Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Cooley
Thomas J. Cooley 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).
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Patent number: 10710474Abstract: A passenger support includes a vehicle seat and a foundation frame having a lower track and an upper track. The lower track is coupled to a floor of a vehicle in a fixed position relative the floor. The vehicle seat is coupled to the upper track to slide back and forth relative to the lower track.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventors: Zenon Jakubowicz, Donald A. Sharnowski, Angelo D. DiCicco, Michael P. Miller, Thomas J. Cooley
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Patent number: 10479232Abstract: A passenger support includes vehicle seat having a seat base mounted to a track for sliding the seat base longitudinally. A sliding motion controller is provided. The seat base is movable from a slid-back configuration to a forward-seating configuration when the sliding motion controller is activated.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventor: Thomas J. Cooley
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Publication number: 20190070981Abstract: A passenger support includes a vehicle seat and a foundation frame having a lower track and an upper track. The lower track is coupled to a floor of a vehicle in a fixed position relative the floor. The vehicle seat is coupled to the upper track to slide back and forth relative to the lower track.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLCInventors: Zenon JAKUBOWICZ, Donald A. SHARNOWSKI, Angelo D. DICICCO, Michael P. MILLER, Thomas J. COOLEY
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Patent number: 9914369Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a hook and cam latching mechanism that releasably couples an occupant support to the vehicle body. The latching mechanism has a hook and a cam that apply clamp loads at opposite sides of an anchor to lock the occupant support in a use position in a manner that can reduce or eliminate loose conditions and associated noise often associated with other types of latching mechanisms. Cam movement is coordinated with hook movement to accommodate an engaged condition with a secured clamp load along with easy engagement and disengagement of the hook. The latching mechanism can be used with easy-entry vehicle seats or other types of vehicle seats where movement of a seat bottom or seat back away from the vehicle body is desired.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventors: Wojciech Smuk, Boris Biletskiy, Thomas J. Cooley
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Publication number: 20170253146Abstract: A passenger support includes vehicle seat having a seat base mounted to a track for sliding the seat base longitudinally. A sliding motion controller is provided. The seat base is movable from a slid-back configuration to a forward-seating configuration when the sliding motion controller is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventor: Thomas J. COOLEY
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Publication number: 20170088023Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a hook and cam latching mechanism that releasably couples an occupant support to the vehicle body. The latching mechanism has a hook and a cam that apply clamp loads at opposite sides of an anchor to lock the occupant support in a use position in a manner that can reduce or eliminate loose conditions and associated noise often associated with other types of latching mechanisms. Cam movement is coordinated with hook movement to accommodate an engaged condition with a secured clamp load along with easy engagement and disengagement of the hook. The latching mechanism can be used with easy-entry vehicle seats or other types of vehicle seats where movement of a seat bottom or seat back away from the vehicle body is desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Wojciech SMUK, Boris BILETSKIY, Thomas J. COOLEY
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Patent number: 9114732Abstract: A passenger support includes a vehicle seat and an easy-entry motion controller. The vehicle seat is moveable between a passenger-use configuration and an easy-entry configuration. The easy-entry motion controller controls movement of the vehicle seat between the passenger-use configuration and the easy-entry configuration, including movement of a seat back between an occupant-use position and a tilted-forward position, movement of a seat bottom between an occupant-use position and a folded-up position, and movement of a seat base between a rearward position and a forward position. The passenger support thus provides enhanced access to other areas of the vehicle, such as passenger supports located therebehind.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventors: Thomas J. Cooley, Michael P. Miller, Donald A. Sharnowski
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Publication number: 20140015297Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back is coupled to a seat base for movement between an upright position and a folded-forward position when a vehicle seat recliner is in an open configuration. The vehicle seat includes a recliner hold-open mechanism that locks the recliner in the open configuration even after a user releases a handle or otherwise disengages an actuator of the recliner. The seat back is thus free to move between the upright and folded-forward positions without the user being required to hold the actuator in any particular position during the movement. The hold-open mechanism may be configured to cooperate with a seat-base motion controller to free the vehicle seat for movement along a foundation frame while the seat back is between the upright and folded-forward positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventor: Thomas J. Cooley
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Publication number: 20130320729Abstract: A passenger support includes a vehicle seat and an easy-entry motion controller. The vehicle seat is moveable between a passenger-use configuration and an easy-entry configuration. The easy-entry motion controller controls movement of the vehicle seat between the passenger-use configuration and the easy-entry configuration, including movement of a seat back between an occupant-use position and a tilted-forward position, movement of a seat bottom between an occupant-use position and a folded-up position, and movement of a seat base between a rearward position and a forward position. The passenger support thus provides enhanced access to other areas of the vehicle, such as passenger supports located therebehind.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Thomas J. Cooley, Michael P. Miller, Donald A. Sharnowski
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Patent number: 6926364Abstract: A fold flat vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly mounted on a movable track member slidably engaging a fixed track member, and lockable by a track lock. The seat assembly includes a seatback member mounted on a seat cushion member for forward folding between an upright occupiable design position and a horizontal load supporting position. A link arm member is mounted on the seatback member for movement therewith between a lowered track engagement position and a raised track clearing position. When the link arm member is in the lowered track engagement position, it interacts with a link engaging portion of the fixed track member to permit the forward folding of the seatback member to the substantially horizontal load supporting position and to thereat preclude longitudinal motion of the seat assembly relative to the fixed track member, so as to retain the seat assembly in its predetermined rear longitudinal position.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada LimitedInventors: Thomas J. Cooley, David M. Blair
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Patent number: 6827404Abstract: A fold flat vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly mounted on a movable track member slidably engaging a fixed track member, and lockable by a track lock. The seat assembly includes a seatback member mounted on a seat cushion member for forward folding between a substantially upright occupiable design position and a substantially horizontal load supporting position. A downwardly and rearwardly sloped ramp is mounted on the fixed track member. A drive link assembly is mounted on the seatback member for translational engagement of a ramp contact member with the ramp. As the seatback member is forwardly folded from the upright occupiable design position to the load supporting position the track lock releases and the ramp contact member moves downwardly and rearwardly along the ramp to thereby cause rearward longitudinal movement of the seat assembly relative to the fixed track member to a predetermined rear longitudinal position.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada LimitedInventors: David M. Blair, Thomas J. Cooley, Dan Dumitru Nae, Wojciech Smuk
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Publication number: 20040075323Abstract: A fold flat vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly mounted on a movable track member slidably engaging a fixed track member, and lockable by a track lock. The seat assembly includes a seatback member mounted on a seat cushion member for forward folding between a substantially upright occupiable design position and a substantially horizontal load supporting position. A downwardly and rearwardly sloped ramp is mounted on the fixed track member. A drive link assembly is mounted on the seatback member for translational engagement of a ramp contact member with the ramp. As the seatback member is forwardly folded from the upright occupiable design position to the load supporting position the track lock releases and the ramp contact member moves downwardly and rearwardly along the ramp to thereby cause rearward longitudinal movement of the seat assembly relative to the fixed track member to a predetermined rear longitudinal position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada LimitedInventors: David M. Blair, Thomas J. Cooley, Dan Dumitru Nae, Wojciech Smuk
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Publication number: 20040070250Abstract: A fold flat vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly mounted on a movable track member slidably engaging a fixed track member, and lockable by a track lock. The seat assembly includes a seatback member mounted on a seat cushion member for forward folding between an upright occupiable design position and a horizontal load supporting position. A link arm member is mounted on the seatback member for movement therewith between a lowered track engagement position and a raised track clearing position. When the link arm member is in the lowered track engagement position, it interacts with a link engaging portion of the fixed track member to permit the forward folding of the seatback member to the substantially horizontal load supporting position and to thereat preclude longitudinal motion of the seat assembly relative to the fixed track member, so as to retain the seat assembly in its predetermined rear longitudinal position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada LimitedInventors: Thomas J. Cooley, David M. Blair