Patents by Inventor Eric Michalak

Eric Michalak 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: 20170036578
    Abstract: A seat structure including at least one frame having one or more thin walled complex geometry structures and a process for forming the at least one frame via an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Brennon WHITE, Mark HARRIS, Dan SAKKINEN, Eric MICHALAK, Jeff LAHO
  • Publication number: 20160297337
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat configured to support an occupant in a vehicle may include a seat cushion portion, a seat back portion including a backrest movable relative to the seat cushion portion, and a contour linkage linked to the seat cushion portion and the backrest. The contour linkage may be configured to impose force on the backrest upon movement of the seat cushion portion relative to the backrest in at least one of a fore/aft, vertical, and rotational direction. The backrest may be configured such that a backrest contour is altered based on force imposed by the contour linkage in response to movement of the seat cushion portion relative to the backrest. The backrest contour may include at least one of a contour angle of an occupant-side surface of the backrest, a maximum offset of the occupant-side surface, and vertical height of a contour apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brennon White, Mason Pike, Ken Clark, Nathan Caruss, E. J Zadina, Jeff Laho, James Hollowood, Nicholas Petouhoff, Patricia White, Dan Ridgeway, Eric Michalak, Alex Saveski, Jennifer Carlson, Brad Feiler, Mark Milner, Dalibor Dimovski
  • Publication number: 20160264026
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a backrest and a seat base with a fitting with pivot connections for pivoting relative to the backrest. The seat base pivots between a seating position and a stadium flipped up position. A storage hoop has ends pivotably connected to an underside of the seat base at hoop pivot connections. The storage hoop pivots between a stowed position—with the hoop extending along a seat underside—and a hoop deployed position—with the hoop extending outwardly from the seat underside. The fitting with pivot connection has an inertial load lock to maintain the seat base in the stadium flipped up position upon exposure to inertial loads above a crash threshold. A cable is moved upon moving the hoop to the deployed position to move a latching cam, associated with the fitting, to prevent the seat base from pivoting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Eric MICHALAK, Brent BURTON, Mason PIKE, Nathan CARUSS
  • Publication number: 20160176318
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat and seat arrangement are provided for a vehicle having a vehicle floor. The arrangement includes a first outboard seat with a seat base, a vehicle floor connection and a backrest connected to the seat base. A second outboard seat includes a seat base, a vehicle floor connection and a backrest and a lateral guide rail for lateral movement. The stowable seat includes a seat base, a backrest, a floor connection and a linkage between the seat base, the floor connection and the backrest for movement from a seating position blocking lateral movement of the second outboard seat to a stowage position in which the second outboard seat is moveable laterally along the lateral guideway to a position directly adjacent to the first outboard seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Yannis POULOS, Dawn MACLEOD, Eric MICHALAK, Reinier SOLIVEN, Sylviane MAYER, Bradford V. FEILER, Steven E. WHITE, Prasanna KORLAHALLI, John M. BERANEK
  • Patent number: 8484058
    Abstract: A ticketing management system and computer implemented method for managing ticket requests is provided including a request management system, configured to receive ticket requests and allocate tickets to purchasers, a back-end office ticketing system, configured to record ticket requests and a fulfillment center configured to receive the ticket requests from the back-end office ticketing system and deliver the tickets to the purchasers. The request management system includes a shopping module. The shopping module is configured to receive at least one primary request for an event and storing the primary request, receive at least one alternate request for an event and storing the alternative request and allocate events to a user based on the primary request and alternative request selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tickets.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Harward Benson, Brett Eric Michalak
  • Publication number: 20120169107
    Abstract: A seat frame for use in a vehicle having a first seat frame member and a second seat frame member is provided. At least one of the first seat frame member and the second seat frame member has an adhesive positioned thereon. The adhesive is curable by heat generated by a diffused laser beam from a laser welder. A portion of the first seat frame member and a portion of the second seat frame member are positioned adjacent one another, such that a joint is formed and the adhesive is positioned between the portion of the first seat frame member and the portion of the second seat frame member. The seat frame is configured such that the diffused laser beam can be directed at the joint to heat the adhesive and thereby form a bond between the first seat frame member and the second seat frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel James Sakkinen, Nicholas Leonard Petouhoff, Anthony Kestian, Eric Michalak
  • Publication number: 20100320816
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat back and a head restraint coupled to the seat back. The seat includes a lumbar support movably coupled to the seat back so that when a force is applied to the seat back by an occupant of the seat moving rearwardly relative to the seat back the lumbar support moves rearwardly and absorbs energy associated with an occupant's rearward movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Eric Michalak
  • Publication number: 20100312587
    Abstract: A ticketing management system and computer implemented method for managing ticket requests is provided including a request management system, configured to receive ticket requests and allocate tickets to purchasers, a back-end office ticketing system, configured to record ticket requests and a fulfillment center configured to receive the ticket requests from the back-end office ticketing system and deliver the tickets to the purchasers. The request management system includes a shopping module. The shopping module is configured to receive at least one primary request for an event and storing the primary request, receive at least one alternate request for an event and storing the alternative request and allocate events to a user based on the primary request and alternative request selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Harward BENSON, Brett Eric Michalak, Michael Sean Duffy
  • Publication number: 20080300925
    Abstract: A ticketing management system and computer implemented method for managing ticket requests is provided including a request management system, configured to receive ticket requests and allocate tickets to purchasers, a back-end office ticketing system, configured to record ticket requests and a fulfillment center configured to receive the ticket requests from the back-end office ticketing system and deliver the tickets to the purchasers. The request management system includes a shopping module. The shopping module is configured to receive at least one primary request for an event and storing the primary request, receive at least one alternate request for an event and storing the alternative request and allocate events to a user based on the primary request and alternative request selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Harward Benson, Brett Eric Michalak
  • Publication number: 20070063562
    Abstract: A seat for use by an occupant in a vehicle. The seat includes a seat base configured to be supported in the vehicle. A back frame including a first transverse member, a first side member and a second side member, wherein the first transverse member interconnects each of the side members at a location toward an upper end of the back frame. The back frame further includes a second transverse member interconnecting the first and second side members a spaced distance from the first transverse member. A compliant back member having a first end operably connected to the first transverse member and a second end operably connected to the second transverse member. A biasing member having a first end operatively engaging the compliant back member and a second end being anchored with respect to the back frame wherein when a seat occupant's back applies a force to the compliant back member, the biasing member applies a reaction force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Michalak, Robert Benzing, David Hensel