Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Garland

Thomas A. Garland 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: 11812855
    Abstract: A folding bed, such as a sofa bed, with an assembly configured to counteract the gravitational forces acting on both a rotation of the main panel in relation to the frame and a rotation of the foot panel in relation to the main panel. A transmission may be used in the assembly to connect the first pivotal connection, where the main panel pivots with respect to the frame, to the second pivotal connection, where the foot panel pivots with respect to the main panel. The transmission transmits torque from the first pivotal connection to the second pivotal connection, so as to counteract gravitational forces acting on the foot edge of the foot panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 11234530
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20210212473
    Abstract: Furniture that is convertible between a seat position and a bed position is described. The furniture includes a first bed section with a first platform supporting a first cushion, and a second bed section with a second platform, a second cushion, and a partition disposed between the second platform and the second cushion. The first platform is configured to pivot relative to the second platform. The first cushion is thicker than the second cushion. When the furniture is in the bed position, a top surface of the first cushion is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second cushion and the partition is spaced from the second platform by a first distance. In the seat position of the furniture, the distance between the partition and the second platform is less than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 10993541
    Abstract: Furniture that is convertible between a seat position and a bed position is described. The furniture includes a first bed section with a first platform supporting a first cushion, and a second bed section with a second platform, a second cushion, and a partition disposed between the second platform and the second cushion. The first platform is configured to pivot relative to the second platform. The first cushion is thicker than the second cushion. When the furniture is in the bed position, a top surface of the first cushion is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second cushion and the partition is spaced from the second platform by a first distance. In the seat position of the furniture, the distance between the partition and the second platform is less than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 10966526
    Abstract: Furniture is described having an extendable footrest. The footrest has a main panel and a flipper panel. In an extended position of the footrest, the top surfaces of the panels are approximately horizontal and co-planar, the main panel being proximate to a seat portion of the furniture. In a retracted position of the footrest, the top surface of the main panel is approximately vertical and the top surface of the flipper panel is approximately horizontal and facing in a downward direction. The footrest projects substantially 20? or more from the front of the seat portion in the extended position, and substantially 7? or less is provided between the floor and the apparent bottom edge of the footrest when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20200054143
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 10548406
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20190307256
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20190223599
    Abstract: Furniture is described having an extendable footrest. The footrest has a main panel and a flipper panel. In an extended position of the footrest, the top surfaces of the panels are approximately horizontal and co-planar, the main panel being proximate to a seat portion of the furniture. In a retracted position of the footrest, the top surface of the main panel is approximately vertical and the top surface of the flipper panel is approximately horizontal and facing in a downward direction. The footrest projects substantially 20? or more from the front of the seat portion in the extended position, and substantially 7? or less is provided between the floor and the apparent bottom edge of the footrest when retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 10327559
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20190110604
    Abstract: Furniture that is convertible between a seat position and a bed position is described. The furniture includes a first bed section with a first platform supporting a first cushion, and a second bed section with a second platform, a second cushion, and a partition disposed between the second platform and the second cushion. The first platform is configured to pivot relative to the second platform. The first cushion is thicker than the second cushion. When the furniture is in the bed position, a top surface of the first cushion is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second cushion and the partition is spaced from the second platform by a first distance. In the seat position of the furniture, the distance between the partition and the second platform is less than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 10251484
    Abstract: Furniture is described having an extendable footrest. The footrest has a main panel and a flipper panel. In an extended position of the footrest, the top surfaces of the panels are approximately horizontal and co-planar, the main panel being proximate to a seat portion of the furniture. In a retracted position of the footrest, the top surface of the main panel is approximately vertical and the top surface of the flipper panel is approximately horizontal and facing in a downward direction. The footrest projects substantially 20? or more from the front of the seat portion in the extended position, and substantially 7? or less is provided between the floor and the apparent bottom edge of the footrest when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 9814321
    Abstract: Furniture convertible between a seating position and a bed position. The furniture may include a frame including spaced apart arms, a first section having a closed position and an open position, where, in the closed position, the first section is substantially horizontal between the spaced apart arms, and a second section separately moveable from the first section. The second section is movable from a folded position, where the second section is stored substantially within the frame, to an unfolded position, where the second section is unfolded outside of the frame and disposed adjacent to the first section in the closed position, thus forming a horizontal sleeping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20170251815
    Abstract: Furniture convertible between a seating position and a bed position. The furniture may include a frame including spaced apart arms, a first section having a closed position and an open position, where, in the closed position, the first section is substantially horizontal between the spaced apart arms, and a second section separately moveable from the first section. The second section is movable from a folded position, where the second section is stored substantially within the frame, to an unfolded position, where the second section is unfolded outside of the frame and disposed adjacent to the first section in the closed position, thus forming a horizontal sleeping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20170190149
    Abstract: A component for a machine is disclosed. The component may include an interior frame, a protruding member extending from the interior frame, and a carbon fiber wrapped over the interior frame and around the protruding member. A method of manufacturing a component for a machine is also disclosed. The method may include supplying an interior frame with a protruding member extending from the interior frame. The method may further include wrapping a carbon fiber around the interior frame and the protruding member, and curing the carbon fiber to the interior frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Marion Grant, Thomas Garland, Joseph Spanier, John Unser
  • Patent number: 9668585
    Abstract: A convertible furniture piece has a compact profile while folded with the seat cushions residing at a comfortable and ergonomic height and an esthetically pleasing streamlined appearance. The convertible furniture takes advantage of a leg assembly that is anchored within the thickness of the mechanism panels so as to stack the foot and body panels closer to each other. The leg assembly is also anchored at a position other than the edges of the panels to help conceal the leg assembly below the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20170071346
    Abstract: Furniture is described having an extendable footrest. The footrest has a main panel and a flipper panel. In an extended position of the footrest, the top surfaces of the panels are approximately horizontal and co-planar, the main panel being proximate to a seat portion of the furniture. In a retracted position of the footrest, the top surface of the main panel is approximately vertical and the top surface of the flipper panel is approximately horizontal and facing in a downward direction. The footrest projects substantially 20? or more from the front of the seat portion in the extended position, and substantially 7? or less is provided between the floor and the apparent bottom edge of the footrest when retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Publication number: 20160374477
    Abstract: A seat convertible to a bed. The seat includes a locking mechanism for fixably maintaining a head panel section of the bed in a generally horizontal orientation when the bed is in the deployed configuration and releasing the head panel section from the deployed configuration by a lifting motion. The locking mechanism is connected to the head panel section and a mid-swinging member. The mid-swinging member pivotally attaches to the head panel section and a stationary mounting arm. The stationary mounting arm is fixably attached to a seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 9504328
    Abstract: A chair has a seat portion having a front, a rear and sides. The chair also has a footrest adjustable between at least two positions: a retracted position and an extended position. The footrest is cantilevered from the seat portion in the extended position. The chair also has a plurality of members connected by a plurality of linkages permitting the members to pivot with respect to each other. The plurality of members is adapted to hold the footrest in the retracted position and to support the footrest in the extended position. The chair also has a cover for hiding the plurality of linkages when viewed from a lateral position when the footrest is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 9480336
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a seat. The seat may include a stationary support frame at least partially defining a cavity. The seat may also include a backrest cushion, a headrest, and a motion mechanism. The motion mechanism has a headrest assembly allowing movement of the headrest between a retracted position and an extended position. When the headrest is in the retracted position, the headrest is hidden from view within the cavity of the support frame. When the headrest is in the extended position, the headrest is visible above the backrest cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Garland, Glenn Wiecek, Douglas L. Gasal, Kevin Nguyen