Back Carries Stored Supplemental Body Support Patents (Class 297/112)
  • Patent number: 11401037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly, in particular for an aircraft, comprising a seat back, a main tablet mounted on the seat back via a tablet structure, said main tablet being movable between a stored position, in which the tablet is pressed against a rear face of the seat back, and a deployed position, said assembly further comprising an auxiliary tablet mounted on the tablet structure via at least one auxiliary arm, said auxiliary tablet being movable between a raised position and a deployed position, in which the auxiliary tablet is vertically superposed with respect to the main tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Houssem Arroum, Raouia Akkari
  • Patent number: 11352143
    Abstract: Transformable seat assembly includes a seat support structure and a seat connected to the seat support structure with a first hinge having a first axis of rotation. A back support structure is connected to the seat support structure with the back support structure positioned on a back side portion of the seat support structure and the first hinge is positioned on an opposing front side portion of the seat support structure. A wall member having a first end portion connected to the back support structure with a second hinge having a second axis of rotation, wherein the seat is rotatable about the first axis of rotation from an occupant support position to a deployed position and the wall member is rotatable about the second axis of rotation from an overlying position with respect to the back support structure to the wall member extending away from the back support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John G. Schultz, Haftom Y. Dessalegn
  • Patent number: 11051906
    Abstract: An ergonomic body positioning system for supporting and positioning a user such that the user can maintain a neutral body position while providing improved access and visibility to a worksite. The body positioning system includes a base, a support arm, a stem mounted to the support arm, and at least one body support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: Richard P Nardo, Billy Odon M Yrad, Jr., Peter N Whitworth, Michael J Maczuzak
  • Patent number: 11013335
    Abstract: An expandable seating furniture comprising a center section for providing a first seating position, the center section providing center chair legs and at least one lateral section, concealable into the center section, each of the at least one lateral section being laterally expandable for providing one or more additional seating positions. The center section conceals one or more lateral chair legs, and may also conceal back support and/or armrest, for each of the at least one lateral section when the expandable seating furniture is unexpanded. The lateral section(s) may be concealable into the center section as interleaved sliding sections (e.g., along a seating plane and/or vertically).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Horatiu Daniel Chiriac
  • Patent number: 10875425
    Abstract: A child seat includes a horizontal seat panel and a vertical backrest panel that are each respectively received within a designated compartment in the seat and backrest of an existing passenger seat. Upon command, actuators displace both panels from their designated compartments to form a child seat when needed. A blanket is stored within a pocket mounted on the rear surface of the existing backrest to comfort a passenger. The blanket includes sleeves that allow the passenger to use the arms while covered, an opening for receiving a passenger seat headrest and an inflatable neck pillow encircling a head aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Wilson Ashu
  • Patent number: 10766386
    Abstract: A foldable integrated child car seat apparatus for eliminating the need to install and remove a child car seat includes a main seat back coupled to a main seat base. A front side of a back cushion of the main seat back has a storage cavity. A child seat back is slidingly coupled to the storage cavity to slide between a forward position and an alternate stored position adjacent a back face of the storage cavity. A child seat bottom is pivotably coupled to the child seat back to move between an open position and an alternate folded position adjacent the child seat back. A cover plate is coupled to the child seat bottom and conforms to a profile of the storage cavity such that with the child seat back in the stored position and the child seat bottom in the folded position the cover plate covers the storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Annie West
  • Patent number: 10696194
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with fold down child seat includes a passenger seat and a convertible child seat section. In a first seat configuration, the convertible child seat section may be for use by an adult or adolescent. In a second seat configuration, the convertible child seat section may be for use by a child. The convertible child seat section may includes a child seat back that rotates to present a front side for adult seating or a rear side for child seating and a child seat cushion that rotates to present a top side for adult seating or a bottom side for child seating. The seat back and seat cushion may rotate on a seat back spindle and seat bottom cushion, respectively. The convertible child seat section may include a harness. A vehicle seat may comprise multiple convertible child seat sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Katalin Juhasz
  • Patent number: 10688894
    Abstract: Described are recliner sofa systems for a passenger seat. The passenger seat includes a seat back assembly and a seat base assembly. The seat back assembly includes an upper back support and a lower back support, and the lower back support is movable relative to the upper back support between a stowed position and a deployed position. The seat base assembly includes a support and a seat base, and the seat base is movable relative to the support between a stowed position and a deployed position. The seat base in the deployed position and the lower back support in the deployed position together define a foot cavity configured to receive a foot of a passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Rodolfo Nevarez, David Morales, Daniel Chavarria, Jose Madrigal, Mario Herrera, Teresa Antillon, Foek Le
  • Patent number: 10568703
    Abstract: A user system for a robotic surgical system, the user system including a handheld groundless user interface device configured to control the robotic surgical system, and a user console. The user console includes a seat and a first adjustable, ergonomic arm support linkage coupled to the seat, in which the first arm support linkage is movable between a folded storage configuration and at least one unfolded use configuration corresponding to at least one of a user characteristic and a surgical task characteristic. The at least one unfolded use configuration may be pre-stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: VERB SURGICAL INC.
    Inventors: Brent Michael Nobles, Joan Savall
  • Patent number: 10493866
    Abstract: A sitting, reclining and/or leaning device is provided for arrangement in a vehicle. The device includes a seat frame and several wing elements. The wing elements are arranged on the seat frame in a shared plane when in a basic position. The wing elements may be swiveled out of the basic position into at least one swivel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Augustin Barbot
  • Patent number: 10336277
    Abstract: A system includes a first cummerbund that includes a slot. Furthermore, the system includes a lap bar that couples to first and second pivot points and rotates in a first circumferential direction about the first and second pivot points. The lap bar extends through the slot of the first cummerbund such that the first cummerbund translates in a first lateral direction relative to the lap bar to adjust a position of the lap bar within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Christopher Kubiak, James Jeffrey Coatney
  • Patent number: 10315546
    Abstract: The preset disclosure provides a headrest reclining module that is mounted on a headrest. The headrest reclining module includes: a base supported on the headrest; a movable bracket coupled to the base to move forward with respect to the base; a head support panel having an end coupled to the movable bracket to be tiltable forward; and a link which has first and second ends respectively coupled to the base and the head support panel such that the first end of the link slides along a predetermined path set in the base or the head support panel and guides the head support panel to be tilted when the movable bracket is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sung Chol An, Jin Ho Seo, Jun Kyu Kim, Chan Uk Park, Myeong Sub Kim, Yun Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 10213021
    Abstract: A mobile chair for use in salons and other locations includes a base. A plurality of rollers is coupled to and extends from a lower face of the base. The base is configured for locomotion across a surface. A brake is coupled to the base. A lift is coupled to and extends from an upper face of the base. A seat is coupled to the lift distal from the base. A backrest is pivotally coupled to and extends from a rear of the seat. The brake is configured to selectively couple to at least one roller such that locomotion of the base is prevented. The lift is configured for the operator to selectively vertically position the seat relative to the base. The backrest is configured for the operator to selectively angularly position the backrest relative to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: Belinda Walters
  • Patent number: 10023090
    Abstract: An apparatus is for providing seating in a vehicle passenger compartment. A vehicle seat includes a headrest for forming at least a portion of a seating surface of the vehicle seat in a stowed position and a panel for forming the portion of the seating surface in a deployed position of the headrest. The stowed headrest may be positioned in a cavity formed in the seat. The panel may be connected to the headrest, and at least partially sandwiched between an inner surface of the cavity and the headrest in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip Kerry Muldowney
  • Patent number: 9845030
    Abstract: A headrest device that integrates with vehicle's seats for providing persons with a device for resting ones head when traveling as a passenger in a vehicle, the headrest device including a headrest assembly that removably mates with a mount assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Damaris Palma
  • Patent number: 9802514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of use of a movable seat for a law enforcement vehicle. A method of restraining a detainee within a vehicle may include the steps of: opening a door on a vehicle comprising a movable seat; retracting the movable seat from a first position in the vehicle to a second position adjacent the door of the vehicle; seating a detainee in the movable seat of the vehicle; wherein the detainee's hands are restrained behind its back; positioning the detainee's hands in an opening in a back of the movable seat; restraining the detainee in the movable seat with a seat belt coupled to the movable seat; returning the movable seat to the first position inside the vehicle; and closing the door on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley A. Troyer
  • Patent number: 9643520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined car seat cover and infant seat, which is normally used as a seat cover for improving a riding comfort and can be transformed into an infant seat when an infant or a child is a passenger, wherein a seat fixing means for fixing a seat cover to a car seat is formed at the back of the seat cover including a seat sheet and a backrest sheet in which a cushioning material is accommodated therein, a safety belt is provided on both sides of the seat cover, a foldable shielding member is formed on the seat sheet, and the seat cover can be used as an infant seat by using the shielding member and the safety belt, and even in the case of an impact, a seat cover having this structure effectively prevents damage to the seat cover and disperses the impact by means of the safety belt and a reinforcing band, thereby preventing injuries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Nam-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9511694
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a first seating unit having a backrest, which includes a front side and a back side. An armrest is operably coupled with an intermediate portion of the back side and is configured for use by a passenger seated in a second seating unit disposed behind but laterally offset from the first seating unit. The armrest is moveable between an in-use position, wherein an upper surface of the armrest is generally horizontally positioned and available to support the passenger, and a stowed position, wherein the armrest is generally adjacent to a rear face of the backrest of the first seating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Teresa Mendicino, Torsten Gerhardt, David Woodhouse, Lewis Blaber
  • Patent number: 9340180
    Abstract: A supplemental prisoner restraint system is mountable to the frame of a police car to secure a prisoner in a seated position. The supplemental restraint system includes a mounting plate that is secured to the frame, a restraint bar that is pivotally supported on the mounting plate for movement between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position, and a locking mechanism that secures the restraint bar in any selected lowered position. An actuation lever selectively releases the locking mechanism to raise the restraint bar for release of the prisoner. A spring mechanism biases the restraint bar toward a raised position so that the restraint bar can be moved upwardly while the police officer is outside of the police vehicle. The supplemental restraint system can also be utilized in an office environment in conjunction with a seating device to temporarily secure a prisoner while being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Matthew J. Planer
  • Patent number: 9339118
    Abstract: An infant support includes a base and a backrest. The base is configured to rest upon a support surface and support an infant on the infant support. The base further includes a seat region and two arm portions. The backrest is pivotally coupled to the base between a storage configuration and an upright configuration. The backrest includes a front portion and a rear portion coupled together. The rear portion is configured to pivot between a closed position, in which the rear portion forms an interior cavity with the front portion, and an open position, where the rear portion is pivoted away from the front portion. The interior cavity is configured to receive and store napkins, wipes, or towels. The rear portion further includes an aperture and an operable door disposed proximate to the aperture. When the door is opened, the aperture provides access to the interior cavity for removing napkins, wipes, or towels from the infant support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenic T. Gubitosi, Kurt J. Huntsberger, Maarten Van Huystee
  • Patent number: 8973985
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seatback formed with a penetrating portion that penetrates from a front face side to a back face side; a placement member that is attached to the seatback so as to be capable of moving between a housed position housed inside the penetrating portion and closing off the penetrating portion and a lowered position lowered from the housed position towards the front side; and a flexible opening and closing member that is attached to the seatback and is capable of opening the penetrating portion and closing off the penetrating portion from the seatback back face side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Arakawa, Hiroshi Tsunashima, Satoshi Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8888189
    Abstract: A vehicle footrest system allows an occupant seated in a rear seat to brace their feet and that is capable of inhibiting load from concentrating at the heels of an occupant. A footrest system is provided with: a reclining device that rotates an upper end part side of a seatback in the direction of arrow A and holds it at a predetermined angle of rotation; and a slide device that slides a front seat in the direction of arrow B with respect to a vehicle body floor. When an occupant seated in a rear seat uses a footrest portion of the seatback, the reclining device is operated and the upper end part side of the seatback is inclined toward the vehicle front side. Further, the slide device is operated and a slide portion of a seat cushion is moved in a vehicle front-rear direction along a rail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamura, Hideki Kobayashi, Shinji Fujita
  • Patent number: 8833847
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat back in which a seat body is supported by a seat frame; a backboard provided on a rear surface of the seat back; and a cloth member covering a surface of the backboard, wherein the backboard is attached to the seat frame to have a convex shape in which a center part of a surface thereof protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunio Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8757711
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle seat assembly having a seatback member and a lower seat member. The lower seat member has a generally horizontal and upwardly-facing seating surface. The seatback member has a cushion portion and is selectively rotatable between an upright position in which the cushion portion is adjacent the wall and a lowered position in which the cushion portion extends farther forward than the seating surface. The seatback member functions to support the back or head of an occupant (when the seatback member is in the upright position) or as an extension to the lower seat member to provide additional fore/aft support to a child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marcelo Bertocchi
  • Patent number: 8746798
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a support structure and a headrest supported by the support structure. The headrest includes a headrest body that is movable with respect to the support structure between a stowed position and a use position, and a locking mechanism for locking the headrest body in the use position. When the headrest body is in the use position, the locking mechanism is releasable to allow the headrest body to rotate rearwardly and slide downwardly to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Timo Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20140132040
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seatback formed with a penetrating portion that penetrates from a front face side to a back face side; a placement member that is attached to the seatback so as to be capable of moving between a housed position housed inside the penetrating portion and closing off the penetrating portion and a lowered position lowered from the housed position towards the front side; and a flexible opening and closing member that is attached to the seatback and is capable of opening the penetrating portion and closing off the penetrating portion from the seatback back face side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Arakawa, Hiroshi Tsunashima, Satoshi Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8496290
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is provided with a seat back which can be tilted from a substantially upright use position into a substantially horizontal non-use position. The seat back has at least one wing-rest which, in the non-use position of the seat back, can be tilted about a tilting axis extending in seat direction from a lower armrest non-use position into an upper armrest use position for forming an armrest. The wing-rest is preloaded into the armrest use position. A seat arrangement is also provided with such a motor vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jürgen Maier
  • Patent number: 8240754
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is provided that includes, but is not limited to a backrest, which may be pivoted from an essentially upright usage position into an essentially horizontal non-usage position and which has at least one wing rest, which includes, but is not limited to a support part and a cushion part fastened on the support part. The support part is linked on a middle backrest part in such a way that the wing rest may be pivoted, in the non-usage position of the backrest, from a lower armrest non-usage position around the pivot axis extending in the seat direction into an upper armrest usage position to implement an armrest. In the armrest usage position, the cushion part is situated above the middle backrest part while implementing an intermediate space between the cushion part and the middle backrest part. The support part has a cover plate, which covers the intermediate space in one transverse direction. Furthermore, a seating configuration is provided having such a motor vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jürgen Maier
  • Patent number: 8240753
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is provided with a backrest which can be pivoted from a substantially upright position of use into a substantially horizontal position of non-use. The backrest includes, but is not limited to a wing rest which in the position of non-use of the backrest can be pivoted from a lower armrest position of non-use about a pivot axis extending in seat direction into an upper armrest position of use to form an armrest. The wing rest includes, but is not limited to a support part as well as an upholstery part and between the support part and the upholstery part a height adjusting device for the height adjustment of the upholstery part relative to the support part is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jürgen Maier, Jens Winter
  • Patent number: 8201878
    Abstract: A seat arrangement is provided that includes, but is not limited to a first and a second vehicle seat, which are disposed adjacent to one another in a seat row and of which the first vehicle seat has a backrest, which can be pivoted from a substantially upright usage position in the seat direction forward into a substantially horizontal non-usage position. The backrest, includes, but is not limited to at least one height-adjustable cushion portion which, in the non-usage position of the backrest, can be moved by means of a four-bar mechanism having four articulation axes from a lower armrest non-usage position into an upper first armrest position to form an armrest for the second vehicle seat. The articulation axes extend transversely to the seat direction and are inclined with respect to a horizontal transverse to the seat direction. In an alternative embodiment, the articulation axes extend in the seat direction in the non-usage position of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jürgen Maier, Jens Winter, Thomas Dill, Heinrich Hammann, Viktor Enns, Ulf Schäffling
  • Patent number: 8128162
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for a vehicle seat 5 comprises an armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, a shingle head restraint portion 12 moveably attached to one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, to permit the shingle head restraint 12 to be moved towards and away from the one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, and a height adjuster to selectively secure the head restraint 12 in one of a number of predetermined displaced positions relative to the armrest portion 11a, the armrest portion being moveable from a folded up position 11a to a folded down position 11c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Andrew John Murray, Will Farrelly, John K. Harding
  • Patent number: 8011723
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin is disclosed which includes seats having a backrest (16) which is pivotally moveable from an upright position to a flat position. A side ottoman (22) having a front portion (42) is located beside the seat base (14) of the seat. The seat has a footwell (32) into which the front portion of the side ottoman locates so that when the seat (16) is in the flat position a bed is formed by the rear surface (17), the front portion (42) located in the footwell of a front seat in front of the said seat and a base (34) of an open space (30) behind is the backrest (16) when in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Singapore Airlines Limited
    Inventors: James Park, Kim Chui Sim
  • Publication number: 20100207430
    Abstract: A shingled thin seat back for a vehicle having a generally centrally-located panel which is movable in the rearward direction when the seat is occupied and which is immovable in the forward direction when folded flat to accept a load. The seat back includes a support structure which provides support to the movable panel. The support structure includes at least one edge and the panel includes at least one edge. The panel is movable from a first position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are in overlapping contact (creating a shingled arrangement) to a second position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are not in contact with one another but instead are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kolich, John W. Jaranson
  • Publication number: 20100156152
    Abstract: A seat back assembly including a frame molded from material having low density such as expanded polypropylene. The seat back assembly further includes an adjustable head rest assembly including a guide bracket encapsulated in a frame. Encapsulating the guide bracket within the frame provides the headrest assembly with a rigid support, while simultaneously reducing the mass of the seat back assembly with respect to seat back assemblies having a metal seat frame. The headrest assembly includes a headrest body and a pair of legs extending outwardly from the headrests. The guide bracket is fully encapsulated within the Frame during the molding process, and is configured so as to slidingly receive each of the legs and secure the headrest assembly to the seat back assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ru Chen, Lindsay Anne-Allor Babian
  • Patent number: 7726730
    Abstract: A passenger seat for use in a motor vehicle includes a first and a second substantially planar region. The seat is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first region is horizontal and acts as the seat, and the second region is vertical and acts as the seat back, such that the passenger is facing forward. In the second position, the first region is vertical and acts as the seat back, and the second region is horizontal and acts as the seat, such that the passenger is facing backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH
    Inventors: Classen Peter, Hofer Carsten
  • Patent number: 7578551
    Abstract: An aircraft seat assembly comprises a continuous row of a plurality of seats including a convertible aisle seat at one end of the row and one or more other seats. The seats are moveable between (i) a first configuration in which all of the seats are positioned in a useable position and a second configuration in which (a) the convertible seat is positioned in an unusable position in the row, (b) said one or more other seats are positioned in a useable position, and (c) the row of seats has a length, along the row, that is less than the length of the row in the first configuration for example by a distance of more than half the width of the convertible seat in the first configuration. The width of said one or more other seats may remain unchanged as between the first and second configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventor: Luis Gonzalez Liñero
  • Publication number: 20090167064
    Abstract: A headrest storage recession of seat back in an upside-recessed-and-headrest-storage type of seat has, provided at the backward side thereof, an integral combination of a cover element and an upward extension of a back board disposed behind the seat back. Namely, the cover element is connected continuously with the back board upward extension, without any connection line therebetween. A thin hinge portion is defined in boundary between those cover element and upward extension, and the cover element is folded relative to such thin hinge portion and securely attached to the upward extension, thereby constituting a backward wall of the headrest storage recession.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisayuki YOSHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7458634
    Abstract: A center armrest for rear seat backs of cars that comprises an armrest upper part and an armrest lower part that are joined together by means of a hinge located at an end face of the armrest. Within a hollow central portion of the armrest, a control mechanism is provided by which the thickness of the armrest is automatically adjusted when the armrest is swiveled down from an out-of-use position where it functions as part of the seat back into the armrest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Schlecht, Jürgen Salewski, Hartmut Bohlke, Wolfgang Sitzler, Olaf Büschgens
  • Patent number: 7458635
    Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement includes a child seat which is mounted in a rearward facing configuration to a backrest of an adult seat such that the backrest of another adult seat at least partially supports the backrest of the child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kolita Mendis, John Downs, Benny Sommerfeld, Blair Taylor
  • Patent number: 7293825
    Abstract: A multi-position chair may be positioned into multiple positions including one or more sitting positions at different heights, one or more leaning positions at different angles, and one or more storage positions. The multi-position chair may include a seat, a back and a support for supporting the seat and the back with respect to the floor. The seat and the back may be pivotable with respect to each other and with respect to the support. The seat includes a seating surface configured to receive the user's buttocks in a sitting position. The back may include a front seating surface configured to receive the user's back in a sitting position and a rear leaning surface configured to receive the user's buttocks in a leaning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Advantage Branch & Office Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Vergara, Harold Turner
  • Patent number: 7261368
    Abstract: An ergonomic seating assembly for comfortably supporting an individual during prolonged periods of time sitting in one position thereby alleviating back and neck strain and increasing productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Todd Clausnitzer
  • Patent number: 7178865
    Abstract: An automotive seat assembly is provided including a left rear seat portion including a left rear seat base and a left rear seatback, a right rear seat portion including a right rear seat base and a right rear seatback, and a center rear seat portion including a center rear seat base and a center rear seatback. A head restraint assembly is mounted to the center rear seatback and defines a head restraint protrusion distance above the upper seatback surface. The head restraint assembly is movable between a head restraint operational position and a head restraint stowed position. The head restraint stowed position reduces the head restraint protrusion distance for improved visibility. A convenience feature assembly is formed within the center rear seatback and is movable between an convenience feature stowed position and an convenience feature deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Nagarjun Yetukuri, Gerald S. Locke, Kar K. Low, Dale Smallwood
  • Patent number: 7159941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a child seat assembly that may be characterized, at least in one embodiment, as being substantially integral with a seat of a motor vehicle. This child seat assembly is at least generally capable of being disposed in first, second, third, and fourth positions to enable the seat of the motor vehicle to be configured to appropriately accommodate an infant, a toddler, a child (as in a booster seat), or an adult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventor: Rodney Edward Thomas
  • Patent number: 7150498
    Abstract: A passenger seat for a conveyance, comprising a frame (2), which is fixed to a floor (3) of the conveyance (20), and a backrest (5), which is connected to the frame (2). On the rear of the backrest (5) is mounted a folding seat (7), which has a sitting portion (10), and which is mounted on the backrest (5), thus enabling the folding seat (7) to be tilted about a first axis of rotation (8) between a folded up position and a folded down position. The folding seat (7) has a frist eccentric portion (11), which is eccentric relative to the first axis of rotation (8). The frame (2) has a second eccentric portion (12) which is eccentric relative to a second axis of rotation (6). The backrest (5) is mounted on the frame (2), thus enabling it to be tilted about the second axis of rotation (6) between a rear position and a front position. The passenger seat (1) comprises a rod (15), whose end portions are hinged to the first eccentric portion (11) and the second eccentric portion (12) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Trond Svartvatn
  • Patent number: 7147280
    Abstract: A holding receptacle for vehicles, which, when installed, is integrated in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, has two side walls which are connected to each other in the region of their ends by transverse walls and a bottom to form an upwardly open box which can be used as a storage space. The suitability for a design which is advantageous with regard to weight is improved. It is proposed that a lightweight supporting frame having side wall structures and at least one crossmember structure is provided as the load-bearing structure of the holding receptacle, with a box-shaped insert containing the storage space being held by the supporting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Duerr, Frank Emhardt, Hermann Gaus, Thomas Geisel, Rainer Leucht, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Rainer Tiefenbacher
  • Patent number: 7077474
    Abstract: An automobile 1 is provided with a second seat row 20. The second seat row 20 is constituted by a first independent side seat 21, a second independent side seat 22, and an auxiliary seat 23 including an auxiliary seat cushion 23b. A projection 24 is mounted to the left side of a left side sidewall frame member 21f located on the left side of the first independent side seat 21 to project leftward. The auxiliary seat cushion 23b has a leg 27 mounted to the bottom of the cushion body 23h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Satani
  • Patent number: 7070239
    Abstract: A child-restraining vehicle seat includes a body stored within a vehicle seat and further includes a bottom portion for sitting on and a pull out handle attached thereto to pull the child seat out. The body is formed from material having resilient properties for providing comfort during operating conditions. A plurality of arm rests are detached from and disposed on opposed sides of the body, stored within the vehicle seat and have elongated shapes. A mechanism for extracting the body from the vehicle seat is included. The extracting mechanism includes a plurality of zippers spaced along the vehicle seat. The seat further includes a mechanism for locking the body at a fixed operating position and a fixed non-operating position and also includes a quick-release button attached to the bottom portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: David Ugrekhelidze, Vera Demiantchouk
  • Patent number: 6910735
    Abstract: An infant support structure having a seat and an adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust the receiving area of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Asbach, Michael T. Kane
  • Patent number: 6860550
    Abstract: A bucket seat fold out diaper changing table located within a vehicle. The table provides a surface for use while changing the diaper or clothing of an infant or for other activities and objects that require a surface area. The table is configured as a plastic molded seat back of a bucket seat. The table includes a surface member that provides a surface area, a first open end and a second open end. A first panel and a second panel are arranged within the surface member. The first panel slides out of the first open end of the surface member and retracts back into the surface member via the first open end. The second panel slides out of the second open end of the surface member and retracts back into the surface member via the second open end. The first panel and the second panel are used to provide additional surface area for facilitating the changing of an infant or other activity requiring table surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Wojcik
  • Patent number: 6779845
    Abstract: A chair includes a backrest which is provided with a cushion. The cushion is an integral part of the backrest and can be used as a headrest, neckrest, or waist support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: Tsung-I Lin, Chia-Hao Lu