Patents by Inventor Todd Gagnier

Todd Gagnier 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: 10166895
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumber region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumber region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumber region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Richard Joseph Soyka, Todd Gagnier, S. M. Akbar Berry, David Andree, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 9956897
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base having a side bolster cover. A bolster is disposed under the side bolster cover. The bolster has a static bolster carrier and an operable portion that is operable relative to the bolster carrier to define a plurality of bolster positions. A flexible interior facing extends from the bolster carrier to an intermediate portion of the bolster cover, wherein a lower edge of the bolster cover is positioned below the bolster carrier such that the bolster cover conceals the bolster in each of the plurality of bolster positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Gagnier, S. M. Akbar Berry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Boland
  • Patent number: 9914378
    Abstract: A decorative closeout assembly includes a gap hider. A U-shaped body portion is constructed from a fabric and includes a plurality of peripheral tabs. First and second inwardly-extending flaps extend inwardly and are operably coupled with a laterally-extending flexible tensioner extending between the first and second inwardly-extending flaps and configured to maintain the body portion taut. A plurality of hooked barbs extend from a bottom side of the U-shaped body portion. An upper back support includes a U-shaped peripheral channel for receiving the plurality of hooked barbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Carol Diane Casey, Todd Gagnier, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180009344
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base having a side bolster cover. A bolster is disposed under the side bolster cover. The bolster has a static bolster carrier and an operable portion that is operable relative to the bolster carrier to define a plurality of bolster positions. A flexible interior facing extends from the bolster carrier to an intermediate portion of the bolster cover, wherein a lower edge of the bolster cover is positioned below the bolster carrier such that the bolster cover conceals the bolster in each of the plurality of bolster positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Gagnier, S.M. Akbar Berry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Boland
  • Publication number: 20170355291
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumber region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumber region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumber region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Richard Joseph Soyka, JR., Todd Gagnier, S. M. Akbar Berry, David Andree, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 9707877
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A seatback is operably coupled to a rear of the seat base. First and second independently moveable thigh bolsters each include a top side, a forward side, a bottom side, an exterior side, and an interior side. A slide assembly is operably coupled to each of the first and second thigh bolsters. Each of the thigh bolsters are independently laterally translatable forward relative to the seat base. First and second flexible trim carriers are configured to wrap around the first and second independently moveable thigh bolsters, respectively. A spring assembly urges each thigh bolster to a fully forward lateral position. A pivot member operably couples each of the thigh bolsters to the seat base. Each of the thigh bolsters are rotatable relative to the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Rodney Charles Brinker, Todd Gagnier, Richard J. Soyka, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160207433
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A seatback is operably coupled to a rear of the seat base. First and second independently moveable thigh bolsters each include a top side, a forward side, a bottom side, an exterior side, and an interior side. A slide assembly is operably coupled to each of the first and second thigh bolsters. Each of the thigh bolsters are independently laterally translatable forward relative to the seat base. First and second flexible trim carriers are configured to wrap around the first and second independently moveable thigh bolsters, respectively. A spring assembly urges each thigh bolster to a fully forward lateral position. A pivot member operably couples each of the thigh bolsters to the seat base. Each of the thigh bolsters are rotatable relative to the seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Rodney Charles Brinker, Todd Gagnier, Richard J. Soyka, JR.
  • Patent number: 9216695
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat portion disposed adjacent to a seat back having a front surface, a back surface, an inboard surface, and an outboard surface. A side pocket extends across the inboard surface and terminates at a forward edge proximate the front surface at a first end and terminates at a rearward edge proximate the back surface at a second end. An upper back pocket disposed is on an upper back surface of the seat back and a lower back pocket disposed on a lower back surface of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Gagnier
  • Publication number: 20150035325
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat portion disposed adjacent to a seat back having a front surface, a back surface, an inboard surface, and an outboard surface. A side pocket extends across the inboard surface and terminates at a forward edge proximate the front surface at a first end and terminates at a rearward edge proximate the back surface at a second end. An upper back pocket disposed is on an upper back surface of the seat back and a lower back pocket disposed on a lower back surface of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Gagnier