Laterally Patents (Class 297/314)
  • Patent number: 11426037
    Abstract: An adjustable bathroom handrail assembly is provided with a pair of elongate vertical handles with mounting hardware to mount to an upright support surface and spaced apart from the upright support surface. An adjustable horizontal bar extends between the pair of vertical handles, and a locking mechanism connects the at least one adjustable horizontal bar and one of the pair of elongate vertical handles. A locking mechanism is located at an intersection of the horizontal bar and the one of the elongate vertical handles. A method for installing and adjusting wall-mount hardware installs a pair of elongate vertical handles to an upright support surface. The ends of a horizontal bar are installed onto the pair of elongate vertical handles. A locking mechanism on the horizontal bar is disengaged to adjust the horizontal bar to a location along the pair of elongate vertical handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.
    Inventors: Neil Edwards, Edward Riddle, Matt Klein, Ty Hagler, Seth Teeples
  • Patent number: 11299119
    Abstract: A seatback subframe is swingable laterally of the vehicle with respect to a seatback main frame. A backrest is attached to the seatback subframe. Side airbag modules are attached to the seatback subframe at side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nagai, Kohshi Katoh, Takashi Sugimoto, Osamu Oda, Masatoshi Hada
  • Patent number: 11266249
    Abstract: An orientable seating device includes a seat, the orientation of which can be controlled to dynamically affect a desired of yaw, pitch and roll. The seating device can be used to reorient and/or to simulate motion for a seated person for use with video games, virtual reality headsets or goggles, land, water, air or space vehicle simulation, or wireless airborne drones, for example. The device includes a seat mounted on a carriage, which is received in a carriage pedestal. Within the pedestal, a drive wheel positioned under the carriage supports and rotates the carriage by driving an outer sphere-shaped surface of the carriage. The drive wheel can be reoriented around a vertical axis such that any combination of pitch and roll can be achieved by rotating the wheel against the sphere-shaped surface. Yaw can be controlled by a rotatable platform upon which the carriage pedestal can be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Arthur A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11267425
    Abstract: A seatback subframe is swingable laterally of the vehicle with respect to a seatback main frame. A backrest is attached to the seatback subframe. Side airbag modules are attached to the seatback subframe at side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nagai, Kohshi Katoh, Takashi Sugimoto, Osamu Oda, Masatoshi Hada
  • Patent number: 10952576
    Abstract: An adjustable bathroom handrail assembly is provided with a pair of elongate vertical handles with mounting hardware to mount to an upright support surface and spaced apart from the upright support surface. An adjustable horizontal bar extends between the pair of vertical handles, and a locking mechanism connects the at least one adjustable horizontal bar and one of the pair of elongate vertical handles. A locking mechanism is located at an intersection of the horizontal bar and the one of the elongate vertical handles. A method for installing and adjusting wall-mount hardware installs a pair of elongate vertical handles to an upright support surface. The ends of a horizontal bar are installed onto the pair of elongate vertical handles. A locking mechanism on the horizontal bar is disengaged to adjust the horizontal bar to a location along the pair of elongate vertical handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.
    Inventors: Neil Edwards, Edward Riddle, Matt Klein, Ty Hagler, Seth Teeples
  • Patent number: 10342356
    Abstract: An orientable seating device includes a seat, the orientation of which can be controlled to dynamically affect a desired of yaw, pitch and roll. The seating device can be used to reorient and/or to simulate motion for a seated person for use with video games, virtual reality headsets or goggles, land, water, air or space vehicle simulation, or wireless airborne drones, for example. The device includes a seat mounted on a carriage, which is received in a carriage pedestal. Within the pedestal, a drive wheel positioned under the carriage supports and rotates the carriage by driving an outer sphere-shaped surface of the carriage. The drive wheel can be reoriented around a vertical axis such that any combination of pitch and roll can be achieved by rotating the wheel against the sphere-shaped surface. Yaw can be controlled by a rotatable platform upon which the carriage pedestal can be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Arthur A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10285883
    Abstract: An adjustable chair includes upper and lower base members, a seat assembly secured to the upper base member, and a chair adjusting mechanism. In an embodiment the upper base member is connected to the lower base member by first and second linking members each having a first end connected to the lower base member and a second end slideably received in corresponding first and second arcuate tracks disposed in the upper base member, such that movement of the second ends into and out of the tracks results in vertical movement of the seat assembly relative to the base. In a further embodiment the seat bottom and seat base comprise cooperating arcuate rails, tracks, and/or bearing members, where cooperative action of the arcuate rails, tracks, and/or bearing members enables the seat bottom to tilt relative to the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Motion Concepts L.P.
    Inventor: Greg Bruce Miller
  • Patent number: 10213024
    Abstract: Office, work and leisure chair and retrofit kit for causing subliminal movements of the person sitting thereon. The chair has a cruciform base (1), freely articulated rollers (4), a gas-spring support (2) and an interface panel (5) resting thereon as a support panel. Mounted on the support panel is a base panel (28) bearing a seat cover (19) with a seat surface and back rest (22). The seat cover is provided and allowed to wobble, resting via a cover panel (27) on a plurality of spring elements (7), which are displaceable radially, or obliquely in relation to the radial direction, or helically from the center of the base panel to the periphery of the base panel. The spring elements are mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically displaceable, so that the wobble distance of the seat cover and the attenuation of the wobble movement are variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: iii solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Reinhard
  • Patent number: 10203768
    Abstract: A key pad device provides the same function as a keyboard or keypad with a mistake proof design that allows one hand use and only requires three fingers. Each of the primary two fingers has nine pressure points, or keys, whose location is accessible by moving left to right, up and down, forward and back, side to side, and center. A thumb toggle can operate in one of three positions—up, down or not toggled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Franklin Donald Ruffin
  • Patent number: 10045625
    Abstract: A recliner footrest extension system includes a base-member, and an extension-member. The base-member includes a top-panel, a bottom-panel, and a side-panel in one embodiment. The top-panel, the bottom-panel, and the side-panel are structured and arranged to affix to a recliner footrest by sliding upon the recliner footrest and held upon the footrest by friction. The extension-member is affixed to the base-member by a hinge, with the extension member arranged to support at least one foot of a user when the recliner footrest extension system is in an extended condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Charles Johnson
  • Patent number: 9802513
    Abstract: A seat includes a pivotally movable bottom, a pivotally movable backrest independent from the bottom, a first supporter suspending and supporting a front side of the bottom, and a second supporter suspending a rear side of the bottom from a side behind the backrest section, and pivotally movably supporting the bottom together with the first supporter. According to the seat, the front side and the rear side of the bottom are suspended and supported. Thus, compared to a seat in which a front side of a bottom is supported in a cantilever manner, the seat is capable of ensuring bearing capacity for a seating load. The rear side of the bottom is suspended and supported from a side behind the backrest section. Accordingly, a support structure around the bottom including the front side of the bottom can be downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHIA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohshi Katoh, Eishi Takeuchi, Yasuhiro Suwa, Yasuhiro Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 9717636
    Abstract: A universal bilaterally shifting wheelchair seat assembly that uses a battery powered control unit assembly including an electrical motor to bilaterally displace a wheelchair seat a predetermined distance to help prevent pressure ulcers. The control unit assembly is connected to an actuating disk using a shaft that travels through a channel in the wheelchair seat. The actuating disk includes an actuating rod mounted to the bottom of the seat that bilaterally moves the seat upon the actuating disk's rotational movement. The wheelchair seat can include an electrical regulator that a user can adjust to modulate the frequency and speed of the seat's displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Adolfo Blanco
  • Patent number: 9713380
    Abstract: A chair includes a deformable seat shell forming a seat part and a backrest, and further includes a frame, the seat part being connected to the frame by means of a first pivot joint and the backrest being connected to the frame by means of a second pivot joint, the pivot joints allowing a twisting of the seat part and of the backrest relative to the frame caused by a deformation of the seat shell. The second pivot joint is connected to the backrest centrally in relation to the transverse direction of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Carsten Gehner, Michael Englisch
  • Patent number: 9682682
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seat main body including a seating portion, a seat back that supports an upper body of the vehicle occupant seated on the seating portion, and a headrest that is provided at an upper side of the seat back and supports a head portion of the vehicle occupant; a seatbelt that restrains the upper body of the vehicle occupant with respect to the seat back; a belt guide portion that is provided at an upper portion of the seat back or at the headrest, and through which the seatbelt is inserted, and that guides the seatbelt; and a rotating portion that, following movement of a shoulder portion of the vehicle occupant, changes a direction of guiding the seatbelt by rotating the belt guide portion by external force applied due to tension of the seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihisa Aoki, Kohshi Katoh, Eishi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9629465
    Abstract: A lounge chair having a seat shell that defines a chair back and a seat is pivotally movable about a stationary base. The stationary base includes a concave support surface having a shape that generally corresponds with a convex outer surface of the seat shell. A swivel disc is positioned between the seat shell and the base to allow the seat shell to pivot about the stationary base. The interaction between a pivot post formed on the base and a pivot limiting guide formed in the seat shell defines the range of movement for the seat shell. A bias member connects the seat shell to the seat base and creates a bias force to urge the seat shell into an upright seating position. The base includes a series of glide buttons that support the swivel disc to allow the seat shell to pivot relative to the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Williams, Timothy G. Hornberger, Tad E. Lenhart, Scott A. Bosman
  • Patent number: 9398811
    Abstract: A lounge chair having a seat shell that defines a chair back and a seat is pivotally movable about a stationary base. The stationary base includes a concave support surface having a shape that generally corresponds with a convex outer surface of the seat shell. A swivel disc is positioned between the seat shell and the base to allow the seat shell to pivot about the stationary base. The interaction between a pivot post formed on the base and a pivot limiting guide formed in the seat shell defines the range of movement for the seat shell. A tether connects the seat shell to the seat base and creates a bias force to urge the seat shell into an upright seating position. The base includes a series of glide buttons that support the swivel disc to allow the seat shell to pivot relative to the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Williams, Timothy G. Hornberger, Tad E. Lenhart, Scott A. Bosman
  • Patent number: 9289067
    Abstract: A piece of seating furniture has a seat plate (1) with a lower seat framework (2) arranged on the underside of said seat plate (1). Also provided is a tilting device (4), by means of which the person sitting on the piece of furniture can execute a tilting movement about a point of rotation located in the seat region. The tilting device (4) is formed by a structural unit which is separate from the seat plate (1) and is arranged on the seat plate (1) of the piece of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventors: Stephan Meyer, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 9265349
    Abstract: A multi-directional glider chair allowing for rotation of a seat in relation to a path of gliding action. In some embodiments, the multi-directional glider comprises a glider base including a glider mechanism supporting a gliding top, the glider mechanism providing for generally linear motion of the gliding top along at least a segment of a first axis, and a seat including at least a bottom element, the bottom element being rotatably coupled to the gliding top of the glider base by a rotatable coupler providing for rotation of the seat about a second axis, wherein an orientation of the seat in relation to the first axis may be selectively modified by rotation of the seat about the second axis. Thus, the multi-directional glider as described in this embodiment enables a user to modify an orientation of the seat in relation to a back-and-forth glide path allowed by the glider mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Valerie Jensen
  • Patent number: 9211013
    Abstract: A motion support mechanism, for example for a chair, joined to a mounting surface and to a base for providing resistive support to the mounting surface as the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilt movement relative to the base. The motion support mechanism includes a support bearing connected to the mounting surface and to the base which permits one or both of tilting and rotational motion of the mounting surface relative to the base, a pivot ball sized fixedly attached to a portion of the base, and, a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the mounting surface such that the resistance cartridge undergoes movement relative to the base and applies a resistive force on the base as the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilt movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: CoreChair Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick N. Harrison, James R. Edwards, Ken W. Vandervelden, Thomas N. Banks, David R. Gater
  • Patent number: 9084909
    Abstract: An cradle to support a person or an exercise ball provides an upwardly-facing, elongated concave working surface to restrict lateral movement of an exercise ball during exercise. The device permits an exercise ball to be rolled along the longitudinal axis of the cradle while providing a user with a handrail, foot restraints, and a headrest. An optional support assembly may be provided to elevate the cradle; to facilitate inclining the cradle; or to permit sliding of the cradle. The user is able to generate body toning, and strengthening by keeping the foot, or feet, or hands in a fixed location on the device while the user's body is supported by the compressible support component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen D. Henley
  • Patent number: 9045058
    Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus includes a seat unit supporting mechanism rotatably supporting a seat unit about a rotation axis in a roll direction of a vehicle and a yaw direction of the vehicle. The rotation axis is set so that a rear side is higher than a front side in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat apparatus, and so as to pass near a waist of a driver sitting on the vehicle seat apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohshi Katoh, Eishi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8985600
    Abstract: A motorized vehicle assembly having a frame, a seat supported by the frame, and one or more wheels in communication with the frame, where the frame may have a plane extending therethrough and the seat may have a plane extending therethrough. The seat may be adjustable with respect to frame. The seat may be adjusted laterally in a first direction and/or a second direction, where the seat faces a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The seat may be rotated or tilted toward the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, or a fourth direction, where the fourth direction may be substantially opposite the third direction. In some cases, the seat may be tilted in the same direction in which the seat has been laterally adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Nyitray
  • Patent number: 8939507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backrest for a vehicle seat, wherein the backrest includes a plurality of backrest modules. The backrest modules comprise a central portion, and at least one backrest module is mechanically linked to one or two further backrest modules of similar type at the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lufthansa Technik AG
    Inventors: Oliver Thomaschewski, Jacques Pierrejean
  • Patent number: 8662585
    Abstract: A motion seat for use in a vehicle motion simulator comprises a seat back, a seat pan, a first actuator coupled to a linkage assembly located on one side of the seat pan, a second actuator coupled to an identical linkage assembly on the other side of the seat pan, and a third actuator coupled to a linkage assembly on the aft end of the seat pan, wherein the first and second actuators are effective to independently produce roll right and roll left motion of the seat pan while collectively creating upward and downward heave motion of the seat pan and the third actuator is effective to create surge motion of the seat pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Smoke & Mirrors, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Garvis, Dennis P. Wilhelm, Richard E. Johnson, Steven G. Lansrud
  • Patent number: 8562060
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device in which a seat can be simply and reliably held at a storage position. In a vehicle seat, a vehicle width direction outer side end portion of a seat cushion is supported so as to be capable of rotating around a drive shaft having an axis along a vehicle front-rear direction, and the seat cushion can be switched between a seating configuration at which an occupant can be seated and a storage configuration at which the seat cushion stands erect along a vehicle cabin inner side surface, due to being rotated around the drive shaft by a driving motor. Further, the vehicle seat which is in the storage configuration is held at the storage configuration by a striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boushoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kato, Takahiro Sugama, Masami Natsume, Tetsuya Abe
  • Publication number: 20130257127
    Abstract: Narrow agricultural vehicles have been invented to make farm labor more attractive, to enable enhanced productivity of workers, and to make possible more complete usage of land. This involves making the width of the vehicle approximately the same width as a seated worker, thus enabling vehicle use with narrowly spaced row crops. The wheel set is configured for both maximum stability and efficient operation on soft surfaces using large drum wheels that maximize a rigid, footprint area. To enhance effectiveness of such vehicles, a seat apparatus is included to enable the seated worker to function without intrusion beyond a single narrow row space, yet sit in varied positions that are appropriate for field work and are conducive to increased productivity, comfort, and safety. The vehicle structure includes a narrow tongue structure that connects between front and rear wheel arrangements with minimal interference with work of said worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: James K. Bullis
  • Patent number: 8540314
    Abstract: A chair having a seat, a first support base and an upright elongated support element. The upright elongated support element has a first point and a second point, with the first point connecting to the seat and the second point connecting to the first support base. The first support base is bolstered by a resilient component since the resilient component is disposed beneath the first support base. The resilient component is capable of providing cushioning to the first support base is also capable of providing a full axial rotation to said upright elongated support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Products of Tomorrow, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20130241257
    Abstract: One lower end portion of a belt anchor bracket is supported on a lock unit rotatably in a front-rear direction, the other lower end portion of the belt anchor bracket is fixed to a leg, and a seatbelt anchor is supported on an upper end portion of the belt anchor bracket rotatably in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyazawa, Ikuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8439442
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lockout mechanism for use with a dynamic therapeutic assembly having a pivot bar pivotally coupled to an upper pivot plate such that the upper pivot plate is moveable with respect to the pivot bar about a first pivot axis and pivotally coupled to a lower pivot plate such that the pivot bar is moveable with respect to the lower pivot plate about a second pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis. The lockout mechanism includes a pushrod assembly that is moveable between a first position, wherein a portion of the pushrod assembly is engageable with the pivot bar to prevent substantial movement of the pivot bar about the second pivot axis, and a second position, wherein the portion of the pushrod assembly is disengaged from the pivot bar to allow movement of the pivot bar about the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: CoreWerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Highlander, Richard Dustin Brittain, David Calapp, Horst W. Schaaf
  • Publication number: 20130001995
    Abstract: A motion seat for use in a vehicle motion simulator comprises a seat back, a seat pan, a first actuator coupled to a linkage assembly located on one side of the seat pan, a second actuator coupled to an identical linkage assembly on the other side of the seat pan, and a third actuator coupled to a linkage assembly on the aft end of the seat pan, wherein the first and second actuators are effective to independently produce roll right and roll left motion of the seat pan while collectively creating upward and downward heave motion of the seat pan and the third actuator is effective to create surge motion of the seat pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL SMOKE & MIRRORS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Garvis, Dennis P. Wilhelm, Richard E. Johnson, Steven G. Lansrud
  • Patent number: 8346441
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a body, a wheel rotatably supported and coaxially disposed on the body, and an occupant riding portion supported by the body. The motor vehicle is provided with a body attitude detector for detecting an attitude of the body and a body attitude controller for controlling the body attitude detected by the body attitude detector, wherein, in response to an inertial force or a centrifugal force generated by acceleration, deceleration or a turning motion of the motor vehicle, the occupant riding portion is moved so as to balance the inertial force or the centrifugal force. The motor vehicle further includes an occupant attitude controller for controlling an attitude of the occupant riding portion in accordance with a detection value detected by the body attitude detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: KabushikiKaisha Equos Research
    Inventors: Nobuaki Miki, Munehisa Horiguchi, Katsunori Doi
  • Publication number: 20120256458
    Abstract: The chair according to the invention has a seat and a seat mechanism, the seat being coupled to the seat mechanism in such a manner that the seat is, in a front end region, pivotably supported about a first axis of rotation which is orientated parallel with the axis of a user's knees. In addition, in its front end region, the seat is also supported on the seat mechanism so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation orientated perpendicularly to the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Carsten Gehner, Heiko Büttner
  • Patent number: 8231175
    Abstract: An orthopaedic chair that requires a seated person to actively and dynamically support their upper bodies while seated is provided. The chair is designed such that the core musculature of the seated person must be actively engaged while in a seated position. To accomplish this, the chair is provided with an unstable or dynamic seating platform, i.e., a seating platform which is independently movable in several dimensions such that to stabilize the seating platform the musculature of the body, and in particular the core, must be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Afshin Aminian
  • Publication number: 20120169099
    Abstract: A vehicle seat according to the present invention may include a seat cushion that is composed of a stationary cushion portion and a movable cushion portion, in which the movable cushion portion is capable of being tilted so as to be low in a getting in/out side while being raised with respect to the stationary cushion portion, and a cushion tilting mechanism that is disposed under the seat cushion and is configured to tilt the movable cushion portion while raising the same with respect to the stationary cushion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Horiguchi, Hiroyuki Kuretake, Hideki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8029060
    Abstract: A chair has a supporting frame, a seat portion, a back portion, and a recline mechanism. The mechanism moves the seat portion upon a reclining action of the back portion. The mechanism has a rear deformable member and a front deformable member operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. The recline mechanism also has a lower deformable member operatively connecting a lower part of the back portion and the supporting frame, and a puller member above the lower deformable member. The recline mechanism is configured such that as the back portion is reclined, the lower deformable member deforms and the puller member applies a rearward pulling action which causes the seat portion to move and the front and rear deformable members to deform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Paul Michael Wilkinson, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Daryl Owen Neal, Martyn Walter Goodwin Collings, Peter Alan Tierney
  • Patent number: 8020938
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a chair comprising a seat part, at least one leg part, at least one foot part that consists of a predetermined plurality of foot elements and at least one spring assembly. According to the disclosure, at least one designated foot element and/or a sub-section of said element is configured to be mobile and is subject to a restoring moment under the action of a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: Josef Glöckl, Thomas Walser
  • Patent number: 7938489
    Abstract: A swivel and reclining chair has a base support, a base bowl mounted on the base support, and a seating bowl slidably disposed in and over the base bowl. A plurality of friction reduction features are disposed on the inside surface of the base bowl. The outer surface of the seating bowl is spherical in shape and rests on the friction reduction features. The seating bowl is larger in area than the base bowl, and can freely slide in two dimensions as well as rotate in a spherical surface. Optionally, a guard ring is disposed outside of the base bowl and is attached to the base bowl at their rims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Nazari
  • Patent number: 7922247
    Abstract: An adjustable chair and a tilt assembly for use therewith typically provides side to side tilting of the chair seat and preferably provides forward and backward tilting of the seat separately or in combination with the side to side tilting. A hydraulic system is provided for controlling the tilting movement. Progressive hydraulic valves are used to control the resistance to the tilting movement whereby the chair is useful for exercise while the user is seated and the rate at which the tilting occurs may be controlled. The seat may be locked in any tilted position or the user may shift weight on the seat to provide a continuous shifting of the tilt angle and tilt direction of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Spark Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Dickie
  • Publication number: 20100244513
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is adapted to be disposed adjacent to an entrance/exit opening of a vehicle, the vehicle seat includes a seat main body and a tilting mechanism. The seat main body includes a sitting surface. The tilting mechanism is configured and arranged to selectively tilt the sitting surface about a rotational axis with the rotational axis being arranged diagonally with respect to a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat such that a lateral frontward portion of the sitting surface to be located closer to the entrance/exit opening of the vehicle is lowered when the sitting surface is tilted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AUTECH JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Osamu FUKUI, Keisuke HAYAMA
  • Patent number: 7789463
    Abstract: A chair for enhancing a waist strength is disclosed, which can be easily used by anybody for thereby exercising waist, pelvis and belly muscles. The chair for a waist exercise comprises a seat which has a circular plate for stably supporting a user's hips, and a receptacle which is vertically extended in a downward direction from a lower side of the circular plate; a cylindrical connection unit which has an upper end inserted into the receptacle of the lower side of the seat and a certain absorbing force with respect to a pressure when the vertical weight of the seat is applied, with the length of the same being adjustable for thereby adjusting the height of the seat; and a support unit which has an upper side engaged at the lower side of the connection unit and is provided with a plurality of legs which are extended in a perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Sung Gil Gang
  • Patent number: 7686396
    Abstract: A device to actively enhance proprioception and core strength of its user consisting of a motion control system providing a tilt plate that is dampened with a suspension system to provide a system to deliver an exercise regimen that automatically detects and strengthens core muscles in an unobtrusive manner by allowing the individual to move freely while seated. The device can be configured into a chair, stool, wheelchair seat insert, vehicle or airplane seat or exercise device generically known as balance board. The device is intended to enhance the user's proprioception core strength, sense of balance, and overall physical well being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Corewerks, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Schaaf
  • Patent number: 7637570
    Abstract: The chair according to the invention has a seat and a seat mechanism, wherein the seat and the seat mechanism are formed so that, during the sideways pivoting movement of the seat, the one side of the seat is movable independently of the other side of the seat, wherein the seat is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivoting or rotation axis lying parallel to the knee axis of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Erich Becker, Heiko Buettner, Carsten Gehner
  • Publication number: 20090278388
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a module for use with a chair having a seat portion supported by a support portion, for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon. The module is adapted for attachment to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, and comprises a driving motor, a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion, and an angled axis system (AAS). The AAS has a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis and coupled with the first rotary element so that the auxiliary axis is oriented at an angle to the main axis. The module is designed such that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Active Chair, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Reingewirtz, Ron Cohen
  • Publication number: 20090261641
    Abstract: An adjustable chair and a tilt assembly for use therewith typically provides side to side tilting of the chair seat and preferably provides forward and backward tilting of the seat separately or in combination with the side to side tilting. A hydraulic system is provided for controlling the tilting movement. Progressive hydraulic valves are used to control the resistance to the tilting movement whereby the chair is useful for exercise while the user is seated and the rate at which the tilting occurs may be controlled. The seat may be locked in any tilted position or the user may shift weight on the seat to provide a continuous shifting of the tilt angle and tilt direction of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Robert G. Dickie
  • Publication number: 20090261642
    Abstract: An adjustable chair and a tilt assembly for use therewith typically provides side to side tilting of the chair seat and preferably provides forward and backward tilting of the seat separately or in combination with the side to side tilting. A hydraulic system is provided for controlling the tilting movement. Hydraulic valves having adjustable knobs are used to control the resistance to the tilting movement whereby the chair is useful for exercise while the user is seated and the rate at which the tilting occurs may be controlled. The seat may be locked by closing additional hydraulic valves while the tilt assembly is in any tilted position or the user may shift weight on the seat to provide a continuous shifting of the tilt angle and tilt direction of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Robert G. Dickie
  • Patent number: 7588292
    Abstract: A gardening chair configured to facilitate increase access to the area proximate thereto for a user. The gardening chair further includes a stationary base that is configured to provide structural support. Pivotally attached to the base is a sitting platform configured to receive a user thereon. Pins are utilized to pivotally connect the sitting platform and the base. The gardening chair further includes two pivot pins mounted to the sitting platform functioning to engage with the base and control the amount of pivotal movement of the sitting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventors: Omar P. Valdes, Christina C. Valdes
  • Patent number: 7547067
    Abstract: The invention provides a chair and mechanism to permit occupant swivelling, bouncing, and tilting. The chair mechanism also provides tilt limitation using a keyhole tilt delimiter. The keyhole orientation follows rotation of the chair. A bearing assembly (preferably using race bearings) facilitates simultaneous swivelling and tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Keilhauer (Partnership)
    Inventors: Steve Keilhauer, Vlad Zila, Martin Bergmann, Gernot Bohmann, Harald Grundl
  • Patent number: 7520469
    Abstract: In a passenger seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, one seat component, such as seat carrier (9), seat element, backrest (3), and arm rest, can be placed at selected positions relative to other seat components and locked in these positions by a controllable fastening mechanism. The seat bottom (7) of the seat element is mounted to be pivotable about at least one pivot axis (15, 19) in relation to the seat carrier (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Baumann
  • Patent number: 7497516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile joint (1) for a seating construction, especially a chair, for mounting between a seat device and a base, comprising at least two joint elements (10, 30) which are reciprocally restricted pivoted between two extreme positions to allow tilting movement of the seating construction effected by the users weight displacement, comprising two outer joint elements (10, 30) which are pivoted related with a middle joint element (20), wherein the rotational axis (40, 50) between the two joint elements (10, 30) and the middle joint element (20) is displaced in relation to each other in the horizontal direction, whereby the joint (1) may assume a stable tilting position between the two extreme positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Varier Furniture AS
    Inventor: Ole Petter Wullum
  • Patent number: 7490903
    Abstract: A tiltable seat apparatus comprises a mounting structure attachable a vehicle chassis and including spaced-apart upstanding portions and a mounting member connected between the upstanding portions. A seat assembly includes a seat frame having spaced-apart downstanding portions. Each one of the downstanding portions is pivotably attached to a respective one of the upstanding portions such that an axis of rotation extends through the downstanding and upstanding portions whereby the seat frame pivots about the axis of rotation. A resilient member is engaged between the mounting structure and the seat attachment structure, and allows the seat assembly to pivot about the axis of rotation with respect to the mounting structure between a static orientation and an angularly displaced orientation. The resilient member exerts force on the mounting structure and the seat assembly when in the angularly displaced orientation for biasing the seat attachment structure toward the static orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Fredy L. Ruppe