Patents by Inventor James S. Wawrzyniak

James S. Wawrzyniak 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: 10342349
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a seat. The recliner mechanism may have a first plate and a cartridge. The first plate may define a through hole that may receive the cartridge. The cartridge may have a pawl spring slot that may receive a pawl spring that may exert a biasing force on a pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Veine, James S. Wawrzyniak, Peter Robert McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20180279784
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a seat. The recliner mechanism may have a first plate and a cartridge. The first plate may define a through hole that may receive the cartridge. The cartridge may have a pawl spring slot that may receive a pawl spring that may exert a biasing force on a pawl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Veine, James S. Wawrzyniak, Peter Robert McCulloch
  • Patent number: 9873357
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism having the first plate, a second plate, at least one pawl, and a memory plate. The memory plate may be disposed between the first plate and the second plate and may be movable in an axial direction. The pawl may be held in a retracted position when the memory plate is actuated into engagement with the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Robert McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Publication number: 20150321585
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism having a gear plate that may be disposed between a first plate and a second plate. A first set of pawls may be configured to engage the first set of teeth on the gear plate to inhibit rotation of the gear plate with respect to the first plate. A second set of pawls may be configured to engage the second set of teeth on the gear plate to inhibit rotation of the second plate with respect to the gear plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Robert McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Patent number: 9167898
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism having a first plate, a dust cover, and a brake. The brake may be configured to engage a set of dust cover teeth to inhibit rotation of the second plate with respect to the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, Jonathan David Conger, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Martin Stilleke
  • Patent number: 8985689
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a seat. The recliner mechanism may include a first plate, a second plate, and a set of pawls. A pawl may extend between a set of teeth on the second plate and into a pawl tooth opening on the first plate to inhibit rotation of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Patent number: 8864234
    Abstract: A discontinuous recliner for a vehicle seat back that may be locked in a desired angular orientation. A memory function is provided by a memory pawl that is actuated by a memory handle. The memory pawl carries a memory pad in the memory disengaged position. The memory pawl carries the memory pad in a deactivated position and lodges the memory pad in internal gear teeth of a gear plate when the memory feature is activated. The memory pad rotates with the gear plate as the seat back is folded forward. When the seat back is returned to the memory position, the memory pad engages a stop on the memory pawl that is pivoted to move the memory pad out of engagement with the internal gear teeth of the gear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Robert McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Publication number: 20140097659
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism having a first plate, a dust cover, and a brake. The brake may be configured to engage a set of dust cover teeth to inhibit rotation of the second plate with respect to the first plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, Jonathan David Conger, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Martin Stilleke
  • Publication number: 20140008956
    Abstract: A continuous manual seat recliner mechanism with an integrated lock includes an upper gear plate and lower gear plate in geared connection with the upper gear plate. The upper gear plate is able to rotate eccentrically in relation to the lower gear plate. A coiled locking spring is located within a central bore of a lock cylinder which is fixed to the lower gear plate so that an outside surface of the locking spring may frictionally engage the lock cylinder to prevent the lock cylinder and, thereby, the lower gear, from rotating. The ends of the lock spring engage with a knob hub and a driver hub such that rotation of the knob hub unlocks the recliner to allow adjustment by the operator, while rotation of the driver hub locks the recliner mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: B. Paul Golarz, Kenneth McQueen, Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Publication number: 20140001807
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a seat. The recliner mechanism may include a first plate, a second plate, and a set of pawls. A pawl may extend between a set of teeth on the second plate and into a pawl tooth opening on the first plate to inhibit rotation of the second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Publication number: 20130320735
    Abstract: A discontinuous recliner for a vehicle seat back that may be locked in a desired angular orientation. A memory function is provided by a memory pawl that is actuated by a memory handle. The memory pawl carries a memory pad in the memory disengaged position. The memory pawl carries the memory pad in a deactivated position and lodges the memory pad in internal gear teeth of a gear plate when the memory feature is activated. The memory pad rotates with the gear plate as the seat back is folded forward. When the seat back is returned to the memory position, the memory pad engages a stop on the memory pawl that is pivoted to move the memory pad out of engagement with the internal gear teeth of the gear plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Robert McCulloch, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Patent number: 7703852
    Abstract: A manual vehicle seat reclining mechanism and seat assembly incorporating the reclining mechanism is disclosed. A guide plate and a pivotal plate are assembled together and disposed between the seat base and seat back. A cam is biased by a spring to hold locking elements in engagement with the pivotal plate. A control plate is manually rotated with the cam to release the locking elements by drawing pins on one side of the locking plates radially inwardly with slots provided in the control plate. Ribs are provided on the pivotal plate that prevent the locking elements from returning to the locked position in certain radial alignments of the pivotal plate relative to the guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Publication number: 20090140565
    Abstract: A manual vehicle seat reclining mechanism and seat assembly incorporating the reclining mechanism is disclosed. A guide plate and a pivotal plate are assembled together and disposed between the seat base and seat back. A cam is biased by a spring to hold locking elements in engagement with the pivotal plate. A control plate is manually rotated with the cam to release the locking elements by drawing pins on one side of the locking plates radially inwardly with slots provided in the control plate. Ribs are provided on the pivotal plate that prevent the locking elements from returning to the locked position in certain radial alignments of the pivotal plate relative to the guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak
  • Patent number: 7517021
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam pivotally connects to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have an external gear segment to cooperate with the internal gear segments. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements unlocking the external gear segments from the internal gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. The cam engages each lock element at two contact points to drive the external gear segments into the internal gear segments when the reclining mechanism is in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Luke Gajda
  • Patent number: 7513573
    Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat that is used to adjust the angular orientation of a seat back relative to a seat base. The tilt adjustment mechanism has a driver that has two protrusions that are rotated with the driver by a drive shaft. Initially the driver rotates independently of a cam assembly until a driving protrusion of the cam assembly is engaged. The movement of the driver continues to release a locking wedge that releases the seat back for adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Eric Brines
  • Publication number: 20080073962
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam pivotally connects to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have an external gear segment to cooperate with the internal gear segments. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements unlocking the external gear segments from the internal gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. The cam engages each lock element at two contact points to drive the external gear segments into the internal gear segments when the reclining mechanism is in a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Luke Gajda
  • Publication number: 20080073961
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam is pivotally connected to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements are translatable relative to the guide plate, and have a gear segment to cooperate with the pivotal plate gear segments. Rotation of the cam engages each of the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements to unlock the gear segments from each of the pivotal plate gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. A clip supports the bushing, but does not extend beyond an outer profile of one of the pivotal plate or guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Luke Gajda
  • Publication number: 20080061616
    Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat that is used to adjust the angular orientation of a seat back relative to a seat base. The tilt adjustment mechanism has a driver that has two protrusions that are rotated with the driver by a drive shaft. Initially the driver rotates independently of a cam assembly until a driving protrusion of the cam assembly is engaged. The movement of the driver continues to release a locking wedge that releases the seat back for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wahls, James S. Wawrzyniak, Kenneth McQueen, Eric Brines