On Roller Patents (Class 297/318)
  • Patent number: 11065988
    Abstract: An occupant support includes a vehicle seat mounted to a foundation frame for sliding the vehicle seat longitudinally in a vehicle. The vehicle seat is movable from a slid-back configuration to a forward-seating configuration and may be changed from a horizontal-use configuration to a tilted configuration for easy entry into or exit from a rear row of the vehicle. The vehicle seat may be locked in the tilted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventor: Emil Rdzanek
  • Patent number: 10583754
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a backrest part, the seat part being configured shell-shaped on the lower face, at least one front end of the seat part being displaceable forwards and upwards in a combined manner and the inclination of the seat part being adjustable by means of an adjustment movement of the seat part with respect to a seat support shell arranged below the seat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: GRAMMER AB
    Inventor: Alexander Lorey
  • Patent number: 10420422
    Abstract: A linkage mechanism for a reclining seating unit that provides increased back support, reduces shirt pull and decreases minimum wall clearance. The linkage mechanism may include a seat mounting plate indirectly coupled to a back bracket where the back bracket pivots around a projected pivot point located forwardly and upwardly from the back bracket when the seating unit is closed. The linkage mechanism may include an intermediate link pivotally connected to the seat mounting plate and the back bracket, a back pivot link pivotally connected to the back bracket and a rear lift link, the rear lift link pivotally connected to the seat mounting plate, and a control link pivotally connected to the back pivot link and the seat mounting plate. Forward movement of the back bracket relative to the seat mounting plate as the seating unit reclines reduces the wall clearance needed behind the seating unit below 4.5 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Gregory Mark Lawson, Walter Clark Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10092106
    Abstract: A furniture member may include a stationary base frame, a seatback frame, a seat bottom frame and a linkage. The seatback frame is supported by the base frame and is pivotable relative to the base frame. The seat bottom frame maybe supported by the base frame and may be movable relative to the seatback frame and the base frame. The linkage is attached to the base frame, the seatback frame, the seat bottom frame and a legrest platform. The linkage is movable between first and second positions. Movement of the linkage toward the first position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully upright position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a stowed position. Movement of the linkage toward the second position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully reclined position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Jason Rains, Jason Bryson
  • Patent number: 10045621
    Abstract: The eternal chair will function as an aid for young and old as a lift chair. The eternal chair is the first recliner/lift chair with no mechanism and a removable seat cushion. Each function of the eternal chair is controlled separately. The eternal chair could be used for obesity and or have the capability to fit the needs of those who are suffering from back injury or medical recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: James Norbert Welter
  • Patent number: 9873356
    Abstract: There is provided a seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided to the seat cushion. The ottoman device includes an interlocking mechanism configured to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position. A part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Kuno, Hidetaka Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 9635943
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism for use on a chair is disclosed that allows the chair to be placed in close proximity to a wall, and allows the chair back to recline, in part, by moving the seat forwardly, but not upwardly. A chaize option is also disclosed that allows the seating portion of the chaize to move forwardly as the back reclines. In an alternative arrangement, an extendable ottoman is disclosed that is independently operable from the back recline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Gregory Mark Lawson
  • Patent number: 9538847
    Abstract: A chair having an integrally molded chair back and seat that move together upon reclining movement of a user. The seat includes a series of glides that travel along a glide track mounted to a fixed support frame. A bias spring, connects the support frame to the seat and chair back to urge the seat and chair back into an upright position. The chair includes a pair of ganging arms that are movable. between a storage position and an operative position. In the storage position, the ganging arms are concealed within a bottom cover. When in the extended, operative position, the ganging arms allow multiple chairs to be ganged together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Office Master Inc.
    Inventor: Francisco Romero
  • Patent number: 9049939
    Abstract: A furniture device (1) comprising a fundament (3), a support member (5) comprising a first section (7), a second section (9) and a pivoting member (15) adapted to pivot the second section between a first and a second orientation. The pivoting member comprising an arm arrangement (20, 20a, 20b) comprising a first arm (22) extending between the fundament and the second section and comprising a displaceable end (50), a second arm (40) extending between the fundament and the second section, a first pivot (24) between the first arm and the fundament and a second pivot (42) between the second arm and the fundament. The pivoting member comprises a pivoting mechanism (30) adapted to pivot the second section from the first orientation to the second orientation by inducing a displacement of the displaceable end towards the second pivot (42) while the first and the second arm act on the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: PASS OF SWEDEN AB
    Inventor: Michael Viberg
  • Patent number: 8783771
    Abstract: An extendable seat pan assembly configured to be supported on spaced side walls of a seat frame and including a seat pan frame having spaced frame rails retained longitudinally parallel to and adjacent the side walls, and a seat pan slidably supported on the frame rails and defining an opening therethough spanned by a spring assembly including a plurality of springs. An aircraft passenger seat including an extendable seat pan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Oleson
  • Patent number: 8777312
    Abstract: The invention provides a seating apparatus having a reclining movement with a corresponding seat lift movement. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a seating apparatus comprising a base, a curved support bar pivotally connected to the base, a plurality of ramps attached to one of the curved support bar and the base, and a plurality of rollers attached to the other of the curved support bar and the base for interacting with the plurality of ramps. As a user reclines, the plurality of rollers operatively engage the plurality of ramps to lift the seat of the apparatus. The combination of the reclining movement with the corresponding seat lift movement is particularly beneficial for providing an increased level of user comfort throughout a range of seating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 8690246
    Abstract: A reclining seat comprising a seat base (10) and a backrest (11), wherein the seat base is mounted on a support structure moveable along at least one guide path (16, 17) whereby the seat base is moveable between upright and reclined use or seating positions and a retracted state, control means being provided for controlling movement of the seat base along said at least one guide path, preferably with infinite adjustment, between said upright and reclined seating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: J. Thompson Solutions Limited
    Inventor: James Thompson
  • Patent number: 8662586
    Abstract: A seat assembly 21 including a seat 22, a backrest 23 and a mounting assembly 24 mounting the seat 22 in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of a person seated on the seat, and mounting assembly 24 further mounting the backrest 23 in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of the person. An adjustment assembly 61 is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest 23. Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly 71, an armrest adjustment assembly 90, a seat biasing assembly 110 and a seat motion latching assembly 111. A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Hector Serber
  • Publication number: 20130292982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a longitudinal seat adjuster for a vehicle seat having easy entry functionality and folding functionality, comprising a rail system for longitudinal seat adjustment having a lower rail and an upper rail and an unlocking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Markus Radermacher, Jeevan Sooda, Harshal Deshmukh, Stuart Woolston
  • Patent number: 8403415
    Abstract: An adjustable passenger seat having a seat recline mechanism and including a seat base having first and second non-intersecting seat path guide slots for guiding the travel of a translation guide assembly interconnected to a linear translating seat pan drive rail through the seat pan such that translational movement of the drive rail with respect to the seat base causes movement of the seat pan and the seat back between upright and flat seating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Bobby Wayne Lawson
  • Patent number: 8376458
    Abstract: A chair having an adjustable seat pan that can be moved from an angled to a flat position is disclosed. The chair includes a seat frame having a front end and a rear end with a seat back attached to the rear end of the seat frame. A seat articulator that includes a ramp bar that has a first end connected to the seat back and an upper edge with a second end displaced downward from the upper edge is adjacent to the seat frame. The seat pan is pivotally connected to the seat frame and a drop down link is pivotally attached to the seat pan. A cam roller is attached to the drop down link where it is positioned on the upper edge of the ramp bar in contact with the seat pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Meister, Larry Hazbun
  • Patent number: 8272694
    Abstract: A passenger seat, having a seat back, and a seat bottom, including a seat pan, supported by a frame mounted on laterally spaced-apart legs for being mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings. A seat back frame assembly and a seat bottom assembly are joined for articulating movement such that when the seat back is reclined, the seat pan is shifted forward and the forward end of the seat pan and thus the seat bottom is raised in order to maintain an appropriate passenger seating angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hawkins, Dennis Hedrick, Jeremy Green
  • Patent number: 7488040
    Abstract: A servo mechanism for a seat part arranged on a support frame for travel in a longitudinal direction in synchronism with an adjustment of a back rest part from a normal position to several predetermined reclined positions, includes a scissor-type articulated lever assembly which is connected to the seat part and the support frame. The articulated lever assembly includes several articulated lever elements. A spring assembly progressively applies a spring force upon the scissor-type articulated lever assembly such that a relative change in angular disposition between the lever elements applies a substantially constant force upon the seat part in every position of the seat part, whereby a relatively great longitudinal travel distance of the seat part is accompanied by a short spring travel during the spring force application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: OMP S.R.L
    Inventor: Andras Dozsa-Farkas
  • Patent number: 7484803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair, especially an office or work chair or similar, whereon a back-rest part (15) can be placed in an inclined position from an initial or rest position via a first axis of rotation (12). A seating part (14) performs a longitudinal displacement around a second axis of rotation (20) and an inclined displacement around a third axis of rotation (11) in a synchronous manner with respect to the inclined movement of the back-rest part (15). A return device (13) is provided for returning the back-rest part (15) and/or seating part (14) to the initial position or rest position. The office chair (1) comprises a carrier frame (5) which disposed centrically on the leg frame (2) and which supports in a stationary manner the first axis of rotation (12) on the centre of the leg frame, said axis of rotation remaining at a constant, predetermined distance above the seating part (14) in the rest position and in all inclined positions of the back-rest part (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: OMP S.r.l
    Inventor: Andras Dozsa-Farkas
  • Patent number: 7380881
    Abstract: An apparatus—which could be a chair (10), but could also be an apparatus that supports a person in other than a seated position—comprising a moveable platform (including a seat (12) in case of a chair) urged always toward a neutral position when a person is seated or otherwise positioned on the apparatus (10). The motion of the platform/seat (12) toward and away from the neutral position is constrained so that the platform/seat (12) remains at least approximately horizontal in its orientation relative to the floor on which the apparatus/chair (10) is positioned even when traveling along a path not horizontal to the floor, i.e. e.g. along a path inclined to the floor. A method is also provided in which the apparatus/chair (10) is used to provide lower-back therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: William L. Freed, Seth Foster Eisenberg
  • 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: 7207629
    Abstract: A tilt chair having a foot adapted to be supported by a support surface and a first leg pivotally mounted to the foot. A second leg is pivotally mounted to the first leg. A moveable support member is mounted to the second leg and is adapted to be supported by the support surface. The moveably support member is moveable in a first and second direction toward and away from the foot respectively as the first leg pivots relative to the second leg and as the first leg pivots relative to the foot. In one embodiment, the moveable support member is configured as a wheel. In one embodiment, a lower back member has a lower end pivotally mounted to the first leg and an upper back member pivotally mounted to an upper end of the lower back member. A restraining link is pivotally mounted between the lower back member and the second leg. An upper back link has a lower end pivotally mounted to the first leg and an upper end pivotally mounted to the upper back member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Goetz, Robert L. Beck, Joel R. Dral, Robert W. Roth
  • Patent number: 7108326
    Abstract: A seat, preferably an aeroplane seat, includes a seat base (12) which can be positioned on the floor and seat components which are provided for each seat and are arranged on the seat base (12). The seat components can be a seat back (1) and a seating element (2) with a front region (3) and a rear region (4). The rear region is located at the point where the seating element joins the seat back (1). The seat back can be displaced from an upright position to an inclined position and vice versa, simultaneously adjusting the inclination of the seating element (2). The front region (3) of the seating element (2) essentially maintains its height above the floor. The rear region (4) sinks as the seat back (1) increasingly inclines. The seat back (1) has at least one first part (5) and one second part (6) which at least partially support each other with the adjacent surfaces and which can be displaced in relation to each other during the adjustment of the inclination of the seat back (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hartmut Schurg
  • Patent number: 7040701
    Abstract: A reclining apparatus which includes guide members (20) that move forward and backward on opposite sides of a bottom plate (3). The guide members (20) are moved forward and backward by a roller (21, 22) that is slidable and rotatable along a surface of the bottom plate (3). A seat member (30) and a back member (50) are attached to the guide members (20) and, accordingly, are able to move smoothly forward and backward without excessive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Hirofumi Tada
  • Patent number: 7007965
    Abstract: A center-of-gravity tilt-in-space wheelchair includes a base, a seat for supporting an occupant, and tracks supporting the seat for selective seat movement relative to the base. Wheels are adapted to support the base relative to a supporting surface. The tracks serve as rolling or sliding surfaces that allow the seat to rotate with respect to the base. Each track has a constant-radius arc with a focal point that is adapted to be coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. A low-friction supports the base relative to the seat. The low-friction support may include low friction elements that mate with the tracks to support for the tracks. The support can be adjustable to permit the overall tilt angle range of the tracks to be adjusted. The wheelchair seat can be adjusted to maintain the focal point of the constant-radius arc of the tracks coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. The front and rear wheels can be adjusted fore and aft relative to the focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Bernatsky, Philip Schreiber, Tom Whelan, Wayne Hanson, Steven L. Lindquist, Jerry Houtart, Richard Schneider, Allen B. Killebrew, Mike Nordquist
  • Patent number: 6742840
    Abstract: Adjustable seats and components thereof are detailed. The seats, particularly (although not exclusively) useful in commercial aircraft, permit substantial angular recline without the corresponding rearward linear movement necessarily occurring in conventional seats. The seats additionally may have discontinuous, or non-integral, seat bottoms, with the heights of the forward portions of the bottoms being adjustable mechanically. Tray tables optionally associated with the seats further omit any central slot and may define one or more pivot axes in locations different than exist in conventional seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Weber Aircraft LP
    Inventor: Paul Bentley
  • Patent number: 6688691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat (1) for an aircraft comprising a squab (2), a backrest (3), a leg rest (4), a support structure (5) for the squab (2) and the backrest (3), and a fixed rear separation shell (13). The support structure (5) or the squab (2) moveable in translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the backrest (3) in the vertical position. The seat (1) is situated in a space lying between a fixed front separation shell (12) and a fixed rear separation shell (13). The movements of each of the components (2, 3, 4) of the seat are independent of each other and the fixed separation shells (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiael Aeronautique
    Inventors: Robert Marechal, Guy Mercier
  • Patent number: 6669143
    Abstract: A passenger seat movable from an upright to a recline position without encroaching on an aft-seated passenger, and including a seat base for being attached to a supporting surface. A unitary seating element is provided and includes a pair of laterally-spaced apart seat frames carried by the seat base, the seat frames defining a curved shape corresponding to the profile of an anatomically-appropriate seat bottom and seat back. A curved, semi-rigid diaphragm support is carried between the seat frames in alignment with the curved shape of the seat frames and mounted for movement relative to the seat frames between a first, upright position and a second, reclined position. A diaphragm is positioned under tension on the diaphragm support for providing a continuous seat bottom and seat back support surface for a seat occupant. Stretchers are attached to and extend between opposite sides of the diaphragm support for maintaining the diaphragm support in a spaced-apart condition with the diaphragm in tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6641214
    Abstract: Chairs employed in economy-class aircraft seating often incline by rotation of the back about a fixed point, usually the rear edge of the fixed seat. While increasing the comfort of one passenger, this form of seat inclination reduces the space available for the passenger seated in the aft seat. A chair with improved cradle motion, particularly for use in aircraft, is described in which inclination may occur with little or no reduction in the space available to surrounding passengers. Inclination is achieved by the contemporaneous forward sliding of the back portion and the seat portion of the chair relative to the fixed seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Aviointeriors S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Veneruso
  • Patent number: 6604791
    Abstract: A reclining leisure chair includes a base frame, a seat frame, a backrest frame, a hassock frame, a driving device, and a link rod. The driving device enables the seat frame and the backrest frame to be adjusted for reclining at the same time. The link rod is pivotally fastened at one end to the backrest frame, and at the other end with a pivoting portion of the seat frame. In conjunction with a control rod of the seat frame, the link rod enables the backrest frame to be adjusted for reclining independently. The hassock frame is pivoted with the link rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hsin Hao Health Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuan-Chuen Chen
  • Patent number: 6588722
    Abstract: Roller receiving step portions (12f) are formed in both sides of a bottom portion of a main body portion (12a) in a lower rail (12). A roller (27) is inserted between the step portions (12f) in the lower rail (12) and an upper wall (13d) in an upper rail (13). Left and right roller portions (27A, 27B) are formed so as to be separated into left and right sections in a substantially center portion of the roller (27). An elastic washer (28) corresponding to an elastic body is inserted to a roller shaft (47c) at the separated position of the roller (27). Taper surfaces (41) are formed in both side portions (27a) of the roller (27) and are mounted on taper surfaces (43) formed in the step portions (12f) in the lower rail (12) and downward inclined toward a center in a width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Moriyuki Eguchi, Ryo Fujimoto, Tomonori Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6494536
    Abstract: A reclinable passenger seat having a seat frame mounting a seat bottom, a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom, and a seat bottom/seat back articulation assembly for simultaneously varying the adjustment of the seat bottom and seat back relative to each other. A translation linkage is provided for mounting the seat bottom and seat back for translating movement of the seat bottom relative to the seat back as the seat back is reclined from an upright position and raised to an upright position. The translation linkage extends the effective length of the seat bottom relative to the seat back to provide additional support to the buttocks and legs of the seated passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy G. Plant
  • Patent number: 6347834
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion member mountable on the floor and a seatback member having a loadable back surface and a lockable member mounted on the seatback member adjacent the lower extent thereof. The seatback member is movable between a generally upright occupiable configuration in which the loadable back surface is positioned in a generally rearwardly facing, vertical orientation and the lockable member is retained in closely held juxtaposed proximity to a rearward extent of the seat cushion member, and a substantially horizontal load supporting configuration in which the loadable back surface is positioned in a generally horizontal, upwardly facing relation and the lockable member is rearwardly displaced from the closely held juxtaposed proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Christian Couasnon
  • Patent number: 6053575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat with an underframe, onto which a back rest is linked in a swiveling manner on one hand and which carries on the other hand a bucket seat, which is embodied in a plane manner, and which is connected to the underframe on one hand in its front area via a swiveling axis running crosswise and which is connected on the other hand in its back area via elastic, which effect a spring suspension of the bucket seat around the swiveling axis. For adjusting the seat depth of the motor vehicle seat i) the swiveling axis is kept in the longitudinal guide in an adjustable manner, the course thereof is essentially parallel to the level of the bucket seat and crosswise to the swiveling axis, whereby an adjustment device for the fixation of the swiveling axis is provided in the longitudinal guide and ii) the elastic is attached to the bucket seat as well as to the underframe of the carriage in a flexible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Burckhard Becker, Ernst-Reiner Frohnhaus
  • Patent number: 6039154
    Abstract: A braking means for a movable part of a furniture component, especially an upholstered furniture component, which has support frame (1), with a slide rail (7) to be attached to either of a movable part (3) and a support frame (1), and with a brake bearing block (8) to be attached to the other of the support frame (1) and movable part (3), an adjustment device (9) for adjustment of the braking force exerted by the brake bearing block (8) on the slide rail (7) being provided on the brake bearing block (8). Especially sensitive adjustability and a small starting jerk are accomplished in this braking device by the bearing block (8) having two brake rollers (11) which roll on opposite brake surfaces (10) of the slide rail (7). As an alternative, the brake bearing block (8) is located within a crosspiece (6) through which the slide rail (7) penetrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas Jungjohann
    Inventors: Reiner Moll, Helge Fedderke, Christoph Hartmann
  • Patent number: 5722726
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as an aircraft passenger seat, has a seat back which is reclinable from a normal substantially vertical orientation, and a seat pan which is tiltable between a normal substantially horizontal orientation and a tilted orientation in which its front edge is lower than its rear edge. The seat pan has a rear portion adjacent to the seat back which is substantially horizontal when the main portion of the seat pan is in its tilted orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Britax Rumbold Limited
    Inventor: James Akira Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 5622406
    Abstract: A seat cushion adjustment for vehicle seats, more particularly the seats of motor vehicles, depends on the adjustment path of at least one main adjustment of the seat and serves for adapting the development curve of the seat cushion adjustment individually and ergonomically. The seat cushion adjustment includes a first adjustment for a main adjustment of the vehicle seat within a defined adjustment area, and a second adjustment coupled to the first adjustment for adjusting the seat cushion in dependence on a main adjustment of the vehicle seat. The seat cushion adjustment also includes a separate adjustment coupled to the first or second adjustment for fixing the development curve of the seat cushion adjustment within a restricted adjustment area, whereby the extreme positions of the seat cushion are associated with the extreme positions of at least one main adjustment of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Brose Fahzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Meschkat, Hans Rampel, Thomas Rodde
  • Patent number: 5603551
    Abstract: A desk chair particularly designed to have supporting members disposed between guide members having facing complementary grooves, and the supporting members having supporting rollers riding in said grooves whereby the chair responds to movement of the body to retain it in a good posture position, the only force present in said structure being that of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Kelly Sheehan
  • Patent number: 5570927
    Abstract: A modular wall proximity reclining/tilt chair is disclosed. The modular wall proximity reclining/tilt chair includes a simplified actuation mechanism which significantly reduces system complexity and weight while providing improved comfort to the seat occupant. The construction is such that the pre-assembled actuation mechanism is integrally suspended from and interdependent with box-like modular frame components. In this manner, the frame components can be upholstered prior to final assembly with the actuation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Company
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Jonathan R. Saul, Karl J. Komorowski
  • Patent number: 5314237
    Abstract: A reclining chair which includes a base, frame supports, and pivotable seat and back supports. The seat and back supports are pivotally connected for correlative movement, and the seat support is operably connected to an inclined ramp which raises the vertical height of the seat support during reclining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Kimball International Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus C. Koepke, Earl H. Koepke
  • Patent number: 5147108
    Abstract: A "three-way" recliner mechanism for use in a sofa or loveseat type of article of furniture is disclosed. The present invention is a "zero wall proximity" recliner mechanism which is fully reclinable within the confines of its stationary frame assembly. The recliner mechanism provides operative linkages for "tilting" the seat unit, "reclining" the seat back relative to the seat frame and for extending and retracting a leg rest assembly. The present recliner mechanism has a short stroke drive assembly having an actuator lever, concealed in the upholstery of the sofa or loveseat, which may be easily operated by the seat occupant to concurrently operate the leg rest assembly and generate "tilting" movement of the reclinable seat unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Company
    Inventor: Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 5133587
    Abstract: An improved adjustable seat having a supporting frame, a seat bucket type removable seat, and a connect-disconnect member disconnectably attaching the removable seat to the frame. The seat bucket and frame are provided with slides which permit relative change in attitude between the seat bucket and the frame in response to manipulation of seat reclining controls by the seat occupant. Included in the base frame are legs which are deformable under high acceleration-deceleration forces to absorb a portion of the energy resulting from the application of such excessive forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: James R. Hadden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5011220
    Abstract: An incliner chair has a back and seat unit mounted on a base by way of slanted tracks and wheels at the rear and swing links at the front so that the unit can move by gravity from a rear upright position to a front recline position. Positioning linkage means for holding the unit in the upright and recline positions is provided and this may be activated by a short stroke handle concealed between the side of the unit and the base. A leg rest assembly is connected to the unit to move with it and provide a means to return the unit from the recline position to the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Company
    Inventor: Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 4842333
    Abstract: In a seat having a support frame consisting of a seat portion frame and a backrest portion frame, the backrest portion frame is of a generally L-shaped configuration, with a first limb thereof extending under the seat portion frame. The first limb of the L-shape carries a pivot axis means which is disposed slidably in a pair of rails fixed at the underside of the seat portion frame while the first limb of the L-shaped backrest portion frame is further guided in a second pair of rails at another position spaced from the first pair of rails in such a way that upon forward movement of the seat portion frame the upper end of the backrest portion frame moves in the opposite direction and also moves downwardly, thereby increasing the angle of inclination of the backrest portion, and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Grammer Sitzsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Meiller
  • Patent number: 4815788
    Abstract: A wall proximity three-position reclining chair having a seat and frame assembly which moves with respect to a fixed base and which has a backrest movable with respect to the seat. The seat and frame assembly and backrest are carried by a handle actuated mechanism which includes a seat mounting link supported by swing links in turn suspended from a support link. The support link is carried on front and rear pivot links mounted on a fixed base plate. A slidable pivotal connection is provided between the base plate and front pivot link while the pivotal connection for the rear pivot link is fixed. A control link interconnects the two pivot links and prevents the mechanism from collapsing and reduces the arc through which the front pivot link must swing to recline the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Super Sagless Corp.
    Inventor: Teddy J. May
  • Patent number: 4547017
    Abstract: A back rest and a chair seat are pivoted to each other about a displaceable axis and the back rest is pivotally attached to a support along an axis parallel to that axis. The back rest and the seat are continuously displaceable with respect to each other between a sitting position and a recumbent position of the user. At least the displacement of the chair seat is guided at the end opposite to the axis of pivotal attachment of the seat to the back rest along a curve so determined that, when the back rest and seat undergo a displacement between the two positions mentioned above, the center of gravity of the user's body moves away from a horizontal plane over a distance which is sufficiently short to ensure that the user can modify the relative position of the back rest and seat by exerting acceptable efforts without any need to rise from the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: AMI
    Inventor: Jacques Lescure
  • Patent number: 4531778
    Abstract: A handle-operated, wall-avoiding, three-way recliner utilizes a track system for moving the chair from the TV position to the fully reclined position. However, in contrast to conventional "track recliners", the track does not come into play until the chair has been moved to the TV position through means of a linkage system. Such movement is preferably initiated by a handle operatively connected to the footrest linkage which is biased closed by a yieldable spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4504090
    Abstract: An upholstered arm chair is capable of swivelling, tilting, rocking and reclining by reason of the provision of a U shaped arm rest body having a central platform with arm rests on each opposite side and supported at about seat level, on swivel and tilt mechanism, above floor level. A chair seat overlies the central platform and is slidable forwardly and rearwardly by followers in tracks on the arm rests and a back rest is pivotally connected to the chair seat by mechanical linkage to move to recline position as the seat moves forwardly and vice versa. A knob and set screw locks the followers in selected positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventor: Paul R. Goldman
  • Patent number: 4432524
    Abstract: A three point seat adjuster for a vehicle car seat includes a generally Y shaped frame for supporting a vehicle seat. The Y shaped frame includes a pair of transversely extending leg members supported by rollers on a pair of rear track members mounted on the vehicle floor and a longitudinally extending integral stem member which is slidably engaged through a journal in a forwardly mounted guide bracket. The guide bracket is pivotally mounted to the vehicle floor. A release mechanism associated with the guide bracket releasably locks the stem member to the guide bracket in a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gary A. Wize
  • Patent number: RE30648
    Abstract: A chair for dental patients has a lower portion and an upper portion including a swingable back and a seat movable when the back is swung. The seat is connected at its rear end by a hinge with the lower end of the back. The invention is particularly characterized in that the seat is mounted upon the lower portion so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the chair, while the back is guided over a rigid guide which is connected with the lower portion and the back. Means are provided in the part of the seat free from the hinge between it and the lower portion which are operable when the back is swung to tip the seat about a horizontal axis toward the back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Ohlrogge, Walter Hetz