Having Rail Patents (Class 296/65.13)
  • Patent number: 11904735
    Abstract: A translation assembly for a vehicle includes a rail assembly that defines a first channel, a second channel, and a central member that extends between the first and second channels. A carriage assembly couples to the rail assembly. The carriage assembly is movable relative to the rail assembly. The carriage assembly includes a first rail engagement structure that extends into the rail assembly and is received within the first channel; a second rail engagement structure that extends into the rail assembly and is received within the second channel; and a carriage housing that is coupled to the first and second rail engagement structures. The carriage housing extends between the first and second rail engagement structures. The carriages assembly also includes one or more drive assemblies that engage with a top surface of the central member of the rail assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin VanNieulande, Patrick Maloney
  • Patent number: 11878607
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a motor vehicle seat may have a first rail, a second rail, a spindle, and a gear. The gear may be fastened to the second rail by a substantially U-shaped gear holder, and the gear holder may have at least two limbs arranged opposite one another in the longitudinal direction. The gear holder may have at least one recess in a base connecting the two limbs, and a gear housing surrounding the gear projects at least in sections into the at least one recess. A motor vehicle seat may have the longitudinal adjuster for adjusting a seat longitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Peter Gregor, Thorsten Schuermann, Erik Sprenger
  • Patent number: 11858381
    Abstract: A sliding device configured for a vehicle, includes a magnetic module configured to slide on a floor of the vehicle and be fixed to the floor by a magnetic force or unfixed from the floor depending on a change in magnetic circuit due to a rotation of a first magnetic body provided in the magnetic module; a plurality of catching portions formed on the floor, spaced from one another, and provided along a movement route of the magnetic module, and fastening portions provided on the magnetic module and configured to be pressed downward by a first elastic body, the fastening portions being configured to mechanically fasten the magnetic module to the floor by being lowered and caught by the catching portions when the fastening portions are matched with the catching portions while the magnetic module moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Yong San Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee, Dong Eun Cha, Choon Taik Kim, Hyung Jin Kim, Sang Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11840162
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a slide comprising a fixed profile and a movable profile mounted on the fixed profile so as to slide in a longitudinal direction, the slide comprising a longitudinal adjustment screw, the fixed profile presenting a bottom having an outer face opposite the adjustment screw, the adjustment screw having one end integral with a support which comprises two longitudinal side walls able to receive the end. The bottom comprises two longitudinal parallel slots, and the bottom and the support each have a hole which are in line with one another and are able to receive an attachment part for attaching the fixed profile to the floor of a vehicle when the side walls are engaged in the slots with the rest of the support facing the outer face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Pierre-François Beauquet, Guillaume Gabillard, Christian Couasnon
  • Patent number: 11833933
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjusting device for the motorized longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat may have a first rail and a second rail. The device may also have a spindle gearbox, a spindle cooperating with the spindle gearbox for the longitudinal adjustment, and a mount for receiving the spindle gearbox. The spindle gearbox may be at least partly held in the inner channel so as to be fixed relative to the first rail. Laterally projecting protrusions of the holding legs of the mount, which legs may be each arranged in front of and behind the spindle gearbox in the longitudinal direction, engage through lateral openings in the first rail. An abutment device having a contact section may be arranged in the region of the lateral openings. The contact section contacts the holding leg arranged in the particular opening. A vehicle seat with the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Flick
  • Patent number: 11827126
    Abstract: A power supply and signal transmission device for a vehicle seat rail is provided. The device includes a contact-type power supply unit configured to supply power to an electrical device mounted on a seat, and a contact-type signal transmission unit configured to transfer seat drive control signals. The contact-type power supply unit and the contact-type signal transmission unit are directly mounted on the seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Kia Corporation, Daechang Seat Co., LTD-Dongtan
    Inventors: So Young Yoo, Hyeong Jong Kim, Han Su Yoo, Seon Chae Na, Sang Ho Kim, Seok Hwan Kim, Tae Hong Han, Sang Yeong Park
  • Patent number: 11807138
    Abstract: A seat rail module with two rails for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat comprises a drive member, at least one deformation member coupled to an associated rail for longitudinal adjustment, at least one fastening member for fastening the drive member, and an actuator for locking and unlocking the at least one fastening member. The deformation member is deformed upon displacement of the vehicle seat in a main direction of travel to dissipate crash energy and decelerate the vehicle seat. In a locked position of the fastening member, the drive member is directly secured to a rail by the fastening member. The fastening member is mechanically unlocked upon displacement of the vehicle seat beyond a predetermined limit setting, so that the drive member is coupled to an associated rail via the deformation member, to enable a displacement of an upper rail relative to a lower rail for dissipating impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugtelle SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventor: Sergej Kostin
  • Patent number: 11794626
    Abstract: The present disclosure makes it possible to freely exchange interior of a vehicle. An interior unit according to the present disclosure is provided with: a frame portion attachable to and detachable from a vehicle; and interior parts installed on the frame portion. The frame portion is foldable, or extendable and contractible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Yabushita, Keiichi Kondo, Kaori Takahashi, Jin Xin, Daisuke Mizushima, Satoru Ando, Takeshi Murakami, Yuchi Yamanouchi, Kenta Miyahara, So Sawahira, Rina Mukai
  • Patent number: 11772520
    Abstract: A transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are provided, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Patrick Maloney, Kevin Mozurkewich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Sean Bayle West
  • Patent number: 11752905
    Abstract: A device for providing a fatigue-reducing position of a vehicle seat is provided. A first latch unit is mounted on a rear seat cushion such that a first striker mounted on a front seatback is fastened thereto in a lockable manner. A second latch unit is mounted on a rear surface portion of a rear seatback. A sliding-locking unit is mounted on a package panel disposed behind a rear seat in a height adjustable manner. A second striker is provided on a front end of the sliding-locking unit to be fastened to the second latch unit in a lockable manner. A seat in a second or third row in the cabin of a vehicle is detachable from the original position to be fixedly placed like a hammock between a front seat and a package panel to provide a fatigue-reducing position in which an occupant comfortably rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Kyu Moon, Sang Do Park, Sang Uk Yu, Deok Soo Lim, Hyo Cheol Kang, Ju Yeol Kong, Hyung Jin Park, Seon Chae Na, Chan Ho Jung, Seong Mun Yun
  • Patent number: 11731536
    Abstract: A locking apparatus for a seat rail for a vehicle, in which a spring is compressed and fastened when first and second parts are coupled to an upper rail, such that convenience of assembly is improved, and structures for fixing the spring are respectively provided on the first and second parts, such that the structures for fixing the spring are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Seong Jun Hwang, Cheon Kim
  • Patent number: 11731535
    Abstract: A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Patrick Maloney, Kevin Mozurkewich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Sean Bayle West
  • Patent number: 11724628
    Abstract: A vehicle seat capable of exhibiting both performances of regulating an input of a load and reducing vibration is provided. One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle seat including a coupling structure coupling a first member and a second member. The coupling structure includes a bolt inserted through the first member and the second member, an auxiliary member arranged so as to hold the first member between the auxiliary member and the second member in an axial direction of the bolt, a first elastic element arranged between the first member and the second member in the axial direction, the first elastic element being in contact with the first member and the second member, and a second elastic element arranged between the first member and the auxiliary member in the axial direction, the second elastic element being in contact with the first member and the auxiliary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kumazaki, Koji Kimura, Yoshihiro Motoi, Katsuhiko Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11685293
    Abstract: A seat system includes: a base; a seatback; at least one recliner connecting the base and the seatback to each other for pivoting of the seatback relative to the base; a slider coupled to the base and configured for sliding engagement with a track having a detent region and a tilt-and slide region; and an electronic controller, wherein without mechanical interlock between the recliner and the slider, the electronic controller causes the recliner to place the seatback in a non-passenger position when the slider is within the tilt-and-slide region, and causes the recliner to place the seatback in a passenger position when the slider is within the detent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: David Eduardo Banales Cano, Nathan Di Giusto
  • Patent number: 11660986
    Abstract: The present invention provides a powered rail apparatus for a vehicular seat. A stationary rail is mounted to a floor panel so as to be hidden, and a movable rail, which is to be assembled with a seat, is coupled to the stationary rail via a rack-and-pinion mechanism so as to be moved anteroposteriorly. A power cable, which is configured to supply the power required to move the movable rail anteroposteriorly, to a motor, is disposed in the stationary rail so as to be hidden and so as to be moved together with the movable rail such that the movable rail can be smoothly moved forwards and backwards. Since the stationary rail and the power cable are embedded in the floor panel, it is possible to realize planarization of the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.
    Inventors: Sung Min Shim, Gyong Min Kim, Seong Jun Hwang
  • Patent number: 11548413
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a fixed rail assembly, a translatable rail, and a translatable bracket. The fixed rail assembly includes a fixed rail and a fixed bracket extending from the fixed rail assembly. The translatable rail is configured to translate in a longitudinal direction along the fixed rail. The translatable bracket is fixed relative to the translatable rail such that the translatable rail and the translatable bracket translate in unison. The translatable bracket is configured to retain portions of the translatable rail within portions of the fixed rail. The translatable bracket includes a translating stop. The translatable rail is configured to translate between a first position in which the translating stop engages a fixed stop and a second position in which the translating stop is spaced apart from the translating stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Anthony Ferenc, Dakota Stapleton
  • Patent number: 11472324
    Abstract: A combination structure of a seat frame includes: a first and a second side cushion frames installed on a first and a second sides of a seat, and configured to slide forward and rearward, wherein the first and the second sides of the seat are opposite to each other; a center cushion frame provided between the side cushion frames and having a first side fixed to the first side cushion frame; and a support guide device connected between a second side of the center cushion frame and the second side cushion frame, and configured to guide a sliding movement of each of the second side cushion frame and the center cushion frame while supporting weights of the second side cushion frame and the center cushion frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, Daechang Seat Co., LTD-Dongtan, Hyundai Transys Inc.
    Inventors: Min Ju Lee, Seung Hyun Kim, Byung Yong Choi, Sang Hyun Lee, Seon Chae Na, Chan Ki Cho, In Chang Hwang, Dong Hwan Kim, Young Woon Choi, Jae Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11453312
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a child seat mounted to a vehicle seat and, then, to rotate the vehicle seat to a forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Michael Pline
  • Patent number: 11453315
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device includes a seat cushion having a cushion front side and cushion rear side both running in the transverse direction of the seat device. The device also includes a seat back having two backrest edge sides opposite each other and each running in the transverse direction of the seat device. The seat back is arrangeable on the cushion front and rear sides of the seat cushion in order to change a seat direction. The seat back is mounted so as to be rotatable by at least 180° around a transverse axis in order to change the seat direction. At least one headrest unit is arranged on the seat back in a displaceable manner in such a way that it can be displaced beyond the backrest edge side facing away from the seat cushion in each case and can be displaced back under this backrest edge side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Matthijs Ravestein, Jan Rath
  • Patent number: 11161435
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of the present disclosure includes a seat cushion; a seatback; a sliding device; a first locking mechanism configured to restrict a sliding movement of a seat main body; a tip-up mechanism configured to rotationally displace the seat cushion upwardly from an occupiable position in conjunction with a frontward rotational movement of the seatback; a second locking mechanism configured to restrict a sliding movement of the seat main body when an elevation angle of the seat cushion exceeds a preset angle, and remove the restriction when the elevation angle is equal to or below a preset removal angle; and a first restrictor configured to restrict the elevation angle from being equal to or below the removal angle when the tip-up mechanism is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daishi Yaguchi, Shun Fujishiro, Hideki Fujisawa, Hidefumi Sera, Takashi Hattori
  • Patent number: 11065987
    Abstract: In the present invention, in a bottom portion 4a of a lower rail 4, a foreign matter interference portion 27 protruding upward and having a substantially arc-circular shape in a side view is formed by being cut and raised in a middle part in a rail width direction more on a front side than a bolt hole 26 for a mounting bolt for fixing the rear end portion of the lower rail 4 to a vehicle body. Rear-side stoppers 29 and long hole portions 31 shared with the rear-side stoppers 29 are formed on both sides of the foreign matter interference portion 27. The foreign matter interference portion 27 is separated into a front-side tongue piece 27a and a rear-side tongue piece 27b by a slit 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: TF-METAL CO., LTD., TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norifumi Koizumi, Hidekazu Kubota
  • Patent number: 10882477
    Abstract: A contact system to establish an electrical connection between a vehicle electrical system and a vehicle seat. The contact system includes a contact rail and at least one contact socket attached to the vehicle seat. The contact rail has at least two contact strips connected to the vehicle electrical system, while the contact socket has a sliding unit with contact elements movably retained in a housing unit. A relative movement between the sliding unit and the housing unit is carried out to electrically connect to the vehicle electrical system when the vehicle seat is retained in the guide rails. Removal of the electrical contact is achieved upon removal of the vehicle seat from the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA SEATING (GERMANY) GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Brehm
  • Patent number: 9919626
    Abstract: A reclining seat includes a seat base coupled to a support surface. The seat base is moveable between extended and retracted positions as supported on a support roller by a guide rail disposed on an underside of the seat base. The guide rail includes a first support surface disposed at a first height, and a second support surface is disposed at a second height that is greater than the first height of the first support surface with a ramped portion disposed therebetween. The seat base is supported at the first support surface in the retracted position, and supported at the second support surface in the extended position. A seatback is coupled to a rear wall and is operable between upright and reclined positions. In the reclined position, the seatback is moved downward and away from the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane A. Goodhall, Henry W. Hausler, Curtis Stanhope
  • Patent number: 9908437
    Abstract: An improved seating system is provided for vehicles, including military vehicles. Center-facing seats are staggered to provide for a narrow vehicle profile, improved ingress and egress, and increased blast survivability. Seats may be reclined or reclinable, and seats may have seat pans upwardly movable away from a center aisle between rows of seats to increase an effective width of the aisle for improved ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans
  • Patent number: 9623775
    Abstract: A vehicle seat in which a forward tilting of a frame causes a turning of a walk-in member, the turning of the walk-in member causes a turning of a disengagement member, the turning of the disengagement member causes a turning of a tip-up locking member thereby disengaged from a stopper member, and then a cushion frame is tipped up by a rotational biasing force applied by a biasing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Yuya Kanai
  • Patent number: 9573536
    Abstract: A branch wire branching from a trunk wire of a floor harness routed to an automobile is used as a wire harness supplying power to the sliding seat. The wire harness is inserted within an extra length accommodation case, and in addition, the extra length accommodation case is fixated, facing downward, to a seat rail to which the sliding seat is slidably mounted, and is accommodated in a space below the seat rail. The wire harness U-turned within the extra length accommodation case is passed through the slider and extracted to a sliding seat side and connected to the seat harness within the sliding seat. A bottom portion of the slider is slidably mounted to a straight line direction slider sliding groove provided on a top end of the extra length accommodation case and a top portion of the slider is fixated to the sliding seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Katou, Tsutomu Ootani, Yoshikazu Sakakibara, Satoshi Ujita
  • Patent number: 9340125
    Abstract: A seat adjuster may include an end stop bracket and an adjustable end stop lever. An adjustable end stop lever may be configured to rotate between a first position in which the adjustable end stop lever engages the end stop bracket and prevents movement of a seat from a comfort range into an easy entry range, and a second position in which the adjustable end stop does not prevent movement of the seat from the comfort range into the easy entry range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Stutika, Peter Jenco, Martin Kravcik
  • Patent number: 9242581
    Abstract: An automobile seat includes a cushion, a back coupled with the cushion, and a mounting unit. The mounting unit includes a mounting track and an actuator slidably coupled with the mounting track and coupled with the cushion. The actuator is extendable along an axis to move the cushion toward and away from the mounting track and is rotatable about the axis to rotate the cushion relative to the mounting track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 9114735
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat, has a pair of seat rails, with a first seat rail which is fixed on the structure, a second seat rail which is guided in said first seat rail and is connected to the vehicle seat, and a releasable locking device with at least one latching plate for releasably locking the position of the first seat rail in relation to the second seat rail. A four-bar linkage, which interacts with the latching plate or the latching plates in order to unlock the longitudinal adjuster, is provided within the second seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Karl Utzinger
  • Patent number: 9027978
    Abstract: Emergency vehicle patient transport systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an emergency vehicle patient transport system includes: a loading passage providing access to an interior of an emergency vehicle; one or more tracks coupled to a floor of the emergency vehicle, a ceiling of the emergency vehicle, a wall of the emergency vehicle or combinations thereof wherein, a travel path is delineated by the one or more tracks; and a chair slidingly engaged with the one or more tracks, and vertically positioned between the floor and the ceiling. The chair locks in one or more set positions. And, the one or more set positions are selected from a group consisting of an airway care position, an extended airway care position, a procedural care position, a responder position, a patient care position, and a patient load position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Bourgraf, Timothy Robert Wells, Timothy Paul Schroeder
  • 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: 8998324
    Abstract: A seat main body is mounted on a seat mount base on a vehicle body floor through left and right seat rails. The seat mount base includes left and right side members and a connection member connecting substantially central portions of the side members to each other. The seat rails each include a lower rail and an upper rail. Force sensors are disposed between the side members and the corresponding lower rails. The upper rails are secured to the seat main body. A central region of the connection member, located substantially in a center in a seat width direction, protrudes toward the front compared to joining portions where the connection member is joined to the left and right side members. A space opening toward the rear is formed between the joining portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Asami Kitaguchi, Harutomi Nishide, Akihiro Tsuruta, Toru Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8991778
    Abstract: A vehicle seat anchorage (22) assembly employs a cam (34) mounted in an anchorage member (24) for rotation about an axis transverse of the anchorage member between: an unlocked position (FIG. 17A) in which the cam allows a pair of locking members (70 and 72) to assume their unlocked positions, and a locked position (FIG. 17B) in which the cam pushes down on inner portions (82) of the locking members so that outer portions (84) of the locking members assume their locked positions engaging under lips (12) of an anchorage rail (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koller Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Max Arnold Koller
  • Patent number: 8985666
    Abstract: A seat structure for a vehicle includes: fixation members fixed to a floor at positions away from each other in a front-rear direction; a slide rail having an aluminum stationary rail held by the fixation members and a movable rail movable with respect to the stationary rail in the front rear direction; a seat cushion fixed to the movable rail; a seatback supported by the seat cushion; and an iron reinforcement plate fixed to the stationary rail at a position inside a safety-belt used area and outside regions having the fixation members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Katsuji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8967583
    Abstract: A manually, longitudinally adjustable motor vehicle seat having a lower rail secured to a vehicle chassis, and an upper rail longitudinally displaceable in the lower rail and secured to a seat component. Locking mechanisms released by release mechanisms secure the rails, and assume a release position when the backrest is folded forward. A blocking lever pivotably mounted on a pivot shaft secured to the upper rail can assume two stable extreme pivot positions, namely a passive position where the blocking lever has no contact with the release mechanism, and an active position where the blocking lever blocks the release mechanism in its release position. Upon longitudinal displacement of the seat from a comfort-longitudinal adjustment arrange into an easy-entry-longitudinal adjustment range, a control device comes into contact with the blocking device pivoting against the force of a spring device, out of its passive and into its active position, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventor: Dan Stoia
  • Patent number: 8960757
    Abstract: Provided are a seat frame and a stowable vehicle seat which enables high assembling work efficiency and easy stowing operation. There are provided a reclining mechanism, a seat slide mechanism which slides a seat bottom frame, a slide lock mechanism which prohibits or allows the operation of the seat slide mechanism in cooperation with the reclining mechanism, a striker lock mechanism, and an assist mechanism which assists an operation of stowing and returning a stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a slide biasing member which automatically slides the upper rail in cooperation with a tilting movement of a seat back frame to a predetermined angle upon stowage of the stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism and the slide lock mechanism are mounted to the seat bottom frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Otake, Shingo Kimata, Yoshinobu Kimpara, Takahiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8955813
    Abstract: A locking unit of a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat includes a latching strip, which has detent openings and detent ridges, and b) a catch unit, which includes at least two catch pins, each catch pin having a front region, a tapering region, and a shaft region. The tapering region tapers from an upper point B to a lower point A. The tapering region is delimited by a line which connects the points A and B and which does not have a rectilinear progression. The line is not located outside of a straight line connecting points A and B, and is located within the straight line over at least one third of the distance AB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilfried Beneker
  • Patent number: 8939424
    Abstract: A seat slide device of the present invention comprises a lower rail (102) and an upper rail (101). The lower rail (102) has a bottom wall (102b) and includes a foreign-object catching member (1). The foreign-object catching member (1) has an elastic body (2). A height of the elastic body (2) with respect to a bottom wall (102b) of the lower rail (102) is set to become higher than a height of a positioning pin (105) as a protruding object provided inside the lower rail (102) to protrude from the bottom wall (102b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Fukuda, Yuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8937250
    Abstract: A wiring harness guiding apparatus guides a wiring harness 4 between a floor of a car and a seat arranged slidably at the floor, and includes a support body 7A supporting the seat; a protector 8A guiding the airing harness 4 toward the seat; a rail arranging the support body 7A and the protector 8A slidably therein; and an excess portion receiving section receiving a excess portion of the wiring harness 4. The protector 8A includes a wiring harness fixing member 80 fixing the wiring harness 4 led into the rail; a lead-out member 83 extending with a pipe shape from the wiring harness fixing member 80 and leading the wiring harness 4 therethrough toward the slide body; and a support body mount member 87 arranged at a mounted member of the support body so as to be movable along a widthwise direction of the rail by having a clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Terada, Tsukasa Sekino, Shinji Kato
  • Patent number: 8925888
    Abstract: A slide locking apparatus has: a first locking piece having a narrow width locking hook section, a third locking piece having a broad width locking hook section and a second locking hook having an intermediate width locking hook section, which are held on an upper aril; and first to third locking piece accommodating holes which have width corresponding to the widths of the respective locking hook sections of the first locking piece to the third locking piece, and which are provided in a lower rail. The first locking piece accommodating hole is disposed on a frontmost end, the second locking piece accommodating hole is disposed to the rear side of the first locking piece accommodating hole, and the third locking piece accommodating holes are disposed to the rear side of the second locking piece accommodating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Domoto
  • Patent number: 8925889
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding device includes: a first rail adapted to be fixed to one of a vehicle floor and a seat; a second rail adapted to be fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat, and coupled to the first rail in a relatively movable manner; an engagement member, which selectively limits and permits the relative movement of the first and the second rails; an operation member configured such that operating force to cancel the restriction of the relative movement in the second rail is transmitted to the engagement member; and a cover mounted on the first end of the second rail to close the first end. The cover has an engagement piece, which engages with a support wall provided in the second rail and restricts the pivoting of the cover when pressed against the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikihito Nagura, Satoshi Masuda, Motoharu Yoshii, Toshihiro Kimura, Tsuneo Ogi, Ryousuke Mizuno, Akihiro Chiba
  • Patent number: 8919719
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding device includes: a lower rail adapted to be fixed to a vehicle floor; and an upper rail adapted to be fixed to a vehicle seat, and coupled with the lower rail in a relatively movable manner. A projection is arranged in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the lower rail, and protrudes above the bottom wall of the lower rail. A fitting recess is formed in the bottom wall more forward than the projection. A block body placed on the bottom wall extends to the projection and has a slanted surface more forward than the projection. The block body includes: a fitting protrusion, which fits into the fitting recess and positions the block body in the lateral direction; and a fitting wall, at least a part of which fits on the protrusion. The fitting wall positions the block body in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikihito Nagura, Satoshi Masuda, Motoharu Yoshii, Toshihiro Kimura, Ryousuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8894130
    Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure is obtained that has a simple structure and is capable of increasing the rigidity and strength of a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction. A vehicle lower section structure includes: an upper panel including a pair of respectively vehicle-downwards facing joining faces that are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction; a lower panel that with the upper panel configures a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a closed cross-section by the joining faces of the upper panel being joined to vehicle-upwards facing joining faces of the lower panel; and a seat rail that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and is fixed to a portion of the upper panel that configures an upper wall of the closed cross-section of the framework structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iwamoto, Koki Ikeda, Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Patent number: 8870147
    Abstract: A track assembly is provided and may include a track, at least one slide mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The at least one slide mechanism may be slidably attached to the track. The lock mechanism may be associated with the at least one slide mechanism and may operate between a locked state restricting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track and an unlocked state permitting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track. The lock mechanism may include a plurality of lock plates independently movable relative to one another between a first position engaging the track and a second position disengaged from the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew J. Simms, David L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8820694
    Abstract: A lower rail or an upper rail has a first wall provided at a position on a first one of opposite sides in a widthwise direction thereof, and a second wall provided at a position on the other, second, side in the widthwise direction and disposed opposed to the first wall. At least one of the first wall and the second wall has an opening. At least one of an outer portion of the holding member in the widthwise direction and an outer portion of the nut member in the widthwise direction is inserted in the opening and disposed opposed to an inner side-surface of the opening facing in a frontward-rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tarusawa, Kiyonori Umezaki
  • Patent number: 8807508
    Abstract: A seat raiser for spacing a seat rail of a motor vehicle seat from a vehicle floor is provided. The seat raiser comprising a welding portion which includes at least one specified welding point and is formed and provided to weld the seat rail to the seat raiser at the welding point and a fastening portion which includes at least one specified fastening point and is formed and provided to fasten the seat raiser to the vehicle floor at the fastening point. The seat raiser is formed substantially L-shaped in cross-section and the welding portion and the fastening portion each form a leg of the L-shape. The welding portion includes exactly two specified welding points spaced from each other, via which the seat raiser is to be welded to the seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Anthony Ferenc, Anil Bhat
  • Patent number: 8800948
    Abstract: A slide locking apparatus for a seat includes a first locking section with plural first locking pieces and at least one second locking section group with forward, intermediate, and rear second locking sections. When at least one of the first locking pieces locks with one of the second locking sections, another first locking piece locks with another second locking section. A first lock inhibiting section inhibits the forward second locking section from engaging any of the locking pieces when a rearwardmost locking piece is forward of a position where the rearwardmost locking piece coincides with the intermediate locking section. A second inhibiting section inhibits the rear second locking section from locking with any of the locking pieces when the forward locking piece is rearward of the intermediate locking section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Wakayama, Yasuhito Domoto
  • Patent number: 8777289
    Abstract: A seat anchoring system that anchors seats in a seating arrangement in a vehicle is provided. The seat anchoring system includes a base and multiple fastening devices, where the fastening devices are attached to the base and extend away from an upper face of the base. The base has a shape similar to an inside configuration of a mounting rail such that the base is inserted into the mounting rail and positioned to any desirable location along the mounting rail. Further, the fastening devices extend through the mounting rail and attach the seat to the mounting rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: CVG Management Corporation
    Inventors: Davey Joe Jones, Gordon Dale Cooley, Ray Miller, Jimmy Akins
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8770646
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a support base. A seat is supported on the support base and cantilevered forwardly therefrom. The support base includes a first brace operably connecting the frame with a first slide assembly disposed on a rocker panel of the vehicle. A second brace operably connects the frame with a second slide assembly disposed on a transmission tunnel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Kendrick Alden Harper, John W. Jaranson, Michael John Kitti, Daniel Ferretti