Movable Seat Or Backrest Patents (Class 296/65.01)
  • Patent number: 11772526
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back which together define a first outboard seating section, a second outboard seating section, and a center seating section. A center seat back of the center seating section is defined by a service door and a removable panel provided beneath the service door in a height direction of the vehicle seat. The service door is connected to one of the seat base and the seat back at a first hinged connection. The center seat back is configured to have a fold down, service position where the service door pivoted at the first hinged connection is located above the seat base to provide access to an area rearward the seat back in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat. The service door is prevented from moving to the fold down, service position with the panel located beneath the service door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Suzuki, Fernando M. Rosero, Eric D. Daume, Yosuke Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11654797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a driver's cab (12) comprising a base (14) and a seat (16), the vehicle having a longitudinal direction (X). The base (14) has a center (20) and a central longitudinal plane (P), the central longitudinal plane (P) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) and passing through the center (20) of the base (14). A projection of the seat (16) in an elevation direction (Z) on the base (14) is comprised in the base (14). An assembly comprising the base (14) and the seat (16) is designed to rotate with respect to a body of the vehicle about a first axis (D), the first axis (D) extending in an elevation direction (Z). The first axis (D) passes through the center (20) of the base (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Vitte, Patrick Jeanblanc, Arnaud Heidet
  • Patent number: 11642985
    Abstract: Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices associated with the operation of a vehicle are provided. For example a vehicle computing system can receive occupancy data that includes information associated with occupancy of a vehicle that includes seats. One or more states of the vehicle can be determined. The states of the vehicle can include a disposition of any object that is within the vehicle. Further, a configuration of the seats in the vehicle can be determined based on the occupancy data and the states of the vehicle. The configuration can include a disposition of the seats inside the vehicle. Furthermore, at least one of the seats can be adjusted based on the configuration that was determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Matthew D'Eramo, Nicolas Bryan Chan, Janna Urbanski
  • Patent number: 11618347
    Abstract: A latch device includes a latch engageable with a rod portion of a striker, and is capable of transition to a locked state in which the latch is engaged with the rod portion and to an unlocked state in which the latch is disengaged from the rod portion, and includes a first shaft member that supports the latch in a manner that permits the latch to rotate, and a base member that supports the first shaft member. The base member is a unitary member which includes a first support wall disposed on one side of the latch and configured to support one end of the first shaft member, a second support wall disposed on an other side of the latch and configured to support an other end of the first shaft member, and a connecting wall that connects the first support wall and the second support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 11577628
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat back. A seat base is coupled to the seat back. A track assembly and the seat base are translatable fore and aft along the track assembly. A rail cartridge slidably engages with the track assembly. An actuation assembly includes a first electrical connector coupled to the rail cartridge and a support member coupled to a second electrical connector. The second electrical connector is operable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the first electrical connector via a sliding engagement of the support member along opposing grooves of an engagement member. The second electrical connector is actuated via an actuator coupled to the second electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Jimmy Moua, Deeptej Kudav, David Frederick Lyons, Jr., Joshua Gauthier, Macit Aktas, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Patent number: 11572177
    Abstract: A seat assembly within an internal cabin of a vehicle includes an electrical interface housing that contains a first portion of a cable that is configured to provide one or both of electrical power or electrical signals to one or more electrical components. A cable reel rotatably coupled to a body of the electrical interface housing. The cable reel is configured to rotate about an axis. The first portion of the cable includes an adjustable coil that is coiled around the cable reel. The cable reel is rotatable in a first direction to deploy the first portion of the cable outwardly from the electrical interface housing and a second direction to retract the first portion of the cable inwardly into the electrical interface housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul W. Wilcynski, Martin C. Adams
  • Patent number: 11554691
    Abstract: The device for covering a rail of a vehicle seat comprises a cover strip for the rail and a guide support for guiding the sliding of the cover strip above the rail, the at least one guide support supporting the cover strip on side of said strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Guillaume Petot, Fabrice Petit
  • Patent number: 11440439
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle seat according to an example of the present disclosure includes analyzing, by a controller, input information transmitted through each switch mounted in a vehicle and classifying the input information according to an input pattern; detecting, by the controller, in which angle range among the plurality of angle ranges belongs the current angle of the seat by analyzing rotation angle information transmitted through the angle detecting sensor of the corresponding seat; controlling, by the controller, an operation of the corresponding seat by using the information of the detected angle range and the input information; and determining, by the controller, whether the operation to the corresponding seat is correct or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.
    Inventors: Jin Woo Lee, Seung Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 11351893
    Abstract: A seating system for at least one occupant in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The seating system may provide a seat assembly with a base assembly configured to be mounted in the vehicle interior and a seat structure configured to be coupled to the base assembly and providing a seat configured for movement relative to the base assembly. Movement of the seat relative to the base assembly may be made by at least two of recline movement or swivel movement or tilt movement. Recline movement may be generally translating movement of the seat structure. Swivel movement may be rotational movement of the seat structure. Tilt movement may be generally translating movement of the seat structure transverse to recline movement. The base assembly may be a mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the seat structure relative to the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Dillinger
  • Patent number: 11299073
    Abstract: A deployable driver station including a seat utilizing both a front-facing driver seat bottom and a coupled rear-facing passenger seat bottom. In a driver configuration, the driver seat bottom is used in a conventional manner, being disposed behind the steering wheel or other steering control and the interior panel, while the passenger seat bottom is disposed more centrally within the passenger compartment. In a passenger configuration, the passenger seat bottom is used like the adjacent rear-facing passenger seat bottom(s), when used, while the driver seat bottom is disposed under the interior panel such that it does not take up space in the passenger compartment. Likewise, the steering wheel or other steering control is disposed under the interior panel. A common two-sided pivoting seat back is alternately used for the driver seat or the passenger seat by pivoting to an appropriate angle for the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Palm, Jonas Göthlin
  • Patent number: 11052793
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a foldable seat actuatable at least to a stowed configuration and to a deployed configuration, The seat assembly also includes a seat actuation assist mechanism being structured to generate a seat actuation assist force facilitating a movement of the seat from any one of the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration to the other one of the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration. The assist force is generated responsive to movement of the seat from the other one of the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration to the one of the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Schutzman, Christopher M. Vargo
  • Patent number: 10807503
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an outer rail coupled to a floor. An inner rail is positioned within the outer rail. A seat base is coupled to the inner rail. Cover members are positioned over the outer rail. An inclined member is coupled to the outer rail and the cover members are configured to pivot about two rotational axes in response to movement of the inclined member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn Tuffs
  • Patent number: 10759305
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes an actuation carriage coupled to an underside thereof, a plurality of anchors extending from the actuation carriage, each of the anchors being rotatable about a fixed vertical axis, and a plurality of rollers rotatably coupled to each of the anchors by an axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Daniel Ferretti, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 10744910
    Abstract: A deployable driver station including a seat utilizing both a front-facing driver seat bottom and a coupled rear-facing passenger seat bottom. In a driver configuration, the driver seat bottom is used in a conventional manner, being disposed behind the steering wheel or other steering control and the interior panel, while the passenger seat bottom is disposed more centrally within the passenger compartment. In a passenger configuration, the passenger seat bottom is used like the adjacent rear-facing passenger seat bottom(s), when used, while the driver seat bottom is disposed under the interior panel such that it does not take up space in the passenger compartment. Likewise, the steering wheel or other steering control is disposed under the interior panel. A common two-sided pivoting seat back is alternately used for the driver seat or the passenger seat by pivoting to an appropriate angle for the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Palm, Jonas Göthlin
  • Patent number: 10730407
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seating system is provided. The seating system comprises two or more seats and a guide track extending between three or more spaced apart seating positions within an interior of the motor vehicle, wherein each of the seats is movably coupled to the guide track, such that the seats are movable between the seating positions. A seat, suitable for use in the motor vehicle seating system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Guy, Marcus Hoggarth, Ben Carroll, Matthew Graeme Leck, Kyle Loughlin
  • Patent number: 10675992
    Abstract: A mounting structure for vehicle equipment includes a vehicle body frame, a bracket attached to the vehicle body frame, and a plurality of vehicle equipment including at least one seat. The bracket and the plurality of vehicle equipment are configured so that the plurality of vehicle equipment each is mounted to the bracket so as to be replaceable with the other vehicle equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishiguchi, Craig Boyd
  • Patent number: 10661683
    Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism of a seat for facilitating entry and exit of a person into/out of an interior of a motor vehicle, wherein a backrest part is forcibly coupled to a seat part via a rocker arm such that an adjusting movement of the backrest part is transmitted to the seat part. The backrest part and the seat part of the seat are moved from a starting position to an intermediate position by a first predetermined horizontal length by means of a sliding device which is connected to an upper rail of a seat rail, wherein the backrest part is rigidly connected to a backrest release unit of the backrest part via a coupling element, which is pivotable about a first coupling element pivot axis with respect to the sliding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Nicolas Becker, Tomas Barkow, Michal Niewinowski, Michal Szewczyk, Thorsten Schnettker, Lukasz Pyziak, Stanislaw Klajn, Tomasz Soliwoda
  • Patent number: 10625631
    Abstract: An underbody structure for supporting an adjustable seating assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a rotatable turntable operably coupled to an underbody of the motor vehicle and a brace operably coupled with the rotatable turntable and the underbody of the motor vehicle and extending substantially across the rotatable turntable, wherein the adjustable seating assembly is operably coupled to the brace and the underbody of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad
  • Patent number: 10556531
    Abstract: A multi-headrest assembly for a vehicle includes first and second headrests for first and second seats of the vehicle, respectively, and a multi-headrest mount having a crossbar and first and second brackets coupled to and spaced along the crossbar for supporting the first and second headrests, respectively. The crossbar has a length for defining a space between the first and second headrests for aligning the first and second headrests with the first and second seats, respectively, when mounted in the vehicle. The multi-headrest assembly further includes first and second seatback portions configured to be coupled to and supported by the first and second brackets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erdal Kuscu, Guenther Gabsa, Roland Traub
  • Patent number: 10549859
    Abstract: A method of configuring a seating system of a vehicle that comprises floor beams, comprises attaching a secondary pair of seat tracks to the floor beams of the vehicle such that one of the secondary pair of seat tracks is positioned between seat tracks of a primary pair of seat tracks of the seating system. Only one seat track of the secondary pair of seat tracks is positioned between seat tracks of the primary pair of seat tracks along an entire length of the secondary pair of seat tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sami Movsesian, Jun Chen
  • Patent number: 10421373
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a turntable that is rotatable about a first vertical axis. A seatbase is slidably coupled to the turntable. The seatbase is configured to slidably actuate regardless of a rotational position of the turntable. The seating assembly may be installed in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin Wayne Preuss, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 10358059
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a cargo box and a seat device located on the front side of the cargo box. The seat device includes a seat bottom and a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a lateral direction, a seat back frame that swings about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position at which the seat back frame overlaps with the seat bottom, and a seat back main body that is attached to the seat back frame. The seat back frame in the horizontal position defines an expansion floor by which the floor of the cargo box is expanded in a forward direction. The seat back main body swings to a hanging orientation with respect to the seat back frame in the horizontal position and is located in front of the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Keziah, Aubrey Jarvis, David Spitz
  • Patent number: 10239425
    Abstract: A movable partition system for a vehicle is provided. The movable partition system includes a body configured to be movably coupled to a cabin of the vehicle. The body is movable between at least a first position and a second position. The movable partition system includes a jumpseat coupled to the body so as to be pivotal about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. The jumpseat is pivotable about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis to move between a first, stowed position and a second, use position. The first pivot axis is offset from the second pivot axis along a longitudinal axis of the jumpseat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Wade W. Bryant
  • Patent number: 10046670
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is adapted to be moved relative to a floor of a vehicle. The seat includes a seat bottom that can be moved relative to the floor and a seat back that can be moved relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Dale J Frye, Jeffery T Bonk, Timothy L Moulton, Jared A Judson
  • Patent number: 9987954
    Abstract: An increase in the lateral dimension of a vehicle seat equipped with a tip up lock cancel mechanism is prevented. In a vehicle seat equipped with a tip up mechanism for retaining the seat cushion at least in a tip up position and a tip up lock cancel mechanism for releasing the seat cushion from a retained condition effected by the tip up mechanism in response to a forward tilting movement of the seat back, the tip up lock cancel mechanism includes a cable encasing member having one end fixed to the seat cushion and another end fixed to a back side frame via a fixing part, and a cable slidably received in the cable encasing member and having one end connected to the tip up mechanism and another end connected to a seat base, the fixing part for fixing the cable encasing member to the back side frame being located on an inner side of the back side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shingo Kimata
  • Patent number: 9919627
    Abstract: A vehicle seat locking unit (10) includes a lock housing having a receptacle opening (19) for receiving a locking bolt (12). A rotary latch (20) is mounted to swivel around a bearing bolt (51) and has a hook aperture (21) for locking together with the locking bolt. The bearing bolt is aligned in an axial direction and the receptacle opening is delimited by a locking bolt stop element (61), located in the hook aperture, which axially protrudes into the lock housing. In a locked state the locking bolt extends in the axial direction. A first contact region (71), between the locking bolt and the stop element, and a second contact region (72), between the locking bolt and the rotary latch, partially overlap in the axial direction, or the first contact region lies completely within the second contact region in the axial direction. A vehicle seat (1) includes such locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Handl, Andreas Vedder, Uwe Moeller, Igor Gordeenko
  • Patent number: 9855868
    Abstract: A seat adjuster assembly including a handle, a first track assembly and a second track assembly. The first track assembly includes a first track defining an interior and a second track moveably mounted relative to the first track. A first trigger is pivotally mounted on a first trigger housing and connects to the handle. The first trigger is movable between an unlocked position permitting movement between the first and second tracks, and a locked position. The second track assembly includes a third track defining an interior and a fourth track moveably mounted relative to the third track. A second trigger is pivotally mounted on a second trigger housing and connects to the handle. The second trigger is movable between an unlocked position permitting movement between the third and fourth tracks, and a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Harvey, Thomas Lee Rorabacher
  • Patent number: 9815388
    Abstract: Systems and methods for seat positioning modification in a vehicle are described. One embodiment of a method includes arranging a first movable seat in a default arrangement of a vehicle in preparation for receiving a passenger and determining an occurrence of an external triggering event to the vehicle. Some embodiments include, in response to determining the occurrence of the external triggering event, automatically rearranging the first movable seat to a second arrangement to accommodate for the external triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian L. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 9655458
    Abstract: Powered recliner chairs, assemblies for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Control systems and methods for operating powered recliner chairs are also provided. Any given chair may be locally and/or remotely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew D. Jacobs, Frederick D. Jacobs, Terry Plumert
  • Patent number: 9643518
    Abstract: A seat for a motor vehicle includes a back part and a sitting part. The back part includes at least one detachable main part, which is adapted to be entirely separated from the rest of the seat. The detachable main part also includes, at the rear, storage fixed to the detachable main part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Miguel Correia, Guillaume Brotonne, David Lancelot
  • Patent number: 9555725
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat (1) includes a seat part (2) and a backrest (3) which is pivotable relative to the seat part via a backrest adjustment fitting (5) and is lockable in a plurality of angular positions. A locking device (90) locks the seat part to a vehicle structure. An unlocking lever (30) transmits an unlocking movement to the locking device. A first interlock element (54), with the fitting unlocked, prevents a movement of the unlocking lever for unlocking the locking device and with the locking device unlocked, prevents an unlocking of the backrest adjustment fitting. The first interlock element, as a blocking lever, is connected to a transmission rod (60) for rotation therewith, to unlock the fitting. The unlocking lever has or interacts with a blocking element (36, 37) which, when the locking device; is unlocked, prevents a movement of the blocking lever for unlocking the backrest adjustment fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Rothstein, Michael Fahl
  • Patent number: 9505319
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided which has a rear seat row, wherein the rear seat row can be changed such that at least three child seats can be arranged on the rear seat row. Two seat surfaces can be displaced from a lowered position into a raised position and back, and two optionally present lateral support members can be moved from a raised position into a lowered position. A middle seat surface portion can be moved from a raised position into a lowered position. The upwardly directed outer surfaces of the side members, the upwardly directed outer surfaces of the seat surfaces and the upwardly directed outer surface of the middle seat surface portion form a flat bench seat surface of the rear seat row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Heiner Bruns
  • Patent number: 9434303
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the in-vehicle network controller sends instructions, via a communication signal, to the lighting network wherein the lighting network is synchronized with a media source by using a communication protocol which controls features of the lighting network such as timing, fading, color, intensity, and enable/disable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SEMINCONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Borgholthaus
  • Patent number: 9331608
    Abstract: An actuator comprising a single actuator housing containing within it a motor, a controller, a memory, and a position sensor having an output, a user interface for causing a first threshold value to be stored in the memory, and the controller configured and arranged to stop the motor as a function of the position sensor output and the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Mast, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150142273
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment with an instrument panel located near a front of the passenger compartment. The vehicle further includes at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be stowed under the instrument panel for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 9022449
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle seat includes: a saddle-type seat main body which is provided above a vehicle body in one of a three-wheel straddle-type vehicle and a four-wheel straddle-type vehicle and which is straddled by a driver; and an angle adjustment mechanism which adjusts an angle of the saddle-type seat main body with respect to the vehicle body in accordance with a signal from a detection unit that detects a traveling state of the straddle-type vehicle when the straddle-type vehicle is turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ishige
  • Patent number: 8990976
    Abstract: An uneven surface assistance device is disclosed including a first leg assembly and a second leg assembly having a length different. The assemblies are connected directly or indirectly to a supporting platform and are movable with respect to the supporting platform between a first lockable position orthogonal to the supporting platform and a stored position parallel to the supporting platform. The device further includes a transverse support connected to the supporting platform generally in between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly. The support connects to a first arm connected to the first leg assembly where the first arm is parallel to the supporting platform when the first leg is in the stored position and the support further connects to a second arm connected to the second leg assembly where the second arm is parallel to the supporting platform when the second leg is in the stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Rick M. Saccone, Jeffrey E. Wilhite
  • Patent number: 8973965
    Abstract: A rear-facing seat for a vehicle comprises: a seat portion connected to the vehicle by a hinge so that the rear-facing seat assumes at least a stowed position and an unstowed position; and a back portion connected to the seat portion, wherein in the unstowed position the back portion assumes at least an up position and a down position, wherein in the up position (i) a hook on the back portion engages a first striker on a vehicle wall, and (ii) a latch on the back portion engages a second striker of a back of a forward-facing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Zalan, Sohel Merchant
  • Publication number: 20150061312
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle seat includes: a saddle-type seat main body which is provided above a vehicle body in one of a three-wheel straddle-type vehicle and a four-wheel straddle-type vehicle and which is straddled by a driver; and an angle adjustment mechanism which adjusts an angle of the saddle-type seat main body with respect to the vehicle body in accordance with a signal from a detection unit that detects a traveling state of the straddle-type vehicle when the straddle-type vehicle is turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo ISHIGE
  • Publication number: 20150042122
    Abstract: A vehicle includes vehicle body-side steps having a plurality of abutment surfaces on which seat-side protrusions abut from above. Each abutment surface has a height different from each other, with the seat being adjustable in height by selectively abutting the seat-side protrusions on the abutment surfaces. A rider's seat has a covering portion formed at a front portion thereof and extending substantially in parallel with an inclined upper surface of a fuel tank. When abutment positions of the seat-side protrusions are changed from either first ones of the abutment surfaces to second ones, the covering portion changes a position thereof so as to slide substantially in parallel with the inclined upper surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Ryoji IMAI
  • Patent number: 8919854
    Abstract: A bench for a vehicle is provided, which bench comprises at least two seats that are arranged next to one another and are connected to one another. Provision is made for one of the at least two seats to act as a base seat that has at least one locking unit for the purpose of connection to a vehicle floor of a vehicle body, while the at least one other seat hovers above a vehicle floor since the other seat is reversibly connected solely to the base seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Breyvogel, Hans Rohlfing, Tobias Woynowski, Ole Stollreiter, Robert Sulowski, Jaroslaw Szydlo
  • Publication number: 20140361571
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly having a seat base and a seat back. Bolsters extend laterally from one of the seat base and the seat back and include a bolster support having a hinge assembly and an abutment member and a substantially planar engagement surface disposed therebetween. A flexible cushion overlies the bolster support. A spring-biased dynamic member is operably coupled with one of the seat back and the seat base and is slidably engaged with the substantially planar engagement surface. The spring-biased dynamic member is operable between articulated and unarticulated positions. The spring-biased dynamic member moves to the articulated position upon initiation of a user-initiated event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marc Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Christian J. Hosbach
  • Patent number: 8894107
    Abstract: A hook lever engages with a striker which enters as far as a deep side in an entering direction of the striker to hold the striker by moving from an opening position to an engagement position while being guided by a hook shaft provided on the deep side in the entering direction of the striker, and a guide lever is guided by the hook shaft and is biased from the deep side to an entrance side in the entering direction of the striker to restrict the movement of the hook lever towards the engagement position, while the guide lever is pressed against by the striker when the striker enters in the entering direction so as to move the hook lever to the engagement position, in such a state that the guide lever is partially overlapped on the hook lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Kamata, Naoya Seto
  • Publication number: 20140339848
    Abstract: A headrest apparatus for an MPV includes a headrest that can be automatically completely housed in a storage space in such a way as to slide without requiring a user to perform an additional operation of pushing the headrest downwards, thus being more convenient for the user. The headrest apparatus has a simple structure and a reduced size, thus reducing the weight of the vehicle. The headrest apparatus includes a headrest sliding unit, a sinking seat folding unit, and a seat support frame supporting a sinking seat on a floor of the MPV, wherein, when the sinking seat is housed in a seat storage space formed in the floor of the MPV, the upper surface of the sinking seat that is in a housed state is level with the upper surface of the floor of the MPV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: DAE WON SAN UP CO., LTD, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Sang Ho KIM, Soo Hyun MOON, Deok Soo LIM, Jun Yeol HEO, Hyeong Jun KIM, Hyuk KIM, Jae Myung HUR, Do Kywn KIM
  • Patent number: 8864209
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a reclined seating position and a fold flat position. A recliner assembly is coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion to provide pivotal movement of the seat back. A riser assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and pivotally latched to the floor to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a horizontal seating position and a forwardly upright tumbled position. A release mechanism is coupled between the seat back and the riser assembly for automatically synchronizing actuation of the recliner assembly and the riser assembly to provide movement of the seat assembly to the tumbled position in response to the pivotal movement of the seat back to the fold flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: David A. White, Prasad D. Jagtap, Alan Proulx, Timothy Jon Brush, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Omar D Tame, Robert Thomas Coffey, Rabindranath Persad, Douglas A Dingel, Nelson E Hurst, Jerzy Dziedzic, Lei Cao, Brian Adwell
  • Patent number: 8851547
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for a vehicle having at least three seats, comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of said two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extending rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers when seated in the passenger seats. The seats being arrangeable in multiple configurations: a three-seat configuration with a storage space behind the passenger seats, a two-seat configuration with one of the passenger seats folded down to extend said storage space and a one-seat configuration in which both passenger seats are folded down to extend further said storage space. A vehicle engine is mounted in a space beneath said storage space behind the passenger seats and/or beneath the passenger seats and a fuel tank, batteries or other power source is mounted beneath the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Gordon Murray Design Limited
    Inventor: Ian Gordon Murray
  • Patent number: 8840167
    Abstract: Motor vehicle with a seat bench which comprises a seat surface which is approximately horizontal in a normal position and a backrest which is approximately vertical in the normal position, wherein the backrest comprises at least one transparent region which is designed in such a manner that the view from a region in front of the backrest in the direction of travel into a region behind the backrest in the direction of travel is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Christoph Aschaber, Thomas Auer, Manuel Erlacher, Martin Rodler, Harald Zachnegger
  • Patent number: 8820815
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment, a cargo compartment, a battery, and a ducted seat. The battery is disposed in the cargo compartment and dissipates heat when energized such that air in the vehicle becomes heated air. The ducted seat is operatively disposed in the passenger compartment. The ducted seat includes a base layer, a ducting layer, and a cover layer. The ducting layer covers the base layer. The cover layer covers the ducting layer. The ducting layer presents a leading opening and trailing opening in fluid communication with one another such that the ducting layer is configured to receive air therein through the leading opening and exhaust air through the trailing opening. The trailing opening is disposed in fluid communication with the cargo compartment such that the exhausted air flows from the trailing opening into the cargo compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew R. Krenz, Damond N. Hinatsu, Nicole Leslie Nicholas
  • Patent number: 8814123
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat track having a retainer arranged in a space extending in the fore-and-aft direction and the vertical direction between a lower rail and an upper rail and a lower ball and an upper ball rotatably supported on an upper portion and a lower portion of the retainer and configured to come into contact with both the lower rail and the upper rail, and is intended to provide a seat track in which vibrations in the vertical direction generated in the upper rail are reduced. There are provided a plurality of the lower balls and a plurality of the upper balls which are supported by the retainer, and a center-to-center distance between the plurality of lower balls lying next to each other is set to be different from a center-to-center distance between the plurality of upper balls lying next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Suzuki, Yoichi Takada
  • Patent number: 8770645
    Abstract: A backrest arrangement for installation in a motor vehicle for transporting wheelchair users, and a motor vehicle including the backrest arrangement. The backrest arrangement includes a fixing device that attaches the backrest arrangement to the roof of the motor vehicle. A backrest is mounted to the fixing device and is configured to support a wheelchair user. The backrest is rotatably mounted to the fixing device by a telescoping bar. The backrest may thereby be moved between a stowage position and a substantially extended operative position by rotating the backrest down from the stowage position and extending the telescoping bar. While in the stowage position, the backrest may be disposed completely in the roof region of the motor vehicle so that the backrest arrangement does not take up space in the passenger region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: AMF-Bruns GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerit Bruns