back to be fabricated at separate facilities and then shipped to an assembly facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene S. Dudash, Don Bernhardt, Jeff Frelich, Raymond E. Scott
  • Publication number: 20090102261
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle seat track assembly. The assembly comprises a first track member having an upwardly facing bearing surface and a second track member for attachment to a vehicle seat, the second track member having a downwardly facing bearing surface. A cage is disposed between the first track member and the second track member. The cage carries a rolling element that is in rolling engagement with the upper and lower bearing surfaces to provide longitudinal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. The cage is provided with at least one pad section for engaging at least one of the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces. In an unloaded state, the at least one pad section separates the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces from each other by a distance which is greater than the diameter of the rolling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Don Bernhardt, Toni Centi, Alan M. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080303332
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom with a frame with a slot or a pivotal connection. A seat back has a frame with the other of the slot and the pivotal connection to cooperate with the seat back for collapsing the seat back upon the seat bottom. A receiver is mounted to one of the seat bottom or the seat back with a first locking component and an insert is mounted to the other with a second locking component. The seat back is assembled to the seat bottom by pivoting the seat back to align the receiver and insert and translating the seat back along the slot until the insert is inserted into the receiver and the locking components are locked. The vehicle seat connection permits the seat bottom and seat back to be fabricated at separate facilities and then shipped to an assembly facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eugene S. Dudash, Don Bernhardt, Jeff Frelich, Raymond E. Scott
  • Patent number: 5716096
    Abstract: A seat cover assembly (10) includes a seat envelope (14) with a drawstring sheath (18) and a slidable drawstring (22) inside the sheath (18). The seat envelope (14) surrounds a seat (12), and front and rear attachment projections (38,40) on the seat (12) facilitate attachment of the seat envelope (14) to the seat (12). A webbing strip (48) joins the drawstring sheath (18) to the seat envelope (14) and a plurality of slits (24) are disposed in the webbing strip (48) and apart from the drawstring sheath (18) for attachment to the projections (38,40) on the seat (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Grant Pryde, Don Bernhardt, Patricia J. Tasny