Patents by Inventor Lea Thomas Smith
Lea Thomas Smith 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: 12570198Abstract: A system for moving cargo includes an in-vehicle conveyor system mounted in a vehicle cargo space, the in-vehicle conveyor system comprising one or more rails. The rails may be mounted to walls, floor, or ceiling of the vehicle cargo space. The system also includes one or more cargo storage units attached to the in-vehicle conveyor system. Each of the one or more cargo storage units is secured to the rails such that the one or more cargo storage units are raised with respect to a floor of the vehicle cargo space and define a circuit as based on a travel path of the one or more cargo storage units. Upon instruction, the cargo storage units are movable along the circuit to move a specified cargo storage unit to a predetermined location.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2023Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Mark Farquhar, Brian Phillips, Jeanene F. Munroe, Evan Katz, Praveen Dodamani, Nilesh Mate, Gegi George, Kyle Calvert, Eric Veine, Krzysztof Wroblewski, Stephen Redwood, Vishal Sarode, Chris Armbruster, Kevin Gasparotto, Andrew Showich, Christopher D. Johnson, Sumanth Muthyala, Aaron Roggow, Salim Marouf, Lea Thomas Smith, Anthony Mollica, Michael Currie, Erik Elie, Jason Scott
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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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Publication number: 20240227682Abstract: A cargo-module arrangement for a vehicle having a body-in-white (BIW) portion and a load floor secured to the BIW portion may include a cargo platform disposed above the load floor and having a front edge and a back edge. The cargo platform may be selectively movable along a track arrangement in forward and rearward directions and include a cargo gate disposed proximate to the back edge. The cargo gate may include a forward edge and a rearward edge and may be pivotable upward about at least one of the forward edge or the rearward edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Applicant: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Sumanth MUTHYALA, Lea Thomas SMITH, Aaron ROGGOW, Salim MAROUF, Arjun YETUKURI
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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: 20240131992Abstract: A cargo-module arrangement for a vehicle having a body-in-white (BIW) portion and a load floor secured to the BIW portion may include a cargo platform disposed above the load floor and having a front edge and a back edge. The cargo platform may be selectively movable along a track arrangement in forward and rearward directions and include a cargo gate disposed proximate to the back edge. The cargo gate may include a forward edge and a rearward edge and may be pivotable upward about at least one of the forward edge or the rearward edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Sumanth MUTHYALA, Lea Thomas SMITH, Aaron ROGGOW, Salim MAROUF, Arjun YETUKURI
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Publication number: 20240059205Abstract: A system for moving cargo includes an in-vehicle conveyor system mounted in a vehicle cargo space, the in-vehicle conveyor system comprising one or more rails. The rails may be mounted to walls, floor, or ceiling of the vehicle cargo space. The system also includes one or more cargo storage units attached to the in-vehicle conveyor system. Each of the one or more cargo storage units is secured to the rails such that the one or more cargo storage units are raised with respect to a floor of the vehicle cargo space and define a circuit as based on a travel path of the one or more cargo storage units. Upon instruction, the cargo storage units are movable along the circuit to move a specified cargo storage unit to a predetermined location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Mark FARQUHAR, Brian PHILLIPS, Jeanene F. MUNROE, Evan KATZ, Praveen DODAMANI, Nilesh MATE, Gegi GEORGE, Kyle CALVERT, Eric VEINE, Krzysztof WROBLEWSKI, Stephen REDWOOD, Vishal SARODE, Chris ARMBRUSTER, Kevin GASPAROTTO, Andrew SHOWICH, Christopher D. JOHNSON, Sumanth MUTHYALA, Aaron ROGGOW, Salim MAROUF, Lea Thomas SMITH, Anthony MOLLICA, Michael CURRIE, Erik ELIE, Jason Scott
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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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Publication number: 20230192201Abstract: A vehicle having a floor, first and second lateral side body structures, a roof, a rear wall, and a bulkhead. The rear wall extends from the roof and cooperates with the floor to at least partially define an opening. The bulkhead may be moveable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Lear CorporationInventor: Lea Thomas Smith
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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