Patents by Inventor Seamus Mulholland

Seamus Mulholland 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: 9346381
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a carriage that moves linearly with respect to a base, and a locking apparatus for preventing unwanted movement of the carriage in the event of an emergency. The locking apparatus has first and second toothed components which inter-engage such that, during movement of the carriage with respect to the base, one of the first and second toothed components imparts movement to the other. A locking gear is engaged with the teeth of the first component for rotation thereby, and is movable into a locking state where it also engages with the teeth of the second component to prevent relative movement between the first and second components. The locking gear moves into the locking state in response to a decelerating force above a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
    Inventors: James Thompson, Seamus Mulholland
  • Patent number: 9296481
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a carriage that is movable with respect to a base, and a locking apparatus having first and second components, each having teeth that inter-engage such that, during movement of the carriage relative to the base, one of the first and second components imparts movement to the other, the locking apparatus further including a locking member having teeth for selectively inter-engaging the first and second components, the locking member being movable between a non-locking state, where the locking member teeth do not engage the teeth of the first and second components, an intermediate state, where the locking member teeth engage the teeth of the first component, and a locking state, where the locking member teeth engage the teeth of both of the first and second components, the locking member being moved between its intermediate and locking states by moving the first component relative to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
    Inventors: James Thompson, Seamus Mulholland
  • Publication number: 20150203205
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a carriage that is movable with respect to a base, and a locking apparatus having first and second components, each having teeth that inter-engage such that, during movement of the carriage relative to the base, one of the first and second components imparts movement to the other, the locking apparatus further including a locking member having teeth for selectively inter-engaging the first and second components, the locking member being movable between a non-locking state, where the locking member teeth do not engage the teeth of the first and second components, an intermediate state, where the locking member teeth engage the teeth of the first component, and a locking state, where the locking member teeth engage the teeth of both of the first and second components, the locking member being moved between its intermediate and locking states by moving the first component relative to the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: James Thompson, Seamus Mulholland
  • Publication number: 20140084655
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a carriage that moves linearly with respect to a base, and a locking apparatus for preventing unwanted movement of the carriage in the event of an emergency. The locking apparatus has first and second toothed components which inter-engage such that, during movement of the carriage with respect to the base, one of the first and second toothed components imparts movement to the other. A locking gear is engaged with the teeth of the first component for rotation thereby, and is movable into a locking state where it also engages with the teeth of the second component to prevent relative movement between the first and second components. The locking gear moves into the locking state in response to a decelerating force above a threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
    Inventors: James Thompson, Seamus Mulholland