Front Of Bottom Carried By Link Patents (Class 297/321)
  • Patent number: 11700942
    Abstract: A mechanically stretchable apparatus for a sofa and a sofa thereof are provided. The mechanically stretchable apparatus includes: a seat component, a linkage component, a back component and a leg component. The seat component further includes a base, a first rotating part, the second rotating part, and the seat linkage structure placed between the first and second rotating parts. The seat linkage structure includes a back linkage with a seat connection point, a transmission connection point, and a back connection point. The seat connection point is connected to the first rotating part. The back connection point is connected to the back component. The back component and the leg component are respectively connected to the linkage component, and the linkage component is connected to the seat linkage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Remacro Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaohong Li, Yuankun Li, Haibo Wang, Zhanzheng Lv
  • Patent number: 11553798
    Abstract: In one aspect, an active exercise chair comprises: a seat support, wherein the seat support is rigidly affixed to a top section of a shaft of a gas spring; a seat, wherein the seat is connected to the seat support; a seatback support, wherein the seatback support is pivotably connected to the seat support about a discrete pivot point; a seatback carriage, wherein the seatback carriage is slidably connected to the seatback support, wherein the seatback carriage is connected to a seatback, and wherein the seatback traverses a translational path defined by a geometry of the seatback carriage and the seatback support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Irina L. Melnik
  • Patent number: 11452378
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mechanical stretching device for a movable seat unit, and a movable seat unit thereof. The mechanical stretching device includes: a linkage support that comprises a support structure configured to support the mechanical stretching device on ground and a linkage structure attachable to a seating portion of the seat unit; a back mechanism that is pivotally connected to the linkage support and is configured to attach to a backrest of the seat unit; and a leg stretching structure including a footrest element, and the leg stretching structure is pivotally connected to the linkage support, and the footrest element is attached to a footrest of the seat unit. The mechanical stretching device is configured to implement a sequential conversion or a reverse sequential conversion of the seat unit from a sitting state to a relaxing state and to a lying state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Xiaohong Li, Yuankun Li, Zhanzheng Lv, Haibo Wang
  • Patent number: 11390190
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that includes a support intended to be rigidly fixed to the frame of a vehicle, a seating portion, a backrest extending the rear end of the seating portion, and a connecting mechanism which connects the seating portion to the support. The connecting mechanism has a primary mechanism which allows forward tilting of the seating portion and backrest relative to the support between a rest position and a forward-tilted position. The seat includes a first motor able to tilt the seating portion from its rest position to its tilted position, and a control member for the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Farouk Bouzid, David Epaud
  • Patent number: 10434905
    Abstract: A seat assembly forms a substantially horizontal plane for an exposed surface of each of a lower seat cushion and a seatback cushion of a seatback. The seat assembly comprises a lifter mechanism for a rearward edge of the lower seat cushion. The lifter mechanism further comprises a main lift arm coupled to the edge, a slotted support arm having a distal end thereof pivotally coupled to a distal end of the main lift arm, a linkage arm pivotably coupled with the main lift arm and a slot in the slotted support arm, and a translational arm coupled with the linkage arm. The rearward edge of the lower seat cushion is raised by the translational arm being displaced to a fully displaced position to thereby raise a distal end of the linkage arm and the lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Jimmy Moua, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Corbin Shea Johnston, Adam Ewel, Kevin Mozurkewich
  • Patent number: 10421547
    Abstract: A passenger seat assembly (150) includes a seat support (486) and an immobile seat shell (384) mounted on the seat support (486). The seat shell (384) can include a bench (388) and a backrest (390). The bench (388) includes a forward edge (392), an aft edge (394), and a top surface (301) extending between the forward edge (392) and the aft edge (394). The backrest (390) can be connected to the aft edge (394) of the bench (388) and can extend in an upward direction from the top surface (301) of the bench (388). In some cases, the backrest (390) includes an upright portion (303) connected to the bench (388) and angled at a first angle with respect to the top surface (301) of the bench (388), and a resting portion (305) connected to the bench (388) and angled at a second angle with respect to the top surface (301) of the bench (388).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Victor Carlioz, Matthew Cleary, Hugo Jamson, Lito Karatsoli, Felix Lorsignol, Luke Miles
  • Patent number: 10118508
    Abstract: Described is recline mechanism for a comfort seating assembly such as a theater seat which can be mounted on a sloped surface. In a fully recline position, the seating assembly is compact with a layout that falls generally within its profile. The recline mechanism includes a pair of each of: seat rail brackets, front pivot links, rear pivot upper lift link to control the motion of the rear end of the assembly, rear pivot links each attached to one rear pivot upper lift link, carrier links, each carrier link attached to one front pivot link and to a rear pivot link and a pair of rear pivot upper lift control links, attached to a pivot upper lift link and to a carrier link. A linear actuator attached by motor drive tubes at two ends of the linkage system transitions the recline mechanism between the closed and recline positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: VIP CINEMA, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bowen, Terry Dale Johnson, Stephen Simons
  • Patent number: 10076978
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base, a seatback, and a recliner heart. The recliner heart is rotatably coupled to the seat base and the seatback and the recliner heart is operable between locked and unlocked states. The vehicle seating assembly additionally includes an actuator having a housing defining a housing tab, a motor, a gear operably coupled to the motor where the gear defines a gear tab and a spring tab. The actuator includes an actuator return spring defining a first and second hook where the first hook is coupled to the spring tab. The actuator additionally includes a lever coupled to the gear, a pulley coupled to the gear, a lifting cable coupled between the pulley and the seatback, and a release cable coupled between the lever and the recliner heart. The release cable is configured to transition the recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Scott, Richard Li, Eric Morse
  • Patent number: 10064771
    Abstract: A bed is provided having a non-pivotal actuation mechanism for a foot deck to assist the bed in being converted to a chair bed and lowered close to the floor even when the foot deck is in a generally vertical position. In one embodiment, the bed has a longitudinal gap between the intermediate deck section and the foot deck section. As the foot deck transitions to the generally vertical position from the generally horizontal position the gap between the intermediate frame section and the foot deck section is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: KREG MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Poulos, Luke Westra, Patrick Harris
  • Patent number: 9687077
    Abstract: A chair has a supporting frame 1, a seat portion 101, a back portion 201 that has an upper end, a lower end, and is pivotally mounted relative to the supporting frame at a position above its lower end, and a recline mechanism 601. The recline mechanism 601 lifts the seat portion 101 upon a reclining action of the back portion 201, and has an operative connection 603, 611 between the seat portion and the supporting frame and a drag link 602 pivotally connected to the seat portion 101 and pivotally connected to the back portion 201 at a position below the pivotal mounting of the back portion relative to the supporting frame. As the back portion 201 of the chair is reclined, the lower end of the back portion 201 moves forward and the drag link 602 pulls the seat portion 101 upward relative to the supporting frame 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Gregory William Baum, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Gavin James Bateman, Leon Harley Craze, Jon Leonard Fifield, Mark Rundle Pennington, Wayne Douglas O'Hara, Martyn Walter Goodwin Collings, Paul James Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9302600
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A support bracket is coupled to the seat cushion for mounting the seat assembly to the floor of a vehicle. A pair of front legs extends between a first end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to the support bracket. A pair of rear legs extends between a first end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to the support bracket. A linkage mechanism is operatively coupled between the front legs and the rear legs for actuating rotation of the seat assembly between a seating position spaced above the vehicle floor and a stow position recessed within below the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventors: Peter P. Zeimis, III, Carl J. Holdampf
  • Patent number: 9168846
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is equipped with a base frame, a seatback and a seat cushion. A lower end side of a seatback frame is joined to the base frame via a recliner shaft. A cushion joining portion is provided at a front end side of the lower end side of the seatback frame relative to the recliner shaft. The cushion joining portion turns to a seat lower side and seat rearward side about the recliner shaft when the seatback is tilted forward. A rear end side of a seat cushion frame is joined to the cushion joining portion to be turnable about a joining shaft. A front portion side of the seat cushion frame is supported at the base frame to be movable to follow the turning of the cushion joining portion when the seatback is tilted forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sasaki, Hideo Mori
  • Patent number: 8979201
    Abstract: Dynamic furniture supports a seated or reclining user. The furniture includes a base, an actuator, a seat platform, and a back platform. The actuator is in circular connection to the base. The seat platform is in circular or excentric connection to the actuator assembly. The back platform is in circular or excentric connection to the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly, seat platform and back platform may be restricted in movement along paths by assemblies of the circular or excentric connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Exciting Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Erb, Mark M. Erb
  • Patent number: 8973995
    Abstract: Device for synchronizing the tilt of a chair back and seat, of the type comprising a frame of the chair back (5), a frame of the seat (2) and a support (1) integral with the base of the chair, as well as at least one first crank (3), integral with the afore said frame of the chair back (5), and hinged (6, 7) at the rear to the frame of the seat (2) and to the support (1), and at least one second crank (4), hinged (8, 9) at the front to the frame of the seat (2) and to the support (1). The afore said first crank (3) and the second crank (4), with the frame of the seat (2), determine a articulated quadrilateral, wherein such a first crank (3) and such a second crank (4) lie substantially on skew lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Donati S.p.A.
    Inventor: Armando Donati
  • Patent number: 8944507
    Abstract: Seating mechanisms enable the user to vary the seating angle of a chair or stool by enabling at least the portion of the chair that supports the thighs to be tilted forwardly to controllably increase the seating angle while maintaining the spine and pelvic region in vertical alignment. The extent of forward tilt is controlled by pressure applied by the user's thighs that also serves to counterbalance the weight of the user's torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Goetz
  • 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: 8590969
    Abstract: Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Exciting Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Erb, Mark Erb
  • Patent number: 8500203
    Abstract: Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Exciting Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Erb, Mark Erb
  • Patent number: 8474910
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a base (9) which includes at least one front foot (11). A seat (3) is connected in an articulated manner to the front foot by at least one front leg (13). At least one rear foot (21) is locked to the base (9) in at least one use position. At least one coupling (42) is provided between the seat and the rear foot. At least one coupler (30) is provided between the backrest and the coupling or the seat. The seat may be transferred from the use position into a boarding position as, after unlocking the rear foot, the seat pivots upwards and the backrest carries out a forward shifting movement by means of the rear foot. The seat may also be transferred from the use position into a flat-floor position, by the backrest pivoting forward and the seat being lowered by the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Kämmerer
  • Patent number: 8434822
    Abstract: A device for an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture with an adjustable angle between the seat and the back of the piece of furniture, wherein on each side of the piece of furniture there is located a fitting projecting upwards from its base, the seat being tiltable about a forward suspension point on the fitting, and the back being tiltable about a rear suspension point on the fitting, wherein the back upon tilting backwards causes the seat to tilt backwards in that a link is pivotally fastened to a rear part of the seat frame and pivotally fastened to a lower part of the back frame, the pivotal connection of the link to the back frame being located behind and below said rear suspension point. On an increase in the angle between the seat and the back, the angle that the neck rest of the piece of furniture forms with the back is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: SAPDesign AS
    Inventor: Svein Asbjørnsen
  • Patent number: 8414073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seating arrangement (1) having a substructure (3), in which the seating arrangement (1) comprises at least one carrying arm (7, 8), and the carrying arm (7, 8) comprises an upper, first carrier (7a, 8a) and a lower, second carrier (7b, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
  • Patent number: 8398142
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which is positionable between a use and not-it-use position convenient for increased storage space and access to rearward areas of the vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest. The seat part is pivotably coupled to the vehicle floor at one end so that that the seat part may be moved frontward with respect to the vehicle. A transmission link is provided, coupled to the backrest and the seat part so that the backrest pivots into the not-in-use position as the seat part is moved into its not-in-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Johnson Controls GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Stark, Erik Sprenger, Andreas Weiss
  • Patent number: 8152240
    Abstract: A vehicular seat device has a first linking member (21) that is linked to a front portion of a seat cushion frame (16) and to a base member (24) so as to be respectively pivotable, and a second linking member (22) that is pivotably linked to a rear portion of the seat cushion frame (16) and is also pivotably linked to a position on a seatback frame (18) which is upward of a reclining mechanism (26) when the seatback is in a standing state. The seat arrangements thereof include a retracted state in which the seatback (14) is superimposed on the upper side of the seat cushion (12), and an entry/exit state in which the seat cushion (12) is placed in the standing state producing a space for an occupant's entry or exit behind the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamada, Takeshi Tokai, Keisuke Onoda
  • Patent number: 8128147
    Abstract: Vehicle seat including a link for raising and lowering the seat and a tilt pan disposed forwardly of seat cushion frame of the seat. Rotatably provided to the seat cushion frame is an actuator link having: one end portion pivoted to the tilt pan; and another end portion formed with sector gear portion and arcuate hole. A pin for supporting a gear case having a pinion meshed with the sector gear portion is fixed to the seat cushion frame. Such pin is used with both of the link and actuator link, in common. Namely, an upper end portion of the link and the afore-said another end portion of actuator link are collectively disposed at that pin so as to overlap each other, and the upper end portion of link is pivotally connected to the pin, whereas the pin passes through the arcuate hole of actuator link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kanda, Masaaki Honda, Yosuke Karino
  • Patent number: 8075058
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat, in particular, a vehicle or aircraft passenger seat with seat components such as a seat base (12), a backrest (14) and a coupling device (16) for coupling the movement of at least one part of the seat components between an exit (I) and at least one comfortable (II) position and vice versa. According to the invention, the coupling device (16) comprises at least one control piece, which may be controlled using the movement of the backrest (14) and/or the seat base (12) and hence by means of at least one further control piece to move the seat base (12) and/or the backrest (14) between said positions (I, II), whereby an adjustment, in particular, tilting movement of the backrest is linked with a simultaneous adjustment movement of the seat base which, preferably in the rearward transition region into the backrest descends by a given amount relative to the front edge of the seat which simultaneously moves forward to increase the seat depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Baumann
  • Patent number: 8066326
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion that is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor. The seat assembly also includes a seatback that is operatively coupled to the seat cushion for movement between an upright position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A linkage system is operatively coupled between the seatback, seat cushion, and the floor. The linkage system automatically moves the seat cushion downward and forward and translates the seatback downward and rearward in response to movement of the seatback between the upright position and the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Nelson E. Hurst, III, Robert J. Szybisty, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Peter Paul Zeimis, III
  • Patent number: 8056954
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion that is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor for movement between a raised position spaced above the floor and a lowered position adjacent the floor. The seat assembly also includes a seat back that is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor for movement between an upright position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. At least one drive link extends between a first end pivotally coupled to the seat back and a second end pivotally and slidably coupled to the seat cushion for automatically moving the seat cushion between the raised and lowered positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the upright and folded positions thereby defining a seating position and a stowed position of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Robert I. Homier, M. Jeffry Corkins, Charles Falzone
  • Patent number: 8029061
    Abstract: There is provided a link mechanism for a chair that is a link mechanism that is used at a chair, the link mechanism for a chair having: a first link whose one end is connected to a bottom surface of a link that supports a seat surface portion of the chair; a second link whose one end is connected to another end of the first link; a first joint portion rotatably connecting the first link and the second link; a second joint portion provided at another end of the second link; and a first elastic resistance unit imparting elasticity in a rotating direction to the second joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zenroh Fukai
  • Patent number: 7971936
    Abstract: There is provided a link mechanism for a chair that is a link mechanism that is used at a chair, the link mechanism for a chair having: a first link whose one end is connected to a bottom surface of a link that supports a seat surface portion of the chair; a second link whose one end is connected to another end of the first link; a first joint portion rotatably connecting the first link and the second link; a second joint portion provided at another end of the second link; and a first elastic resistance unit imparting elasticity in a rotating direction to the second joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zenroh Fukai
  • Patent number: 7850238
    Abstract: Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventors: Scott C. Erb, Mark M. Erb
  • Patent number: 7661760
    Abstract: When a seat back in a forwardly folded state is raised to a predetermined raised state by activating an electric motor by turning on a switch, the electric motor is immediately stopped even if the switch is still turned on, and the seat back is retained in the raised state. There are provided a locking member which operates to retain the seat back in the raised state when the seat back is in the predetermined raised state and a lever which turns in association with the operation of the locking member. The lever turns on another switch to open a drive circuit for the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Nakaya, Kenji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7455362
    Abstract: An adjustable motion wheel chair having a mobility base for supporting a back panel and a seat panel. A pair of control plates are mounted to the mobility base and positioned laterally across the mobility base in spaced apart parallel relation. The back panel includes a pair of pivot pins located on opposite lateral edges of the back panel which are pivotally received by a respective control plate. A linkage member hingedly connects the seat panel to the back panel. Each control plate includes a forwardly extending stop for limiting the downward movement of a front edge of the seat panel. A latch member is attached to each control plate and is operable between a first position where the back panel is fixed in angular relation with the seat panel and a second position where the back panel is rotatable with respect to the seat panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kids Up, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne H. Hanson, Dale A. Mandeville, William B. Phelps, Stephen M. Sanford, Edward D. Urband, Gregor Horacek
  • Patent number: 7455360
    Abstract: An article of seating furniture is provided with a lift mechanism. The article can be a chair with a base and a seat that is pivotally connected to the base. A back is coupled to the seat and may be either fixed to the seat or rotatably coupled to the seat. An actuator is mounted to the base extending towards the rear of the chair. The actuator is pivotally coupled to the base on one end and is pivotally coupled to the seat on the other end. The actuator moves the seat between a generally horizontal position and a raised position. With the back rotatably mounted to the seat, a linkage bar can be added that extends from base front to a bracket that mounts the back to the seat. The linkage bar reclines the back as the seat is raised from horizontal position to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: L & P Property Management
    Inventors: Nikki White, Shelby Ladner, Bill Tacker, Kenneth Graham
  • Patent number: 7398989
    Abstract: A stand-up type wheelchair for handicapped and sick people comprises a chassis (2) supporting an articulated structure (12) which includes a seat, a foot-rest, a chair-back, and two symmetrical lateral articulated systems. Each system includes a first deformable polygon contributing to the support of the seat, a second deformable polygon, contributing to the support of the foot-rest, a chair-back quadrilateral (four-bar linkage) (35) articulated on the first quadrilateral, and a manoeuvring assembly (40), which includes a first lever (41), a second lever (43), and a manoeuvring handle (49). The manoeuvring handle (49) is articulated firstly on the second lever (43) and/or the first lever (41), and secondly on the first quadrilateral by means of a connecting-rod (55) whose first extremity is connected by a pivot to the first quadrilateral and whose second extremity is connected by a pivot (58) to the manoeuvring handle (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lifestand International SA
    Inventor: François Xavier Laffin
  • Patent number: 7234776
    Abstract: The body support chair for physically challenged and disabled persons comprises a frame supporting an articulated structure comprising a seat, a foot rest, a back and two symmetrical lateral systems. Each articulated system comprises a first deformable quadrilateral (17), a second deformable polygon, a back assembly and a maneuvering assembly. The chair comprises, in addition, means (60) for automatic modification of the inclination (?) of the back of the chair with respect to the vertical direction in the sagittal plane between the lowered and verticalized positions. Figure to be published: FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Lifestand International SA
    Inventor: Francois Xavier Laffin
  • Patent number: 7213880
    Abstract: A control device for an adjustable seating structure including a first adjustment control positioned in an orientation approximating a seat member. The first adjustment control is moveable about a horizontal axis. A second adjustment control is positioned adjacent the first adjustment control in an orientation approximating a backrest member. The second adjustment control is moveable about the horizontal axis. The first adjustment control and the second adjustment control in combination generally resemble a seating structure. A seating structure including the control device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Nicolai Neubert, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Patent number: 7195316
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in sitting on a vehicle and a method for use in manufacturing a seat. The apparatus can include a base, a back secured with the base and a seat pan secured with the base. The seat pan can further include a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to pivot relative to the second portion, such that the first portion of the seat pan pivots allowing a distal end to pivot so that the distal end can be moved out of a relative alignment with the second portion. The seat pan can be movably secured with the base allowing the seat pan to move generally horizontally. The back can also be pivotably secured at with the base allowing a lower portion of the back proximate the seat pan to pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Shimasaki, Bethany L. Franko, Bette-Ann Shroyer, Mark E. Wentland
  • Patent number: 7134712
    Abstract: The disclosure generally describes a chaise longue having a base structure that supports a backrest section, a footrest section and an intermediate section. The intermediate section is connected between the backrest section and the footrest section. The base structure can include a first movable support that supports the backrest section and can articulate about a first stationary transverse axis. The base structure can also include a second movable support that supports the footrest section and can articulate about a second stationary transverse axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Pro-Cord Spa
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: 7014263
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may include a seat cushion movably supported on a vehicle floor bracket, a seat back rotatably supported forwardly and rearwardly on the vehicle floor bracket via a seat reclining mechanism, a connecting mechanism interconnecting the seat cushion and seat back, and a supporting mechanism supporting the seat cushion on a vehicle floor. The connecting mechanism is fixedly connected to the seat cushion and is rotatably connected to the seat back. The connecting mechanism is arranged and constructed such that when the seat back is rotated forwardly, the seat cushion can be moved forwardly and downwardly and that when the seat back is rotated rearwardly from its normal position, the seat cushion can be maintained in place and not be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mukoujima, Kenji Fujinaga, Shigeru Fukuda, Yasunori Hasegawa, Jun Kanamori, Hideki Shimizu, Hiromu Mizuno
  • Patent number: 6959965
    Abstract: A chair of the tilting type which includes a base, a seat and back, with the base pivotally supporting the seat with two parallel links of a four-bar parallel linkage, with one of the links extending to support the back. The four-bar linkage is duplicated on each side of the chair by forming the two opposite parallel links or cranks from the upturned ends of the tubes which pass through the base in parallel but vertically offset fashion, the base thus forming the fixed bar of the linkage with its opposite bar or coupler being formed by the seat. A spring within the base is operative on one (of both) of the tubes to urge the chair to an upright position. The tubes are pivotally connected to the seat and one of the tubes extends and is fixedly connected to the back. As the back tilts, the four-bar mechanism is engaged and lifts the seat which thereby uses the occupant's weight to counteract the reclining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 6945602
    Abstract: A chair back is supported on a rigid upright coupled to a horizontal tilt shaft disposed under the front of the chair seat and supported on a control housing fixed to a pedestal. A tension mechanism urges the upright into an upright position. The chair seat is movably supported on the upright by an arrangement which permits the seat to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis positioned adjacent the upper surface of the seat. A control link is pivoted at one end to the control housing, and the other end has lost-motion pivotal connections to the seat frame and the upright. The lost-motion pivotal connection to the seat frame including a spring cooperating between the upright and the seat frame to allow the seat to move relative to the upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Fookes, Jason M. Rose
  • Patent number: 6896329
    Abstract: The chair, particularly an office chair, has a backrest articulated to a seat support by way of a rest support. A seat surface is movable synchronously with the backrest. A front region of the seat surface is connected to the seat support via a sliding guide and a rear region is connected to the seat support via a seat link. A distance from an upper pivot point, which connects the seat link to the seat surface, to the backrest is shorter than the distance from a lower pivot point, which connects the seat link to the seat support, to the backrest. The movements of the backrest and of the seat surface are synchronized by a sliding guide provided between the seat link and the rest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Armin Sander
    Inventors: Armin Sander, Martin Potrykus
  • Patent number: 6863346
    Abstract: A chair, in particular an office chair, comprising a pedestal, a seat support supported thereon, a seat plate supported on said seat support, and a backrest secured on said seat support. Said seat support comprises a rear supporting and guiding unit facing said backrest on which said seat plate is supported, and on which said seat plate is guided obliquely relative to the horizontal line against at least one spring element. Said seat support comprises further a front supporting and guiding unit on which said seat plate is supported, and on which said seat plate is displaceably guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Dauphin Entwicklungs-u. Beteiligungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Zünd
  • Patent number: 6811225
    Abstract: A seat apparatus and method particularly well adapted for use in mobile platforms, and more particularly in a commercial aircraft. The seat apparatus includes a seat portion with linkage that enables a user to lift and tilt the seat portion forwardly while simultaneously moving a seat back of the apparatus from a reclined to a fully upright position. An extendable leg rest assembly allows the user to kneel thereon to further relieve lower back stress during prolonged periods of seating and to better enable the seat occupant to make use of a laptop computer or other equipment positioned in front of the occupant. The seat apparatus therefore provides a plurality of different seating positions for the occupant, thus enhancing the comfort of the occupant during prolonged seating periods and while the seat occupant is performing various tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kazuhide Konya, Seiya Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6789847
    Abstract: A reclining chair has a control switch and a control device. The control device has a tube connected to a support frame, a joint disposed on a seat, a rod inserted through the tube and connected to the joint, a control thread connected to the control switch and a cylindrical block, an inner threaded socket disposed on the tube, a hollow cylinder disposed on a positioning mount, a compression spring inserted in the hollow cylinder, a positioning pin passing through the compression spring and the hollow cylinder, the hollow cylinder engaging with the inner threaded socket, a connector clamping a tail of the positioning pin, the control thread passing through an angle plate of the positioning mount, and the cylindrical block inserted in the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Sung-Tsun Tsai
  • Patent number: 6709058
    Abstract: A chair of the tilting type which includes a base, a seat and back, with the base pivotally supporting the seat with two parallel links of a four-bar parallel linkage, with one of the links extending to support the back. The four-bar linkage is duplicated on each side of the chair by forming the two opposite parallel links or cranks from the upturned ends of the tubes which pass through the base in parallel but vertically offset fashion, the base thus forming the fixed bar of the linkage with its opposite bar or coupler being formed by the seat. A spring within the base is operative on one (of both) of the tubes to urge the chair to an upright position. The tubes are pivotally connected to the seat and one of the tubes extends and is fixedly connected to the back. As the back tilts, the four-bar mechanism is engaged and lifts the seat which thereby uses the occupant's weight to counteract the reclining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Humanscale Corp.
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 6644741
    Abstract: A synchrotilt mechanism for a chair to provide improved control over the relative but synchronized tilting of the back and seat during tilting. The chair back is supported on a rigid upright assembly including lower lever arms which project under the chair seat and are coupled at forward ends to a horizontal tilt shaft which is disposed under the front of the chair seat and is supported on a control housing fixed to the upper end of the base pedestal. A tension control mechanism is coupled between the tilt shaft and the control housing for normally urging the upright arrangement, and the chair back, into an upright position. The chair seat is movably supported on the lower lever arms by a support arrangement which permits the chair seat to pivot relative to the upright assembly about a generally transverse horizontal axis which is preferably slightly below the upper surface of the seat when the latter is in a nondeformed condition, i.e., the seat is not occupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick C. Nelson, Manfred Kleinikel, Werner Härtel
  • Publication number: 20030075962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, especially for aircraft, comprising a seat part (10) and a backrest (12) that can be displaced relative to each other by means of at least one adjustment device (14). The respective adjustment device (14) is provided with a plurality of articulation points (16) that are at least partially interconnected via a bar-type supporting frame (18) with individual bar elements (26, 30, 32, 36 and 40). Said supporting frame raises and supports the seat part (10) relative to the vehicle or cabin floor and eftects a displacement movement by means of an actuator device (20) in such a manner that the seat part (10) can be brought from an initial position (I) into at least one further position (II, III) and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Saltzer, Hans-Dieter Abt
  • Patent number: 6474737
    Abstract: A seat comprises a base assembly adapted to be fixed to the body of the vehicle, an articulated support assembly comprising front and rear support links for a seat cushion of the seat each of which has two ends articulated about axes which are respectively fixed relative to the seat cushion and to the base assembly, devices for adjusting the angular position of the support links relative to the seat cushion, and devices for controlling the position of a seat back of the seat relative to the seat cushion. The control devices comprise a convex or concave articulated quadrilateral, which has four corners, a first corner is connected to the seat cushion and the second and fourth corners are connected to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipments SA
    Inventors: Joël Canteleux, Olivier Naudet
  • Patent number: RE45281
    Abstract: Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Exciting Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Erb, Mark M. Erb