Patents by Inventor Giovanni De Nichilo

Giovanni De Nichilo 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: 10220744
    Abstract: A seatback release system comprising a seat backrest frame with an attached mounting bracket. Secured to the mounting bracket is a handle which pivots about a pivot point. The handle and the mounting bracket cooperate so that the release system can be deployed on a front left or right seat by attaching the handle to one or the other end of the mounting bracket. One or more spring members extend between the mounting bracket and the handle so that the handle is thereby biased to an initial downward position in which the seat backrest frame is locked. A cable mechanism with a proximal end and a distal end extends between the handle and a seatback release subassembly. The core of the cable moves axially within the outer sheath in response to displacement of the handle, thereby releasing the seatback release subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Giovanni De Nichilo
  • Patent number: 10076977
    Abstract: A modular backrest control includes a mounting bracket, a pivot bracket attached to the mounting bracket, a pivot rod rotatably mounted on the pivot bracket, a lever arm mounted on the pivot rod, and a user actuated lever handle rigidly mounted on the pivot rod. The lever arm is rotatable from a first position to a second position. The lever arm has a connector for attachment to a backrest actuation cable. The user actuated lever handle is rotatable between a lock position and a release position such that rotation of the lever handle from the lock position to the release position causes rotation of the lever arm from a first position to a second position. Characteristically, rotation from the first position to the second position actuates the backrest actuation cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Angelo Falchero, Giovanni De Nichilo
  • Publication number: 20180126884
    Abstract: A seatback release system comprising a seat backrest frame with an attached mounting bracket. Secured to the mounting bracket is a handle which pivots about a pivot point. The handle and the mounting bracket cooperate so that the release system can be deployed on a front left or right seat by attaching the handle to one or the other end of the mounting bracket. One or more spring members extend between the mounting bracket and the handle so that the handle is thereby biased to an initial downward position in which the seat backrest frame is locked. A cable mechanism with a proximal end and a distal end extends between the handle and a seatback release subassembly. The core of the cable moves axially within the outer sheath in response to displacement of the handle, thereby releasing the seatback release subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventor: Giovanni DE NICHILO
  • Patent number: 9914382
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat bottom comprising a frame assembly securable to a vehicle. The frame assembly comprises a frame disposed within a structural foam pad, with the frame assembly having a first attachment member. The vehicle seat assembly comprises a cushion assembly comprising a flexible foam pad supported on a wire frame assembly, with the cushion assembly having second attachment member cooperable with the first attachment member to secure the cushion assembly to the frame assembly. The vehicle seat assembly comprises a seatback secured to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giovanni De Nichilo, Angelo Falchero
  • Publication number: 20170246969
    Abstract: A modular backrest control includes a mounting bracket, a pivot bracket attached to the mounting bracket, a pivot rod rotatably mounted on the pivot bracket, a lever arm mounted on the pivot rod, and a user actuated lever handle rigidly mounted on the pivot rod. The lever arm is rotatable from a first position to a second position. The lever arm has a connector for attachment to a backrest actuation cable. The user actuated lever handle is rotatable between a lock position and a release position such that rotation of the lever handle from the lock position to the release position causes rotation of the lever arm from a first position to a second position. Characteristically, rotation from the first position to the second position actuates the backrest actuation cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: ANGELO FALCHERO, GIOVANNI DE NICHILO
  • Publication number: 20170232877
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat bottom comprising a frame assembly securable to a vehicle. The frame assembly comprises a frame disposed within a structural foam pad, with the frame assembly having a first attachment member. The vehicle seat assembly comprises a cushion assembly comprising a flexible foam pad supported on a wire frame assembly, with the cushion assembly having second attachment member cooperable with the first attachment member to secure the cushion assembly to the frame assembly. The vehicle seat assembly comprises a seatback secured to the seat bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Giovanni DE NICHILO, Angelo FALCHERO
  • Patent number: 7017995
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly of the present invention includes a seat backrest, a seat bottom, and a backrest reclining assembly. The backrest reclining assembly has an axis of rotation and includes a base, a rotating latching mechanism, and a reclining arm. The reclining arm is mounted to the seat backrest, the rotating latching mechanism is mounted between the reclining arm and the base such that the reclining arm and the seat backrest may be selectively rotated relative to the base about the axis of rotation. A pivot arm is mounted to the base and has a pivot axis point disposed at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the reclining assembly. A locking arm is rotatively mounted to the pivot arm about the axis of rotation of the reclining assembly. A support arm is mounted to the seat bottom and rotatively mounted to the pivot arm at the pivot axis point, such that the pivot arm and the seat backrest may be rotated about the pivot axis point between an upright position and a folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Giovanni De Nichilo
  • Patent number: 6863347
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a pivot mechanism connected to a seat back and a seat bottom. The pivot mechanism has a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation. The pivot mechanism includes a latch rotatable about the first axis of rotation between a latched position and an unlatched position. The seat back can pivot about the first axis of rotation between an upright position and a reclined position when the latch is in the latched position. The seat back can pivot about the second axis of rotation between the upright position and a folded position when the latch is in the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Giovanni De Nichilo
  • Publication number: 20040239169
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a pivot mechanism connected to a seat back and a seat bottom. The pivot mechanism has a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation. The pivot mechanism includes a latch rotatable about the first axis of rotation between a latched position and an unlatched position. The seat back can pivot about the first axis of rotation between an upright position and a reclined position when the latch is in the latched position. The seat back can pivot about the second axis of rotation between the upright position and a folded position when the latch is in the unlatched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Giovanni De Nichilo