Patents by Inventor Johann Grassl

Johann Grassl 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: 5560263
    Abstract: An actuating assembly in particular for a vehicle seat has an elongate carrier member and brackets projecting from the carrier member. The brackets carry a pivot bar and actuating elements are mounted pivotably on the pivot bar. To afford user-specific flexibility in regard to the arrangement of the actuating elements in the actuating assembly, the carrier member has spaced-apart, transversely extending openings having a cross-sectional profile with an undercut configuration and each bracket is fitted into a corresponding opening with a fitting portion whose cross-sectional profile is matched to that of the corresponding opening to mount the bracket to the carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Johann Grassl, Armin Krahn
  • Patent number: 5533703
    Abstract: A sprung vehicle seat comprises a scissor support assembly formed by scissor members pivotable about a common pivot axis, and a gas spring for adjustment of the support assembly. A first valve device can be connected to the gas spring for adjustment of the height of the seat and a second valve device can be connected to the gas spring by way of a coupling for adjusting the height of the seat in dependence on weight. The coupling comprises a segment member which is pivotable about the support assembly pivot axis and which has an arcuate toothed portion, and a pivot arm with a tooth arrangement which can be brought into meshing engagement with the toothed portion. The pivot arm is connected to one of the scissor members of the support assembly and is actuable by a drive means connected to the first valve device. Also arranged pivotably at the support assembly pivot axis is a rocker member operable to actuate the second valve device and movable limitedly relative to the segment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Johann Grassl, Dietmar Herbert
  • Patent number: 5058852
    Abstract: A vehicle seat which is adjustable in height and which affords automatic adjustment to the seat occupant weight comprises a gas spring between a seat frame and a base frame, a valve arrangement actuable by an actuating element to adjust the pressure in the gas spring in dependence on the weight of the seat occupant, and a means for setting the desired seat height. Disposed between the seat and base frames is a belt reel device with a coupling means, which like the gas spring, can be subjected to the action of pressure gas from a pressure source. The pressure source comprises a compressor driven by a drive motor, which are disposed on the vehicle seat. The valve arrangement includes a 2/2-way valve which serves only for the release of pressure gas from the gas spring, and a 3/2-way valve between the pressure source and the coupling means of the belt reel device. The valve arrangement may be mechanical/pneumatic in operation or may be controlled by an electronic control arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Johann Meier, Johann Grassl, Josef Dotzler
  • Patent number: 4733847
    Abstract: In a sprung vehicle seat including a gas spring arrangement disposed between a seat carrier frame and a base frame, the gas spring arrangement includes a valve assembly for adjusting the pressure in a gas spring in response to the weight of the seat occupant (weight adjustment) and in dependence on the desired seat height (height adjustment). The valve assembly has a first valve means for weight adjustment and a second valve means for height adjustment, being separate from and manually operable independently of the first valve means. For weight adjustment, the seat also includes an actuator connected to the seat carrier frame and actuable for controlling the pressure in the gas spring, in dependence on the height of the seat carrier frame. A coupling means operatively connects the actuator to the seat carrier frame selectively at a plurality of different operative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Grammer Sitzysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Grassl
  • Patent number: 4684100
    Abstract: A sprung vehicle seat comprises a fluid spring between a base frame and a seat carrier frame displaceable relative to the base frame in respect of height, together with a control means for the fluid spring. The control means includes a switching means and an actuator acting thereon, with movement in respect of height of the seat carrier frame relative to the base frame being converted into a relatively large rotary movement as between the switching means and the actuator means. The structure for converting the heightwise movement into the rotary movement includes a belt winding mechanism wherein extension and retraction of the belt in response to heightwise movement of the seat carrier frame produces the relative rotary movement, or a toothed element meshing with a gear similarly operable to provide the relative rotary movement of substantial magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Grammer Sitzsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Grassl
  • Patent number: 4484723
    Abstract: An air-sprung vehicle seat wherein adjustment in respect of weight is provided by a control cam and two spaced-apart switches actuable thereby upon relative movement thereof in dependence on a variation in the seat height. One of the switches controls the supply of air into the air spring and the other the discharge of air therefrom. The switches each have two actuating stages such that, with increasing actuation, the first actuating stage serves as an idle stage and it is only in the subsequent second actuating stage that the respective switch is switched on, while, with decreasing actuation, a switch which has been switched on remains switched on until both actuating stages have passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Willibald Grammer
    Inventors: Hermann Meiller, Johann Grassl