Patents by Inventor James L. Christofferson

James L. Christofferson 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).

  • Publication number: 20120256463
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SUNRISE MEDICAL (US) LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran
  • Patent number: 8197009
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran
  • Publication number: 20110080031
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran
  • Patent number: 7896438
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a seatback assembly that includes a backrest comprising shapeable material and an adjustable support, the backrest being attached to the adjustable support, the adjustable support being adjustable to alter the curvature of the backrest from top to bottom and then fix the backrest in place, thus shaping the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson
  • Patent number: 7857394
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran, James M. Koerlin
  • Publication number: 20100132120
    Abstract: A seat cushion system includes a seat cushion assembly and at least one supplemental pad attached to a portion of the seat cushion assembly. The seat cushion assembly and the at least one supplemental pad include chambers that may be filled with a fluid to provide isolation between a user and a wheelchair or other seating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SUNRISE MEDICAL HHG, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Koerlin, James L. Christofferson, Vasily G. Tsuber
  • Patent number: 7614704
    Abstract: A wheelchair seat cushion has multi-density regions. The cushion assembly may have a region having a stiffer, higher density proximate the front of the seat cushion assembly beneath the user's thighs to assist the user in exiting the wheelchair. Alternatively, or additionally, an insert member having multi-density regions may be received in a recess in a base member. The insert members may be oriented in different orientations to position a softer, less dense region at different locations, to situate the softer, less dense region of the insert beneath a particular user's ischial tuberosities and/or coccyx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson
  • Publication number: 20080217880
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran
  • Publication number: 20080079298
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a seatback assembly that includes a backrest comprising shapeable material and an adjustable support, the backrest being attached to the adjustable support, the adjustable support being adjustable to alter the curvature of the backrest from top to bottom and then fix the backrest in place, thus shaping the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson
  • Publication number: 20080047071
    Abstract: A seat cover, and a method for producing a seat cover, minimizes surface tension in the cover material, when the cover conforms to a highly contoured shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Thomas J. Whelan, Allen B. Killebrew, Vincent J. Frerich, Philip Schreiber
  • Patent number: 7146666
    Abstract: A seat cushion includes a cushion base, a pressure-distributing medium, and a cover. The base supports the pressure-distributing medium. The cover has a pocket for receiving the pressure-distributing medium and covers the base and the pressure-distributing medium therein. A method for carrying the pressure-distributing medium in a personal mobility vehicle cushion comprises the steps of providing a cushion cover having a pocket, inserting a pressure-distributing medium in the pocket, and inserting a base in the cover so that the pressure-distributing medium is positioned above the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Thomas J. Whelan
  • Patent number: 6688693
    Abstract: A seat back assembly for connecting a seat back shell to the seat back tubes of a wheelchair comprises a shell, upper and lower shell connectors, and upper and lower side plate portions. The lower shell connector is mounted to a lower portion of the shell. The upper shell connector is mounted to an upper portion of the shell. The upper side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to an upper portion of the seat back tube. The lower side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to a lower portion of the seat back tube at a position substantially co-linear to the posterior superior illiac spine (PSIS) of a user. The lower shell connector and the lower side plate portion are pivotally engageable with one another along a pivot axis. The upper shell connector and the upper side plate portion are attachable relative to one another at discrete locations so as to permit the angular disposition of the shell to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Sharon L. Pratt, Allen B. Killebrew, Bryan J. Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20030030318
    Abstract: A seat back assembly for connecting a seat back shell to the seat back tubes of a wheelchair comprises a shell, upper and lower shell connectors, and upper and lower side plate portions. The lower shell connector is mounted to a lower portion of the shell. The upper shell connector is mounted to an upper portion of the shell. The upper side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to an upper portion of the seat back tube. The lower side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to a lower portion of the seat back tube at a position substantially co-linear to the posterior superior illiac spine (PSIS) of a user. The lower shell connector and the lower side plate portion are pivotally engageable with one another along a pivot axis. The upper shell connector and the upper side plate portion are attachable relative to one another at discrete locations so as to permit the angular disposition of the shell to be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Sharon L. Pratt, Allen B. Killebrew, Bryan J. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 6059370
    Abstract: A support system for use with a wheelchair seat back provides support for the pelvic area of a wheelchair occupant. The support system comprises a base plate mountable to a wheelchair seat back, and a base layer adhered to the based plate. The base plate is dimensioned and configured to substantially span and conform to the wheelchair seat back. A front surface of the base layer comprises a fastening element for mounting additional layers, or pelvis-conforming blocks, to the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Kanyer, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Grant C. Denton
  • Patent number: 6033025
    Abstract: Support mechanisms are provided for use with a wheelchair pelvic support system generally having a base plate with opposite support wings and a central base between the support wings. A pelvis support mechanism comprises a notched support pad engageable with the base plate and pelvis-conforming blocks of a pelvic support system. The notched support pads comprise a soft and resiliently compressible material. One or more notches are provided in the compressible material. A fastening element is provided between the compressible material and the base plate of the pelvic support system for attaching the compressible material to the base plate of the pelvic support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Brian D. Kanyer, Vincent J. Frerich, Grant C. Denton
  • Patent number: 5947562
    Abstract: A quick release seat assembly (10) including a seat (11) having a seat cushion (12) and a seat frame (14), and a frame (16), wherein a pair of front seat mounts (18) support the front of seat (11) and a pair of rear seat mounts (20) support the back of seat (11). A pair of overlapping tabs (38, 42) are associated with rear seat mounts (20) and a pair of upstanding locking pins (32) and corresponding coupling mechanisms (50) are associated with front seat mounts (18). Each coupling mechanism (50) includes a releasable latch that engages the upstanding locking pin (32) and holds seat (11) on frame (16). A common pull cord (54) jointly releases the latches in order to allow removal of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Christofferson, Grant C. Denton, Peter A. Swisshelm