Patents by Inventor Spencer Robert Hoernke

Spencer Robert Hoernke 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).

  • Publication number: 20240034197
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a pivot bracket coupled to a vehicle floor and disposed at a front of a seat frame, a gear assembly and a locking disk assembly disposed around an axis of rotation defined by the pivot bracket, wherein the gear assembly and the locking disk assembly are configured to each alternatively move the seating assembly from a sitting position to a standing position, and a track assembly disposed on the vehicle floor and between opposing side brackets of a seat frame. The track assembly includes a cam assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a crank assembly extending between the pivot bracket and the cam assembly and configured to move the cam assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11807137
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a pivot bracket coupled to a vehicle floor and disposed at a front of a seat frame, a gear assembly and a locking disk assembly disposed around an axis of rotation defined by the pivot bracket, wherein the gear assembly and the locking disk assembly are configured to each alternatively move the seating assembly from a sitting position to a standing position, and a track assembly disposed on the vehicle floor and between opposing side brackets of a seat frame. The track assembly includes a cam assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a crank assembly extending between the pivot bracket and the cam assembly and configured to move the cam assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11654811
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a lower leg support. The seat includes a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are opposite to one another. The lower leg support is coupled to the seat at the second end and is movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position. A suspension assembly is coupled to the lower leg support. The suspension assembly includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first end of the suspension assembly is coupled to a portion of the seat. The second end of the suspension assembly is coupled proximate to a distal end of the lower leg support. A distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support may vary based on lower leg support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Jimmy Moua, Deeptej Kudav, S. M. Akbar Berry, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Spencer Hoin
  • Patent number: 11535134
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seatback frame movable between a reclined position, an upright position, and a folded position and having opposing sides defining a central space. Each opposing side includes a non-linear front edge and a non-linear rear edge. A pivot assembly includes a first plate pivotally coupled with the seatback frame. The first plate includes a forward stop. A second plate is pivotally coupled with the first plate and is fixedly coupled with a seat base frame. The second plate includes a post configured to selectively contact the forward stop. A panel is configured to be coupled with the seatback frame to cover the central space and form a planar surface along the seatback frame. The panel includes upper retention hooks and side retention hooks configured to be engaged with the seatback frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Robert Charles Shipley, Anna Frances Hardig Hendrickson, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Keith Allen Godin, Macit Aktas
  • Publication number: 20220324353
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a pivot bracket coupled to a vehicle floor and disposed at a front of a seat frame, a gear assembly and a locking disk assembly disposed around an axis of rotation defined by the pivot bracket, wherein the gear assembly and the locking disk assembly are configured to each alternatively move the seating assembly from a sitting position to a standing position, and a track assembly disposed on the vehicle floor and between opposing side brackets of a seat frame. The track assembly includes a cam assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a crank assembly extending between the pivot bracket and the cam assembly and configured to move the cam assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Publication number: 20220274518
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a lower leg support. The seat includes a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are opposite to one another. The lower leg support is coupled to the seat at the second end and is movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position. A suspension assembly is coupled to the lower leg support. The suspension assembly includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first end of the suspension assembly is coupled to a portion of the seat. The second end of the suspension assembly is coupled proximate to a distal end of the lower leg support. A distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support may vary based on lower leg support position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Jimmy Moua, Deeptej Kudav, S. M. Akbar Berry, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Spencer Hoin
  • Publication number: 20220258650
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a pivot bracket coupled to a vehicle floor and disposed at a front of a seat frame, a gear assembly and a locking disk assembly disposed around an axis of rotation defined by the pivot bracket, wherein the gear assembly and the locking disk assembly are configured to each alternatively move the seating assembly from a sitting position to a standing position, and a track assembly disposed on the vehicle floor and between opposing side brackets of a seat frame. The track assembly includes a cam assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a crank assembly extending between the pivot bracket and the cam assembly and configured to move the cam assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11407332
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a pivot bracket coupled to a vehicle floor and disposed at a front of a seat frame, a gear assembly and a locking disk assembly disposed around an axis of rotation defined by the pivot bracket, wherein the gear assembly and the locking disk assembly are configured to each alternatively move the seating assembly from a sitting position to a standing position, and a track assembly disposed on the vehicle floor and between opposing side brackets of a seat frame. The track assembly includes a cam assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a crank assembly extending between the pivot bracket and the cam assembly and configured to move the cam assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Publication number: 20220227275
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seatback frame movable between a reclined position, an upright position, and a folded position and having opposing sides defining a central space. Each opposing side includes a non-linear front edge and a non-linear rear edge. A pivot assembly includes a first plate pivotally coupled with the seatback frame. The first plate includes a forward stop. A second plate is pivotally coupled with the first plate and is fixedly coupled with a seat base frame. The second plate includes a post configured to selectively contact the forward stop. A panel is configured to be coupled with the seatback frame to cover the central space and form a planar surface along the seatback frame. The panel includes upper retention hooks and side retention hooks configured to be engaged with the seatback frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Robert Charles Shipley, Anna Frances Hardig Hendrickson, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Keith Allen Godin, Macit Aktas
  • Patent number: 11377000
    Abstract: A support mechanism for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame moveable between a sitting position and a standing position and a support bracket coupled to a vehicle floor. A linkage assembly extends between the support bracket and the seat frame. The linkage assembly is positionable between a collapsed position if the seat frame is in the sitting position and an extended position if the seat frame is in the standing position and includes a first end rotatably coupled to the support bracket and a second end slidably coupled to the seat frame. A pawl assembly is engageable with the linkage assembly and positionable in an unlocked position if the linkage assembly is in the collapsed position and a locked position if the linkage assembly is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Macit Aktas, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jason Matthew Koberstein, Anna Hendrickson, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 11370341
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a lower leg support. The seat includes a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are opposite to one another. The lower leg support is coupled to the seat at the second end and is movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position. A suspension assembly is coupled to the lower leg support. The suspension assembly includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first end of the suspension assembly is coupled to a portion of the seat. The second end of the suspension assembly is coupled proximate to a distal end of the lower leg support. A distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support may vary based on lower leg support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Jimmy Moua, Deeptej Kudav, S. M. Akbar Berry, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Spencer Hoin
  • Patent number: 11364870
    Abstract: A seatback carrier module includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by an upper portion. A cradle portion is disposed along the first and second side portions and the upper portion of the seatback carrier module. The cradle portion includes inner and outer edges with a rearwardly extending body portion. A mounting portion is disposed along a portion of the inner edge of the cradle portion. The mounting portion includes inner and outer edges with a body portion disposed therebetween. The mounting portion further includes a rearwardly extending sidewall disposed along the inner edge of the mounting portion. An airbag assembly is received within the cradle portion and has an inverted U-shaped configuration to substantially surround the outer perimeter of the seatback frame. The airbag assembly is an elongate member defining an overhead airbag assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, S. M. Akbar Berry, Derek Board, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Spencer Robert Hoernke
  • Publication number: 20220185151
    Abstract: A bench seating assembly for a vehicle includes an outboard seating assembly disposed on a pair of outboard rails slidably coupled to a pair of outboard tracks and an inboard seating assembly disposed on an inboard rail slidably coupled to an inboard track. A release bar assembly is disposed below the outboard seating assembly and the inboard seating assembly, and includes a driver movable between a first position and a second position. A latch mechanism is operably coupled to the driver such that if the driver is in the first position, then the latch mechanism is in a locked position, and if the driver is in the second position, then the latch mechanism is in an unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Ratan Howlader, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Patent number: 11332050
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat rotatable about an axis of rotation disposed at a front of the seat between a sitting position and a standing position, a latch assembly rotatably coupled to the rear of the seat and releasably coupled to a track assembly disposed below the seat, wherein if the seat is in a sitting position, the latch assembly is in a locked position relative to the track assembly, and wherein if the seat is in a standing position, the latch assembly is in an unlocked position relative to the track assembly, and a connecting bar extending through the latch assembly, wherein the latch assembly is rotatable around the connecting bar as the seat moves between the sitting position and the standing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11332042
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly comprises a lift mechanism disposed at a forward portion of a seat and a latch assembly disposed at a rearward portion of the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat. A mechanical link has a first end rotatably coupled to the forward portion of the seat and a second end rotatably coupled to the latch assembly. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the latch assembly is positionable in a latched position or an unlatched position relative to a mount assembly. The mechanical link is disposed in an initial position when the seating assembly is in the first position, and the mechanical link is disposed in a final position when the seating assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Paul D. Peterson, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Publication number: 20220111766
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. A floor panel defines a cutout that has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls frame a void. A track assembly has first and second C-channels coupled to the first and second sidewalls. First and second tracks are received by the first and second C-channels, respectively, and are coupled with an electrical assembly. A platform is positioned beneath the seating assembly and is at least partially received by the void. The platform includes a frame with an attachment feature that extends away from the floor panel and an extendable cross-member that is at least partially supported by the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Daniel Ferretti, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Marcos Silva Kondrad
  • Publication number: 20220105838
    Abstract: A support mechanism for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame moveable between a sitting position and a standing position and a support bracket coupled to a vehicle floor. A linkage assembly extends between the support bracket and the seat frame. The linkage assembly is positionable between a collapsed position if the seat frame is in the sitting position and an extended position if the seat frame is in the standing position and includes a first end rotatably coupled to the support bracket and a second end slidably coupled to the seat frame. A pawl assembly is engageable with the linkage assembly and positionable in an unlocked position if the linkage assembly is in the collapsed position and a locked position if the linkage assembly is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Macit Aktas, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jason Matthew Koberstein, Anna Hendrickson, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 11285853
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seating structure and a raised seatback include a common lower back panel and closeout assembly comprising an intersecting rear vertical plane and an upper horizontal plane. A plurality of interchangeable upper shroud assemblies having a plurality of design configurations that are received and coupled with the intersecting rear vertical plane and upper horizontal plane of the common lower back panel and closeout assembly, depending on a chosen trim level. Each of the plurality of interchangeable upper shroud assemblies has an identical intersecting forward vertical plane and a lower horizontal plane that mount to the intersecting rear vertical plane and upper horizontal plane of the common lower back panel and closeout assembly, thereby allowing interchangeability of the plurality of interchangeable upper shroud assemblies to change an overall configuration of the vehicle seating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Sean Bayle West, Keith Allen Godin, Deeptej Kudav, Robert Charles Shipley, David Andree, Laura Bunn, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Benjamin Yilma
  • Patent number: 11279262
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a track assembly having a swivel mechanism slideably supported along the track assembly. A base frame is supported on the swivel mechanism between forward-facing and rearward-facing configurations. A seatback is pivotally coupled to the base frame by a recliner mechanism. A seat portion is pivotally coupled to the base frame and includes a front edge. The seat portion is operable between first and second positions, such that the front edge of the seat portion defines a forward-most portion of the seat assembly when the seat portion is in the first position. Further, the front edge of the seat portion is vertically juxtaposed over the base frame when the seat portion is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Joseph Michael Kish, Macit Aktas, Spencer Robert Hoernke, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 11260776
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat frame movable between a sitting position and a standing position and coupled to a pivot bracket, a cross member extending through the pivot bracket and defining an axis of rotation, and a gear assembly coupled to the pivot bracket. The gear assembly includes a sector bracket rotationally coupled to the cross member, and a pinion gear operable to rotate along the sector bracket from a first position to a second position, thereby moving the seat frame between a sitting position and a standing position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a locking disk assembly coupled to the pivot bracket such that if the locking disk assembly is in a disengaged position relative to the sector bracket, then the frame is rotatable about the axis of rotation defined by the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon