Patents by Inventor Grant A. Compton
Grant A. Compton 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).
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Patent number: 10214129Abstract: A seat includes a seat portion with an air bladder having an outer casing. Multiple fluidly interconnected cells are disposed within a cavity of the outer casing and are configured to inflate the outer casing from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. The cells may be arranged within the air bladder so as to provide a directional inflation of the air bladder from a first portion of the air bladder towards a second portion. First and second support substrates may be disposed within the seat portion, wherein the air bladder is positioned between the first and second substrates. The air bladder may be configured to inflate and displace the first and second substrates relative to one another from an at-rest position to an actuated position. A biasing mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the first and second substrates for biasing the substrates towards the at-rest position.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Wayne Jaranson, Tejaswi Nandam, Jeroen Lem, Grant A. Compton
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Publication number: 20180326883Abstract: A seat includes a seat portion with an air bladder having an outer casing. Multiple fluidly interconnected cells are disposed within a cavity of the outer casing and are configured to inflate the outer casing from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. The cells may be arranged within the air bladder so as to provide a directional inflation of the air bladder from a first portion of the air bladder towards a second portion. First and second support substrates may be disposed within the seat portion, wherein the air bladder is positioned between the first and second substrates. The air bladder may be configured to inflate and displace the first and second substrates relative to one another from an at-rest position to an actuated position. A biasing mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the first and second substrates for biasing the substrates towards the at-rest position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: John Wayne Jaranson, Tejaswi Nandam, Jeroen Lem, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 10059239Abstract: A seat includes a seat portion with an air bladder having an outer casing. Multiple fluidly interconnected cells are disposed within a cavity of the outer casing and are configured to inflate the outer casing from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. The cells may be arranged within the air bladder so as to provide a directional inflation of the air bladder from a first portion of the air bladder towards a second portion. First and second support substrates may be disposed within the seat portion, wherein the air bladder is positioned between the first and second substrates. The air bladder may be configured to inflate and displace the first and second substrates relative to one another from an at-rest position to an actuated position. A biasing mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the first and second substrates for biasing the substrates towards the at-rest position.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Wayne Jaranson, Tejaswi Nandam, Jeroen Lem, Grant A. Compton
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Publication number: 20180079335Abstract: A seat includes a seat portion with an air bladder having an outer casing. Multiple fluidly interconnected cells are disposed within a cavity of the outer casing and are configured to inflate the outer casing from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. The cells may be arranged within the air bladder so as to provide a directional inflation of the air bladder from a first portion of the air bladder towards a second portion. First and second support substrates may be disposed within the seat portion, wherein the air bladder is positioned between the first and second substrates. The air bladder may be configured to inflate and displace the first and second substrates relative to one another from an at-rest position to an actuated position. A biasing mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the first and second substrates for biasing the substrates towards the at-rest position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: John Wayne Jaranson, Tejaswi Nandam, Jeroen Lem, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9873362Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin VanNieulande, Marc Silva Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9873360Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Kendrick Alden Harper, Kevin VanNieulande
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Patent number: 9841076Abstract: A cushion module is provided herein and includes a mounting manifold and a retaining plate. An array of pneumatic assemblies is coupled to and disposed between the mounting manifold and the retaining plate. Each pneumatic assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod and configured to receive pressurized air for moving the piston rod to a selected position. The pressurized air supplied to each pneumatic cylinder is variable and the piston rods collectively define a support surface having variable contour and firmness, and on which an object is rested to assess the comfortability of the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Grant A. Compton, John Wayne Jaranson, Michael M. Azzouz, Tejaswi Nandam
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Publication number: 20170313216Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Kendrick Alden Harper, Kevin VanNieulande
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Publication number: 20170313222Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin VanNieulande, Marc Silva Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Grant A. Compton
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Publication number: 20170292578Abstract: A cushion module is provided herein and includes a mounting manifold and a retaining plate. An array of pneumatic assemblies is coupled to and disposed between the mounting manifold and the retaining plate. Each pneumatic assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod and configured to receive pressurized air for moving the piston rod to a selected position. The pressurized air supplied to each pneumatic cylinder is variable and the piston rods collectively define a support surface having variable contour and firmness, and on which an object is rested to assess the comfortability of the support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Grant A. Compton, John Wayne Jaranson, Michael M. Azzouz, Tejaswi Nandam
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Patent number: 9751462Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a door and a controller. The door is configured to transition to a partially opened position between a fully opened position and a closed position. The controller is programmed to issue an insufficient door clearance notification in response to an object being detected within a swing radius of the door between the closed position and the partially opened position. The controller may be further programmed to issue the insufficient door clearance notification in response to an object being detected within an egress path from the partially opened position of the door.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9707870Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Kendrick Alden Harper, Kevin VanNieulande
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Patent number: 9707873Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin VanNieulande, Marc Silva Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9649962Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marc Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Daniel Ferretti, Michael Kolich, Lorne Joseph Lovelace, Kevin VanNieulande, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9604553Abstract: A seat recliner system includes a seat back having a back support member configured to support the back of a passenger. A connecting member extends generally orthogonally from a lower end of the back support member. The connecting member includes a front portion and a rear portion. A seat base includes a forward link operably coupled to the front portion of the connecting member. A rearward link is operably coupled to the rear portion of the connecting member such that the seat back is rotatable about a virtual hip-point of a passenger that is above the seat base and forward of the seat back.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Johnathan Andrew Line, Kendrick Alden Harper
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Publication number: 20160355127Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a door and a controller. The door is configured to transition to a partially opened position between a fully opened position and a closed position. The controller is programmed to issue an insufficient door clearance notification in response to an object being detected within a swing radius of the door between the closed position and the partially opened position. The controller may be further programmed to issue the insufficient door clearance notification in response to an object being detected within an egress path from the partially opened position of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventor: Grant A. Compton
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Publication number: 20160325647Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Kendrick Alden Harper, Kevin VanNieulande
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Publication number: 20160325653Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin VanNieulande, Marc Silva Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Grant A. Compton
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Publication number: 20160304016Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marc Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Daniel Ferretti, Michael Kolich, Lorne Joseph Lovelace, Kevin VanNieulande, Grant A. Compton
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Patent number: 9415713Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin VanNieulande, Marc Silva Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Kendrick Alden Harper, Grant A. Compton