Patents by Inventor Gerald Patrick

Gerald Patrick 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: 9896002
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a front seat assembly having a front seat bottom adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body and a front seat back adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body adjacent to the front seat bottom. A sensor cooperates with at least one of the front seat bottom and the front seat back. An actuator is disposed on at least one of the seat bottom and seat back. The seat assembly includes a rear seat assembly behind the front seat assembly. A vehicle seat controller receives an input indicative of a rear occupant seated information and convey a signal to an actuator to move a front seat assembly to an accommodation position in response to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Winsen C. Zouzal, Gerald Patrick
  • Publication number: 20180037139
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, a seat back, and a plurality of sensors operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition of a seated occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least one actuator. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition of the seated occupant. The seating condition of the seated occupant is compared to stored seating conditions of prior seat occupants to determine that the seated occupant is a prior occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald PATRICK, Samuel HANLON, Michelle A. PERENY, David HAYNER
  • Patent number: 9884570
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion, and a seat back. Sensors are operably connected to the seat cushion and the seat back to detect a seating position of an occupant. An actuator is operably connected to the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. An interactive user interface permits manual adjustment of the actuator. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors, the at least one actuator, and the user interface. The controller is configured to receive seating position data input indicative of a manually selected seating position. Detection data is received from the plurality of sensors, and compared to the manually selected seating position to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The at least one actuator adjusts an occupant seating position to the manually selected seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel R. Hanlon, Karl Henn, Michelle A. Pereny, Gerald Patrick
  • Publication number: 20180022246
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion and a seat back. A controller is in electrical communication with an actuator. The controller is programmed to receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data. The data input is compared with predetermined data ranges. A setting of the actuator is adjusted to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range. A data input indicative of a selected driving mode is received by the controller. The setting of the actuator is adjusted to another predetermined setting based on the selected driving mode. The actuator includes an inflation device, side bolster air bladders, a seat back recline actuator, a tilt actuator, and a central air bladder. The driving modes include a touring mode, a sport mode and a performance mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald PATRICK, Samuel HANLON, MIchelle A. PERENY, Marie-Eve COTE
  • Publication number: 20170361746
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat back, and first and second actuators oriented in first and second regions of the seat back. A safety restraint is connected to the seat back. A controller is programmed to operate the first and second actuators to adjust the first and second regions of the seat back. The controller may adjust the safety restraint in response to the adjustment of the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the safety restraint with the sequential posture alignment. The controller may also adjust a vehicle vision device concurrently with the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the vehicle vision device with the sequential posture alignment. The controller may also adjust a vehicle drive control manual input device concurrently with the adjustment of the actuators to coordinate the adjustment of the vehicle drive control manual input device with the sequential posture alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK
  • Patent number: 9845026
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion adapted to be mounted for translation. A seat back is adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the seat cushion. At least one actuator is operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. A controller is in electrical communication with the at least one actuator and configured to: receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data, receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected seat positioning mode, compare the data input with predetermined data ranges for the selected seat positioning mode, and adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michelle A. Pereny, Karl Henn, Samuel R. Hanlon, Gerald Patrick
  • Publication number: 20170355282
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, a seat back, and a plurality of sensors operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition of a seated occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition of the seated occupant. The seating condition is compared to a predetermined seating condition. An output indicative of the predetermined seating condition is transmitted. An actuator is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. The actuator is adjusted to a predetermined setting corresponding to the predetermined seating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK
  • Patent number: 9827888
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller adjusts at least one of the two side bolster actuators to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Patrick, Samuel Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20170323468
    Abstract: A method of digitally making moving picture animation films formed by manipulation of a computer touch screen, the method including the steps of displaying on the screen an image of an array of particulates, such as sand, manipulating the particulates to form a first image, storing a copy of the first image onto computer memory, thereafter altering the first image on the display screen to form a second image and again storing a copy of it to memory, the sequence continuing until a required number of images have been made and stored, and thereafter replaying the stored images in sequence to form a moving picture animation film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventor: Gerald Patrick Conn
  • Publication number: 20170282754
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly and controller are provided. The assembly includes a front seat having a front seat bottom and a front seat back mounted adjacent to the front seat bottom. A sensor cooperates with at least one of the front seat bottom and the front seat back. An actuator is disposed on at least one of the seat bottom and seat back. A rear seat assembly is behind the front seat assembly. The vehicle seat controller is in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The controller receives an input indicative of a request to move a rear seat assembly to a storage position. The controller conveys a signal to an actuator to move a front seat assembly to an accommodation position in response to the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK, Michael R. Powell, Samuel Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20170282753
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a front seat assembly having a front seat bottom adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body and a front seat back adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body adjacent to the front seat bottom. A sensor cooperates with at least one of the front seat bottom and the front seat back. An actuator is disposed on at least one of the seat bottom and seat back. The seat assembly includes a rear seat assembly behind the front seat assembly. A vehicle seat controller receives an input indicative of a rear occupant seated information and convey a signal to an actuator to move a front seat assembly to an accommodation position in response to the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK
  • Patent number: 9758079
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back mounted adjacent the bottom. A first actuator is operably connected to the seat back for applying a first pressure to a seated occupant at a first height. A second actuator is laterally offset from the first actuator and operably connected to the seat back for applying a second pressure to the occupant at a second height. The first and second actuators are operable to provide an asymmetric comfort position to the occupant. The asymmetric comfort position may set the first pressure different than the second pressure or set the first height different than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Winsen C. Zouzal, Ashford Allen Galbreath, Aisha Enid Johnson, Gerald Patrick, Michelle A. Pereny
  • Publication number: 20170190271
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller adjusts at least one of the two side bolster actuators to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald Patrick, Samuel Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20170164747
    Abstract: An air bladder assembly for a seat comprising is provided. A central sacral bladder has a support surface defined by an enlarged width portion connected to an elongated tapered portion, wherein the tapered portion is defined by elongated lateral sides. A pair of side iliac bladders is provided so that one of the side bladders is positioned adjacent each of the elongated sides of the central bladder. A support surface of the central air bladder is not parallel to a support surface of the side air bladders when the air bladder assembly is inflated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK, Walter T. CICHOCKI, Ted SMITH, Michelle A. PERENY
  • Publication number: 20170164748
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back mounted adjacent the bottom. The seat back and seat bottom are provided with an occupant seating surface. At least one air bladder is oriented in a sacral region the seat bottom or the seat back. The air bladder has a support surface defined by a enlarged width portion and extends to an elongated tapered portion. When the air bladder is inflated, the support surface is inclined from the taper portion to the enlarged width portion relative to the seating surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Gerald PATRICK, Walter T. CICHOCKI, Ted SMITH, Michelle A. PERENY
  • Patent number: 9661928
    Abstract: An air bladder system is provided with a pair of lateral spaced apart air bladder assemblies, each provided with a primary region received in a seat bottom of a seat assembly. The primary region is expandable in a height direction to support a pelvis of an occupant. A secondary region extends from the primary region and is expandable for angular adjustment relative to the primary region to support a femur of the occupant. A plurality of sensors detects a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the sensors and the air bladder assemblies. The controller is configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The data is compared to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. At least one of the air bladder assemblies is adjusted to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Patrick, Samuel Hanlon, Michelle A. Pereny, Winsen C. Zouzal
  • Publication number: 20170101042
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back mounted adjacent the bottom. A first actuator is operably connected to the seat back for applying a first pressure to a seated occupant at a first height. A second actuator is laterally offset from the first actuator and operably connected to the seat back for applying a second pressure to the occupant at a second height. The first and second actuators are operable to provide an asymmetric comfort position to the occupant. The asymmetric comfort position may set the first pressure different than the second pressure or set the first height different than the second height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Ashford Allen GALBREATH, Aisha Enid JOHNSON, Gerald PATRICK, Michelle A. PERENY
  • Publication number: 20170086588
    Abstract: An air bladder system is provided with a pair of lateral spaced apart air bladder assemblies, each provided with a primary region received in a seat bottom of a seat assembly. The primary region is expandable in a height direction to support a pelvis of an occupant. A secondary region extends from the primary region and is expandable for angular adjustment relative to the primary region to support a femur of the occupant. A plurality of sensors detects a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the sensors and the air bladder assemblies. The controller is configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The data is compared to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. At least one of the air bladder assemblies is adjusted to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald PATRICK, Samuel HANLON, Michelle A. PERENY, Winsen C. ZOUZAL
  • Publication number: 20170079872
    Abstract: A seat air bladder assembly includes a pair of lateral air bladder regions spaced apart laterally, each inclined laterally outboard to stimulate a seat occupant thoracic region. A method for adjusting a seat assembly inflates a first air bladder assembly oriented in a thoracic region of a seat assembly. A second air bladder assembly is oriented in the thoracic region spaced laterally apart from the first air bladder assembly, and is inflated after initiating inflation of the first air bladder assembly. Another method inflates first and second air bladder assemblies oriented spaced apart in an upright direction in a thoracic region of a seat assembly, and a third air bladder assembly oriented therebetween. The second air bladder assembly is inflated after initiating inflation of the first air bladder assembly. The inflation of the third air bladder assembly is concurrent with the first air bladder assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald PATRICK, Winsen C. ZOUZAL, Kim KRULEK, Samuel R. HANLON
  • Publication number: 20160339802
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion, and a seat back. Sensors are operably connected to the seat cushion and the seat back to detect a seating position of an occupant. An actuator is operably connected to the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. An interactive user interface permits manual adjustment of the actuator. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors, the at least one actuator, and the user interface. The controller is configured to receive seating position data input indicative of a manually selected seating position. Detection data is received from the plurality of sensors, and compared to the manually selected seating position to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The at least one actuator adjusts an occupant seating position to the manually selected seating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel R. HANLON, Karl HENN, Michelle A. PERENY, Gerald PATRICK