Patents by Inventor Eugene R. Balensiefer
Eugene R. Balensiefer 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: 9463720Abstract: A child safety seat assembly includes a seat shell that is secured to a vehicle seat by way of a standard safety belt system, and a belt adjustment mechanism that facilitates adjusting the horizontal belt path taken by the standard safety belt through the safety seat assembly such that the horizontal belt path aligns with a child's center of gravity (CG). In a first fixed state, the belt adjustment mechanism generates a lower horizontal belt path that is a relatively short distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing shorter children or infants having lower CGs. As a child grows, the belt adjustment mechanism is adjusted into a second fixed state that maintains the horizontal belt path at a relatively long distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing taller children having higher CGs.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Inspired Products Group, LLCInventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, James W. Holley, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20160023579Abstract: A child safety seat assembly includes a seat shell that is secured to a vehicle seat by way of a standard safety belt system, and a belt adjustment mechanism that facilitates adjusting the horizontal belt path taken by the standard safety belt through the safety seat assembly such that the horizontal belt path aligns with a child's center of gravity (CG). In a first fixed state, the belt adjustment mechanism generates a lower horizontal belt path that is a relatively short distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing shorter children or infants having lower CGs. As a child grows, the belt adjustment mechanism is adjusted into a second fixed state that maintains the horizontal belt path at a relatively long distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing taller children having higher CGs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, James W. Holley, JR.
-
Publication number: 20150175035Abstract: A child safety seat utilizes a compression-type resilient shock absorber in which a soft-material resilient member serves to dampen shocks applied to the seat's harness assembly by undergoing compressive deformation in a way that prevents the harness safety belts from experiencing a “hard stop”. The resilient member (e.g., a foam rubber block, a gel-like substance, or a fluid-filled bladder) is disposed such that one portion is held against a rigid support (e.g., the backside surface of the seat's shell), and a second portion is operably wrapped by a loop portion of a safety belt. The resilient shock absorber is wrapped by the safety belt such that tension applied to the safety belt pulls the two end portions of the resilient member toward each other and against the rigid support, thereby causing the resilient member to compressively deform against the rigid support.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer II, James W. Holley, JR.
-
Patent number: 8991935Abstract: A child safety seat utilizes a compression-type resilient shock absorber in which a soft-material resilient member serves to dampen shocks applied to the seat's harness assembly by undergoing compressive deformation in a way that prevents the harness safety belts from experiencing a “hard stop”. The resilient member (e.g., a foam rubber block, a gel-like substance, or a fluid-filled bladder) is disposed such that one portion is held against a rigid support (e.g., the backside surface of the seat's shell), and a second portion is operably coupled to a fixed end of a safety belt. The resilient shock absorber is oriented such that tension applied to the safety belt pulls the two end portions of the resilient member toward each other and against the rigid support, thereby causing the resilient member to compressively deform against the rigid support.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Inspired Products Group, LLCInventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, James W. Holley, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20140252841Abstract: A child safety seat utilizes a compression-type resilient shock absorber in which a soft-material resilient member serves to dampen shocks applied to the seat's harness assembly by undergoing compressive deformation in a way that prevents the harness safety belts from experiencing a “hard stop”. The resilient member (e.g., a foam rubber block, a gel-like substance, or a fluid-filled bladder) is disposed such that one portion is held against a rigid support (e.g., the backside surface of the seat's shell), and a second portion is operably coupled to a fixed end of a safety belt. The resilient shock absorber is oriented such that tension applied to the safety belt pulls the two end portions of the resilient member toward each other and against the rigid support, thereby causing the resilient member to compressively deform against the rigid support.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Inspired Products Group, LLCInventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, James W. Holley, JR.
-
Patent number: 8434203Abstract: A web buckle 30 with a pivot pawl 40 to receive non-interlocking tongues insertable into the buckle. Push button 41 is biased upwardly by spring 39 within housing 44. Button 41 may be moved downward forcing pawl 40 to disengage the tongues. Pawl 40 is rockable to disengage the tongues one at a time.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Morgan, Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
-
Patent number: 8328281Abstract: A web extension and retraction device on a child seat. A pair of retractors are mounted to the device and have webs extendable therefrom with connectors releasable with vehicle anchors both when the child seat faces forward and rearward in the vehicle. In one embodiment the retractors slide in cavities provided on opposite sides of the child seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, Jason Boyer
-
Publication number: 20120011687Abstract: A web buckle 30 with a pivot pawl 40 to receive non-interlocking tongues insertable into the buckle. Push button 41 is biased upwardly by spring 39 within housing 44. Button 41 may be moved downward forcing pawl 40 to disengage the tongues. Pawl 40 is rockable to disengage the tongues one at a time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventors: Philip D. Morgan, Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
-
Patent number: 7810682Abstract: An infant basin is adapted to be mounted in a basin-receiving cavity of a seat shell. A shoulder strap is provided for the infant basin.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Jeffrey A. Deboer, Evan Carpenter-Crawford
-
Publication number: 20100090509Abstract: A web extension and retraction device on a child seat. A pair of retractors are mounted to the device and have webs extendable therefrom with connectors releasable with vehicle anchors both when the child seat faces forward and rearward in the vehicle. In one embodiment the retractors slide in cavities provided on opposite sides of the child seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II, Jason Boyer
-
Patent number: 7669926Abstract: A juvenile seat includes a base having a bottom seat portion, a lower back section coupled to the base and positioned to lie at an angle relative to the bottom seat portion, and a headrest coupled to the lower back section for up and down movement relative to the base and the lower back section. The juvenile seat also includes a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest to adjust the height of the headrest above the bottom seat portion. The height-adjustment mechanism is movable between a locked position to prevent up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section and an unlocked position to permit up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventor: Eugene R. Balensiefer
-
Publication number: 20100013282Abstract: A connector for securing a child seat to a passenger seat. A web is connected to the child seat and the connector which has a pivoting lever engageable with the passenger seat anchor bight. The connector includes a web receiving bracket that extends from the bottom of the connector frame allowing access to a push button activating the lever from either side of the connector outer housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventor: Eugene R. Balensiefer
-
Publication number: 20100007186Abstract: A tension indicator for alerting a user when a predetermined tension has been applied to a flexible elongate element is provided. The tension indicator includes a housing having at least one opening for receiving the elongate element, a tension responsive element positioned in the housing in cooperative engagement with the elongate element and including an actuator mounted in the housing and engaging the elongate element, the tension responsive element being movable in response to an increase in tension on the elongate element from a normally inoperative position into an operative alert position, and an alert element cooperating with the tension responsive element for providing an alert when the tension responsive element is in the operative alert position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: L. Curtis Strong, Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
-
Patent number: 7360830Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes first and second cup holders and a seat bottom located between the first and second cup holders. The juvenile vehicle seat is adapted to be mounted in a restrained position on a seat in a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Philip W. Burbrink, Ronald F. Munn, William Horton
-
Patent number: 7331633Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat base and a backrest. The backrest is mounted on the seat base and includes a seat back that is retained in an upright fixed seat-forming position relative to a seat bottom included in the seat base.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Philip W. Burbrink, Ronald F. Munn, William Horton
-
Patent number: 7316451Abstract: A side impact protector is configured to be worn by a youth seated in a child-restraint system anchored in place on a vehicle seat. Such a protector may also be worn by a person of any age seated in a vehicle and restrained using a seat belt harness of the type found onboard a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Bruce Cazenave, Kelley L. Clayburn
-
Patent number: 7178872Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat shell and a child-restraint belt coupled to the seat shell. A seat pad is provided on the seat shell and the child-restraint belt passes through apertures formed in the seat pad.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Jason A. Crowell, William Horton
-
Patent number: D610036Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II
-
Patent number: D404861Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Seymour Housewares CorporationInventor: Eugene R. Balensiefer, II