Patents by Inventor Jochen Kohlhofer
Jochen Kohlhofer 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: 12479344Abstract: The present application relates to an arm rest trash compartment. An arm rest assembly includes an arm rest body having an A-surface with a trash cavity defined therethrough; and a trash compartment corresponding to the trash cavity. The trash compartment includes a movable member releasably secured at the A-surface, and a flexible member which forms the trash cavity. The trash compartment has a stored position and an extended position, where, in the stored position, the movable member is flush with the A-surface, and in the extended position, at least a portion of the flexible member is positioned below the A-surface such that a trash cavity volume in the extended position is greater than a trash cavity volume in the stored position.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2023Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Lea Thomas Smith, Thomas Sundberg, Jochen Kohlhofer
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Patent number: 12391294Abstract: A cargo device, cargo management system and method of managing cargo are provided. A cargo device includes a platform having a top side configured to support cargo thereon; a cassette attached to the platform, the cassette configured to engage with at least one corresponding rail in a surface, and electrically communicate with the at least one corresponding rail to receive power and/or data related to the cargo from a controller to actuate the wheels, the cassette, or both; and wheels attached to the platform, the cassette, or both, the wheels being configured to move the platform along the surface. One or both of the cassette and the wheels are retractable based on the data such that the cassettes are moved between an engaged position with the corresponding rail and a disengaged position with the corresponding rail.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2022Date of Patent: August 19, 2025Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Lea Thomas Smith, Jochen Kohlhofer, Dhananjay Ingale, Brian Phillips, Anthony Mollica, Michael Currie
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Patent number: 12083936Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a panel defined as a portion of a vehicle seat, the panel defines a first aperture therethrough to access an anchor and a second aperture therethrough, and has an engagement region thereon adjacent to the second aperture, a trim cover assembly including a trim cover, a strap connecting the trim cover to the vehicle seat, a seat frame and/or a vehicle framework via the second aperture, and a holder member. The holder member is sized to retract into and emerge from the second aperture, and has an edge configured to engage the engagement region. The trim cover assembly has a first position covering the first aperture to visibly hide the anchor, and a second position with the trim cover assembly spaced apart from the aperture to provide access to the anchor, where the edge of the holder member is engaged with the engagement region.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Alexander Sel, Geraldine Arand, Jochen Kohlhofer
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Publication number: 20240149770Abstract: An armrest employed with a vehicle seat assembly that includes a storage compartment in the armrest that is accessible by moving a storage cover relative to the armrest.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2022Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Lea Thomas Smith, Zhengda Mao, Thomas Loyal Sundberg, JR., Liting Shen, Jochen Kohlhofer, Jasmine Pizana, Mark Steven Sparschu
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Publication number: 20230415625Abstract: The present application relates to an arm rest trash compartment. An arm rest assembly includes an arm rest body having an A-surface with a trash cavity defined therethrough; and a trash compartment corresponding to the trash cavity. The trash compartment includes a movable member releasably secured at the A-surface, and a flexible member which forms the trash cavity. The trash compartment has a stored position and an extended position, where, in the stored position, the movable member is flush with the A-surface, and in the extended position, at least a portion of the flexible member is positioned below the A-surface such that a trash cavity volume in the extended position is greater than a trash cavity volume in the stored position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Lea Thomas SMITH, Thomas SUNDBERG, Jochen KOHLHOFER
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Patent number: 11691552Abstract: Seats that include sound cancelation systems are described. An example vehicle bench seat has a first backrest, a first speaker, a second backrest, a second speaker, a central portion, and a seat base. The first speaker is disposed within the first backrest and the second speaker is disposed within the second backrest. Each of the first and second speakers emit primary sound waves and secondary sound waves. The secondary sound waves of the first speaker are 180 degrees out of phase with the primary sound waves of the first speaker and the secondary sound waves of the second speaker are 180 degrees out of phase with the primary sound waves of the second speaker. The central portion includes channels that direct the secondary sound waves emitted by the first and second speakers into the vehicle cabin to cancel undesired primary sound waves.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Peter Festag, Jochen Kohlhofer, Stefan Willems
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Publication number: 20230075983Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a panel defined as a portion of a vehicle seat, the panel defines a first aperture therethrough to access an anchor and a second aperture therethrough, and has an engagement region thereon adjacent to the second aperture, a trim cover assembly including a trim cover, a strap connecting the trim cover to the vehicle seat, a seat frame and/or a vehicle framework via the second aperture, and a holder member. The holder member is sized to retract into and emerge from the second aperture, and has an edge configured to engage the engagement region. The trim cover assembly has a first position covering the first aperture to visibly hide the anchor, and a second position with the trim cover assembly spaced apart from the aperture to provide access to the anchor, where the edge of the holder member is engaged with the engagement region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Alexander SEL, Geraldine ARAND, Jochen KOHLHOFER
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Publication number: 20230053315Abstract: A cargo device, cargo management system and method of managing cargo are provided. A cargo device includes a platform having a top side configured to support cargo thereon; a cassette attached to the platform, the cassette configured to engage with at least one corresponding rail in a surface, and electrically communicate with the at least one corresponding rail to receive power and/or data related to the cargo from a controller to actuate the wheels, the cassette, or both; and wheels attached to the platform, the cassette, or both, the wheels being configured to move the platform along the surface. One or both of the cassette and the wheels are retractable based on the data such that the cassettes are moved between an engaged position with the corresponding rail and a disengaged position with the corresponding rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Lea Thomas SMITH, Jochen KOHLHOFER, Dhananjay INGALE, Brian PHILLIPS, Anthony MOLLICA, Michael CURRIE
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Publication number: 20230034702Abstract: A delivery vehicle having a cargo area and a package positioning system that includes a moveable panel. The moveable panel may move a package in the cargo area. In at least one configuration, the panel may be mounted to first and second cassettes that are moveably disposed in first and second rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Frank Orsini, Lea Thomas Smith, Dave Anderson, Dhananjay Ingale, Jochen Kohlhofer
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Publication number: 20220153177Abstract: A seat assembly, and method of operation, including a lateral support beans located adjacent to a seat back and having a pair of forward extending arms extending on opposite sides of a seat occupant's head, with each of the arms including a microphone fixed in the arm, flush with a passenger facing surface of the respective arm and located between a respective ear and a mouth of an occupant's head, and a speaker mounted in the arm adjacent to a respective one of the ears of the occupant's head; wherein at least one of the microphones communicates with a controller that actuates vehicle functions based on voice commands received from the microphone, and wherein each of the microphones and the speaker corresponding to each microphone communicate with an active noise cancelation system such that ambient noise detected by each of the microphones is canceled out by the corresponding speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Nitin Jadhav, Pankaj Badarayani, Indrajit Singha, Jochen Kohlhofer, Peter Festag
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Publication number: 20220108678Abstract: Seats that include sound cancelation systems are described. An example vehicle bench seat has a first backrest, a first speaker, a second backrest, a second speaker, a central portion, and a seat base. The first speaker is disposed within the first backrest and the second speaker is disposed within the second backrest. Each of the first and second speakers emit primary sound waves and secondary sound waves. The secondary sound waves of the first speaker are 180 degrees out of phase with the primary sound waves of the first speaker and the secondary sound waves of the second speaker are 180 degrees out of phase with the primary sound waves of the second speaker. The central portion includes channels that direct the secondary sound waves emitted by the first and second speakers into the vehicle cabin to cancel undesired primary sound waves.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: Lear CorporationInventors: Peter Festag, Jochen Kohlhofer, Stefan Willems