Lateral Movement Patents (Class 296/65.11)
  • Patent number: 11884189
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes an ISOFIX assembly and a base. The ISOFIX assembly includes a support foot, a connecting portion, and a sliding rail portion between the support foot and the connecting portion. The connecting portion connects to a car seat. The sliding rail portion includes a first sliding rail portion and a second sliding rail portion connected to the first sliding rail portion. A width of the second sliding rail portion is larger than a width of the first sliding rail portion. The base has a frame assembly which has a sleeve portion slidably sleeved on the sliding rail portion. The sleeve portion includes first and second sleeve portions slidably sleeved on corresponding first and second sliding rail portions. The base is operable to be adjusted telescopically with respect to the ISOFIX assembly through a sliding cooperation between the sliding rail portion and the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BAMBINO PREZIOSO SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Yingzhong Chen
  • Patent number: 11872911
    Abstract: In order to prevent distortion of slide rails caused by an urging force generated by an urging member in a vehicle tumble seat, a vehicle seat is capable of taking a stowed position in which a seat back is folded onto a seat cushion and the seat cushion together with the folded seat back is rotatably lifted away from a floor, and the vehicle seat is configured to include a support member coupled to the floor; a rotating member rotatably supported by the support member via a support shaft extending in a right-left direction; a lower rail extending in a front-rear direction and coupled at an end to the rotating member so as to be extend literally offset relative to the support shaft; an upper rail slidably supported by the lower rail and coupled to the seat cushion; a coupling device provided at a second end of the lower rail on a side toward the support shaft and capable of selectably connecting to the floor; and an urging device extending the front-rear direction and having one end coupled to the support memb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Abe, Yuta Sugaya
  • Patent number: 11267368
    Abstract: A vehicle module system is disclosed. The system includes a track assembly operably coupled with a body of a vehicle. One or more modules may be removably and slidably coupled with the track assembly. The modules include base structure defining an attachment point. A rail feature is disposed along a bottom portion of the base structure. An attachment feature having a retainer for removably coupling to the attachment point to the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Prozzi, Tyler Carpenter, Jeremy John Malick, John Galin, Christopher Robert Westfall, Andres Almeida Senatore, Daniel Boccuccia, Siddharthan Selvasekar
  • Patent number: 11241980
    Abstract: A vehicle seat positioning system includes a seat occupancy sensor that generates a signal indicating the presence or absence of an occupant in each of a first vehicle seat and a second vehicle seat, a seat proximity sensor that generates a seat proximity signal indicating a distance between the first vehicle seat and an occupant of the second vehicle seat, and vehicle seat position controller configured to command the first vehicle seat to move away from the second vehicle seat in response to a signal from the seat occupancy sensor indicating absence of an occupant in the first vehicle seat and the presence of an occupant in the second vehicle seat and a signal from the seat proximity sensor indicating a distance between the first vehicle seat and the occupant of the second vehicle seat is less than a predetermined threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Valor Yaldo
  • Patent number: 10946773
    Abstract: In order to prevent distortion of slide rails caused by an urging force generated by an urging member in a vehicle tumble seat, a vehicle seat is capable of taking a stowed position in which a seat back 6L is folded onto a seat cushion 5L and the seat cushion 5L together with the folded seat back 6L is rotatably lifted away from a floor 3, and the vehicle seat is configured to include: a support member 31 coupled to the floor; a rotating member 33L rotatably supported by the support member via a support shaft extending in a right-left direction; a lower rail 41 extending in a front-rear direction and coupled at an end to the rotating member so as to be extend literally offset relative to the support shaft; an upper rail 42 slidably supported by the lower rail and coupled to the seat cushion; a coupling device 51 provided at a second end of the lower rail on a side toward the support shaft and capable of selectably connecting to the floor; and an urging device 60 extending the front-rear direction and having o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Abe, Yuta Sugaya
  • Patent number: 10606363
    Abstract: A method for a display system of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle comprises one or more seats for occupants of the vehicle, the position and/or orientation of the seats within an interior of the motor vehicle being variable. The method comprises: determining a position and/or orientation of the seats; determining an orientation at least a first portion of an image to be displayed by the display system according to the position and/or orientation of the seats; and displaying the image such that at least the first portion of the image is in the determined orientation. A display system for a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus Hoggarth, Tom Gordon, Alan Pich
  • Patent number: 10059231
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, includes a guide describing a trajectory, said vehicle seat being movable on the guide along the trajectory so that the vehicle seat is moved away from a vehicle center, and a front side of the vehicle seat is rotated about a vertical axis of the vehicle seat toward the vehicle center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Jens Dietmar Reuschel, Vanessa Diedrichs
  • Patent number: 9016797
    Abstract: A seat device for use in a vehicle that can move through an opening of a vehicle between a loading and unloading position positioned outside the vehicle, where a passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and a seating position positioned in the cabin of the vehicle, where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition. A securing member of the seat device can secure a wheelchair in a folded state to a side surface or a back surface of the seat. The wheelchair together with the seat can move from the loading and unloading position to inside the cabin of the vehicle, with the passenger in a seated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Iida, Masami Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9004437
    Abstract: A vibration proof structure of a seat apparatus for a vehicle, includes a first member and a second member movably arranged relative to each other in a first relative direction corresponding to a forward movement of a seat element in a front and rear direction of the vehicle and in a second relative direction corresponding to a rearward movement of the seat element in the front and rear direction, a first restriction wall restricting a relative movement of the first member to the second member in the first relative direction, a second restriction wall restricting the relative movement of the first member to the second member in the second relative direction, and a resistance force applying portion applying a resistance force to the first member moving in the first relative direction while not applying the resistance force to the first member moving in the second relative direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 8894031
    Abstract: A seating system for a motor vehicle includes three sets of rails mounted to the floor of a motor vehicle. Each set of rails is configured to receive two seats that are capable of sliding in a longitudinal direction on the rails. The motor vehicle also includes storage spaces for storing the seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Sailer, Mark Kisiler, Nathan G. Brown, David A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8886413
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle, includes a main support control means for moving a side support portion inwardly and outwardly by means of a driving portion depending on a road shape, a support control means for operating the side support portion on the basis of an electronic map data before the vehicle reaches a curve starting point, a distance calculating means for calculating distance between an intersection and the curve starting point on the basis of the electronic map data, the intersection and the curve starting point, a determining means for determining whether or not control of the support control means is executed on the basis of the calculated distance and electronic map data accuracy, a means for executing the control of the support control means on the basis of determination of the determining means, and a means for refraining the control of the support control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Hattori
  • Patent number: 8708392
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle seat in which a seat main body disposed on a vehicle floor is flipped up laterally, so as to be retracted in a vehicle interior side wall of which the upper portion is inwardly inclined, may include a connection mechanism that is configured to rotatably connect the seat main body to a support stand. The connection mechanism includes a four-link mechanism having a stationary link integral with the support stand, an intermediate link integral with the seat main body, and a first link and a second link that connect these two links. The second link is configured to increase an angle between the first link and the intermediate link as the seat main body is flipped up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiyou Otsuka, Toshio Araki, Eiji Mizutani, Ryo Hattori, Masashi Fujimoto, Shinji Yamada, Yasunori Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8596720
    Abstract: A vehicle sheet includes: a longitudinal sliding mechanism configured to support a seat body such that the seat body is slidable relative to a vehicle floor in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a lateral sliding mechanism configured to support the seat body such that the seat body is slidable in the vehicle lateral direction; a reclining mechanism configured to connect a seat back to a seat cushion and adjust a reclining angle of the seat back; a first lever configured to be able to cancel fixation of the reclining angle of the seat back, which has been provided by the reclining mechanism; and a release mechanism configured to release locks on both the longitudinal sliding mechanism and the lateral sliding mechanism upon detection of a motion of tilting the seat back to a forward tilt position, which is caused by an operation of the first lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiyou Ootsuka, Tomokazu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8590958
    Abstract: A seat arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle seat that can be shifted in the longitudinal and transverse direction. A rail guide has a guide component fixedly anchored to the seat or vehicle and a guide rail fixedly anchored to the vehicle or seat along which the guide component is rail-guide. An installation section has a locking device that is moved from a release position in which the guide component is guided along the installation section or introduced into the installation section, into a locked position, in which the installation section is locked relative to the guide component by the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Endt, Stefan Neuhaeuser
  • Patent number: 8567842
    Abstract: A vehicle having a door opening defining a threshold. A slide system includes a track operably connected to the vehicle. A slide is linearly moveable relative to the track. A seat is operably connected to the slide. The slide is laterally movable between a retracted position that corresponds with the seat being positioned inside the vehicle and an extended position that corresponds with the seat being disposed in the threshold. The seat may translate from a rearward position to a forward position in order to facilitate the clearance of the seat through the threshold. A portion of the seat may rotate downward to facilitate clearance of the seat through the threshold. Alternatively, a forward portion of the seat may move forward and rearward relative to a rearward portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, John W. Jaranson
  • Patent number: 8562059
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for a movable seat for use on a bi-directional work vehicle that laterally shifts the lower seating surface as it is pivoted between raised and lowered positions to increase clearance adjacent to the seat to improve operator ingress and egress to the vehicle operator platform. The incorporation of a biasing mechanism enables the seat mechanism to automatically reposition the seat for maximum ingress/egress clearance when the vehicle operator rises from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, John C. Campbell, Kyle J. Brenner, Matthew A. McCullough
  • Patent number: 8500082
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a seat base sliding device applied to a seat of a heavy machinery such as a loader, an excavator, or the like. The seat base sliding device includes: a seat base with a lower part is fixed to a floor of a vehicle body and an upper part at which a seat is installed; a sliding plate slidable inwards and outwards in a lateral direction of the seat base at both left and right sides of the seat base and in which a control stand is fixed to one side thereof; and at least one adjustment unit selectively fixing the sliding plate of which the position is determined by sliding movement to the seat base. The present disclosure is capable of preventing a cabin from knocking against both control stands of a seat device at the time of assembling the cabin around the seat device and in addition, preventing the corresponding control stands from interfering in a thigh of a driver at the time of operating a control lever of each control stand laterally after assembling the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8408651
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is provided with an adjusting device that includes, but is not limited to a longitudinal sliding device for sliding the motor vehicle seat in a longitudinal direction and a transverse sliding device for sliding the motor vehicle seat in transverse direction. The transverse sliding device includes, but is not limited to at least one swiveling lever which on the one hand is arranged on the longitudinal sliding device and on the other hand indirectly or directly on the motor vehicle seat. The swiveling lever can be swiveled from a first swiveling position, in which the motor vehicle seat is arranged in a transverse position, into a second swiveling position in which the motor vehicle seat relative to the first transverse position is arranged in transverse direction offset in a second transverse position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jürgen Maier
  • Publication number: 20130057014
    Abstract: A seat arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle seat that can be shifted in the longitudinal and transverse direction. A rail guide has a guide component fixedly anchored to the seat or vehicle and a guide rail fixedly anchored to the vehicle or seat along which the guide component is rail-guide. An installation section has a locking device that is moved from a release position in which the guide component is guided along the installation section or introduced into the installation section, into a locked position, in which the installation section is locked relative to the guide component by the locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas ENDT, Stefan NEUHAEUSER
  • Patent number: 8251427
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for a row of seats in a vehicle includes a right seat connected with a vehicle body of the vehicle, a left seat connected with the vehicle body, and a middle seat positioned between the right seat and the left seat. At least one of the right seat and the left seat is moveable in a lateral direction with respect to the other seat and the vehicle body. Movement of the at least one seat toward the other seat can collapse the middle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8251335
    Abstract: A lower rail 3 has a first cut-and-raised piece 22, and an upper rail 4 has a second cut-and-raised piece 23. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 each have a facing surface 22a, 23a that faces and is contactable with the facing surface of the other cut-and-raised piece along the moving direction of the upper rail 4. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 are engaged with each other so as to limit the movement range of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. On the facing surface 22a and the facing surface 23a, inclination angles ? and ? are provided that generate a force causing the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 to be more deeply engaged with each other, respectively. This prevents the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 from being easily disengaged from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 8138908
    Abstract: An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that diverts the impact energy in impacts away from the passengers to the remaining mass of the vehicle thereby protecting the passengers, and in the same arrangement provides utilitarian access to the vehicle, such utilitarian access making it possible to both install multi-element contoured surround seats for passengers and the driver, and also safety devices and arrangements for head-on collision protection that protect the passenger. An indo-skeletal structural arrangement proposed for the vehicle, provides further benefits by targeting the strength of the vehicle to protect passengers while minimizing other massive elements in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Arjuna Indraeswaran Rajasingham
  • Publication number: 20120032466
    Abstract: A vehicle having a door opening defining a threshold. A slide system includes a track operably connected to the vehicle. A slide is linearly moveable relative to the track. A seat is operably connected to the slide. The slide is laterally movable between a retracted position that corresponds with the seat being positioned inside the vehicle and an extended position that corresponds with the seat being disposed in the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, John W. Jaranson
  • Patent number: 8052111
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle seat track assembly. The assembly comprises a first track member having an upwardly facing bearing surface and a second track member for attachment to a vehicle seat, the second track member having a downwardly facing bearing surface. A cage is disposed between the first track member and the second track member. The cage carries a rolling element that is in rolling engagement with the upper and lower bearing surfaces to provide longitudinal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. The cage is provided with at least one pad section for engaging at least one of the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces. In an unloaded state, the at least one pad section separates the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces from each other by a distance which is greater than the diameter of the rolling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Don Bernhardt, Tony Centi, Alan M. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8042855
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat arrangement includes a plurality of strikers connected with a vehicle frame, an inboard vehicle seat, and an outboard vehicle seat. At least one outboard seat rear striker includes a latching section divider dividing the outboard seat rear striker into at least two laterally spaced apart latching sections. The outboard vehicle seat includes an outboard seat rear latch that cooperates with the outboard seat rear striker and an outboard seat front latch that cooperates with an outboard seat front striker. The outboard seat is generally laterally aligned with and laterally offset from the inboard seat. The outboard seat is laterally adjustable and the outboard seat rear latch is configured to engage the outboard seat rear striker at each of the at least two laterally spaced apart latching sections. A method for laterally adjusting a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Spyridon G. Blatseas, Ross L. Burghardt, Ronald C. Cozzo, Brian E. Dressel, Rudy M. Mayne, Jr., Osamu Kyogoku, Yasuhiro Iwaki, William C. Lanz
  • Patent number: 8011713
    Abstract: A seat arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a first vehicle seat and a second vehicle seat that is arranged adjacent to the first vehicle seat in the transverse direction. The vehicle seats include, but are not are not limited to a seat part and a back rest. The first vehicle seat can be displaced in the transverse direction from a first position into a second position in which the first vehicle seat is offset in the direction of the second vehicle seat. The second vehicle seat can furthermore be folded from a service position into an idle position. The seat part of the second vehicle seat is lowered in the idle position such that the seat part of the first vehicle seat is arranged above the seat part of the second vehicle seat in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hermann-Walter Schlamann
  • Publication number: 20110187146
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for a row of seats in a vehicle includes a right seat connected with a vehicle body of the vehicle, a left seat connected with the vehicle body, and a middle seat positioned between the right seat and the left seat. At least one of the right seat and the left seat is moveable in a lateral direction with respect to the other seat and the vehicle body. Movement of the at least one seat toward the other seat can collapse the middle seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20110068599
    Abstract: Embodiments of seating systems for motor vehicles facilitate two-dimensional movement of a seat in a horizontal plane. The seating systems can also facilitate vertical movement of the seat. The seating systems are motorized, and can be automatically controlled so that minimal movement and effort are required on the part of the user to enter and exit the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: FREEDOM SCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Panzarella, Thomas A. Panzarella, JR., David D. McClanahan, James B. Eldon, III, Ira C. Hoffman, Michael T. Martin
  • Patent number: 7891721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a car baby seat system, which comprises: (a) a baby seat; (b) a supporting device for the baby seat; (c) positioning mechanism associated with said supporting device and baby seat, for transversally moving the supporting device and baby seat along the rear passengers' seat between at least three states, a safe center-car state, a side-car state, and a loading/unloading state, wherein in the loading/unloading state the baby seat is positioned by said mechanism at least partially outside the car in a rotated orientation relative to the normal use orientation, thereby enabling convenience of loading and unloading of the baby, and additional space for rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Gidon Pesach
  • Patent number: 7887116
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system in one embodiment includes a control device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body; a plurality of first sensors mounted in the front portion of the vehicle body; two first actuators each mounted under a front seat equipped with a first seat belt; and a second actuator mounted under a rear seat equipped with a plurality of second seat belts; wherein each of the first sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, and the activated control device is adapted to activate the first and second actuators to pivot the front and rear seats upward a predetermined angle to push seated vehicle occupants rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Feng
  • Patent number: 7866723
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle having an interior portion and a rear portion comprising a first position substantially within a vehicle and a second position substantially outside the vehicle. A transfer coupling element is operatively coupled to a structure in the interior portion of the vehicle, wherein said seat has a substantially constant orientation during a motion between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventors: V. Guy Ninio, Ken Boyar
  • Patent number: 7854461
    Abstract: A slide/flip-up type automobile-seat is disclosed. The seat is provided with lock-release restricting mechanisms provided at lower rail members of a slide rail mechanism for keeping slide lock levers in unlockable states with respect to the lower rail members during flipping-up movement of an entire seat or in a state where the entire seat has been flipped up, and for keeping striker locks in states of being unallowable to be unlocked when the lock levers are in states of incompletely locked with respect to the lower rail members. Each of the lock-release mechanisms includes a restricting arm which includes an arm body, a rising-up piece rising up from one end portion of the arm body and having a height reaching a position under a rear end portion of corresponding one of the lock levers, and a retaining piece which is provided at a side edge of the arm body and to which a corresponding one of extension rods extending from the striker locks is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuro Yamada
  • Patent number: 7845703
    Abstract: Embodiments of seating systems for motor vehicles facilitate two-dimensional movement of a seat in a horizontal plane. The seating systems can also facilitate vertical movement of the seat. The seating systems are motorized, and can be automatically controlled so that minimal movement and effort are required on the part of the user to enter and exit the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Freedom Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Panzarella, Thomas A. Panzarella, Jr., David D. McClanahan, James B. Eldon, III, Ira C. Hoffman, Michael T. Martin
  • Patent number: 7823950
    Abstract: There is provided a seat device for a vehicle comprising a pair of main seats disposed in the vehicle width direction including respectively a main seat cushion and main seat back, and a sub seat back disposed between the main seat backs, wherein the sub seat back is configured so as to be in an arranged position in which the sub seat back is located above the main seat cushion and before the main seat back, and the main seat backs are configured so as to be moved inward when the sub seat back is in the arranged position. Accordingly, the width of the seat can be adjusted variably, without improperly affecting spaces behind or before the seat, thereby attaining both the movement of seat and the improvement of space utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Toyota, Akira Ito, Kazue Sumida
  • Patent number: 7789447
    Abstract: The present invention provides a height adjuster for a seat of a vehicle capable of lowering equipment height in an accommodated state. A four-joint link mechanism 40a, 40b configuring the fourth layer are provided with a first arm 47 formed the first guide face 47d guiding a guide roller 35 formed on a third layer, a second arm 42 and a first reinforce member 43. The arms and the rear end of a first reinforce member is turnably pivoted to a first bearing 41 and the front end of a first reinforce member is turnably pivoted to a second bearing 48 by the shaft members 45 and 42h. Each link mechanism is lowered while depicting the trajectory that corresponds to the curve of the first guide face 47d and turning the front end. Because a first reinforce member 43 is provided. Although a portion at which the first guide face 47d of the first arm 47 is formed is smaller in thickness of a vertical direction than a portion at which the first guide face 47d is not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Konomu Tomaiwa, Masashi Mitsukuchi
  • Patent number: 7780225
    Abstract: A seating apparatus is described for arrangement in a driver's cabin of a construction vehicle, especially a soil compacting machine, comprising a treading surface and an operating desk. The seating apparatus comprises a driver's seat and an adjusting device, and the adjusting device comprises two guide rails and a seat carrier. The seat carrier is held on the guide rails and is adjustable transversally to the traveling direction of the construction vehicle. The guide rails are arranged next to the treading surface used by the driver in such a way that the seat carrier can be displaced relative to the treading surface in a freely floating manner over the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Klein, Thomas Haubrich
  • Patent number: 7708331
    Abstract: A seat slides in a vehicle longitudinal direction between a pair of wheel houses projecting inside a vehicle compartment, and slides in s vehicle width direction at a portion which is in front of the wheel houses. The seat takes a first position in which its outside portion overlaps with the wheel houses in the vehicle width direction, and a second position in which its rear portion overlaps with the wheel houses in the vehicle longitudinal direction. There is provided a rearward-slide restriction device operative to restrict rearward slide of the rear seat in the first position. Accordingly, there is provided a seat device of a vehicle which can prevent any improper interference of the seat with the wheel houses, ensuring a proper long slide function of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7677629
    Abstract: A movement device for a vehicle seat includes lower rails extending in a forward or rearward direction of a vehicle are arranged in a vehicle width direction on a vehicle floor. An upper rail provided at a lower part of a seat slidably movably engages with the lower rails. A recess is formed in the vehicle floor, enabling a carriage to be conveyed between the lower rails along the vehicle width direction. The carriage is separated from the vehicle floor, and guide rails are installed on the carriage. The guide rails are provided in extensions of the lower rails so as to be capable of directly accepting a sliding movement of the upper rail from the lower rails, as the upper rail is removed from the lower rail into the extension thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Akiya, Tadashi Nie
  • Publication number: 20100001169
    Abstract: A vehicle seat mounting device includes a first component for attachment to a vehicle and a second component for attachment to a vehicle seat. The device further includes an arrangement for connecting the first and second components to each other such that the first component and the second component are adjustable relative to each other by pivoting the first component and the second component relative to each other around a substantially vertical geometrical pivot axis. At least one of the first and second components includes a first unit and a second unit which are displaceable relative to each other in a direction parallel to a substantially horizontal plane, and an arrangement for damping a relative displacement motion of the first and second units in the direction so as to reduce horizontal vibrations in the vehicle seat when the device is installed for use in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Sverker Armö, Claes-Göran Svensson, Kel Loewen, Henrik Loserius, Gunnar Erixon, Fredrik Börjesson
  • Publication number: 20090243325
    Abstract: A seat row assembly is provided, having a first rail and a first seat movably connected to the first rail. A second seat is moveable between a first position and a second position, such that the second seat in its second position does not occupy the same space as in its first position. The first seat is configured to selectively move from a first position into a second position, in which it occupies space occupied by the second seat in its respective first configuration. A second rail, perpendicular to the first rail, is movably connected to the first rail such that the first seat is selectively movable along both the first rail and the second rail. The seats may be configured to fold to a collapsed configuration. A method of allowing access to a third row of seats in a vehicle having a second row of seats is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Villeminey
  • Patent number: 7578536
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided which includes a seat base detachably mounted on a vehicle floor, a seat cushion detachably provided on the seat base, and a backrest foldably supported on the seat base. The seat cushion is detached from the seat base, and the seat cushion and the seat base with the backrest folded are juxtaposed to be stored in a recess provided in the vehicle floor or an area under another seat. In the case of non-use, the vehicle seat can be removed from the vehicle floor to be efficiently stored inside a vehicle. A vehicle seat storing structure and a vehicle seat structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yajima, Yuichi Tsukada, Koji Kamida, Hidetaka Shinozaki, Tomotsu Oishi
  • Patent number: 7510227
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a floor, an outboard seat and an inboard seat. The floor extends transversely between opposite sides of the vehicle. The outboard seat and inboard seat are arranged in a transversely extending row along the floor of the vehicle, wherein the inboard seat is disposed at an inboard position and the outboard seat is disposed at an outboard position. The inboard seat is slidably coupled to the floor for transverse sliding movement between the inboard and outboard positions. The outboard seat is tiltable to accommodate displacement of the inboard seat between the inboard and outboard positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer Mahaffy
  • Patent number: 7484785
    Abstract: A riser assembly extends between a seat cushion and a floor of an automotive vehicle. The riser assembly includes a floor bracket that is fixedly secured to the floor. A rod extends laterally within the vehicle and is fixedly secured to the floor bracket. A front leg extends between upper and lower ends. The upper end is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for movement of the seat cushion between a generally horizontal seating position and an upright position. The lower end is slidably coupled to the rod for lateral sliding movement of the seat cushion between primary and secondary positions. A pulley wheel is pivotally coupled to the front leg between the upper and lower ends. A cable includes an intermediate portion that extends between a first end fixedly secured to the seat cushion and a second end fixedly secured to the floor bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: James Weber
  • Publication number: 20090021064
    Abstract: A system for latching a seat to a guide track (102) is disclosed. The system generally includes a latch plate (122) being coupled to the seat, a first release member (124) coupled to the latch plate (122), and a second release member coupled to the latch plate. The first release member (124) is configured to releasably engage the guide track (102) and is selectively movable between a first position for fixedly coupling the seat to the guide track (102), a second position for movably coupling the seat to the guide track, and a third position for detachably coupling the seat to the guide track (102). A second release member (160) is configured to prevent the first release member (124) for moving to the third position unless the second release member has been selectively actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Yi Shao
  • Patent number: 7441822
    Abstract: A seat assembly movable in both longitudinal and transverse directions in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion and an adjuster mechanism. The seat cushion has an upper surface for supporting a seated occupant above a floor of an automotive vehicle and an opposite bottom surface. The adjuster mechanism is coupled to the bottom surface of the seat cushion. The adjuster mechanism includes a set of first wheels that allows movement of the seat assembly in a longitudinal direction along tracks on the floor of the vehicle. The adjuster mechanism further includes a set of second wheels that are arranged generally orthogonal to the first wheels to allow movement of the seat assembly in a transverse direction across the tracks and the floor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Christopher Day
  • Publication number: 20080238125
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a floor, an outboard seat and an inboard seat. The floor extends transversely between opposite sides of the vehicle. The outboard seat and inboard seat are arranged in a transversely extending row along the floor of the vehicle, wherein the inboard seat is disposed at an inboard position and the outboard seat is disposed at an outboard position. The inboard seat is slidably coupled to the floor for transverse sliding movement between the inboard and outboard positions. The outboard seat is tiltable to accommodate displacement of the inboard seat between the inboard and outboard positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer Mahaffy
  • Patent number: 7387327
    Abstract: A system for managing an occupant in an occupant compartment of an automotive vehicle, a structure for use in an automobile, and methods of use thereof are provided for protecting an occupant during a near side impact collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Allan Tencer, Robert Philip Kaufman, Charles Newman Mock
  • Patent number: 7380859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat row arrangement for a vehicle, comprising two outer seats (5) and a central seat (4). It is defined in that the central seat (4d) can be displaced forward and/or rearward from the normal position between the two outer seats (5d) into a front and/or a rear seat position. It is thus possible for the vehicle occupants in the seat row to obtain more comfortable seat positions, which are offset in the longitudinal direction. The effect is produced immediately on displacing the central seat (4d), since the shoulders of the vehicle occupants are now no longer arranged in a row. Because the vehicle occupants are now no longer sitting directly shoulder to shoulder, the vehicle occupants have greater shoulder room and there is an immediate increase in their freedom of movement and feeling of space in the offset seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gardiner
  • Patent number: 7374223
    Abstract: Vehicle seat which effects a sideways movement of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat during a lateral impact or directly before a lateral impact. The sideways movement takes place away from the side of the vehicle which faces the impact and toward the center of the vehicle, at least one seat cushion being transversely displaceable separately in relation to the seat components and in relation to the seat fixing elements for the sideways movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Markus Däuber, Christian Götz, Christian Mayer
  • Patent number: 7341302
    Abstract: A seating arrangement (9) comprises at least seat (11) and a second seat (12) arranged side by side. At least part of a seat member (12a) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member (11a) of the first seat (11), and at least part of the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction relative the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) so as to allow movement of at least one of the seats (11, 12) in a sideways direction toward the other. The seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be foldable, in particular to form at lateral restraint and/or an arm rest, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other. Alternatively, the seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be displaceable to below the seat member (11a) and behind the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) respectively, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
    Inventor: Sean A. R. Slade