Bottom And Back Connected To And Foldable In Wall Or Partition Patents (Class 297/14)
  • Patent number: 7270371
    Abstract: A vehicle slouch seat includes a cushion frame attached to a seat back frame such that the cushion frame is pivotable from an upright position to a slouch position. The slouch seat is also foldable and stowable against a vehicle cabin wall. Motion between the upright and the slouch positions is mediated by a guide hook attached to the back side of seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Adragna, Kyle Calvert, James Ritter, Eric Beaulieu, Kevin Gasparotto, Stephen Redwood
  • Patent number: 7195302
    Abstract: A vehicle rear seating arrangement is described that includes a vehicle passenger compartment structure and a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat attachment part, a seat bottom portion with an upper seating surface and a seat extension portion with an extension seating surface. The seat attachment part is fixedly attached to the vehicle passenger compartment structure. The seat extension portion is supported by the seat assembly for movement between a stowed position underneath the seat bottom portion and a seat extending position in which the upper seating surface and the extension seating surface are generally aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Niko Jovicevic
  • Patent number: 7080417
    Abstract: A chair includes a support having one or more vertical rails to slidably receive one or more brackets, each bracket includes an opening formed between two ears, a seat plate includes one or more cams disposed in the opening of the bracket and rotatably secured to the ears of the bracket with a shaft, to allow the seat plate to be rotated relative to the bracket and the support. The cam may engage with the rail to support the seat plate in a folding position when the seat plate is parallel to the support, and may also to engage with the rail to support the seat plate in an open and working position when the seat plate is perpendicular to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Jin Shan Jiang
  • Patent number: 6974184
    Abstract: An improved locking mechanism assembly that is within a cantilevered stowable seat for use in a vehicle in order to provide passenger seating or a space for a wheelchair or for storage of various articles. The improved locking mechanism assembly includes an aisle assembly, a wall assembly, and a transfer rod. The seat is stowed by folding the seatback flat against the seatbase, actuating the single handle located on the aisle side of the seat thereby unlocking the seatbase from its folded intermediate position and rotating the seatbase to its stowed position where it is locked in place. The stowable seat is deployed by actuating the single handle located on the aisle side of the seat assembly, thereby unlocking the seatbase from its stowed position and lowering the seatbase to its folded intermediate position where it is locked into place. The seatback is then unfolded to accommodate passengers in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Benjamin N. Huyck
  • Patent number: 6971711
    Abstract: A stool is provided for placement in a closet and which may be selectively extended or stored away. The stool comprises a horizontal support and a seat rotatably attached to the horizontal support. A first leg is attached to the horizontal support, and a swing arm is rotatably attached to the horizontal support. A second leg is attached to the swing arm at an end opposite from the horizontal support. A mounting flange pivotally connects the horizontal support to a closet partition or wall. The three pivot points (i.e., the seat, the swing arm, and the horizontal support) allow for the stool to be selectively moved between a storage position in which the stool is stored in the closet and a use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: Arnold Gast
  • Patent number: 6932427
    Abstract: A suitcase with a foldable chair usable as a normal suitcase and also usable as a cart, a chair or a buggy, comprising a suitcase body (11), a pair of wheels (14b) attached onto the bottom surface of the suitcase body near the rear surface, a foldable base plate (12) rotatably installed on the front surface side of the suitcase body at the lower position, a pair of wheels (14a) fitted to the tip of the foldable base plate, fixing devices (13) fixing the foldable base plate to the suitcase body, a foldable seat plate (21) rotatably installed on the front surface of the suitcase body at the position over the installed the foldable base plate, and auxiliary rails (24) opposedly installed on both sides of the foldable base plate rotatably relative to the suitcase body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6899379
    Abstract: A sleeping compartment (10) for a truck is made up of a plurality of pre-assembled sections or modules including a first type (14, 14?, 14?) having one or more seats and a second type (16, 86, 86? , 86?) having a bed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a seat (60) is mounted on a sidewall (22, 22?, 22?) of the first type of module and includes a seat bottom (66) moveable from a substantially vertical stowed position against the side wall and a substantially horizontal deployed position. A seat support (34) mounted on the floor (20) is movable from a stowed position substantially flush with the floor of the first type of module to a deployed position protruding upwardly from the floor to support the seat bottom in the deployed position. The seat support is preferably a door panel covering a storage space (32) beneath the floor which is accessible from outside the sleeping compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventor: Milen Milenovich
  • Patent number: 6896322
    Abstract: A folding chair assembly includes a frame having side, top and bottom walls, first and second pairs of legs, a seat between the legs, a first pair of leg pivots connecting respective legs together, a second pair of leg pivots engaging a first pair of cooperating slots for connecting first leg upper ends to the frame, a third pair of leg pivots for connecting second leg lower ends to the frame, a first pair of seat pivots for connecting the seat to second leg upper ends, and a second pair of seat pivots rearward on the seat of the first seat pivots engaging a pair of cooperating slots for connecting the seat to the first leg pair, whereby the chair is foldable from an open position with seat and legs extended to a closed position with seat and legs aligned within the frame. Pivoting arm rests can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Michael B. Foy
  • Patent number: 6883854
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat assembly for use in a vehicle cabin having a cabin floor. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion member having downwardly extending front and rear legs. A mounting means is positioned on the front and rear legs for releasable engagement with the cabin floor. A control rod system is pivotably interconnected between the seat cushion member and the cabin floor, and is adapted to enable selective pivoting of said seat cushion member between a deployed design configuration and a raised stowed configuration. In the deployed design configuration, the mounting means is in engagement with the cabin floor as aforesaid, and the seat cushion member has a substantially horizontal orientation. The raised stowed configuration is located rearwardly of the deployed design configuration, whereat the mounting means is released from engagement with the cabin floor, with the seat cushion member has a substantially vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Daniel
  • Patent number: 6846044
    Abstract: A stowable fold away seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair or article adjacent to the stowed seat which includes a frame attached to the support member, two separate seatbacks and seatbases, which have been fixedly integrated with a centered support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Karim Mikhail, Anthony Purnell
  • Patent number: 6843526
    Abstract: A storable and removable jump seat for use in a vehicle. The improved seat provide for convertible seating in the form of a folding jump seat provides conforming appearance, comfort, safety and practicality. The jump seat provides a safe, comfortable and easily storable seat that may be folded and stored against a wall within the vehicle's cargo area in order to expand the available cargo space. The jump seat assembly is also designed to be quickly and easily removable in order to increase the available cargo space within a vehicle. The jump seat may be quickly and easily reinstalled without the need for tools or additional assistance. Multiple jump seats may be arranged within a vehicle to provide a side by side seating arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honda, Charles Stephen Haase, Kelly Michael Whalen, Takuya Hori, Tatsuya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6807690
    Abstract: An assisted lift shower seat seeking strict compliance with applicable ADA standards includes a wall mounted pivotal shower seat having a frame attached to the wall in a shower by at least two brackets, the shower seat pivotally raised and lowered with the assistance of a stiff torsion spring anchored to the bracket and applying force to the shower seat, diminishing the force required to raise and lower the shower seat from a vertical to horizontal and horizontal to vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Steven Ray Satterfield
  • Patent number: 6789494
    Abstract: A fold out seat assembly is attached to a support structure having a substantially vertical mounting surface. The seat assembly comprises two sections: a backrest that is fixedly attached to the mounting surface above the seat assembly, and a seat unit that is movable from a vertical stored position against the mounting surface to a horizontal seating position the major portions of which are detachable from the mounting surface when not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Grady-White Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Neese, Drexel K. Smith
  • Patent number: 6746079
    Abstract: A seat with linkage attachable on either side of conventional luggage carts, on both sides, or to the backside, and once the push/pull handle rotates upward, positions itself vertical, for headroom clearance, and simultaneously deploys the seat to horizontal level, for seating, with an extension arm attached to, or part of, the bent projecting arm of the push/pull handle. The seated user's weight transfers directly to the floor by a U-shaped underseat support, preventing the cart from moving, and when the handle is down, for cart movement, the downward rotation retracts the seat up to stowed position with a torsion spring. The seat can be installed on a corner post of the cart structure, manually rotated to level position around the cart's corner, providing seating at either side, or back of the cart, and in stow position rests against cart structure. In all embodiments multiple stacking of carts is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Maria R. Cabedo-Deslierres
  • Patent number: 6742743
    Abstract: An aircraft seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat cushion has a rear portion along the seat back and a front portion of complementary shape to the rear portion to form a complete seat cushion. The rear portion moves between a raised position and a lowered position. A coupling arrangement connects the front portion to the rear portion so that when the front portion is in the raised position along the seat back the front portion is in the lowered position, in which at least part of it is retracted under the rear portion. When the rear portion is in its lowest position along the seat back the front portion is in a raised, advanced position at the same height as the rear portion to form therewith the seat cushion of the seat for receiving a seated passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus
    Inventor: Bruno Saint-Jalmes
  • Patent number: 6729685
    Abstract: A foldable wall supported seat that is rested against a wall at one end and may be used as a seat or to support decorative items. The supported seat has a pair of leg assemblies, a pair of U brackets, a seat surface, and a wall bumper. The leg assemblies are pivotally attached to the seat in order to allow the legs to be stowed beneath and parallel to the seat and lowered, perpendicular to the seat when the seat is in use. When the legs are lowered, the wall bumper is pressed against the wall to support a user thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Sonny Ebalobor
  • Patent number: 6647916
    Abstract: A fold out bench type boat seat assembly is attached to the bulkhead of a boat. The seat assembly comprises two sections: a backrest that is fixedly attached to the bulkhead, and a seat unit that is movable from a vertical stored position against the boat bulkhead to a horizontal seating position the major portions of which are detachable from the bulkhead when not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Grady-White Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Neese, Drexel K. Smith
  • Patent number: 6637045
    Abstract: A portable poolside chair apparatus for permitting a user to sit partially submerged in a pool adjacent the pool wall. The portable poolside chair apparatus includes a plurality of frame sections. A pool deck portion that is placed on the pool deck surface adjacent the pool wall and is designed to support the structure. A backrest portion that includes armrests, contacts the pool wall, and supports the user's back. A seat portion is positioned at the lower end of the backrest portion, protrudes outwardly into the pool, and is designed for supporting the user. The aforementioned portions are pivotally coupled making the unit foldable. The backrest and seat portions each include a selectively couplable cushion member for comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Alexander K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 6631938
    Abstract: An accessory, such as a bench, is attached to a vehicle's tailgate. When the tailgate is in an open or down position, the accessory can be simply unfolded from the tailgate. The accessory may comprise a retractable folding bench that may be attached to the inside of the tailgate of a pick-up truck, sport utility vehicle, trailer or any vehicle equipped with a tailgate. The accessory may comprise a retractable folding bench that may be attached to the inside rear floor portion of a “sports utility vehicle” that has “barn doors” and are not equipped with a tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: William Burns
  • Patent number: 6629729
    Abstract: A pair of foldable rear seats for a motor vehicle includes a support stub fixed to the vehicle and a pair elongated support arms pivotally connected to the support stub. A pair of seat bottoms are pivotally connected to each of the respective support arms, such that each seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position. Further, a pair of seat backs are each pivotally connected to a rear portion of each respective seat bottom in order to fold into the respective seat bottom from an open position. A headrest is slidably disposed on each seat back. Furthermore, a pair of seat legs are each pivotally connected to the seat bottom at an outer portion thereof so that when the seat bottom is in the open state, the seat leg, in its open position, extends from the seat bottom to the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michael Wiedeman, Michael Tsay, Mami Endo, John Dixon, John A. Frye, Frank D. Moburg
  • Publication number: 20030184129
    Abstract: A storable and removable jump seat for use in a vehicle. The improved seat provide for convertible seating in the form of a folding jump seat provides conforming appearance, comfort, safety and practicality. The jump seat provides a safe, comfortable and easily storable seat that may be folded and stored against a wall within the vehicle's cargo area in order to expand the available cargo space. The jump seat assembly is also designed to be quickly and easily removable in order to increase the available cargo space within a vehicle. The jump seat may be quickly and easily reinstalled without the need for tools or additional assistance. Multiple jump seats may be arranged within a vehicle to provide a side by side seating arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honda, Charles Stephen Haase, Kelly Michael Whalen, Takuya Hori, Tatsuya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6550854
    Abstract: A folding seat is provided for the cab of an agricultural vehicle. The seat is provided with a mounting bracket secured by bolts to an inclined-horizontal surface in the cab, such as part of the wheel arch. A seat member is pivotably mounted at its rear end on the mounting bracket for pivotal movement between a horizontal operative position and an inclined storage position in which the seat member lies against the mounting bracket. A stay is mounted to pivot between an operative position in which it extends vertically from the mounting bracket to the seat member in order to support the weight of the seat member on the mounting bracket and a storage position in which it lies between the mounting bracket and the seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Downes
  • Patent number: 6527341
    Abstract: A seat is pivotally mounted to a wall by means of at least one hinge assembly, enabling the seat to be folded. The hinge assembly provides an upward and rearward movement as the seat pivots from a horizontal to a vertical orientation during folding. The hinge assembly has a seat mounting bracket mounted to the lower surface of the seat and a wall mounting bracket mounted to the wall. The seat mounting bracket is connected to the wall mounting bracket via a pair of pivoting arms. Each pivoting arm is pivotally connected at one end to the wall mounting bracket and at an opposite end to the seat mounting bracket. The pivot locations are selected such that as the arms pivot in a clockwise direction, the seat mounting bracket pivots in a counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Genmar IP LLC
    Inventor: Craig A. Martin
  • Patent number: 6474732
    Abstract: The child's seat for airplanes comprises a mounting adapted to be fastened to a partition wall of an airplane, and a seat fastened to the mounting such that the seat can assume two different vertical positions. In an upper takeoff and landing position, the seat is located above the head strike arc of a person seated on an airplane seat, while in a lower communicating position, assumed during the flight, the seat is at chest level of the accompanying person. Thanks to the child's seat, the number of adult passengers normally occupying passenger seats of an airplane need not be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Lufthansa Technik AG
    Inventor: Harald Merensky
  • Patent number: 6460929
    Abstract: Storable/slidable vehicular seat apparatus includes a seat with a seat base that can be flipped upwardly via a pivot to be stored against a wall of a vehicle compartment. The seat base is slidable in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle bodywork. The seat base is pivotally attached at its one side to the vehicle bodywork. Leg member is secured to the underside of the seat base via a second slider and second sliding rail. When the seat base is flipped upwardly via the pivot, the leg member, second slider and second sliding rail are moved upwardly and stored together with the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Kamida
  • Patent number: 6460922
    Abstract: A flexible seating system (10) for a vehicle (20) which includes a side wall track (24) mounted to the vehicle side wall (22) and extending longitudinally of the vehicle. A cross track (30) extends laterally across the vehicle. A seat back (40) of the vehicle seat (18) is coupled to the side wall track and cross track by slidable bearing (58) devices so that the seat back can be moved from a laterally extending forward facing position to a stowed position alongside the vehicle side wall. The seat bottom (42) is rotatably coupled to the seat back by a hinge (44) mechanism and can extend generally horizontally from the seat back to be rotated to an upright stowed position overlying the seat back. A support extends from the seat bottom to the vehicle floor (57) to support the seat bottom in a spaced relationship above the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Robert L. Demick
  • Publication number: 20020109382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Publication number: 20020070589
    Abstract: An anchoring system for releasably engaging a seat assembly to a fixed console of a work or gaming station, such as typically found in casinos and game rooms. A set of complimentary, interlocking components is provided wherein one member of each set is affixed to the chair assembly, and the companion member of each such set is affixed to the fixed console of a gaming station. Each of the complimentary members of the interlocking components is located on the chair assembly and console of the fixed station, respectively, so that when engaged, each of the chair assembly and fixed station is properly aligned relative to one another, and the chair assembly has been effectively immobilized relative to its position vis-à-vis the fixed station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Pinnacle Furnishings, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve A. Laufer
  • Patent number: 6371896
    Abstract: Exercise apparatus and process of adjusting the exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus includes a basic frame, a bench unit, including a back part and a seat part, which is vertically adjustable on the basic frame between a sitting position and a lying position, and a curved guideway, including at least one substantially straight section, that is arranged to positionally adjust the back part. The process includes moving the bench unit so that the back part and the seat part are positionable between a lying position and a seated position. The back part is moved along a path defined by the curved guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz Kettler
  • Patent number: 6343834
    Abstract: A collapsible wall mounted seat comprising a linkage mount for fixing to a wall, a seat for supporting a person, and a linkage connecting the seat to the linkage mount. The linkage includes a first end and a second end and is connected at the first end to the linkage mount and at the second end to the seat. The linkage is movable between a folded position with the seat lying adjacent and substantially parallel to the wall, and an extended position with the seat extending outwards from and substantially perpendicular to the wall. The collapsible wall mounted seat includes a releasable lock for unlocking the linkage in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hide-A-Seat Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Ernest H. Wurmlinger
  • Patent number: 6305741
    Abstract: A foldable chair that includes a back assembly that is rigidly mounted to a vertical wall and a hingedly mounted seat assembly movable between two extreme positions. One of these positions being parallel to the back assembly and the other one perpendicularly thereto. A latch assembly is provided to releasably keep the seat assembly firmly attached to the back assembly in one of the extreme positions. A supporting assembly is pivotally mounted to the underside of the seat assembly. The supporting assembly includes a pivotally mounted frame member and a leg member mounted at a predetermined angle that is slightly greater than ninety degrees to prevent the leg member from slipping back towards the seat assembly when load is applied to the latter. When the seat assembly is brought to the vertical extreme position adjacent to the back assembly, the frame member protrudes to provide a cooperative grip for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Martin Fernandez
  • Patent number: 6231101
    Abstract: An operator opens the tail gate, and stretches his/her arm through the tail gate to make the seat back fall down forward. Then, the operator can pull the pull fitting to make both the seat back and the seat cushion turn over backward so as to be received in the storage concave portion. Accordingly, this design allows an operator to perform the rear seat rearrangement in a very easy posture from the outside of a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kamida, Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6224153
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly is attachable to the upright vertical post for a tennis net and consists of a pair of interchangeable clamp brackets secured around the vertical post. An upper elongated tube is pivotally mounted to the upper clamp bracket and is slidably mounted to a bottom seat guide. A lower elongated tube is pivotally connected to the bottom clamp bracket and is pivotally connected to the bottom seat assembly to create a triangular support for the seat. A second seat can extend from the opposite side of the same pair of clamp brackets. The seat(s) are maintained in a vertical inactive position by an over-center arrangement and a detent mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Senior Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hien Vodinh
  • Patent number: 6161486
    Abstract: A foldable and extendable bench for allowing users with limited space to have a full size work bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Andrew P. Boots
  • Patent number: 6089651
    Abstract: An anchoring device for a conventional folding chair employs a longitudinal rod and two brackets attached to a vertical support member. A retention element on the chair's backrest engages the rod and allows for slidable movement. The rear legs of the chair are pivotally attached to brackets at or near the floor. The arrangement allows the chair to be open and closed and while retained against a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Norman Carmen
  • Patent number: 6070934
    Abstract: A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and for allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Donald Richard Schaefer, Frank Qiukui Liu, Majid Hammoud
  • Patent number: 6065251
    Abstract: A convenient bathtub and shower seat, adapted for wall surface mounting within a bathtub with shower stall environment, includes a panel member which is pivotally connected to the shower stall wall for up and down pivotal movement between a vertical storage position and a horizontal use position with downward pivotal movement being limited by the bathtub rear and side walls. At least one hinge member affixed to the stall wall surface provides the connection for panel member pivotal movement and removal of panel member for cleaning and disinfecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald Steven Kindrick
  • Patent number: 6042178
    Abstract: A foldable chair (10) includes a support frame having vertical posts (11) and a cross bracket (44). Vertical posts (11) each having two fixing lugs (17) through which threaded fasteners or the like secure the frame to a vertical wall. Feet (43) of each vertical post (11) are intended to sit upon a floor surface such that downward forces are not carried by lugs (17). The chair includes a seat (42) adapted to be folded into a substantially vertical storage orientation. A locking mechanism retains the seat (42) in a substantially horizontal in-use orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: JPM Industries Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Willis John Hetherington
  • Patent number: 5984397
    Abstract: A folding seating unit for a vehicle provides a forward or rearward facing seat with a backrest which is capable of being folded flat and sideways against the side of the vehicle at a low level beneath the window level of the vehicle. The seating unit can be stowed within side trim panels without obscuring windows, or the load carrying area of the vehicle floor, and is particularly suited to multipurpose vehicles or vans. The seating unit includes: an outboard leg coupled to the vehicle side, and an inboard leg engaging with the vehicle floor, a retraction mechanism providing automatic folding of the inboard leg when the seating unit is folded to its stowed position; an extending backrest squab which extends the effective height of the backrest when the seating is in a deployed condition, but retracts when the seating is in the stowage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: Rover Group Limited, Tricom Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Richard Dawson, Christopher J. Goodall, Danella Louise Bagnall, David John Walker, Matthew Richard Oliver
  • Patent number: 5967255
    Abstract: A step stool attachment for attachment to vertical structures such as a wall or the inside of a cabinet door to permit users to reach higher locations. The step stool attachment includes a backboard designed for attachment to a vertical structure. A step is pivotally coupled to the front face of the backboard. Front and back leg panels are pivotally coupled to the lower face of the step. The bottom edge of each leg panel has a spaced apart pair of adjustable feet extending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel D. Young
  • Patent number: 5950256
    Abstract: A submersible, foldable seat for use in a hot tub. The seat is folded down to be used as a seat and folded up to provide an increased unobstructed area for use of the hot tub for other activities such as exercise. The foldable seat uses pivoting attachment members which allow flush connection to the curved hot tub wall. Frame members of the seat use connectors with transverse apertures to rotatably receive tubular portions of the seat frame to allow folding of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Snorkel Stove Company
    Inventor: Thomas A. Slater
  • Patent number: 5816646
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a collapsible support framework for a recreation vehicle which may be carried on the side of a vehicle in a collapsed vertical position and may be extended outward from the vehicle with supporting legs when desired for use as a carrier for a swing or as a support member for other activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Bill A. Combest
  • Patent number: 5806926
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle child safety seat that permits the seat to be safely used by a child as well as by an adult without any modification of the seat. The convertible vehicle child safety seat is easily operated by any adult passenger of a vehicle without any special training or instructions. The convertible vehicle child safety seat automatically converts to a seat for an adult when it is not in use by a child. The convertible vehicle child safety seat is particularly suited for use in public transportation vehicles such as buses, railway passenger cars and the like, particularly since such vehicles have no provisions for protecting young children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: David A. Parsons
  • Patent number: 5797649
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly has a seat mounted for pivoting movement toward and away from a back-support section. The seat includes a first panel and a second panel mounted for pivoting movement with respect to the first panel so that the two-panel seat "folds in half." The seat support pedestal also folds in half and the back-support section pivots for stowage. The stowed, folded seat assembly is nominally one-half of the width of the same seat assembly unfolded for use. A new method for folding an auxiliary seat assembly for stowing includes folding the seat second panel toward the first panel to form a folded seat. The folded seat is then urged against the back-support section and for stowing, both the seat and support section are depressed against the vehicle component, e.g., a fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Snell, Jr., Bryan L. Nannet, Ralph D. Price
  • Patent number: 5791729
    Abstract: A wall-mounted fold down seat is provided including a generally planar seat back having a front surface, a rear surface, and a periphery formed therebetween defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The seat back has a mounting mechanism formed thereon for allowing the mounting of the seat back flush with a recipient wall. Next provided is a generally planar seat bottom having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a periphery formed therebetween defined by a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges. The rear edge of the periphery is pivotally coupled to the bottom edge of the seat bottom. The seat further has a handle for facilitating the pivoting thereof between a raised and lowered orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventors: Tracy L. McCormick, Anthony J. McCormick
  • Patent number: 5700054
    Abstract: A child restraint seat disposed in a cavity of an adult seat back for restraining a child in a seat. The child restraint seat comprises a child seat portion pivotal between a folded position recessed in the cavity and an unfolded use position against the adult seat portion. A child backrest portion is moveable between a stowed position in the cavity and an outwardly extending inclined position. A first hinge automatically pivots the lower end of the child backrest from the stowed position to the inclined position and a second hinge automatically extends the upper end of the child backrest forward of the cavity in response to the pivotal movement of the child seat portion from the folded position to the unfolded use position. A headrest member is coupled to the child seat portion by a pivot member for automatically pivoting the headrest from a closed position to an open position raised above and aligned with the adult and child backrest portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Ulf Otto Lang
  • Patent number: 5671948
    Abstract: A bench seat has a backrest cushion and a seat cushion, and can convert between a normal use position and a non-use position where the seat cushion is folded flat against the backrest cushion. The bench seat can also be removed completely from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The seat cushion includes a tubular frame member. A seat belt buckle includes a strap which connects to a seat bracket welded to the frame member of the seat cushion. A shank extends from the seat bracket and includes a T-shaped male coupling end. A floor bracket is attached to the vehicle floor and has a female coupling which interlocks with the male coupling when the bench seat is in the use position for establishing a secondary path of restraint directly between the seat belt buckle and the floor to transfer restraint loads directly to the floor in the event the frame member of the bench seat yields under restraint loads imposed during sudden deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Susko, Paul M. St. Clair, Todd Hoover
  • Patent number: 5662377
    Abstract: A seat interlock system for use with a vehicular seat having a fold-down seatback equipped with a deployable integral child seat. An interlock mechanism is interdisposed between a seatback latching mechanism and a child seat latching mechanism. When the seatback is in its normal upright and latched condition, the interlock mechanism permits the child seat to be deployed. If the seatback is not latched, a movable member of the interlock mechanism prevents deployment of the child seat. Upon deployment of the integral child seat, the movable member interacts with the seatback latching mechanism in such a way as to prevent the seatback from being unlatched, thereby preventing folding of the seatback. The seat interlock system also includes an inertia responsive latching mechanism for preventing deployment of the integral child seat when the seatback is subject to a deceleration force exceeding a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Magna Lomason Corporation
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Radesh Vangipuram
  • Patent number: 5603550
    Abstract: A seat interlock system for use with a vehicular seat having a fold-down seatback equipped with a deployable integral child seat. An interlock mechanism is interdisposed between a seatback latching mechanism and a child seat latching mechanism. When the seatback is in its normal upright and latched condition, the interlock mechanism permits the child seat to be deployed. If the seatback is not latched, a movable member of the interlock mechanism prevents deployment of the child seat. Upon deployment of the integral child seat, the movable member interacts with the seatback latching mechanism in such a way as to prevent the seatback from being unlatched, thereby preventing folding of the seatback. The seat interlock system also includes an inertia responsive latching mechanism for preventing deployment of the integral child seat when the seatback is subject to a deceleration force exceeding a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Douglas & Lomason Company
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Radesh Vangipuram
  • Patent number: RE39315
    Abstract: An operator opens the tail gate, and stretches his/her arm through the tail gate to make the seat back fall down forward. Then, the operator can pull the pull fitting to make both the seat back and the seat cushion turn over backward so as to be received in the storage concave portion. Accordingly, this design allows an operator to perform the rear seat rearrangement in a very easy posture from the outside of a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kamida, Takahiro Mori