Patents by Inventor Jeffery Bonk

Jeffery Bonk 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: 11897395
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is equipped with a display mounted on a reclinable seat back. The display self-adjusts to maintain a desired viewing angle when the recline angle of the seat back changes. The display is selectively locked or unlocked with respect to the seat back to move about a pivot axis. When a change in the recline angle is detected, the display is unlocked until the desired viewing angle is reestablished. Display movement relative to the seat can be damped rotational movement or motorized movement. A user can interact with the display to set or change the desired viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Fitzpatrick, Jeffery Bonk, James Farber, Todd Sieting
  • Publication number: 20220348148
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is equipped with a display mounted on a reclinable seat back. The display self-adjusts to maintain a desired viewing angle when the recline angle of the seat back changes. The display is selectively locked or unlocked with respect to the seat back to move about a pivot axis. When a change in the recline angle is detected, the display is unlocked until the desired viewing angle is reestablished. Display movement relative to the seat can be damped rotational movement or motorized movement. A user can interact with the display to set or change the desired viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Robert FITZPATRICK, Jeffery BONK, James FARBER, Todd SIETING
  • Patent number: 11383627
    Abstract: A seat frame side member includes a frame body and a structural attachment point configured to connect a seat feature to the seat frame side member. The structural attachment point includes a projection extending from the frame body to a distal end. The projection includes a seat feature receiving portion at the distal end of the projection and a seat feature seating portion between the seat feature receiving portion and the frame body, and the seat feature receiving portion has a cross-sectional thickness that is different from a cross-sectional thickness of the seat feature seating portion. The seat frame side member can have an anisotropic microstructure with a plurality of layers built by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Robert Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 11312273
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seat pad including at least one trench, a plurality of discrete fasteners positioned within the at least one trench, and a mat placed on the seat pad. The mat comprises a main portion that includes an electrical element and at least one extension panel extending outwardly from an outer edge of the main portion and being devoid of the electrical element. The at least one extension panel includes fastener openings with each fastener opening being aligned with one fastener of the plurality of discrete fasteners when the at least one extension panel is tucked into the at least one trench. A seat cover has an inner surface that faces the mat and includes an attachment feature that is aligned with the fastener openings. The attachment feature extends through the fastener openings and engages the plurality of discrete fasteners to secure the mat between the seat pad and the seat cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffery Bonk
  • Publication number: 20220080867
    Abstract: A seat frame side member includes a frame body and a structural attachment point configured to connect a seat feature to the seat frame side member. The structural attachment point includes a projection extending from the frame body to a distal end. The projection includes a seat feature receiving portion at the distal end of the projection and a seat feature seating portion between the seat feature receiving portion and the frame body, and the seat feature receiving portion has a cross-sectional thickness that is different from a cross-sectional thickness of the seat feature seating portion. The seat frame side member can have an anisotropic microstructure with a plurality of layers built by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffery BONK, Robert FITZPATRICK
  • Patent number: 10252650
    Abstract: A thermal comfort system for use with a vehicle seat includes an airflow management system and a thermal-electric device (TED) system. The TED system operates to conduct thermal energy between the seat occupant and the vehicle seat to enhance the thermal comfort of the seat occupant. The airflow management system operates to route a stream of conditioned air along the body of the seat occupant via cooperating air intake and air discharge ports to further enhance the comfort of the seat occupant. The conditioned air may also be routed along the TED system to enhance TED performance. The HVAC system of the vehicle can provide the conditioned air and/or a non-ambient pressure source that induces air flow along one or more portions of the thermal comfort system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventors: John Michael Perraut, Jeffery Bonk, Raghvendra Trimbakrao Joshi
  • Publication number: 20160009206
    Abstract: A thermal comfort system for use with a vehicle seat includes an airflow management system and a thermal-electric device (TED) system. The TED system operates to conduct thermal energy between the seat occupant and the vehicle seat to enhance the thermal comfort of the seat occupant. The airflow management system operates to route a stream of conditioned air along the body of the seat occupant via cooperating air intake and air discharge ports to further enhance the comfort of the seat occupant. The conditioned air may also be routed along the TED system to enhance TED performance. The HVAC system of the vehicle can provide the conditioned air and/or a non-ambient pressure source that induces air flow along one or more portions of the thermal comfort system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: John Michael PERRAUT, Jeffery BONK, Raghvendra Trimbakrao JOSHI
  • Patent number: 9108540
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back coupled to the seat base. The seat back moves about a seat-back pivot axis from an upright position to a fold-flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Miroslav Tasevski
  • Publication number: 20130193735
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back coupled to the seat base. The seat back moves about a seat-back pivot axis from an upright position to a fold-flat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Miroslav Tasevski
  • Patent number: 7871128
    Abstract: A seat-back motion controller is used in a foldable vehicle seat to control motion of a seat back relative to a seat base. The motion controller includes a seat recliner configured to be locked to retain the seat back in a selected reclined position and unlocked to free the seat back to be pivoted forwardly to assume a forward-leaning seat-back dumping position to facilitate passenger access to a back seat area in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Miroslav Tasevski
  • Publication number: 20100123343
    Abstract: A seat-back motion controller is used in a foldable vehicle seat to control motion of a seat back relative to a seat base. The motion controller includes a seat recliner configured to be locked to retain the seat back in a selected reclined position and unlocked to free the seat back to be pivoted forwardly to assume a forward-leaning seat-back dumping position to facilitate passenger access to a back seat area in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Miroslav Tasevski
  • Publication number: 20060152058
    Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat including a seat bottom supported by the vehicle and a seatback coupled to the seat bottom is provided. The seat adjustment mechanism includes a first kneel mechanism connected to the vehicle seat and a powered motor operably connected to the first kneel mechanism. The powered motor drives the first kneel mechanism to translate the seatback and seat bottom relative the vehicle to manipulate the seat assembly into a desired configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Srinivas Pejathaya, Jeffery Bonk, Christopher Ryan, David Robinson
  • Publication number: 20060055222
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism generally includes a housing, a back plate, and a locking mechanism. The back plate is rotatably supported in the housing. The locking mechanism selectively locks the back plate relative to the housing. The locking mechanism includes a cam, a pair of wedges, a pair of pawls and a plurality of slides. The wedges are displaced radially outward along a first axis by the cam. The pawls are displaced radially outward along a second axis to lockingly engage the housing in response to the cam displacing the wedges. The second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis. The slides are disposed between the wedges and the pawls for transferring radial displacement of the wedges to the radial displacement of the pawls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffery Bonk, Srinivas Pejathaya
  • Publication number: 20050253437
    Abstract: A linear recliner assembly is provided having a recliner rod slidably supported within a housing. The recliner rod is selectively engageable with a pawl which is fixed within the housing. The recliner rod is in contact with a cam which is operable to force the recliner rod into engagement with the pawl or enable the recliner rod to fall out of engagement with he pawl. The cam is biased in a first position by a biasing mechanism, such that the recliner rod is engaged with the pawl. The linear recliner assembly is implemented into a seat assembly for enabling an operator to select a plurality of recline positions of a seat back relative to a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffery Bonk
  • Publication number: 20050212341
    Abstract: A vehicle seat recliner and folding latch assembly is provided. The assembly generally includes a lower quadrant disk, a slide pin sub-assembly and a recliner disk. The slide pin sub-assembly is supported on the lower quadrant disk for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The recliner disk is supported for pivotal displacement on the slide-pin subassembly. The recliner disk includes an engagement edge engaging the slide pin sub-assembly. The engagement edge is adapted to lock the slide pin sub-assembly in the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Craig Coughlin, Jeffery Bonk, Scott Fast
  • Publication number: 20050173939
    Abstract: A floor latch apparatus for a vehicle seat is provided. The floor latch apparatus includes a housing member, a locking member, an engaging member, and a biasing member. The locking member includes a locking portion and a claw portion and is supported on the housing member for rotational displacement about a first axis. The engaging member includes an engaging portion supported on the housing member for rotational displacement about a second axis, which is substantially parallel to the first axis. The biasing member is disposed between the locking member and the engaging member and is adapted to bias the locking portion into engagement with the engaging portion in at least one plane substantially common with the first axis. This produces at least one force vector acting on the engaging member through a point located between the first and second axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffery Bonk