On Slide Or Guide Patents (Class 248/429)
  • Patent number: 12240362
    Abstract: A seat cushion frame configuring framework of a seat cushion for an occupant of a vehicle to sit on, and including left and right side frames, a cushion pan, and a reinforcement member. The left and right side frames are disposed at left and right side portions of the seat cushion. The cushion pan connects upper end portions of front portions of the left and right side frames together in a seat left-right direction. The reinforcement member includes the left and right reinforcement portions respective affixed to the seat left-right direction sides of the rear end portion of the cushion pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Subaru Corporation
    Inventors: Syunichirou Osa, Hiroki Matsuda, Jun Shirai, Masafumi Takano, Fumito Kitanaka, Kenji Nagumo, Suguru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 12208709
    Abstract: A stopper assembly for a seat track assembly may include a base, a lever, and a spring. The base may be connectable to said seat track assembly. The lever may have a first end and a second end. The second end of the lever may be pivotably connected to the base. The spring may apply a biasing force to the lever and may bias the lever into a stopping position in which the first end of the lever limits movement of a first seat assembly mounted on said seat track assembly in a first direction via contacting said first seat assembly. The lever may be pivotable to a depressed position in which the first end of the lever does not limit movement of said first seat assembly in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Paul-Antoine Ganet
  • Patent number: 12179640
    Abstract: Provided is a slide lock structure for a slide rail device which can produce a reliable locked state with a high and reliable mechanical strength by using a simple structure. The slide lock structure includes a casing, a pair of lock members provided on the casing, and each provided with a cam surface formed on an outer side thereof, and engagement projections projecting laterally outward so as to be laterally movable between an engaged position in which the engagement projections are received in the slots, and a disengaged position in which the engagement projections are dislodged from the slots, a compression coil spring urging the lock members toward the engaged position, and an operating member provided on the casing in a movable manner, and provided with a cooperating cam surface slidably engaging the cam surface such that the lock members are moved to the disengaged position against a biasing force of the compression coil spring as the operating member is moved vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dean C. Vandenheede, Justin Schrand, Andrew J. Simms
  • Patent number: 12179637
    Abstract: A seat rail assembly capable of stably holding a position of one or more vehicle seats relative to the vehicle floor. The seat rail assembly includes an upper rail on which the seat is provided and a lower rail which is mounted to the vehicle floor. The upper rail is slidably provided within the lower rail, and incorporates an engagement assembly with a dual wedge engagement assembly to ensure constant contact between the lower and upper rails. A gearbox configured to remove lash may be provided on the upper rail for moving the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Simms, Dean Vandenheede, Justin Schrand
  • Patent number: 12179639
    Abstract: A connecting end part of a slide lever has a tubular shape, and a front end part of a release lever is inserted in the connecting end part with a connection spring member therebetween. The connection spring member has a bent end located forward and wire parts extending rearward from the bent end. Protruding engagement parts are formed in the wire parts. The wire parts are placed inside the front end part, and the protruding engagement parts are made to protrude from engagement protrusion holes of the release lever, and then the tubular connecting end part of the slide lever is fitted on the outer side of the front end part. The protruding engagement parts engage with engagement holes of the slide lever, and its front lock part presses the inner surface of the connecting end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Umezaki, Kenta Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 12162382
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically powered slide rail that can operate in a smooth manner. The electrically powered slide rail includes a rail having a channel-shaped cross section and extending in a fore and aft direction, a slider received by the rail and slidably engaged by the rail, a screw assembly including a screw member supported by the slider so as to be rotatable around an axial line extending in the fore and aft direction, an electric motor supported by the slider and configured to rotate the screw member, and a screw engaging portion formed in the rail so as to extend in the fore and aft direction and engage the screw member. In the vehicle seat fitted with the electrically powered slide rail, the rail is connected to a floor of a vehicle, and the slider is connected to a seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Simms, Dean C. Vandenheede
  • Patent number: 12146610
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multifunctional mobile phone mount, including a folding assembly, a support backplate, and a bonding base. A first magnetic adsorption assembly is provided inside the folding assembly, a third magnetic adsorption assembly is provided inside the bonding base, a second magnetic adsorption assembly and a fourth magnetic adsorption assembly are provided inside the support backplate, and a body including the folding assembly and the support backplate is fixed through adsorption between the fourth magnetic adsorption assembly and the third magnetic adsorption assembly inside the bonding base. In the present disclosure, a mobile phone and the support backplate are magnetically attached to each other, such that the mobile phone can be fixed to a side of a laptop or tablet PC and displayed in a vertical state or a horizontal state, thereby realizing multi-mode operations of portrait and landscape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Inventor: Danqiong Jin
  • Patent number: 12139048
    Abstract: A seat rail assembly capable of stably holding a position of one or more vehicle seats relative to the vehicle floor. The seat rail assembly includes an upper rail on which the seat is provided and a lower rail which is mounted to the vehicle floor. The upper rail is slidably provided within the lower rail, and incorporates an engagement assembly with a dual wedge engagement assembly to ensure constant contact between the lower and upper rails. A gearbox configured to remove lash may be provided on the upper rail for moving the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Simms, Dean Vandenheede, Justin Schrand
  • Patent number: 12090896
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat may have a first rail and a second rail. The rails may engage about one another to form an inner channel. A spindle nut may be connected to the second rail and a spindle operationally connected to the spindle nut may be arranged in the inner channel. On one end of the first rail, a transmission may be driven by a motor, which may interact with the spindle. The spindle may be screwed into an internal thread of a worm gear of the transmission, and the spindle may be conjointly connected by a fixing element to the worm gear. The fixing element may be arranged coaxially to a spindle axle of the spindle and may be pressed between a front end portion of the spindle and the worm gear. A vehicle seat having the longitudinal adjustment mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Gregor, Thorsten Schuermann, Erik Sprenger, Juergen Stemmer, Andrej Sulak
  • Patent number: 12059981
    Abstract: A seat sliding device includes: a lower rail; an upper rail; a lock member; a spring member; and an operation lever, the first fixing portion of the spring member which has a ring shape having an outside diameter greater than a width between the pair of the side walls of the upper rail, which has a spring force in a diameter increasing direction between the pair of the side walls of the upper rail, and which includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion that are configured to be mounted and fixed, respectively, in the first hole portion and the second hole portion by the spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TACHI-S CO., LTD., TF-METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Taniguchi, Shunsuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 12012055
    Abstract: A track assembly for a rail-mounted component of a vehicle includes a rail cartridge slidably coupled with a track and defines a first slot. A first electrical connector is positioned within the rail cartridge. A connection cartridge defines a channel. The connection cartridge includes first and second sidewalls joined by a bottom wall. A second electrical connector is positioned within the channel and is configured to selectively engage with the first electrical connector. An actuation member is positioned within the channel and is movable between first and second positions. The actuation member is biased to the first position. An actuator is operably coupled with the actuation member to selectively move the actuation member into the second position against the bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, David James Tippy, Jimmy Moua, Gregory Hagedorn, Adam Ewel, Joshua Gauthier, Macit Aktas
  • Patent number: 11999269
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to vehicles capable of autonomous driving. These vehicles may include seats for accommodating different numbers of passengers. In some cases, the seats may be reconfigurable. For instance, a vehicle may include a first row of seating having a first, passenger use configuration. The first row may allow a passenger to sit in a seat of the first row of seating and access user input controls for the vehicle. The first row of seating may also have a second, folded configuration where the first row is in a folded configuration and no longer usable for passenger seating. The vehicle may also have a second row of seating. When the first row of seating is in the second, folded configuration, the second row of seating may still be usable for seating and may include additional legroom for the passenger as compared to when the first row of seating is in the first passenger use configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: YooJung Ahn, David Tse-Zhou Lu, Min Li Chan, Brian Douglas Cullinane, Adam Lee Frost, Philippe Robert Agostino Holland, Hassan Rashid Mir, Marcos Aniceto Villalón Caro, Isaac Lopes Nogueras
  • Patent number: 11999271
    Abstract: A latching mechanism configured to secure a first component and a second component. The latching mechanism includes a locking plate that operatively engages a first latch plate and a second latch plate. The plates each include an end that inserts into a slot located on the second component, therein securing the first component to the second component. Actuation of the latching mechanism displaces the plates, therein releasing the ends from the slot and allowing for movement of the first component in relation to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Barry John Ward
  • Patent number: 11987152
    Abstract: A slide for a vehicle seat, comprising a female rail having at least one vertical side wall, a male rail also having at least one vertical side wall, mounted to slide relative to the female rail, the female rail surrounding the male rail with the vertical side wall of the female rail facing the vertical side wall of the male rail, a position sensor comprising a means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field fixed to the vertical side wall of the male rail by means of a spring member, and arranged between the substantially planar wall of the male rail and the substantially planar wall of the female rail and oriented towards the substantially planar wall of the female rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Guillaume Petot, Fabrice Petit, Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 11976443
    Abstract: A working machine includes an operator's seat, a seat base supporting the operator's seat, and a slide rail for adjustment of a position of the operator's seat, the slide rail being located between the seat base and the operator's seat, in which the seat base includes a rail mount for attachment of the slide rail, the rail mount having a downward convex curve which is curved to deviate from the slide rail with increasing distance from each of opposite ends of the rail mount in a longitudinal direction of the slide rail and with decreasing distance to a center of the rail mount in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Torii, Yoichi Nishigori, Takahiko Nakaya
  • Patent number: 11942067
    Abstract: A pedalboard arrangement (600), including: a right support end (102); a left support end (104); a pair of support members (106) configured to support a foot pedal for musical effects, each secured in position between the right support end and the left support end, and each including a clip feature (110) that extends along a long axis (112) of a respective support member; and an attachment device (300) including: a clip (304) configured to clip onto the clip feature and remain retained thereon via a resilience of the clip at a variety of locations along the long axis; and a clip connector (306) including a clip hole (308) through a first end (310) configured to receive a fastener associated with the foot pedal and a second end (322) connected to the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Judson Charles Angelillis
  • Patent number: 11904733
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat may have at least one pair of rails which is formed from a first rail and a second rail. A spindle nut may be connected to the second rail and a spindle operatively connected to the spindle nut are located in the inner channel. A spindle gear, which can be driven a motor and interacts with the spindle, may be located at one end of the first rail. The spindle nut may be fixed to the second rail so that the spindle nut has a degree of freedom of at least one. The spindle nut may be fixedly connected to the second rail by a fixing device. A projection may be provided between a base body of the spindle nut and the second rail. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat with the longitudinal adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Gregor, Thorsten Schuermann, Erik Sprenger, Juergen Stemmer, Andrej Sulak
  • Patent number: 11890970
    Abstract: A slide rail for a vehicle seat comprises first and second slide members lockable by a lock which comprises several locking members suitable for entering holes that are part of the first slide member. The lock is mounted on the second slide member so as to provide translational clearance between the lock and the second slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Fabrice Petit, Vincent Nardin, Olivier Kircher
  • Patent number: 11872912
    Abstract: A seat sliding device includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a lever member, a lock member, a biasing member and an operation member. The upper rail includes a shaft member, and the lever member includes bearings engaging with the shaft member. Each of the left and right bearings has a surface in contact with the shaft member at one point in an up-down direction by being biased by the biasing member. In the pair of left and right bearings, a surface in contact with the shaft member in one bearing is formed as an arc-shaped surface with a radius slightly larger than an outer diameter of the shaft member, and a surface in contact with the shaft member in the other bearing is formed as a flat surface extending relative to the upper rail in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TF-METAL Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11613213
    Abstract: Center console provided with a fixed rail, extending in a longitudinal direction, a translatable member, a gearbox assembly and first and second cables. The translatable member may be coupled to the fixed rail and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The gearbox assembly may include a cable drum configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The first and second cables may each be coupled to the translatable member and a cable drum. As the cable drum rotates in the first rotational direction, the first cable may translate the translatable member towards the first position. As the cable drum rotates in the second rotational direction, the second cable may translate the translatable member towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: James Elsarelli
  • Patent number: 11548414
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat with a frame formed by a seating portion and a back rest, upper rails longitudinally adjustable on lower rails and lockable by means of a longitudinal rail locking mechanism, a coupling system for adjustment of the frame in relation to the upper rails, said coupling system comprising a coupling member with a coupling member pivot axis, a seat locking mechanism for locking the vehicle seat in an upright seating position, where said frame, upon operation of an easy entry actuator and unlocking of the seat locking mechanism, can be tilted forward starting from the upright seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventor: Dominik Szczudrawa
  • Patent number: 11535125
    Abstract: A seat slider device may include a lower rail attachable to a body of a vehicle; and an upper rail attachable to a lower portion of a seat and slidably engaging with the lower rail. The upper rail may include a lock pin movable along a short direction of the upper rail. The lower rail may include a plurality of first holes and a second hole. The first holes may be arranged along a longitudinal direction of the lower rail and configured to engage with the lock pin, and the second hole may be arranged with the first holes along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail. The second hole may be positioned at a position where the lock pin is incapable of engaging with the second hole or the second hole may have a size with which the lock pin is incapable of engaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA BODY SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norio Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11535128
    Abstract: A vehicle seat support assembly includes: a front link; and a front link bracket coupled to an upper rail of a vehicle seat and including a sagging support portion configured to inhibit sagging of the front link toward the upper rail. In particular, the front link is pivotally coupled to the front link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mu Young Kim, Sang Do Park, Gil Ju Kim, Jung Sang You, Ho Suk Jung, Min Seok Kim, Seung Young Lee, Jun Young Yun, Seung Hyun Kim, Han Su Yoo, Chan Ho Jung, Han Kyeol Cho
  • Patent number: 11524788
    Abstract: A floor fixing assembly for releasable fixing of a leg of a frame to a vehicle floor comprises at least one retaining peg which can be fixed to the vehicle floor. The floor fixing assembly furthermore comprises a frame fixing element, which is configured to be connected to the leg of the frame and comprises at least one receiving space for receiving the retaining peg. A clamping device is configured to be introduced into the receiving space of the frame fixing element in order to connect the frame fixing element to the retaining peg by form fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Roth, Matthias Hegenbart
  • Patent number: 11524632
    Abstract: A moveable link for an active exterior component on a vehicle. The moveable link provides a sealed connection between the outer link and the base link and fixed link. This sealed connection prevents debris from contaminating the area where the outer link rotates about the pin, thereby preventing unwanted noises. Furthermore, the sealed connection also prevent corrosion between the outer link and the pin, which can lead to failure of the moveable link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Sorin Ovidiu Pantea, Robert Dale Brimm, Kevin C. Molligoda, Jason D'Antimo
  • Patent number: 11518276
    Abstract: In an arrangement which includes: a seat support body slidably supported on a fixed rail fixed to a floor; a power supply device supplying power to an electrical component on a seat side; and a drive device driving the seat support body in a front-and-rear direction and having a motor and a transmission member disposed so as to pass longitudinally through an interior of the fixed rail, the power supply device includes: a housing an electric wire for power supply; and a slider linked to the seat support body and slidable within the fixed rail. The electric wire is drawn out from the housing, retained by the slider and slidable within the fixed rail. The slider has an interference-avoiding portion for avoiding interference with the transmission member disposed so as to pass longitudinally through the interior of the fixed rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Meguro, Toshiaki Shimada, Nobuyuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11458866
    Abstract: A seat slider device may include: a lower rail attachable to a body of a vehicle and including grooves arranged in a for direction of the lower rail; an upper rail attachable to a seat and slidably engaging with the lower rail; and a lock lever including a plurality of protrusions configured to engage with the grooves, supported by the upper rail to be swingable in a direction bringing the protrusions close to the grooves and in a direction bringing the protrusions away from the grooves, and biased in the direction bringing the protrusions close to the grooves. A portion of the lock lever between a pivot of the lock lever and the protrusions may have elasticity such that the portion flexes in the direction bringing the protrusions close to the grooves and in the direction bringing the protrusions away from the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA BODY SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Hori, Takayuki Ogasawara, Rui Kawai, Seiki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11440441
    Abstract: A seat track mechanism for a vehicle seat. The seat track mechanism may include an upper track, a lower track, a lever, and a retainer bracket. The lever may be pivotable between a first position and a second position and may have a latch arm. The retainer bracket may define a slot that may receive the latch arm to hold the lever in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Slavomir Basarik, Miroslav Dedina, Pavol Plocar, Marian Podhorsky, Peter Stutika, Marian Tkac, Michael Wojatzki
  • Patent number: 11433785
    Abstract: A rail assembly can include a track assembly, an elongate shaft mounted to the track assembly, and a carriage assembly received within the track assembly. The carriage assembly can include a slider bracket. The slider bracket includes a first ramp portion and a second ramp portion. The first and second ramp portions are disposed on opposite sides of the slider bracket. The first and second ramp portions each define a receiving aperture. The elongate shaft is received through the receiving apertures of the first and second ramp portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Joshua Gauthier, Joseph Michael Kish, Johnathan Andrew Line, Adarsh Gupta, Robert Clayton Caldwell, Changwei Xie
  • Patent number: 11427111
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a sliding seat includes a handle and a latch body fixed to the handle. The latch body is securable pivotally to one of an upper rail and a lower rail of the sliding seat. The latch body is pivotable via the handle between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch body includes teeth openings arranged along a lengthwise dimension, where the teeth openings sequentially decrease in size. The assembly essentially eliminates problems associated with skip-locking and chucking in existing designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Duke
  • Patent number: 11420536
    Abstract: The vehicle seat may include a fixed portion, a moveable portion, a gearbox, and a reinforcement bracket. The gearbox may be fixed to either the fixed portion or the moveable portion and may be configured to move the moveable portion with respect to the fixed portion. The reinforcement bracket may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion that may extend therebetween. The first end portion may define a first U-shaped opening, the second end portion may form a second U-shaped opening, and the medial portion may form a third U-shaped opening that may receive the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Leo Ioppolo, Alan McKeown, Christopher Cebula
  • Patent number: 11400839
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat that includes a seat cushion which is substantially horizontal with respect to a floor of a vehicle. The vehicle seat further includes a seat back including a proximal end and a distal end separated by a longitudinal length, such that the proximal end is pivotably coupled to the seat back. The vehicle seat also includes a track arranged adjacent to the seat cushion and the track has a longitudinal length. The track includes a proximal end and a distal end, such that the proximal end of the track is attached to a biasing element while the distal end of the track is attached to a portion of the seat back. In a crash event, the seat back is displaceable with respect to the seat cushion along the longitudinal length of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Mangesh Kadam
  • Patent number: 11390192
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle-seat slide device includes a rail to be fixed to a floor, the rail extending in a vehicle front-back direction; a slider slidably attached to the rail and fixed to a seat; a lock member being movable between a lock position at which the slider is locked to one of slide positions on the rail and a lock release position at which the slider is released from being locked to the rail; a support member fixed to the slider; and an operational member supported by the support member to be rotatable about a rotational center extending in a vehicle lateral direction. The operational member receives an input from an input member to rotate in a first rotational direction around the rotational center to thereby move the lock member from the lock position to the lock release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruki Seto, Koji Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11383719
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for vehicle control include controlling a vehicle by associating a seat a passenger in the vehicle is sitting in with the passenger's service use information. The service use information generated after the passenger sits in the first seat may be stored in a first memory corresponding to the first seat. Upon detecting that the passenger has left the first seat and is sitting in a second seat, the service use information may be moved to a second memory corresponding to the second seat. The service use information includes information in the first memory until the passenger leaves the first seat after sitting in the first seat. One or more of an autonomous vehicle according to the present invention, a user terminal, and a server may be associated with artificial intelligence, a robot, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoungha Lee, Inyoung Hwang, Kangmin Kim, Sungil Cho
  • Patent number: 11364819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sliding device for a vehicle seat provided with an improved locking arrangement. Said locking arrangement comprises a pair of locking assemblies (101a, 101b; 201a, 201b), one for each track of the sliding device, each including a plurality of locking pins (105a, 105b; 203a, 203b) suitable for locking the upper rails of the tracks to the respective lower rails. Said locking arrangement further includes a releasing assembly for driving said locking pins to an unlocking configuration for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat. According to the invention, for any selected positions of the vehicle seat, all the locking pins (105a, 105b; 203a, 203b) of the locking assemblies simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously penetrate into corresponding apertures of the lower rails. Therefore, the invention advantageously allows to optimize the locking effect of the locking arrangement, as all the locking pins give their contribution to said locking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MARTUR ITALY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Azra Krpo, Can Üstünberk
  • Patent number: 11358498
    Abstract: A vehicle seat longitudinal adjustment device has a floor rail, a seat rail, and a locking unit substantially accommodated in a cavity formed by the rails, and a housing. A bearing shaft is disposed in this housing and extends in the displacement direction. The device includes at least two flat blocking parts, pivotable independently of each other about the bearing shaft and elastically biased, independently of each other, by one blocking spring each, and a releasing part. The structurally identical blocking parts each have two arms, between which the bearing shaft is located. The seat rail has, for each blocking part, shear slots accommodating the first and second arms. The floor rail has a perforated strip cooperating with the first arms, with first blocking slots, and a perforated strip cooperating with the second arms, with second blocking slots. The slots are periodically disposed one behind the other in the displacement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER DYNAMICS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Axel Speck
  • Patent number: 11345259
    Abstract: A long rail assembly is attached to a floor within an automotive vehicle for transposing vehicle seats between a plurality of positions. The long rail assembly includes a rail drive assembly configured to travel along an interior cavity of a fixed long rail. The fixed long rail has a generally U-shaped cross-section and includes a pair of flanges with mating teeth extending inwardly from a pair of outer walls. The rail drive assembly includes a retention latch and a wheel assembly coupled adjacent a first and a second end of the rail drive assembly. The rail drive assembly is operable between a use position and a loaded position in which at least one of the retention latches engages the mating teeth to interlock the rail drive assembly and the fixed long rail in response to forces causing upward loading on the rail drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventor: Detjon Marini
  • Patent number: 11325504
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a track for an automotive vehicle seat comprising: a first, upper, rail and a second, lower, rail mounted sliding relative to each other along a sliding axis, that define a cavity between them; a bolt comprising at least one locking member movable from a locked position in which the at least one locking member immobilizes the first rail and the second rail relative to each other, and an unlocked position and a guiding system for the at least one locking member between the first locked position and the second unlocked position, secured to the first, upper, rail, where the guiding system comprises an inner guide secured to the first rail at two anchoring points extending respectively the guide forming body above and below a guiding orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Patrick Feuillet, Olivier Kircher
  • Patent number: 11299070
    Abstract: A screw shaft attached to the upper rail is screwed into a nut member attached to the lower rail. When the screw shaft is rotated with respect to the nut member by a drive unit, the screw shaft is moved rearward and forward with respect to the nut member, and the upper rail is also moved rearward and forward with respect to the lower rail. A fixing nut is fixed to an inner surface of the lower rail behind the nut member, and a stopper bolt is fastened to the fixing nut from below the lower rail. When the upper rail moves forward, a stopper portion provided at a tip of the stopper bolt contacts the stopper plate to restrict an excessive forward movement of the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TF-METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kimata, Hiroaki Nakajima, John Newberry, Madhusudana Darinayakanapalya Sudheendra
  • Patent number: 11292369
    Abstract: A seat apparatus includes plural links configured to be attached to a base member, a seat cushion frame supported by the links, and a connecting member. The seat cushion frame includes a pair of side walls connected by the connecting member, and a contact portion on at least one of the pair of side walls. At least one of the links includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a projecting portion projecting from the second end portion. The first end portion is rotatably connectable to the base member directly or indirectly about a first rotation axis, the second end portion is rotatably connectable to the side wall directly or indirectly about a second rotation axis, and the projecting portion is configured such that at least when the seat cushion frame is moved to the highest position, a predetermined portion of the projecting portion faces the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Hayashi, Yuki Abe
  • Patent number: 11267370
    Abstract: A seat length adjuster for a vehicle seat may have two rail pairs, each pair formed by an upper rail and a lower rail. The upper rail is provided with openings and the lower rail has through holes. At least one spring-loaded, movable locking member may be provided. The locking member carries toothlike protrusions on its two opposite lengthwise sides, which are movable from a released position into the locked position both into the openings and into the through holes. The openings and/or the through holes have contact regions for the toothlike protrusions of the locking member and at least some of the toothlike protrusions have a respective undercut on both tooth flanks. In the locked position a projecting edge resulting from this on the respective tooth flank lies opposite the contact region and/or touches this contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH, Adient Yanfeng Seating Mechanism Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Joachim Flick, Erik Sprenger, Pan Wang, Peigui Wu
  • Patent number: 11260776
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat frame movable between a sitting position and a standing position and coupled to a pivot bracket, a cross member extending through the pivot bracket and defining an axis of rotation, and a gear assembly coupled to the pivot bracket. The gear assembly includes a sector bracket rotationally coupled to the cross member, and a pinion gear operable to rotate along the sector bracket from a first position to a second position, thereby moving the seat frame between a sitting position and a standing position. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a locking disk assembly coupled to the pivot bracket such that if the locking disk assembly is in a disengaged position relative to the sector bracket, then the frame is rotatable about the axis of rotation defined by the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11261949
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly includes a housing, a cover, a screw rod inserted through the housing along a first direction, a worm wheel integrally formed on the screw rod, and a worm arranged in the housing along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The worm is driven into rotation by a driving shaft, so that the worm drives the worm wheel and the screw rod into rotation through a kinetic pair. The screw rod moves a lifting mechanism attached to the screw rod in a vertical direction through screw transmission. A stop pin is arranged on the housing and positioned in the direction of extension of a free end of the driving shaft of the worm against the free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG ZHAOQING L&V CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Zhongming Song, Aixing Li
  • Patent number: 11225173
    Abstract: A vehicle seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sapan Mahendra Poptani, Raghu Belagur Sathyanarayanasetty, Ratnakar Sidramappa Bolkote
  • Patent number: 11220194
    Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided with a locking arrangement including a pair of locking assemblies, one for each track of the sliding device. Each track has an upper rail and a lower rail, and each of the locking assemblies includes a plurality of locking pins for locking one of the upper rails to a respective one of the lower rails. The locking arrangement further includes a releasing assembly for driving the locking pins of the locking assemblies to an unlocking configuration. The releasing assembly comprises a releasing member and a pair of connecting members, each of which is connected in a force transmission connection with the releasing member and the plurality of locking pins of one of the locking assemblies. Each of the connecting members is entirely received inside a respective one of the tracks, whereby the locking arrangement has a very compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MARTUR ITALY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Azra Krpo, Can Üstünberk
  • Patent number: 11214173
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a platform. The platform includes a frame having an attachment feature. A seat base is coupled with the attachment feature. A cross-member is coupled to the frame and movable between extended and retracted positions. The seating assembly also includes a track assembly including a plurality of tracks received by guides. The platform extends between each of the plurality of tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Daniel Ferretti, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Marcos Silva Kondrad
  • Patent number: 11180053
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat may have at least one seat rail pair, which is formed from a lower seat rail and an upper seat rail, which is guided for sliding in the longitudinal direction relative to the lower seat rail. The two seat rails of the seat rail pair may engage around one another. The lower seat rail or the upper seat rail may have at least one opening. The at least one opening may have an opening cross-section, the two upper corner regions of which each have a curvature portion may have a radius which continuously changes of the course of the curvature portion. A vehicle seat with the adjuster is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ingo Quast, Erik Sprenger
  • Patent number: 11167720
    Abstract: A seatbelt buckle assembly is configured for attachment to a vehicle seat frame in a manner that permits a strap of the assembly to pass through narrow openings or gaps of the seat frame before a fastener is used for the attachment. A collar having a flange and a sleeve can be used to retain other buckle assembly components to the strap without the aid of the fastener. The assembly is particularly useful with fold-flat seats where the seatbelt buckle must fold together with the seat back and then be returned to a use position when the seat is unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morrow, Emmanuel Pellerin
  • Patent number: 11161431
    Abstract: A track for a vehicle seat comprising: a lower rail; an upper rail, mounted sliding relative to the lower rail in a longitudinal direction; where a bolt has means of pivoting between a manual lever and an attachment part comprising a first part and a second part belonging respectively to the manual lever and of the attachment part, or vice versa, hinged one relative to the other around said axis of rotation. According to the present disclosure, the first part and the second part comprise means for clipping, mutually engaging, allowing an assembly of the manual lever and the attachment part by elastic deformation of the one at least of the clipping means belonging to the first part and/or to the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Olivier Kircher, Patrick Feuillet
  • Patent number: 11155186
    Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided with a pair of tracks and an improved releasing assembly. The sliding device comprises a pair of locking assemblies, one for each track, each including a plurality of locking pins for locking upper rails of the tracks to lower rails of the tracks. The sliding device further includes a releasing assembly for driving the locking pins to an unlocking configuration for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat. The releasing assembly comprises a releasing member having a pair of substantially parallel arms pivotally connected to the tracks, a crossbar extending transversely to the tracks and provided at each end with an engaging assembly for engaging the locking pins of the respective locking assembly, and a pair of connecting members configured to convert a rotational movement of end portions of the arms into a translational movement of the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MARTUR ITALY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luigi Spagnoli, Can Üstünberk