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).

  • Patent number: 10710474
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Zenon Jakubowicz, Donald A. Sharnowski, Angelo D. DiCicco, Michael P. Miller, Thomas J. Cooley
  • Patent number: 10479232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Cooley
  • Publication number: 20190070981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventors: Zenon JAKUBOWICZ, Donald A. SHARNOWSKI, Angelo D. DICICCO, Michael P. MILLER, Thomas J. COOLEY
  • Patent number: 9914369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Wojciech Smuk, Boris Biletskiy, Thomas J. Cooley
  • Publication number: 20170253146
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas J. COOLEY
  • Publication number: 20170088023
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Wojciech SMUK, Boris BILETSKIY, Thomas J. COOLEY
  • Patent number: 9114732
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cooley, Michael P. Miller, Donald A. Sharnowski
  • Publication number: 20140015297
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas J. Cooley
  • Publication number: 20130320729
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cooley, Michael P. Miller, Donald A. Sharnowski
  • Patent number: 6926364
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cooley, David M. Blair
  • Patent number: 6827404
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventors: David M. Blair, Thomas J. Cooley, Dan Dumitru Nae, Wojciech Smuk
  • Publication number: 20040075323
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventors: David M. Blair, Thomas J. Cooley, Dan Dumitru Nae, Wojciech Smuk
  • Publication number: 20040070250
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cooley, David M. Blair