Patents by Inventor Trent A. Eekhoff

Trent A. Eekhoff 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: 7837273
    Abstract: A seat suspension that includes at least one beam spring that extends across a seat pan. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of such springs is carried by the pan. The springs preferably differ in compliance from one another and from a mesh load supporting grid that is connected to each spring. One such arrangement produces a suspension of progressive construction that enables the seat to handle a wide range of shocks, bumps, jolts, and vibration of varying frequencies and magnitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: 7523988
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, seat shell, suspension, and bolster therefor. Where a bolster is used, the bolster has a positive lock when in an elevated configuration. The suspension includes at least one beam spring that extends across a seat pan. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of such springs is carried by the pan. The springs preferably differ in compliance from one another and from a mesh load supporting grid that is connected to each spring. One such arrangement produces a suspension of progressive construction that enables the seat to handle a wide range of shocks, bumps, jolts, and vibration of varying frequencies and magnitudes. In one preferred embodiment, the seat includes a movable bolster movably attached to either the seat or shell. In a preferred embodiment, the bolster travels along a parabolic path when moved between its down and up positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit of Jason Incorporated
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: 7472959
    Abstract: A modular folding seat for use in vehicles is provided. The seat includes a base securable to the vehicle; a backrest pivotally connected to the base, and can include a removable backrest panel mounted to the backrest. The base or the backrest includes a pair of outwardly extending bosses disposed on opposite sides that are rotatably engageable within recesses disposed in the other one of the base or backrest. The bosses are held within the recesses by a pair of engagement members disposed adjacent or in each recess. The engagement members are capable of being deflected to a non-securing position whereby the bosses can be inserted into or withdrawn from the recesses to assemble or disengage the backrest to or from the base. A plurality of regions of engagement between the base and backrest keep the backrest from over rotating beyond a fully upright position and resist downward folding of the backrest when in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit of Jason Incorporated
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent Eekhoff, Ryan Millhouse
  • Patent number: 6648419
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Attwood Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: 6644751
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Publication number: 20030107257
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: 6474738
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat shell that includes a seat section adapted to support a user thereon and a back section extending upwardly from the seat section. The seat shell further includes a pair of first coupler portions, and a bolster having a support section and first and second arm sections juxtaposed across the support section. Each arm section of the bolster includes a second coupler portion matable with the first coupler portions. The first coupler portions and second coupler portions couple with one another to allow the bolster to be rotated between a first position, wherein the support section of the bolster is at a first height relative to the seat section of the seat shell, and a second position, wherein the support section of the bolster is at a second height relative to the seat section of the seat shell and that is above the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Publication number: 20020079733
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: 6357830
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing outdoor seat for recreational boats and the like includes a cushion member shaped to abuttingly support a seated user on an upper surface thereof, and a one-piece, hollow molded seat body member. The seat body member includes a front portion with a connector, a raised rear portion, and a recessed base portion shaped to position the cushion member thereover. The seat also includes a shock-absorbing member positioned over the recessed base portion. The shock-absorbing member includes a deck supporting the cushion on an upper side thereof and which includes a rear attachment portion and a front attachment portion mounted to said connector of said front portion of said seat body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Attwood Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Jeffrey S. Wilcox, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: D465360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton J. Ratza, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: RE40805
    Abstract: A lift-up cleat assembly includes a base member having an upper plate shaped to abut a mounting surface and at least one normally vertically oriented tube depending from the plate, wherein the tube has a hollow interior, and a retractable cleat member having an upper cleat-shaped head shaped to retain lines thereon, and at least one normally vertically oriented mounting post depending from the head, wherein the post is telescopingly received in the interior of the tube of the base member and is telescopingly movable along a given length of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Attwood Corporation
    Inventors: Warwick M. Whitley, II, Bruce L. Reniger, Elzie McKinney, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: D429041
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Medema, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: D430369
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Medema, Trent A. Eekhoff
  • Patent number: D430715
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Trent A. Eekhoff, Douglas J. Medema