Patents by Inventor Ronald A. Zimmerman, II

Ronald A. Zimmerman, II 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: 12090895
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushion motor linked to a pinion gear for providing concentric rotation of a linkage through rotational engagement of the pinion gear with a sector gear. The seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion and a seat base adapted for mounting the seat assembly within an automotive vehicle. The linkage includes a front link and a rear link extending between the seat cushion and the seat base, wherein pivoting of the linkage moves the seat assembly between a plurality of positions. A recliner mechanism is operatively coupled to the front link for selectively allowing pivoting thereof, and the sector gear is fixed to the front link. Actuation of the cushion motor when the recliner mechanism is unlocked rotates the pinion gear, causing the sector gear to rotate for pivoting the linkage to move the seat assembly between the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kapusky, David M Runde, Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Patent number: 11975634
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a four-bar linkage for providing movement of the seat assembly between a plurality of positions in an automotive vehicle. The four-bar linkage includes front and rear links which simultaneously rotate to move the seat assembly between an easy entry position in which the seat assembly tilts forwardly and downwardly toward a floor of the automotive vehicle to allow ingress and egress behind the seat assembly, a stow position in which a seat cushion lowers toward the floor of the automotive vehicle and a seat back pivots toward and overlaps the seat cushion, and an intermediate design position in which the seat cushion is spaced from the floor of the automotive vehicle and the seat back is disposed generally upright to support an occupant. The seat assembly is capable of moving directly between the easy entry and stow positions without needing to intermediately return to the design position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Zimmerman, II, Cheikh Dioum
  • Publication number: 20230018025
    Abstract: A seat assembly for movement between a plurality of positions within an automotive vehicle includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion and a seat track assembly with a sliding track repositionable along a fixed track for movement of the seat assembly between a forward position and a rearward position. A linkage assembly extends between the seat cushion and the sliding track for movement of the seat cushion between an easy entry position and a design position. An interlock element is pivotally coupled to the sliding track. Movement of the seat assembly from the forward position to the rearward position pivots the interlock element from a locked condition engaged with the linkage assembly for holding the seat cushion in the easy entry position, to an unlocked condition disengaged from the linkage assembly for allowing movement of the seat cushion to the design position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Kapusky, Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Publication number: 20220072977
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a four-bar linkage for providing movement of the seat assembly between a plurality of positions in an automotive vehicle. The four-bar linkage includes front and rear links which simultaneously rotate to move the seat assembly between an easy entry position in which the seat assembly tilts forwardly and downwardly toward a floor of the automotive vehicle to allow ingress and egress behind the seat assembly, a stow position in which a seat cushion lowers toward the floor of the automotive vehicle and a seat back pivots toward and overlaps the seat cushion, and an intermediate design position in which the seat cushion is spaced from the floor of the automotive vehicle and the seat back is disposed generally upright to support an occupant. The seat assembly is capable of moving directly between the easy entry and stow positions without needing to intermediately return to the design position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ronald Zimmerman, II, Cheikh Dioum
  • Patent number: 10202056
    Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a use position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A seat track assembly is coupled to the seat cushion for providing selective adjustment of the seat assembly between an upright design position and a reclined slouch position wherein the seat back is automatically pivoted rearwardly in response to forward sliding movement of the seat cushion. A sliding fold flat latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for slidably guiding the seat back during movement of the seat assembly between the upright design position and the reclined slouch position and for actuation between a locked condition retaining the seat back in the use position and an unlocked condition allowing pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Publication number: 20170253150
    Abstract: A disc recliner 18 for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate 22 secured to a seat cushion 12 and a rotatable plate 30 secured to a seat back 14. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30 has a plurality of teeth 40,48, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline 26 has a plurality of teeth 52, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate 22. A wave generator 28 causes a portion of the teeth 52 on the flex spline 26 to meshingly engage with the teeth 40,48 on the fixed and rotatable plates 22,30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Xiao J. Wei, Ronald A. Zimmerman, II
  • Publication number: 20160288671
    Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a use position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A seat track assembly is coupled to the seat cushion for providing selective adjustment of the seat assembly between an upright design position and a reclined slouch position wherein the seat back is automatically pivoted rearwardly in response to forward sliding movement of the seat cushion. A sliding fold flat latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for slidably guiding the seat back during movement of the seat assembly between the upright design position and the reclined slouch position and for actuation between a locked condition retaining the seat back in the use position and an unlocked condition allowing pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Patent number: 8944504
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventor: Ronald A Zimmerman, II
  • Patent number: 8496294
    Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor includes a support mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. A rear end of the seat cushion is released from the support mechanism to pivot the seat cushion from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from an upright seating position to a forwardly folded position. The support mechanism is released from the floor and a stand-up link pivotally coupled between the floor and the support mechanism moves the seat cushion from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position and simultaneously urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation defining a stand-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, Douglas A. Dingel, Brian Adwell
  • Publication number: 20110266855
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA SEATING INC.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Zimmerman, II
  • Patent number: 6003938
    Abstract: A material cover (27) for a vehicle seat (22), the seat having a seat back (26) having a front surface (28), a rear surface (32) and a side surface (30), the material cover (27) including front (28'), rear (32') and side (30') material panels covering the front, rear and side of the seat back, a reinforcement panel (50,50') secured to an inside surface (31) of the side material (30') for effectively decreasing the elongation of the side panel (30') to localize stress in the side material portion (30') to encourage the side material portion to tear along a line proximate a side (52a) of the reinforcement panel when the panel is forced outwardly by the action of an inflating air bag (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Lachat, Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, Jeffrey A. Young, Steven W. Maurer, Michael A. Hague
  • Patent number: 5586782
    Abstract: An air bag for protecting the side and head of an occupant during a side impact collision including: a first side panel (42a) joined to a second panel (42b) and having a neck portion (52) for receipt of inflation gas for a cooperating inflator (30). The air bag characterized in that its upper portion is pressurized to a greater level than a lower portion. A corresponding upper portion of each panel may be coated or alternatively the air bag may include a separator (46) or seam (46,66) to divert a predetermined amount of inflation gas into one of the other chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, John C. Hofer, Douglas E. Medvedik, Eric D. Veggian, Michael J. Lachat
  • Patent number: 5547214
    Abstract: A side impact occupant system including the combination of: a vehicle seat (16) having a cushioned resilient portion (18) in a seat back (14) thereof, an air bag module (10) comprising a compliant air bag retained to a channel by a soft, resilient exterior package shell (70) directly adjacent to and facing an interior part of the resilient cushioned portion of the seat, wherein the resiliency of the cushioned seat portion is not markedly changed by the adjacent resilient shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, John C. Hofer