Patents by Inventor Franklin Tibbits

Franklin Tibbits 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: 11407336
    Abstract: A vehicle seat rotates in response to activation of an electric motor. The electric motor is part of a non-back-drivable mechanism such that it acts to lock the seat in position. The seat mechanism is assembled from stamped components for efficient manufacturing. A bracket includes integrally formed gear teeth which mesh with gear teeth driven by the electric motor. The bracket is held between two stamped parts using four-point angular contact ball bearings. The races of the ball bearings are stamped into the respective stamped parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franklin Tibbits, Christopher Shamie, Robert Mallon, Cameron Gibson, Todd Sturgin, Chris Luipold
  • Publication number: 20190366882
    Abstract: A vehicle seat rotates in response to activation of an electric motor. The electric motor is part of a non-back-drivable mechanism such that it acts to lock the seat in position. The seat mechanism is assembled from stamped components for efficient manufacturing. A bracket includes integrally formed gear teeth which mesh with gear teeth driven by the electric motor. The bracket is held between two stamped parts using four-point angular contact ball bearings. The races of the ball bearings are stamped into the respective stamped parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franklin Tibbits, Christopher Shamie, Robert Mallon, Cameron Gibson, Todd Sturgin, Chris Luipold