Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Prosniewski

Joseph F. Prosniewski 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: 9340135
    Abstract: A seat back frame for use in a vehicle seat assembly including a first side member, a second side member, an upper cross member, and a lower cross member. The seat back frame also includes a load transfer member that transfers impact loads from a collision through the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Sakkinen, Nicholas Leonard Petouhoff, Antoine A. Kmeid, Todd W. Waelde, Eric B. Michalak, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alexander I. Balin, Ornela Zekavica, Phillip Wayne Wilson, Alexander Saveski
  • Patent number: 9045068
    Abstract: A seat back structure includes a web extending about a central opening, and an inner flange extending about an inner perimeter of the web adjacent to the central opening. The seat back structure also includes an outer flange extending about an outer perimeter of the web. The inner flange, the outer flange and the web form a channel extending about the seat back structure, and the seat back structure is formed from a single piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ornela Zekavica, Phillip W. Wilson, Anthony M. Kestian, Elizabeth A. Allen, Mark S. Williamson, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Catherine M. Amodeo, Miodrag Mitch Petrovich, Ronald G. Bedro, Edward J. Lamont, Michael J. Leighton, William Shawn Brewer, David J. Hayes, Robert J. Hicks, Andrew J. Erard, Michael G. Buss, Mark A. Harris, Alexander I. Balin, Alex Saveski, Eric B. Michalak, Kurt A. Seiboid, Daniel J. Sakkinen, Nicholas L. Petouhoff
  • Patent number: 8864239
    Abstract: Disclosed is a back rest structure for vehicle seats and a method for manufacturing the same. The back rest structure has a back panel element and a seat back frame element fixed to each other, where at least one of the back panel element or the seat back frame element is provided of a thermoplastic composite material comprising a thermoplastic compound material and a reinforcement material, wherein with respect to the thermoplastic material the reinforcement material represents 50 wt-% or more than 50 wt-%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Eric B. Michalak, Gregg R. Laframboise, Daniel J. Sakkinen, Ornela Zekavica, Antoine Kmeid, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alexander I. Balin, Nicholas L. Petouhoff
  • Patent number: 8625034
    Abstract: A seatback entertainment display system for a vehicle is provided having a support member extending from a seatback frame, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the support member, and a display device coupled to the adjustment mechanism. The support member may be a cantilever type beam or frame extending upwardly from the seatback at a position behind and adjacent to a headrest. The support member may also be a pair of rods arranged to fixedly receive the display device and movably receive the headrest. The adjustment device may include any one or more of a forward-rearward tilting mechanism, a side to side pivoting mechanism and an up-down translation mechanism. The seatback entertainment display system is adaptable to optimize a viewing angle for a rear seat occupant of the vehicle, throughout a normal adjustment range of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Douglas C. Campbell, James B. Price, Steven G. Schultz, Theodore J. Stokes, Eric B. Michalak, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alan G. Greene, David P. Thimm, Joon K. Lee
  • Publication number: 20130161992
    Abstract: A seat back structure includes a web extending about a central opening, and an inner flange extending about an inner perimeter of the web adjacent to the central opening. The seat back structure also includes an outer flange extending about an outer perimeter of the web. The inner flange, the outer flange and the web form a channel extending about the seat back structure, and the seat back structure is formed from a single piece of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ornela Zekavica, Phillip W. Wilson, Anthony M. Kestian, Elizabeth A. Allen, Mark S. Williamson, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Catherine M. Amodeo, Miodrag Mitch Petrovich, Ronald G. Bedro, Edward J. Lamont, Michael J. Leighton, William Shawn Brewer, David J. Hayes, Robert J. Hicks, Andrew J. Erard, Michael G. Buss, Mark A. Harris, Alexander I. Balin, Alex Saveski, Eric B. Michalak, Kurt A. Seiboid, Daniel J. Sakkinen, Nicholas L. Petouhoff
  • Patent number: 8449012
    Abstract: A collapsible seat assembly providing a compact size in the stowed position. The seat assembly has a reduced overall height in the stowed position, and an articulated bolster and lumbar supports which provides a reduced compact size of the seat in the stowed position. A cover may extend over the seat in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Joseph F. Prosniewski, John Gomez, Richard Tann, Brennon L. White
  • Publication number: 20120267935
    Abstract: A one-piece seat back frame for use in a vehicle seat assembly including a first side portion, a second side portion, an upper cross portion, a lower cross portion coupled together to form a rectangular unitary frame structure. The seat back frame also includes an inner wall extending from a front surface and an inner edge of the back frame, and an outer wall extending from the front surface and an outer edge of the back frame, thereby forming a channel on the front surface. A plurality of formations are formed in the back frame to enhance the strength and stiffness of the back frame. The seat back frame also includes a plurality of apertures for attaching other seat components, such as a head restraint assembly. The seat back frame is formed from at least one of a monolithic blank, a tailored welded blank, and/or a tailored welded coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Omela Zekavica, Daniel James Sakkinen, Youzhi Xiong, John David Kotre, Anthony Kestian, Robert J. Hicks, Nicholas Leonard Petouhoff, Antoine A. Kmeid, Phillip Wayne Wilson, David Hayes, Miodrag M. Petrovich, Elizabeth Ann Allen, Catherine M. Amodeo, Andrew J. Erard, Mark S. Williamson, Forest Hills, Joseph F. Prosniewski
  • Publication number: 20120193954
    Abstract: A seat back frame for use in a vehicle seat assembly including a first side member, a second side member, an upper cross member, and a lower cross member. The seat back frame also includes a load transfer member that transfers impact loads from a collision through the seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Copany
    Inventors: Daniel James Sakkinen, Nicholas Leonard Petouhoff, Antoine A. Kmeid, Todd W. Waelde, Eric B. Michalak, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alexander I. Balin, Ornela Zekavica, Phillip Wayne Wilson, Alexander Saveski
  • Publication number: 20120181839
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a back rest structure (3) for vehicle seats and a method for manufacturing a back rest structure (3) for vehicle seats, the back rest structure (3) having a back panel element (2) and a seat back frame element (1), the back panel element (2) and the seat back frame element (1) being fixed to each other, where at least one of the back panel element (2) or of the seat back frame element (1) being provided of a thermoplastic composite material, the thermoplastic composite material comprising a thermoplastic compound material and a reinforcement material, wherein with respect to the thermoplastic composite material the reinforcement material represents 50 wt-% or more than 50 wt-%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric B Michalak, Gregg R. Laframboise, Daniel J. Sakkinen, Ornela Zekavica, Antoine Kmeid, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alexander I. Balin, Nicholas L. Petouhoff
  • Publication number: 20110309650
    Abstract: A collapsible seat assembly providing a compact size in the stowed position. The seat assembly has a reduced overall height in the stowed position, and an articulated bolster and lumbar supports which provides a reduced compact size of the seat in the stowed position. A cover may extend over the seat in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Joseph F. Prosniewski, John Gomez, Richard Tann, Brennon L. White
  • Publication number: 20090316057
    Abstract: A seatback entertainment display system for a vehicle is provided having a support member extending from a seatback frame, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the support member, and a display device coupled to the adjustment mechanism. The support member may be a cantilever type beam or frame extending upwardly from the seatback at a position behind and adjacent to a headrest. The support member may also be a pair of rods arranged to fixedly receive the display device and movably receive the headrest. The adjustment device may include any one or more of a forward-rearward tilting mechanism, a side to side pivoting mechanism and an up-down translation mechanism. The seatback entertainment display system is adaptable to optimize a viewing angle for a rear seat occupant of the vehicle, throughout a normal adjustment range of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas C. Campbell, James B. Price, Steven G. Schultz, Theodore J. Stokes, Eric B. Michalak, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alan G. Greene, David P. Thimm, Joon K. Lee
  • Patent number: 5826942
    Abstract: A seat assembly which is movable from a use position to a stored position having an upwardly extending headrest which is first rotated to a stored position thereby lowering the overall height of the seat back prior to storing the seat back. The headrest is coupled to a lower seat back latch such that upon rotation of the headrest to its stored position, the lower seat back latch is released enabling the seat back to then be rotated to its stored position. The result is a single handed operation of moving the headrest to its stored position and moving the entire seat back to its stored position. An alternative embodiment is shown in which the headrest position is vertically adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sutton, Donald Cannell, Joseph F. Prosniewski, John W. Green