Patents by Inventor Philip C. Shephard

Philip C. Shephard 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: 6398307
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat frame which is arranged in a vertically adjustable manner above a seat underframe. A backrest part is mounted on the seat frame, and a seat cushion carrying part, for adjusting the seat cushion depth, is displaceably disposed by an end area in two guides. The other end area of the seat cushion carrying part is supported by two additional guides. The additional guides are supported by way of a supporting construction past the seat frame directly on the seat underframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Bernd Schmidt, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Volkmar Schulz, Philip C. Shephard
  • Patent number: 6371431
    Abstract: A height adjusting device for a lengthwise adjustable vehicle seat is provided. Pivotal control arm units are provided at front and rear position of a vehicle seat to raise and lower the seat in dependance on their rotative position Link assembles, including front and rear coupling arms pivotally connected by an intermediate joint connect the front and rear control arm units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Bernd Schmidt, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Philip C. Shephard, Petros Velimvassakis
  • Patent number: 6352310
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a backrest which can be tilted forward about a swivelling axis displaced toward the front with respect to the backrest into an alternate position for facilitating the entry and the exit. The backrest is fixed in its tilted-back end position by way of latching devices arranged on both sides on the seat cushion part, after which the latching devices can be synchronously unlocked in a remote-controlled manner by a common actuating element. For the swivel bearing and for the support of the backrest with respect to the seat cushion part, lateral support fittings are provided, on which, at a distance behind the forward swivelling axis, a hinge is arranged for adjusting the inclination of the backrest. The support fittings each have a rearward-projecting holding leg which ends at a distance behind the assigned hinge of the backrest, the free leg end of the holding leg in the tilted-back end position of the backrest being lockable on the seat cushion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Bernd Schmidt, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Philip C. Shephard, Petros Velimvassakis
  • Patent number: 6332650
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided for a vehicle seat whose seat back can be folded forward around a pivot axis into a deflected position to facilitate entrance and exit. The seat back is held in its folded-back end position by bilaterally provided rotary drop latches which can be unlocked remotely by a common actuating element in synchronization and with a tension arrangement being provided for remote unlocking. The rotary drop latches are rotationally coupled by a connecting rod and operably connected by a single tension strand with the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Krist, Bernd Schmidt, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Volmar Schulz, Philip C. Shephard
  • Patent number: 4345792
    Abstract: A seat reclining mechanism comprises first and second hinge plates for mounting on a seat and a back-rest respectively, and an internally toothed ring gear on each of the hinge plates. One ring gear has more teeth than the other ring gear, and a drive gear extends within the two ring gears. Further provided are means for engaging the drive gear and the ring gears, which includes at least one planetary gear in mesh with both ring gears and the drive gear, and means for rotating the drive gear to effect relative angular adjustment of the two hinge plates. In another embodiment of the present invention a drive gear is within the space within the two ring gears, and a pair of carrier members sandwich the drive gear therebetween. The carrier members position and locate the one or more planetary gears, and further provide a floating nature to the operation of the mechanism which compensates for wear of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: I.H.W. Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Philip C. Shephard
  • Patent number: 4211451
    Abstract: A seat reclining mechanism comprises first and second hinge plates for mounting on a seat and a back-rest respectively, and an internally toothed ring gear on each of the hinge plates. One ring gear has more teeth than the other ring gear, and a drive gear extends within the two ring gears. Further provided are means for engaging the drive gear and the ring gears, which includes at least one planetary gear in mesh with both ring gears and the drive gear, and means for rotating the drive gear to effect relative angular adjustment of the two hinge plates. In another embodiment of the present invention a drive gear is within the space within the two ring gears, and a pair of carrier members sandwich the drive gear therebetween. The carrier members position and locate the one or more planetary gears, and further provide a floating nature to the operation of the mechanism which compensates for wear of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: I. H. W. Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Philip C. Shephard