Patents by Inventor Kai Schumann

Kai Schumann 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: 9573491
    Abstract: A vehicle seat longitudinal adjuster includes a lower rail (5) and an upper rail (3) which is guided therein such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, and at least one bearing element (30) which is arranged between the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5). At least one additional supporting element (20) is provided which is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and has a rotatable supporting roller (22). The supporting roller (22) can be rotated about a rotational axis (A) which runs in the vertical direction. The at least one supporting element (20) includes a supporting spring (26) which loads the supporting roller (22) in the vertical direction. A vehicle seat (1) with the longitudinal adjuster is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Kai Schumann, Peter Reimer, Ingo Teufel
  • Patent number: 9566879
    Abstract: An unlocking device for a vehicle seat with an entry facilitation function includes a bracket-like element and a guide bar. The guide bar is arranged by at least one fastening device on a lower rail of a rail system for longitudinal adjustment of the seat. The bracket-like element is coupled to a triggering lever for the entry facilitation function. A method is provided for operating an unlocking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai Schumann, Ingo Teufel
  • Patent number: 9393888
    Abstract: A locking device for a foldable backrest of a seat, has a locking housing with a handle, the handle being pivotably between locking and unlocking positions and by which a pawl can be carried between retaining and non-retaining positions, and has a blocking element which is movable by a closable lock manually between a blocking position blocking the handle and a release position releasing the handle. The blocking element is a locking bolt mounted pivotably in the locking housing between the blocking and release positions and having release and blocking recesses. A blocking pin, in the release position of the locking bolt, projects into the release recess and is freely movable between the locking and unlocking positions. The blocking pin, in the blocking position of the locking bolt and the locking position of the handle, protrudes into the blocking recess and is blocked against pivoting into the unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20160068082
    Abstract: A vehicle seat longitudinal adjuster includes a lower rail (5) and an upper rail (3) which is guided therein such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, and at least one bearing element (30) which is arranged between the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5). At least one additional supporting element (20) is provided which is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and has a rotatable supporting roller (22). The supporting roller (22) can be rotated about a rotational axis (A) which runs in the vertical direction. The at least one supporting element (20) includes a supporting spring (26) which loads the supporting roller (22) in the vertical direction. A vehicle seat (1) with the longitudinal adjuster is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kai SCHUMANN, Peter REIMER, Ingo TEUFEL
  • Patent number: 9180799
    Abstract: A locking system for a vehicle seat, for locking to a vehicle structure of a vehicle, has a backrest able to be folded from a normal position into a folded position, a locking device located on the backrest, and a catch that can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position and can be pivotally driven by both a manually-pivotable unlocking element and an actuation device arranged on the vehicle structure. When the backrest is in the normal position, a counter element is locked to the locking device by the catch. The actuation device has a control lever that can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Patent number: 9108535
    Abstract: A longitudinally adjustable vehicle seat includes a first rail fixed to the structure, a second rail guided in the first rail and connected to the vehicle seat, a releasable locking device for locking the position of the first rail relative to the second rail, first, second, and third end stops, which limit the movability of the rail pair, wherein one of the end stops can be disabled by a stop surface that can be moved out of the path of travel of the rails. The movable stop surface is arranged on the second rail, and the end stop that can be disabled, on which the movable stop surface is formed, can be actuated together with the locking device in order for an easy-entry position to be assumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20150040623
    Abstract: A locking device for a foldable backrest of a seat, has a locking housing with a handle, the handle being pivotably between locking and unlocking positions and by which a pawl can be carried between retaining and non-retaining positions, and has a blocking element which is movable by a closable lock manually between a blocking position blocking the handle and a release position releasing the handle. The blocking element is a locking bolt mounted pivotably in the locking housing between the blocking and release positions and having release and blocking recesses. A blocking pin, in the release position of the locking bolt, projects into the release recess and is freely movable between the locking and unlocking positions. The blocking pin, in the blocking position of the locking bolt and the locking position of the handle, protrudes into the blocking recess and is blocked against pivoting into the unlocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20140375095
    Abstract: An unlocking device for a vehicle seat with an entry facilitation function includes a bracket-like element and a guide bar. The guide bar is arranged by at least one fastening device on a lower rail of a rail system for longitudinal adjustment of the seat. The bracket-like element is coupled to a triggering lever for the entry facilitation function. A method is provided for operating an unlocking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Kai Schumann, Ingo Teufel
  • Patent number: 8684459
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially a utility vehicle seat, includes a seat frame (16) and a seat shell (22) which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the seat frame (16) in the longitudinal direction of the seat (x) to adjust the seat depth. The seat depth can be adjusted by means of a motor (25) which is mounted on the seat shell (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20140070589
    Abstract: A locking system for a vehicle seat, for locking to a vehicle structure of a vehicle, has a backrest able to be folded from a normal position into a folded position, a locking device located on the backrest, and a catch that can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position and can be pivotally driven by both a manually-pivotable unlocking element and an actuation device arranged on the vehicle structure. When the backrest is in the normal position, a counter element is locked to the locking device by the catch. The actuation device has a control lever that can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO.KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20130302626
    Abstract: A longitudinally adjustable vehicle seat includes a first rail fixed to the structure, a second rail guided in the first rail and connected to the vehicle seat, a releasable locking device for locking the position of the first rail relative to the second rail, first, second, and third end stops, which limit the movability of the rail pair, wherein one of the end stops can be disabled by a stop surface that can be moved out of the path of travel of the rails. The movable stop surface is arranged on the second rail, and the end stop that can be disabled, on which the movable stop surface is formed, can be actuated together with the locking device in order for an easy-entry position to be assumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Keiper GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20120001467
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially a utility vehicle seat, includes a seat frame (16) and a seat shell (22) which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the seat frame (16) in the longitudinal direction of the seat (x) to adjust the seat depth. The seat depth can be adjusted by means of a motor (25) which is mounted on the seat shell (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Patent number: 7988229
    Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement (1) is provided including a seat structure divided, in a transversal direction, into an outer first seat (11), a middle second seat (12), and an outer third seat (13), which can all be moved in a longitudinal direction in relation to the vehicle structure and can be locked therewith. The arrangement is provided with a coupling device (20) which couples the second seat (12) to one of the two outer seats (11, 13), forming a pair, when the other of the two outer seats (11, 13) is moved in relation to the pair in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Dill, Ingo Teufel, Ulf Schaeffling, Kai Schumann, Heinrich Hammann
  • Patent number: 7883134
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat (1), particularly a motor vehicle seat, having at least one bottom rail (21) to be connected to the vehicle chassis (S), at least one upper rail (22) displaceable in the seat longitudinal direction relative to the bottom rail (21) for the seat longitudinal adjustment, at least one fitting base (17), which is attached at least on the upper rail (22), and one backrest structure (14), which is attached by at least one fitting (15) in a manner that is pivotable about a backrest pivoting axis (C), the fitting base (17) is hinged on the upper rail (22) by a joint (E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Patent number: 7780235
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, is provided including a seat substructure (5), a seat cushion (31, 33) with a seat shell (31) and an inclination adjuster (21) with a drive (43). The inclination adjuster (21) with drive (43) is used to change the inclination of the seat cushion relative to the seat substructure (5). The inclination adjuster (21) is loosely positioned on the seat substructure (5) or on the seat cushion (31, 33) and movably attached to the other respective sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: RECARO GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Hans Edrich, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20090309383
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat (1), particularly a motor vehicle seat, having at least one bottom rail (21) to be connected to the vehicle chassis (S), at least one upper rail (22) displaceable in the seat longitudinal direction relative to the bottom rail (21) for the seat longitudinal adjustment, at least one fitting base (17), which is attached at least on the upper rail (22), and one backrest structure (14), which is attached by means of at least one fitting (15) in a manner that is pivotable about a backrest pivoting axis (C), the fitting base (17) is hinged on the upper rail (22) by means of a joint (E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Publication number: 20090230740
    Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement (1) is provided including a seat structure divided, in a transversal direction, into an outer first seat (11), a middle second seat (12), and an outer third seat (13), which can all be moved in a longitudinal direction in relation to the vehicle structure and can be locked therewith. The arrangement is provided with a coupling device (20) which couples the second seat (12) to one of the two outer seats (11, 13), forming a pair, when the other of the two outer seats (11, 13) is moved in relation to the pair in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Dill, Ingo Teufel, Ulf Schaeffling, Kai Schumann, Heinrich Hammann
  • Publication number: 20080303330
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, is provided including a seat substructure (5), a seat cushion (31, 33) with a seat shell (31) and an inclination adjuster (21) with a drive (43). The inclination adjuster (21) with drive (43) is used to change the inclination of the seat cushion relative to the seat substructure (5). The inclination adjuster (21) is loosely positioned on the seat substructure (5) or on the seat cushion (31, 33) and movably attached to the other respective sub-assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Ingo TEUFEL, Hans EDRICH, Kai SCHUMANN
  • Patent number: 7077471
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, having at least one four-bar linkage (4), which is defined by four mechanism links, for setting the seat height, and a crash blocking unit (21) which, in the event of a crash, locks at least two of the mechanism links to one another by means of two locking members (23, 25), the crash blocking unit (21) has a passive or switchable element (51) which is separately activated prior to or at the beginning of the crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Kai Schumann, Ingo Teufel, Dieter Braun, Heinrich Hammann
  • Patent number: 7044543
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, has a multi-bar linkage (4) which is defined by at least four link mechanisms (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and is intended for setting the seat height, and a crash locking unit (21). The link mechanisms include a frame (5), which is fixed on the vehicle structure, and a rocker (8). In the event of a crash, the crash locking unit (21) locks the frame (5) and the rocker (8) to each other. An additional link mechanism (7) is provided between the frame (5) and the rocker (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai Schumann, Ingo Teufel, Dieter Braun, Heinrich Hammann