Movable To Inoperative Position Patents (Class 297/331)
  • Patent number: 7914078
    Abstract: A seat for use with a vehicle providing multiple positions for a member including a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. The adjustor is designed to adjust and/or support the member in multiple positions. The member is configured to maximize seat area within seating limitations. The seat is also designed to provide support for the operator when the operator uses the control lever on the rear of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: John Hentges
  • Patent number: 7901005
    Abstract: A seat is disclosed for use in a vehicle. The seat includes a pivotable seat cushion, a pivotable seatback, and a pivotable headrest. A rearward portion of the seat cushion is pivotably attached to the floor of the vehicle by an anchor member. A forward portion of the seat cushion is pivotably coupled to a forward support leg that contacts the floor of the vehicle when the seat cushion is retained in a generally horizontal position. The forward support leg automatically retracts to a position proximate the seat cushion when the seat cushion is released and pivoted upwardly to a generally vertical stowed position proximate the seatback. The seatback is pivotably attached to the anchor member and may be downwardly pivoted to a generally horizontal stowed position proximate the seat cushion. The headrest may be pivotally attached to the seatback, and may be movable to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Zaki A. Khan, Michael D. McCannell, Koji Uno, Patrick Basile
  • Patent number: 7878592
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a first lock mechanism switching between a first locked state and a first lock-released state and a second lock mechanism switching between a second locked state and a second lock-released state. The first lock mechanism includes a restraining member and a releasing member. The restraining member restrains a pivotal movement of a seatback at a predetermined angle position, at which the seatback does not interfere with a seat cushion moving between a first position and a second position thereof, when the second lock mechanism is in the second lock-released state. The releasing member is linked to the restraining member and releases a restriction to the pivotal movement of the seatback by being moved in association with a movement of the seat cushion when the second lock mechanism is in the second lock-released state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Kazuya Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7874607
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has an element formed of expanded polypropylene foam or of a material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight provided between a seat part and a vehicle body floor, wherein the seat part is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle body floor via the element formed of expanded polypropylene foam or of the material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight, or the seat part is formed essentially of expanded polypropylene foam or of a material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight and is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle body floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Prosche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Weiss, Frank Lewetzky, Jörg Dittus
  • Patent number: 7850241
    Abstract: A chair is provided comprising a seat assembly including a seat back and a seat bottom and a support frame including a left leg assembly and right leg assembly connected by a transverse support member. The seat back is pivotably connected to each of the leg assemblies such that an upper portion of the seat back pivots in relation to the leg assemblies between a first seat back position and a second seat back position. The seat bottom is rotatable in relation to the seat back between an upright position and a horizontal position. The seat bottom is slidingly engaged with the leg assemblies such that pivoting of the seat backward from the first seat back position to the second seat back position causes the seat bottom to slide forward from a first seat bottom position to a second seat bottom position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Lucci, Paolo Orlandini
  • Patent number: 7828380
    Abstract: A pew style seating assembly includes a plurality of seat members, each of which is pivotable, independently from all others of the plurality of seat members, between an occupied position and an unoccupied position. Each seat member, when in the occupied position, defines a seating area above a top surface thereof, with the seating areas defined by the plurality of seat members defining a continuous and uninterrupted pew seating area spanning the plurality of seat members. The seating assembly further includes a single, continuous seat back attached to each of the seat support members and spanning the entire pew seating area, such that the plurality of seat members are associated with the single, continuous seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 7819468
    Abstract: This seat for a vehicle is provided a seat cushion which is rotatable toward a seat back in an upright condition around an axis provided on the seat back side, the seat for a vehicle comprising: a storage recessed portion which is provided in a bottom face of the seat cushion; and a lid which opens and closes the storage recessed portion, the lid being rotatably attached with a rear end portion of the storage recessed portion as a supporting axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuda, Kanae Tsukidate, Toshikazu Hirose
  • Patent number: 7802490
    Abstract: A multifunction seat control system includes a pulley mechanism in an enclosure, an actuation shaft to attach an external handle, and multiple latch actuation cables. The pulley mechanism includes multiple circumferential slots in which the cables ride, and cable-end entryways through which associated cables ends can be inserted. A lockout device detects a seat-back position to selectively limit the rotational travel of the pulley mechanism. The pulley mechanism is rotationally actuated to a predetermined angle to release a seat-back latch so the seat back can recline or fold forward, and beyond the predetermined angle to release seat-bottom latches so the seat can tumble into a stowage configuration. The control system optionally includes a headrest cable to release a headrest as the seat back is folded forward, and a release strap to actuate the pulley mechanism from behind the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA
    Inventor: Derek Ingraham
  • Patent number: 7794016
    Abstract: A chair is provided comprising a seat assembly including a seat back and a seat bottom and a support frame including a left leg assembly and right leg assembly connected by a transverse support member. The seat back is pivotably connected to each of the leg assemblies such that an upper portion of the seat back pivots in relation to the leg assemblies between a first seat back position and a second seat back position. The seat bottom is rotatable in relation to the seat back between an upright position and a horizontal position. The seat bottom is slidingly engaged with the leg assemblies such that pivoting of the seat backward from the first seat back position to the second seat back position causes the seat bottom to slide forward from a first seat bottom position to a second seat bottom position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Lucci, Paolo Orlandini
  • Patent number: 7784860
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion and an output shaft rotatably coupled to the seat cushion. An actuator is fixedly coupled to the seat cushion and operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotatably driving the output shaft. A front leg is operably connected to the actuator for movement between a support position supporting the seat cushion and a retracted position folded underneath the seat cushion. A front latch is mounted on the front leg and is positioned to selectively engage a striker bar along a motor vehicle floor for maintaining the front leg in the support position. A link assembly extends between the output shaft and the front latch for selectively unlocking the front latch as the output shaft is rotatably driven by the actuator to drive the front leg between the retracted position and the support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Schacht, Lei Cao, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Catherine A. DeVoss, Thomas J. Domlovil, Jeffrey P. Carroll
  • Patent number: 7780234
    Abstract: An inertial latch assembly including a planar shaped sector pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced apart support plates. The sector exhibits a bottom including a central projecting shoulder separating first and second bottom surfaces. An arcuate interior channel in the sector is offset from its pivotal mounting location, a pin extending through a second channel defined in a selected support plate and seating within the arcuate channel so that the pin exerts a bias against the sector during travel along the arcuate interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the support plates and proximate the bottom extending surface of the planar shaped sector, an arcuate edge thereof seating against a selected bottom extending surfaces of the rotatable sector, depending upon a pivoted position established between the sector and the support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7744152
    Abstract: A collapsing truss that completes a four-bar mechanism of a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor. The vehicle seat includes a seat back coupled to a cushion structure via the collapsing truss which incorporates a pivot and a latch which engages on a pin. The collapsing truss includes a floor bracket coupled to the vehicle floor. A seat back bracket is coupled to the seat back and floor bracket. A cushion bracket is pivotally coupled to the cushion structure, the floor bracket, and the seat back bracket. The joints of the collapsing truss are defined by the seat back pivot, the cushion back/seat back bracket pivot, and the latch engagement pin. The seat back moves about the pivot when the collapsing truss operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kurt A. Seibold
  • Patent number: 7731296
    Abstract: A buckle holding structure for holding a buckle unit on a seat cushion, the buckle unit having: a belt of which one end is fixed to a vehicle body; and a buckle fixed to the other end of the belt, the buckle holding structure including: a band that has elasticity, has a predetermined width, and is folded in a U shape to form a folded portion, wherein both ends of the band are fixed to a rear end of the seat cushion so as to be disposed on the same plane in a width direction of the band; the belt of the buckle unit is inserted into a gap formed between both ends of the band, which is fixed to the rear end of the seat cushion, and the folded portion; and the buckle is caught by the folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuda, Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7717511
    Abstract: A chair assembly capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally includes a frame assembled with a turnable seat, a backrest, and armrests; wherein the frame is comprised of two frontal supports and two rear supports; an assembling shaft is horizontally disposed within the frame for holding and allowing the seat to be turned, a positioning rod disposed parallel to the assembling shaft for allowing the seat to be turned upward or downward and keeping the seat upturned or downturned. The assembly and combination of the frame, the backrest, the armrests, and the turnable seat causes that the resulted chair is stacked both horizontally and vertically. Moreover, the disposition of hooks and slots at both sides of the frame further allow the chairs to be aligned and connected together in an orderly manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Tsung-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 7712785
    Abstract: A webbing guide mechanism includes an upper webbing guide (58) and a lower webbing guide (60) that are disposed on the side portion of a seat back (30) of a front seat (24) that is a tumbling seat. A webbing (50) is wound in a looped manner on these guides (58, 60). The webbing (50) is pulled forward and a loading/unloading space (78) is easily enlarged by sequentially changing the seat back (30) from a standard state to an inclined state and then to a tumbled state. According to the invention, a webbing guide mechanism is provided which can easily secure, without troubling a passenger, loading/unloading space behind the front seat (24) when the passenger climbs into or out of the space or when the passenger loads items into or unloads items from the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 7695058
    Abstract: A seat apparatus includes a seat cushion on which an operator is seated, a seatback for supporting the operator seated on the seat cushion, a seat drive device changing a position of the seat cushion and the seatback between a seating position and a storage position by operating the seat cushion and the seatback, and a control unit for controlling the seat drive device, the control unit controlling the seat drive device in a way that an operation starting time of the seat cushion does not coincide with an operation starting time of the seatback and an operating time of the seat cushion overlaps temporally an operating time of the seatback when the seat cushion and the seatback are moved between the seating position and the storage position such that an interference of the seat cushion and the seatback is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Satta, Hidemitsu Higashi, Masaya Mizuguchi, Hideharu Kato, Tomonori Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100084903
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat, which may be transferred from at least one position of use suitable for conveying passengers into at least one pivoted-forward position of non-use, comprising a base (9), at least one rocker (13) which is linked at least indirectly to the base (9), in particular to a front foot (11) attached to the base (9), a seat cushion (3) which is linked to the rocker (13), at least one link (27, 29) which is linked at least indirectly to the base (9), in particular to the front foot (11) attached to the base (9), at least one rear foot (21) which is linked to the link (27, 29) and is releasably locked to the base (9), and a backrest (5) which is pivotably linked to the rear foot (21) about a backrest pivot axis (33), the seat cushion (3) is linked by means of an articulated joint (35) directly to the backrest (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Joachim KÄMMERER
  • Patent number: 7686389
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seat cushion frame for supporting a seat cushion and operated to move between a first position and a second position relative to a vehicle floor, a link member including first and second ends respectively pivotably connected to the vehicle floor and to a first end portion of the seat cushion frame, a guiding member provided at the vehicle floor for supporting a second end portion of the seat cushion frame to the vehicle floor and including a guiding groove, and a sliding member provided at the second end portion of the seat cushion frame and slidably engaged into the guiding groove. The guiding groove extends along a connection line connecting the sliding member and a connection point between the seat cushion frame and the link member so as to move the seat cushion frame between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukifumi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090322135
    Abstract: A fold-down vehicle seat is provided having a seat part and a foldable backrest. The seat part is mounted so it is pivotable on the vehicle floor via a front rocker and the backrest is mounted so it is pivotable on a seat framework section using a lower end section. In such a vehicle seat, the seat part and the backrest are transferable into a first and a second folded position to enlarge a cargo area of the vehicle adjoining the vehicle seat, the seat part being coupled using a rear rocker to the backrest, and the seat framework section supporting the backrest situated so it is displaceable on the vehicle floor in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this way, a fold-down driver seat is provided, which has a high degree of user friendliness and is universally adaptable to various cargo space configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Winfried EHRHARD
  • Patent number: 7618094
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame operably attached to a vehicle. A seat bottom is operably attached to the frame. The seat bottom is repositionable between a seating position and a stowed position. A seat back is operably attached to the frame. The seat back is repositionable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat back rotates about a longitudinal axis during repositioning of the seat back between the seating and the stowed positions. A method of repositioning the seat assemblies includes repositioning a seat bottom between a seating position and a stowed position, and repositioning a seat back between a seating position and a stowed position about a longitudinal axis. Another seat assembly includes a seat bottom operably attached to the frame with at least one pivoting link and at least one sliding link. The seat bottom is repositionable between a seating position and an elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Louis D DeLellis, John E Schambre, Lloyd G Montford, Jeffery E Long, Leonard C Paul, Jr., Michael O Forker
  • Patent number: 7611200
    Abstract: An adjustable seat for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A seat cushion is slidably mounted for movement between an aft position and a fore position, and a seat back is connected to the seat cushion. A latch connected to the seat back, and a mounting member is connected to the vehicle that releasably engages the latch to limit fore-aft movement of the seat back with respect to the mounting member so that movement of the seat cushion from the aft position to the fore position moves the seat back from an upright position to a reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Niko Jovicevic, Terence Porter, II, Tomohito Hashikawa
  • Patent number: 7600801
    Abstract: An electric vehicle seat storage structure for moving a seat between a seating position and a storage position is provided. The seat storage structure includes a frame having an axle positioned along a rear portion of the cushion and having a seat gear mounted to the axle. An actuator is provided for moving the seat between a seating position and a storage position. The actuator has an output gear positioned about an output shaft that is defined along the longitudinal axis of the actuator. The actuator is mounted within a portion of the frame, such that the output gear and the seat gear are meshed thereto, and such that the axis of the actuator is substantially parallel to the axle of the seat storage frame. Wherein when the seat is moved between the seating position and the storage position, the actuator is moved therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Globe Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Jan Lehy, Richard Lee Schneider
  • Patent number: 7581793
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for coupling to the floor of a vehicle comprising a seat back, a seat cushion, a first bracket, and a second bracket. The seat back is pivotable between at least a first position and a design position. The seat cushion is configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor. The first bracket is configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor and includes one of a keyed passage and a keyed pin configured to be received within the keyed passage. The second bracket is coupled to the seat back and includes the other one of the keyed passage and the keyed pin configured to be received within the keyed passage. The keyed passage is configured to receive the keyed pin only when the seat back is in a position the seat back will be prevented from assuming after the vehicle seat has been installed in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Hartmann, Timothy Butt, Steven Boye, Metodija Milevski, Chih-cheng Liao, Christopher James Cowan, Richard Hong
  • Patent number: 7568764
    Abstract: A reclining rear seat for a motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck is provided. The rear seat utilizes a pivoting, four-bar link arrangement between the underside of the seat bottom and the vehicle floor. The seat back is slidably and releasably attached to a striker fitted to the inside back wall of the vehicle. This arrangement permits the occupant to selectively move the seat between a reclining position and a non-reclining position without compromising storage space between the front seat and the rear seat. When not in use, the seat bottom may be released and moved to a substantially vertical position against the seat back to increase cargo space. Alternatively, the seat back may be released and moved to a substantially horizontal position against the seat bottom to increase cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kendrick Harper, Anton Crainic, David Hoffman, Jay Erickson
  • Patent number: 7516999
    Abstract: The seat device, disposed on the floor panel in the cabin with the instrument panel, comprises the driver seat, the assistant seat and the rear seat, wherein the assistant seat is foldable and movable forward close to the instrument panel to be located in the stored position where the length of the folded seat is made short, the rear seat is foldable and movable forward to be located in the stored position, and the assistant seat in the stored position and the rear seat in the stored position provide the substantially continuous storage space which is formed by back faces of respective seat backs and of the assistant seat and the rear seat. Thus, both the large space and the roomy cabin for passengers can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Toyota
  • Patent number: 7517008
    Abstract: A seat assembly supports an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion pivotally coupled to the vehicle for movement about a first pivot axis between a generally horizontal seating position and a generally upright stowed position. The first pivot axis being fixed with respect to the vehicle. The seat assembly also includes a seat back pivotally coupled to seat cushion for pivotal movement relative to the seat cushion about a second pivot axis, such that the seat back is displaced rearwardly as the seat cushion is moved toward the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ebel
  • Publication number: 20090058157
    Abstract: A theatre chair having a frame to which there is connected at least a seat component (21) and a backrest component and, providing means on the seat component (21) to co-operate with a seat member (30) and means on the backrest component to co-operate with a backrest member whereby the seat member (21) and backrest member can each be readily attached to the appropriate component to be positively affixed thereto, the members being able to be removed from the appropriate component when required. The connection between the components and the members can be by way of interacting lugs (24), interacting ribs (26) and means (25) whereby the parts are held in compression and tension. Means to rapidly replace the upholstery and means whereby the same components can be used for chairs of different widths are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: CAMATIC PTY LTD.
    Inventors: David John Fisher, Adam William Fisher
  • Patent number: 7478876
    Abstract: This invention relates specifically to a seating system or assembly which utilizes a modularized system of standard sized components. The system reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies storage and shipping and improves assembly efficiencies. The system of modularized components allows flexibility in seating use and design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 7469966
    Abstract: The chair has a seat that folds down about a horizontal axle 24 and which is intended, in particular, to equip halls that receive the public, such as lecture theatres and/or show halls. This chair comprises at least an underframe having an essentially longitudinal axis 14 and to which a backrest 16 may be fixed, and with respect to which a fixed horizontal axle 24 is determined. The seat 20 comprises a first part 32 projecting forwards with respect to the horizontal axle 24, and a second part 30 projecting towards the underframe 12. The underframe 12 contains a gas strut 40, one end 48 of which is fixed to the underframe 12, and the other end 50 of which is fixed to the second part 30 of the seat 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Delagrave S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Vallee
  • Patent number: 7467453
    Abstract: A pivoting seat pew or bench furniture, which utilizes the benefits of theater style seating with the functionality and aesthetic of a traditional pew. This seating assembly provides additional seating capacity over traditional pews offering lower seating costs and lower construction costs. This seating assembly also provides modularized seating components so that the seating assembly can be constructed to any desired length without requiring customized construction or components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 7438354
    Abstract: A three point integrated seatbelt assembly incorporated into a cantilevered stowable seat with an improved dump locking mechanism. The cantilevered stowable seat can be mounted to a vehicle, where space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair or other article adjacent to the stowed seat, which includes a frame attached to the support member, a cantilevered seatbase, and a seatback. The seatback assembly allows for easy storage of the seat and safe transportation of a passenger. The seatback is rotatably associated with the cantilevered seatbase by the improved dump locking mechanism, whereby the improved dump locking mechanism enables the seat to remain in the deployed position when inertial forces are placed on the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Moffa, Daniel L. Cohen, Benjamin N. Huyck, Anthony W. Pumell, Sudha Veerapaneni
  • Publication number: 20080211281
    Abstract: An inertial latch assembly including a planar shaped sector pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced apart support plates. The sector exhibits a bottom including a central projecting shoulder separating first and second bottom surfaces. An arcuate interior channel in the sector is offset from its pivotal mounting location, a pin extending through a second channel defined in a selected support plate and seating within the arcuate channel so that the pin exerts a bias against the sector during travel along the arcuate interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the support plates and proximate the bottom extending surface of the planar shaped sector, an arcuate edge thereof seating against a selected bottom extending surfaces of the rotatable sector, depending upon a pivoted position established between the sector and the support plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Grable, Keith Brantley
  • Publication number: 20080203790
    Abstract: A seat assembly including an assembly frame having at least two seat connection brackets, a seat frame, two or more connectors attached to the seat frame, the two or more connectors removably attached to the two or more seat connection brackets, two or more flexible supports extending across at least a portion of the seat frame, each support including a woven material, and a foam cushion including one or more holes, wherein the seat frame and the two or more flexible supports are molded within the foam cushion, and wherein the one or more connectors extend at least partially within the one or more holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 7404603
    Abstract: Drive for furniture configured for adjusting a first furniture part in relation to a second furniture part the drive includes a pivot shaft, which is pivotally mounted on the first part and with which a pivot drive is operatively associated. The drive includes at least one supporting element which cooperates with the pivot shaft and supports it on a supporting surface provided on the second furniture part, and in such a way that the inclination of the first furniture part can be adjusted in relation to the second part and/or the distance of the first part from the second furniture part can be adjusted. The drive for furniture has a simple construction, is cost-effective to produce, saves a significant amount of space and is particularly suited for adjusting the seat part of a seat, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Deon AG
    Inventor: Eckhart Dewert
  • Patent number: 7401857
    Abstract: A liftable seat in a vehicle includes: a base frame; a seat cushion frame disposed on the base frame and to which a seat cushion is coupled; a seat back frame coupled to the seat cushion frame which is foldable in a forward direction and to which a seat back is coupled; and a lifting member in which the first end is connected to the base frame and the second end of which is coupled to the seat cushion frame, and configured to lift the seat cushion frame upward from an unlifted position to a lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor European Technical Center GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Laux
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080164740
    Abstract: A reclining rear seat for a motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck is provided. The rear seat utilizes a pivoting, four-bar link arrangement between the underside of the seat bottom and the vehicle floor. The seat back is slidably and releasably attached to a striker fitted to the inside back wall of the vehicle. This arrangement permits the occupant to selectively move the seat between a reclining position and a non-reclining position without compromising storage space between the front seat and the rear seat. When not in use, the seat bottom may be released and moved to a substantially vertical position against the seat back to increase cargo space. Alternatively, the seat back may be released and moved to a substantially horizontal position against the seat bottom to increase cargo space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kendrick Harper, Anton Crainic, David Hoffman, Jay Erickson
  • Patent number: 7387333
    Abstract: A collapsing truss that completes a four-bar mechanism of a vehicle seat coupled to a vehicle floor. The vehicle seat includes a seat back coupled to a cushion structure via the collapsing truss which incorporates a pivot and a latch which engages on a pin. The collapsing truss includes a floor bracket coupled to the vehicle floor. A seat back bracket is coupled to the seat back and floor bracket. A cushion bracket is pivotally coupled to the cushion structure, the floor bracket, and the seat back bracket. The joints of the collapsing truss are defined by the seat back pivot, the cushion back/seat back bracket pivot, and the latch engagement pin. The seat back moves about the pivot when the collapsing truss operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kurt A. Seibold
  • Publication number: 20080122279
    Abstract: A seat structure for a vehicle includes front and rear seat bodies each including a seat cushion and a back rest. Each seat cushion has a front part configured to be tipped up about a rear part of the seat cushion. Each back rest has an upper part configured to be tilted backward and forward about a lower part of the back rest. The seat structure also includes first slide rails supporting the front and rear seat bodies in a fore and aft arrangement respectively. The front and rear seat bodies are configured to move backward and forward along the first slide rails. The seat structure further includes a lock member coupled to the front seat body for selectively securing the front seat body relative to the first slide rails. The lock member is movable between a locked position and a released position. The seat structure further includes a push member coupled to the rear seat body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Gilsam Park
  • Patent number: 7377582
    Abstract: A seat apparatus include: a shaft rotated by a motor and operatively associated with the seat so as to move the seat; a first leg secured to the shaft and pivotably supported by the seat; a first spring, one end of which is fixedly attached to the shaft and an other end of which is fixedly attached to the seat; the first spring which biases the shift in a first direction; and a second spring, one end of which is fixedly attached to the shaft and an other end of which is fixedly attached to the seat, the second spring which biases the shaft in a second direction. The first direction opposes to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Fukada, Naoaki Hoshihara, Hiroyuki Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7374242
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly including a stanchion support and a pivotally secured seat supporting bracket. A batwing shape sector is slaved to rotate with the bracket between the bracket and stanchion support. A sector bottom surface is interrupted by a shoulder projection and an arcuate interior channel is offset from a slaved rotating connection of the sector to the bracket. A pin extends through another channel defined in the stanchion and seats within the sector channel to bias the sector during travel along the interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the bracket and stanchion and includes an upper edge configuration proximate a selected location of the bottom surface of the rotatable sector, depending upon a rotatable position established between the first seat component and a second seat component. The pendulum responds to an inertial impact condition by engaging the shoulder projection to prevent rotation of the first seat component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Champ, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20080100112
    Abstract: A folding and reclining seat that can be folded against the back wall of the interior of an extended cab or super cab pick up vehicle is disclosed. The seat may be folded flush into the back wall thereby maximizing usable interior cargo space when not in use. The angle of the back seat can be adjusted by selective fore-and-aft movement of the seat cushion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Hausler, Gary Langner
  • Patent number: 7350867
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is provided with a sliding device including a slide-lock mechanism, the sliding device sliding a seat body in a case of releasing the slide-lock mechanism, a seatback including a reclining device, the seatback being tilted forward in a case of releasing the reclining device, a seat cushion including a tip-up device, the seat cushion being tipped up in a case of operating the tip-up device and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-in mechanism configured to release the slide-lock mechanism, release the reclining device and operate the tip-up device in proportion to a shifting length of the lever. The tip-up device is operated in a case where the lever is shifted in an intermediate position and the slide-lock mechanism and the reclining device are released in a case where the lever is shifted in an end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Gil Sam Park
  • Patent number: 7328929
    Abstract: The vehicle seat comprises a seat back, a seat proper, and a support mounted on a vehicle floor. The seat proper is connected to the support via a front link leg. The seat back is connected to the support via a rear link leg and via an intermediate link leg. A rear portion of the seat proper is mounted to pivot relative to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventor: David Epaud
  • Patent number: 7293838
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle has an upper panel provided integrally with a seat back which can be tilted forward and rearward by operating an operation lever for reclining use. At a first operation position of an operation lever for walk-in use, the operation lever for walk-in use is interlocked with the operation lever for reclining use through a linking arm to tilt the upper panel urged by a spring forward. A projected piece mounted on the upper panel contacts a slide-unlocking lever and operates the slide-unlocking lever to rotate in an unlocking direction. Thereby slide locking of the seat for the vehicle is released. At a second operation position of the operation lever for walk-in use, the slide-unlocking lever is operated directly by a linking plate. Thereby the slide locking of the seat for the vehicle is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sugama, Makoto Esaki, Takashi Mukoujima
  • Publication number: 20070241600
    Abstract: A liftable seat in a vehicle includes: a base frame; a seat cushion frame disposed on the base frame and to which a seat cushion is coupled; a seat back frame coupled to the seat cushion frame which is foldable in a forward direction and to which a seat back is coupled; and a lifting member in which the first end is connected to the base frame and the second end of which is coupled to the seat cushion frame, and configured to lift the seat cushion frame upward from an unlifted position to a lifted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventor: Andre Laux
  • Patent number: 7273254
    Abstract: The invention is intended to improve operability of a seat unit in a process of turning it from an approximately horizontal storage position to a seating position. An upper end of a seatback (SB) in its seating position and a rear end of a seat cushion (SC) are joined together by a string (23), and two helical springs (biasing members) are provided at a forward portion of the seat cushion (SC). The first helical spring (39) exerts an upward biasing force which is smaller than the weight of the seat cushion (SC) against the seat cushion (SC), while the second helical spring (38) exerts an upward biasing force which is larger than the weight of the seat cushion (SC) against the seat cushion (SC). With this arrangement, a rear portion of the seat cushion (SC) is lifted when the seat is turned from the seating position to the storage position, and a small force is needed for lifting the seat cushion (SC) when it is turned in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujita, Kousei Nakano
  • Patent number: 7270375
    Abstract: A disengage mechanism incorporated into a floor-mounted, forwardly pivotal and removable seat including a bottom and a pivotally associated back. The mechanism includes a handle-operated actuating assembly mounted to an underside of the seat bottom. A seat forward tumble mechanism includes a cable securing to the assembly at a first location and a seat disengage mechanism includes a pair of cables securing to the assembly at a second location. The assembly is actuated in a first selected direction to engage the forward tumble mechanism, the assembly being actuated in a second reverse direction to concurrently engage the forward tumble mechanism as well as the seat disengagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis S. Lutzka, Keith Brantley
  • 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: 7267406
    Abstract: A foldable vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back frame having a lower end adapted to be supported relative to a vehicle floor to permit movement of the seat back frame between an upper, deployed position and a lowered, stowed position. A seat cross member is adapted to be supported relative to the vehicle floor in a spaced relation to the seat back frame. A seat suspension member, constructed of a flexible material, has a rear portion connected to the seat back frame and a front portion connected to the cross member. When the seat back frame is moved between the deployed position and the stowed position, the cross member and the suspension member are also moved between a deployed position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Sturt
  • Patent number: 5068352
    Abstract: Liquid crystalline polyesteretherimides are prepared by a transesterification reaction involving terephthalic acid and acylated derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and of certain bisimidodiphenols, or from the free bisimidodiphenol and aryl esters of the acids. In addition to being liquid crystalline, the polyesterethermides are crystalline in the solid state and have relatively high glass transition temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David N. Schissel, Deborah A. Haitko