Patents by Inventor Dumitru Dan Nae

Dumitru Dan Nae 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: 9283873
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback and a rear bracket pivotally supporting the seatback and slidably engaging a track assembly. A seat has a four-bar linkage that includes a top link for supporting a cushion, a bottom link, a rear link pivotally coupling a rearward portion of the top link with a rearward portion of the bottom link, and a front link pivotally coupling a forward portion of the top link with a forward portion of the bottom link. A connecting member pivotally couples the bottom link with the seatback. Pivoting the seatback forward about the rear bracket causes the connecting member to collapse the linkage rearward to a stowed position. A base member pivotally couples an intermediate portion of the front link with a fixed front bracket. Sliding the seatback forward causes the seat to pivot upward about the base member to a rear access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Dumitru Dan Nae, Curtis Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Patent number: 9168848
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a panel movable to a reclined position and a cushion slidably coupled with the panel to slide down in the reclined position. A base is pivotally supporting the panel and has a concave portion. A seat has a bottom portion slidably coupled with the concave portion for sliding the seat to an upward angle when the panel moves to the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, John W. Jaranson, Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Patent number: 8931844
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly including a seat having a top surface. A seatback includes a back support surface. A tab extends forward from the seatback. A track assembly includes a rail and a slide. A bracket is coupled to the slide and includes an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof. A linkage includes a first end coupled with the seat. A second end is coupled with the tab. A protrusion is disposed at an intermediate portion of the linkage and is engaged with the elongate slot. Movement of the protrusion is relative to the elongate slot, causing translation of the seating assembly between a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, and a stowed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya Heath, Dumitru Dan Nae, John W. Jaranson, Curtis D. Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Patent number: 8882197
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a track assembly having a rail and a base member slidably engaged with the rail and supporting a seatback. A bracket is coupled to the rail and supports a seat with an articulation feature. A linkage couples the seat with the seatback. A coupler is engaged with the articulation feature. Movement of the coupler relative to the articulation feature translates the seating assembly between a deployed position, wherein the seat is generally orthogonal to the seatback, and a stowed position, wherein the seatback abuts the seat and is generally parallel to the rail. A hinge in the linkage causes translation from the deployed position to an access position. The seat is generally orthogonal to the rail and the seatback is slid to a forward segment of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Dumitru Dan Nae, Steven McInally, Ammeswara Rao Sajja, Curtis D. Stanhope, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya Heath, Daniel Ferretti, Kurt Kormos
  • Publication number: 20140265501
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a panel movable to a reclined position and a cushion slidably coupled with the panel to slide down in the reclined position. A base is pivotally supporting the panel and has a concave portion. A seat has a bottom portion slidably coupled with the concave portion for sliding the seat to an upward angle when the panel moves to the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, John W. Jaranson, Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Publication number: 20140167466
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback and a rear bracket pivotally supporting the seatback and slidably engaging a track assembly. A seat has a four-bar linkage that includes a top link for supporting a cushion, a bottom link, a rear link pivotally coupling a rearward portion of the top link with a rearward portion of the bottom link, and a front link pivotally coupling a forward portion of the top link with a forward portion of the bottom link. A connecting member pivotally couples the bottom link with the seatback. Pivoting the seatback forward about the rear bracket causes the connecting member to collapse the linkage rearward to a stowed position. A base member pivotally couples an intermediate portion of the front link with a fixed front bracket. Sliding the seatback forward causes the seat to pivot upward about the base member to a rear access position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Dumitru Dan Nae, Curtis Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Publication number: 20140062158
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a track assembly having a rail and a base member slidably engaged with the rail and supporting a seatback. A bracket is coupled to the rail and supports a seat with an articulation feature. A linkage couples the seat with the seatback. A coupler is engaged with the articulation feature. Movement of the coupler relative to the articulation feature translates the seating assembly between a deployed position, wherein the seat is generally orthogonal to the seatback, and a stowed position, wherein the seatback abuts the seat and is generally parallel to the rail. A hinge in the linkage causes translation from the deployed position to an access position. The seat is generally orthogonal to the rail and the seatback is slid to a forward segment of the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Dumitru Dan Nae, Steven McInally, Ammeswara Rao Sajja, Curtis D. Stanhope, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya Heath, Daniel Ferretti, Kurt Kormos
  • Publication number: 20140001809
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly including a seat having a top surface. A seatback includes a back support surface. A tab extends forward from the seatback. A track assembly includes a rail and a slide. A bracket is coupled to the slide and includes an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof. A linkage includes a first end coupled with the seat. A second end is coupled with the tab. A protrusion is disposed at an intermediate portion of the linkage and is engaged with the elongate slot. Movement of the protrusion is relative to the elongate slot, causing translation of the seating assembly between a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, and a stowed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya Heath, Dumitru Dan Nae, John W. Jaranson, Curtis D. Stanhope, Kurt Kormos
  • Patent number: 8128167
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unroll a portion of the seat cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harry Zhong, Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Publication number: 20110163583
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unroll a portion of the seat cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Harry Zhong, Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Patent number: 7878593
    Abstract: An anti back drive device for releasably securing a seat back with respect to a seat cushion. This device includes an upper gear plate affixed to the seat back and defines gear teeth. A lower gear plate is secured to a seat bottom and defines gear teeth that cooperate with the upper plate gear teeth. The upper gear plate is able to rotate about an axis of rotation that is displaced from an axis associated with the lower gear plate. Wedges are mounted in relation to the upper gear plate. A clutch spring is located within the lower gear plate so that an outside surface of the clutch spring may engage the lower gear plate. A wedge spring engages the wedges that biases them to engage the clutch spring. A driver extends between the lower gear plate, the clutch spring, the wedge spring, and the upper gear plate. Upon rotation of the driver, the clutch spring and the one or more wedges are arcuately displaced and lock the seat back in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Publication number: 20090315380
    Abstract: An anti back drive device for releasably securing a seat back with respect to a seat cushion. This device includes an upper gear plate affixed to the seat back and defines gear teeth. A lower gear plate is secured to a seat bottom and defines gear teeth that cooperate with the upper plate gear teeth. The upper gear plate is able to rotate about an axis of rotation that is displaced from an axis associated with the lower gear plate. Wedges are mounted in relation to the upper gear plate. A clutch spring is located within the lower gear plate so that an outside surface of the clutch spring may engage the lower gear plate. A wedge spring engages the wedges that biases them to engage the clutch spring. A driver extends between the lower gear plate, the clutch spring, the wedge spring, and the upper gear plate. Upon rotation of the driver, the clutch spring and the one or more wedges are arcuately displaced and lock the seat back in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dumitru Dan Nae