Patents by Inventor Michael L. Longenecker

Michael L. Longenecker 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: 12311808
    Abstract: A quick acting belt tensioning mechanism for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle having a tensioning member with a hook-like engagement structure rotatably mounted on the safety seat adjacent to a belt path for a vehicle seat belt. Engaging the seat belt in the engagement structure and rotating the tensioning member by movement of the lever tensions the seat belt by wrapping the seat belt around the tensioning member. The lever is slideably disposed on the tensioning member to close the opening of the hook-like structure and prevent disengagement of the seat belt therefrom and to inhibit rotation of the tensioning member to the tensioned position unless the lever is properly positioned. A latching mechanism is provided to restrain the tensioning member and lever in the tensioned and closed position. The seat shell and lever may include structures to further constrain seat belt tensioning unless the lever is properly positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Matthew J. Ransil, Michael S. Degrace
  • Patent number: 12263764
    Abstract: An accessory mount for use with a child safety seat having a base including a rotating mechanism for detachably connecting a seat shell for a child. The base enables rotation of the seat shell into forward-facing, rearward-facing, or side-facing configurations. The base also includes an upstanding backrest portion and is anchorable in the vehicle. The backrest portion includes a reinforcement structure disposed in an upper end that is engageable to a portion of the seat shell when the seat is forward-facing to reinforce the seat shell anchorage. The accessory mount includes an attachment base adapted to matingly engage a portion of the upstanding backrest portion when the seat shell is rearward-facing to allow, for example, a mirror to be attached providing a view of the infant occupant to a vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Derek A. Eberly
  • Patent number: 12233759
    Abstract: A child safety seat for use in a vehicle, the safety seat having a base including a rotating mechanism and a seat shell for a child that is detachably connectable to the base. The base is anchorable in the vehicle using either conventional safety belts or LATCH anchoring provisions. The base is configured to allow a conventional three-point occupant restraint to secure the base to the vehicle and to prevent interaction between the seat shell and the restraint belt. The seat shell, when connected to the base, may be rotated about a generally upstanding axis into forward-facing, rearward-facing, or side-facing configurations. The base includes a moveable wedge that allows the base to optimally fit a variety of vehicle seat having different seat cushion inclinations. The seat shell also includes a height-adjustable backrest portion that allows the seat configuration to be optimized for the occupant, even as the occupant child grows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Michael S. Degrace, Matthew J. Ransil
  • Patent number: 11992132
    Abstract: A portable booster seat for supporting a child on a chair having a retractable clamping arm that is extendable to an underside surface of a chair seat and selectively moveable to clamp the booster seat to the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Raymond Evan Good
  • Patent number: 11945344
    Abstract: A buckle for a child safety seat harness having a base part and a latch part, the latch part having a releasable latching mechanism that includes a plurality of magnetic elements arranged to urge the base and latch parts into engagement during a connection operation and to urge the base and latch parts apart during a disconnection operation that also releases the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Michael S. Degrace, Matthew J. Ransil
  • Patent number: 11584267
    Abstract: A child safety seat for use in a vehicle, the safety seat having a base including a rotating mechanism and a seat shell for a child that is detachably connectable to the base. The base is anchorable in the vehicle using either conventional safety belts or LATCH anchoring provisions. The base is configured to allow a conventional three-point occupant restraint to secure the base to the vehicle and to prevent interaction between the seat shell and the restraint belt. The seat shell, when connected to the base, may be rotated about a generally upstanding axis into forward-facing, rearward-facing, or side-facing configurations. The base includes a moveable wedge that allows the base to optimally fit a variety of vehicle seat having different seat cushion inclinations. The seat shell also includes a height-adjustable backrest portion that allows the seat configuration to be optimized for the occupant, even as the occupant child grows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Matthew J. Ransil, Derek A. Eberly, Joshua D. Stuckey, Michael S. Degrace
  • Patent number: 11382437
    Abstract: A rotatable clip-on seat for attachment adjacent an edge of a tabletop comprising a main frame supporting a seat for a child and grip arms extending distally from the seat for positioning atop the table. Moveable clamping arms connect to the main frame and are rotatable about a longitudinal axis between folded and unfolded orientations. When unfolded, the clamping arms extend downwardly from the main frame and forwardly, generally parallel to the grip arms on the underside of the tabletop opposite of the grip arms. User-adjustable clamps connected to the clamping arms include upwardly extendable members to engage the underside of the table to secure the seat frame to the tabletop. The clamps are pivotable about a clamp axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis to ease installation on the tabletop and to allow frame folding for storage which positions the clamping arms and clamps generally between the grip arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Raymond Evan Good, Stephen J. Wood
  • Patent number: 11206931
    Abstract: A convertible bassinet including a mobile support enabling selective movement about a supporting surface and a braking apparatus providing the ability to secure the mobile support in a laterally fixed position on the surface. The mobile support also includes a vertical adjustment mechanism enabling the height of the bassinet to be altered by a user. The bassinet further includes a top perimeter frame with a position actuator for varying the height of the top perimeter frame above a child supporting surface. When in an uppermost position the perimeter frame defines a bassinet. A changing table surface is defined when the perimeter frame is repositioned to a lowermost position. Resilient connectors between the position actuator and the perimeter frame members allow the top perimeter frame to move from the uppermost position to the lowermost position independent of movement of the position actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Matthew J. Ransil, Michael S. Degrace
  • Patent number: 10906436
    Abstract: A child booster seat for use in a vehicle having a pair of LATCH connectors selectively attachable to the vehicle, the connectors having a first web member operably connected thereto enabling the connectors to be drawn closer to the seat for securely connecting the seat to the vehicle and a second web member operably connected to the LATCH connectors for release the LATCH connector from the vehicle, the relative lengths of the first and second webs configured so that the second web will operate and release the LATCH connector from the vehicle before the first web is fully extended from the seat as the seat is being removed from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Michael L. Longenecker
  • Patent number: 10321769
    Abstract: A foldable seat frame for attachment to a table surface for supporting a young child. The frame comprises a pivotally a pair of members coupled in an X-shape. Contact members are provided on adjacent opposing ends of the frame members on a first side of the pivot connection configured for adjacent contact with top and bottom surfaces of the table. Lower contact members positioned adjacent to the bottom surface are movable between a first position generally parallel to the table surface and second position slightly over-center of a generally perpendicular alignment to the table surface. When the lower contact members are in the first position, the seat frame may be easily detached from a table having downardly extending a peripheral skirt structure without requiring large pivoting movement of the frame. When the lower contact members are in the second position, they extend upwardly toward the lower table surface to reduce the degree of frame pivoting movement necessary to clamp the frame to the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Stephen J. Wood
  • Patent number: 10149552
    Abstract: A folding lock assembly for use in a frame for a portable child enclosure that includes a body housing first and second hinges for connecting a pair of equal-length side frame members. The respective hinges are limited in the degree of pivotal movement permitted each between a locked position in which the frame members are linearly aligned and a folded position in which the frame members are substantially parallel. The first hinge permits angular rotation less than 90 degrees while the second hinge permits angular rotation greater than 90 degrees. The differences in the range of hinge rotation offset the distal ends of the frame when the connected members are folded to eliminate a pinch point between frame end members. A latching mechanism is provided to maintain the hinges in a locked configuration wherein one hinge is locked by the position of the second hinge. Releasing the second hinge allows the first hinge to pivot as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, James M. Dillner
  • Patent number: 10092113
    Abstract: A reconfigurable accessory frame for use with an infant crib having a perimeter similarly sized to that of the top of the crib frame upon which it is used. The frame is foldable about an asymmetrically positioned transverse axis into one of the two positions. In the first position, the frame extends to substantially cover the open perimeter of the crib disposed underneath. Soft goods supported from the frame define a generally level surface that is convenient for changing an infant diaper along with a storage compartment disposed at one end. The level changing surface encompasses a majority of the area encompassed by the frame. In the second position, the frame is folded so that the end portion opposite of the storage compartment is moved into a positon adjacently above the remainder of the changing table surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Michael S. DeGrace
  • Patent number: 9675182
    Abstract: A foldable frame comprises opposing pairs of side and end frame members joined at respective ends to define a generally rectangular and planar frame perimeter. The end members and the side members are generally movable between folded and unfolded positions. The end members are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame. The side frame members extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to define a frame length. Pivoting connections enable the end members and the side frame members to pivot, each member having a pivot connection at each end thereof. Pivoting of a respective end or side member is permitted when the frame is configured to align the respective end pivots, but is inhibited when the frame is configured to move the respective end pivots out of alignment. The respective pivot axes of the end and side members are generally perpendicular oriented and define a folding and unfolding sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael L. Longenecker
  • Patent number: 9622593
    Abstract: A folding lock assembly for use in a frame for a portable child enclosure that includes a body housing first and second hinges for connecting a pair of equal-length side frame members. The hinges are limited in the degree of pivotal movement permitted between a locked position in which the frame members are linearly aligned and a folded position in which the frame members are substantially parallel. The first hinge permits angular rotation less than 90 degrees while the second hinge permits angular rotation greater than 90 degrees. The differences in the range of hinge rotation offset the distal ends of the frame when the connected members are folded to eliminate a pinch point between frame end members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, James M. Dillner
  • Patent number: 9522615
    Abstract: A travel seat locking system including a travel seat comprising a front seating surface, a back surface, left and right sides, and left and right stroller securing members respectively positioned on the left and right sides of the travel seat. A stroller is provided comprising a frame having at least one front leg, at least one rear leg, a passenger seating area, and a pair of left and right seat securing members connected to the frame for releasable engagement with a respective one of the left and right stroller securing members of the travel seat. At least one of the travel seat or stroller comprising an actuator to release the engagement between the left and right stroller securing members of the travel seat and the left and right seat securing members of the stroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Bruce L. Williams
  • Patent number: 9403449
    Abstract: A carseat system comprising a base, a child seat, and four locking points. The base comprises an upper surface that receives a child seat and a lower surface that rests upon a vehicle seat, left and rights sides, and first and second ends. The child seat comprises a seating surface, an exterior surface, and left and right sides. The four locking points removably engage the child seat to the base and comprise a first pair of locking points positioned toward the first end of the base and a second pair of locking points positioned toward the second end of the base. The first pair of locking points comprise left and right securing members connected to the child seat and extendable in a direction perpendicular to the left and right sides of the child seat, and slots defined in the upper surface of the base that can engage the securing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Bruce L. Williams
  • Patent number: 9114820
    Abstract: An adjustable travel stop mechanism for a leg support on a foldable stroller frame. The leg support is moveable between opposing first and second positions wherein folding of the stroller frame moves the leg support to the second position. The user-positionable travel stop interacts with the leg support which is biased toward the first position to limit the extent to which the leg support can move toward the first position when the stroller is unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Dillner, Michael L. Longenecker
  • Patent number: 9113723
    Abstract: An improved bassinet frame for an infant playard comprising a plurality of structural members configured to nest within a playard top frame top and rest upon supports on corner members of the playard frame. The bassinet frame includes a pair of spaced-apart, parallel side members connected by a pair of perpendicularly aligned uplift preventing end members. The bassinet frame end members extend beneath playard frame end members when the bassinet frame is deployed for use such that the playard end frame members inhibit uplift of the bassinet frame. The side members each further include a joint positioned approximately midway along the respective lengths allowing the bassinet frame to be folded along an axis parallel to its width. Folding the bassinet frame retracts the end members from beneath the playard end frame members and allows the bassinet frame to be removed from the playard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff G. Greger, Michael L. Longenecker
  • Patent number: D819986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ARTSANA USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Longenecker, Dawn Joyce Longenecker
  • Patent number: D976608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Artsana USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Longenecker