Disengages Holding Abutment Rearwardly Of Pivot Patents (Class 297/336)
  • Patent number: 11737568
    Abstract: A beam seating assembly has a frame supporting a seating surface. A beam secures to a first support and extends in a longitudinal direction. A channel is located the beam free of the first support. The frame has a lower portion with a connector that is insertable into the channel transverse to the longitudinal direction and the connector, once inserted into the channel, is retained from removal out of the channel in a direction. The connector is insertable into a first portion of the channel and a second portion of the connector rotatable into a second portion of the channel and then slidable away from the first portion such that the first and second portions of the connector are retained within the channel but are slidable in the longitudinal direction until the connector is fixedly secured to the beam. The frame is made in certain aspects from a flat plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 11394243
    Abstract: A detachable seat wireless power transfer and communication system includes: a seat assembly including a seat receiver configured to receive power wirelessly and a seat controller to control the seat receiver; a vehicle assembly spaced apart from the seat assembly at a lower end of the seat assembly; a front hook spaced apart from the seat assembly at a lower end of a front portion of the seat assembly in a length direction to fix a first end of the seat assembly to a vehicle body; a rear latch spaced apart from the seat assembly at a lower end of a rear portion of the seat assembly in the length direction to fix a second end of the seat assembly to the vehicle body; and a front hook switch spaced apart from the vehicle assembly. The vehicle assembly includes a vehicle transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the power to the seat assembly, and a vehicle controller configured to control the vehicle transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Dae Won San Up Co., Ltd., Amosense Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Su Kim, Bo Hyeon Han, Dong Hwi Kim, Won San Na, Jae Myung Hur, Jong Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 11104250
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which is attached to a floor of a vehicle via a rail device and a coupling device with a high level of stiffness so as to minimize deformation of the rail device and the coupling device without substantially increasing the weight and the manufacturing cost of the seat. The vehicle seat is provided with an upper engagement portion secured to a member on a side of an upper rail of the rail device, and a lower engagement portion secured to a member on a side of a lower rail of the rail device and including a part opposing a corresponding part of the upper engagement portion from above defining a prescribed gap therebetween. The coupling device is provided laterally spaced from the rail device, and the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion are provided substantially directly above the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Ikawa, Yasutaka Abe
  • Patent number: 9039048
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a latch that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state, and a lock housing (5) which supports the latch (11) and the securing element (25, 31). The lock housing (5) has an integrated first stop (5a) for the opposite element (B). The stop (5a) has a damping effect when the opposite element (B) rests against the lock housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20150118010
    Abstract: An article of furniture includes a structure having a surface that supports a weight. The surface may be tiltable from a first position in which the surface is flat or substantially horizontal and a second position in which the surface is substantially vertical. At least one leg rotating mechanism may attach at least one leg of the article of furniture to the surface so that the at least one leg is rotatable about a vertical axis when the surface is tilted. In some embodiments, the article may be a table and the surface may be a tabletop. In other embodiments, the article may be a chair and the surface may be a seating surface of a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Marc Krusin, Pavel Ruzicka
  • Patent number: 8950810
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a side plate, a hook, a locking pawl, an anti-rattle cam and a transfer plate. The side plate includes a first and second mounting bushing and a first and second pivot bushing. The hook is pivotably supported on the second pivot bushing, and includes a receiving portion configured to accept a striker. The hook is further configured to rotate between an engaged position and a released position. The locking pawl and anti-rattle cam are pivotably supported on the first pivot bushing and configured to rotate between a locked and an unlocked state. The locking pawl is configured to prevent the hook from rotating toward the released position when in a locked state. The transfer plate is configured to selectively urge the hook to rotate toward a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Seat USA Corp.
    Inventors: John K. Dryburgh, Todd A. Demaray, James E. Willing
  • Patent number: 8950812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a foldable vehicle seat, in particular for utility vehicles, with a backrest and a seat part, wherein the backrest is made foldable and is connected at least to a first cam element and the seat part is made foldable and is connected at least to a second cam element, wherein the two cam elements are arranged at a distance from each other in the width-wise direction of the seat and are arranged so as to be rotatable about a common axle extending in the width-wise direction of the seat, so that the backrest and the seat part are rotatable by at least 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Thomas Haller, Johann Meier, Rudolf Kastner, Franz Schneider
  • Patent number: 8926007
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat support portion that supports a seat cushion rotatably in the front-and-rear direction, a seat back provided with reclining elements that can be folded onto the seat cushion, a stowage recess portion disposed on the vehicle body floor side, a front-side leg portion disposed on the front side of the seat cushion, leg-portion locking elements that lock and unlock the front-side leg portion to and from the vehicle body floor side, a link mechanism connected to the reclining elements and the leg-portion locking elements, and a strap for operating the reclining mechanism and the leg-portion locking elements through the link mechanism, in which the seat back is locked in the folded state in a stowing operation by a pulling operation of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8845026
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat including a first seat portion movable between a use position in which the first seat portion is ready for use and a retracted position in which the first seat portion not in use is located, and a second seat portion movable between a use position in which the second seat portion is ready for use and a retracted position in which the second seat portion not in use is located, an actuator mechanism is configured to cause the second seat portion to start moving toward its retracted position at a time when the first seat portion passes a predetermined intermediate position that is on a way from the use position toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kobayashi, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Kazuhisa Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8840187
    Abstract: A reconfigurable seat assembly (4) that provides a vehicle seat with greater flexibility and adjustability. The seat assembly (4) includes a latch mechanism (10) that enables the seat assembly (4) to be positioned into design, fold, stow or tumble configurations or a combination thereof. The latch mechanism (10) includes a first link member (12), a second link member (20), and a base member (34). The first link member (12) is pivotally coupled to both the seat base (8) and to the second link member (20). The second link member is pivotally coupled to both the first link member (12) and to the base member (34). The base member (34) is fixed to a portion of a vehicle (2) structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Yogesh A. Pawar, Ioan N. Ghergheli
  • Patent number: 8720847
    Abstract: An external articulation mechanism for pivotably holding the backrest of a vehicle seat on the vehicle. A receiving element can be secured to the vehicle and has a support opening and side walls defining an introduction slot that opens into an open side of the support opening. A pivot member securable to the backrest can be inserted into the support opening via the introduction slot. An arresting mechanism on the receiving element extends over the open side of the support opening and is pivotable between release and arresting positions. A support element disposed on the pivot member has an extension that juts into the introduction slot and that on both sides has deformable projections for resiliently engaging recesses of the side walls of the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ferd. von Hagen Sohne & Koch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ingo Reimann
  • Patent number: 8720996
    Abstract: A dual front linkage system for a adjusting a vehicle seat includes a seat sub-frame member, a first linkage member, a second linkage member, and a base member. The first end of the seat sub-frame member is coupled to the second end of the first linkage member and the second end of the seat sub-frame member is coupled to the seat base, the first end of the first linkage member is coupled to the first end of the second linkage member, the second end of the second linkage member is coupled to the first end of the base member, and the second end of the base member is coupled to the vehicle. The linkage system enables the seat base and seat back to be folded forward and downward into a stowed position and allows the seat to be tumbled forward to enhance vehicle ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Nazione, Steven P. Livesey, Munur Omer Dagcioglu
  • Patent number: 8720997
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a latching mechanism for a vehicle seat. An exemplary latching mechanism for allowing selective attachment and detachment of a vehicle seat comprises a latch configured for latching and unlatching the seat, the latch being biased to a latched condition. The latching mechanism also comprises a lock for locking the latch and releasing the latch, the lock having a locked position, a transition position and a release position and configured for movement from the locked position to the release position through the transition position. The latching mechanism further comprises an indicator responsive to the position of the lock and configured to activate indication that the latch is released when the lock is moved through the transition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 8708377
    Abstract: A hook that constitutes a locking device is pushed and rotated in accordance with movement of a striker that moves into a recessed portion of a base plate, and the striker S is sandwiched between the hook and the recessed portion. As the hook rotates, a pole rotates under bias force to a position at which the pole is engaged with the hook, so as to restrict rotation of the hook for returning to the initial position. The hook, when placed in the initial position, is held in a condition in which a corner portion of the hook is pressed under bias force against a stopper face of the pole, such that the hook is inhibited from rotating. The stopper face is curved in the shape of an arc drawn about a first support shaft that supports the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Ishikawa, Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8672385
    Abstract: A seat locking device includes a striker and a catching section. The catching section includes a base plate including a first entrance concave portion, a cover member including a second entrance concave portion, a latch, a lock plate, and a bumper rubber including a substantially isosceles-triangle portion. A lateral surface of a holding concave portion of the latch is inclined such that an opening side of the lateral surface is located closer to a bottom surface of the first entrance concave portion than its counter-opening side. A bottom surface of the holding concave portion is closer to an imaginary center line of the first entrance concave portion than one lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion so that a catching-capable dimension for the striker is set between the bottom surface of the holding concave portion and another lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsumoto, Yuichiro Baba
  • Patent number: 8590970
    Abstract: Disposed is a seat device wherein a first seat cushion (41) of a first seat (16) is sprung up from a seating position to an upright folded position at a location forward of the seating position. The seat device (15) comprises first vertical leg sections (51, 52) at the front of the first seat cushion (41), these vertical leg sections (51, 52) extending vertically downward. First horizontal sections (54, 55) extend horizontally forward from the lower ends of the first vertical leg sections (51, 52), and are rotatably connected to a first slider (48) which is slidably connected to a fixed rail (35). In the seating position of the first seat cushion (41), the lower ends of the first vertical leg sections (51, 52) are supported by the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takakura, Daiga Ito
  • Patent number: 8544956
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seat adjusting mechanism for vehicle comprising a seat cushion frame which has at a lower part thereof a latch assembly being locked or unlocked to a locking pin of a vehicle part, a connecting plate which is fixedly coupled to an end part of the seat cushion frame and a seatback frame which is rotatably coupled to an end part of the connecting plate through a recliner, further comprising a driving link which is rotatably coupled to the connecting plate and is rotated in connection with the seatback frame when the seatback frame is rotated; a pre-latch link which is rotatably coupled to the connecting plate apart from the driving link and which, when the driving link is rotated over a predetermined angle, is rotated together to a predetermined extent in contact with the driving link; and a latch link which is rotatably coupled to the connecting plate with the same rotating axis as the pre-latch link and has an end part coupled to a cable end part for an operation of unlockin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Austem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun Young Park, Heon Pil Lim
  • Patent number: 8544959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising a seat portion and a supporting substructure, wherein an apparatus for removably connecting the seat portion to the substructure is provided, the apparatus comprising at least one lever that can be moved between a position that locks the seat portion to the substructure and a release position, the lever being located at the substructure or seat portion and being provided with a bracket that forms an undercut, said bracket enclosing a pin at the seat portion or at the substructure in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kintec-Solution GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Mackert
  • Patent number: 8511723
    Abstract: A locking device includes a locking mechanism and a striker. The locking mechanism has a base plate, a hook, a pawl, a release lever, a thrust member, a locking spring and a thrust spring. The hook, when rotated, is capable of forming a locked condition in which the striker is held or an unlocked condition. The pawl is rotatably supported via a support shaft as a first shaft and is capable of rotating to a position in which the pawl can engage the hook. The release lever is rotatably supported via a support shaft as a second shaft. The release lever, when applied with a manipulation force for unlocking, is capable of rotating the pawl from the engageable position in a non-engaging direction. The thrust member is rotatably supported via the support shaft and is capable of further pressing the hook in the locked condition toward a locking direction. Further, the support shaft is positioned beyond the support shaft as viewed from an input point of the manipulation force to the release lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiyo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8496294
    Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor includes a support mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. A rear end of the seat cushion is released from the support mechanism to pivot the seat cushion from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from an upright seating position to a forwardly folded position. The support mechanism is released from the floor and a stand-up link pivotally coupled between the floor and the support mechanism moves the seat cushion from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position and simultaneously urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation defining a stand-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, Douglas A. Dingel, Brian Adwell
  • Patent number: 8480051
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) is provided with a base (3), which is connected to a vehicle structure (7). The vehicle seat (1) is adjustable at least between a use position and an easy-entry position. The vehicle seat (1) is guided displaceably in at least one track (5) with at least one first, straight area (15a) and at least one additional, curved area (15c). At least three rollers (17, 23, 23?) or link blocks are provided each per track (5). The three rollers (17, 23, 23?) support the vehicle seat (1) in the use position in the same at the track (5) and only two of the rollers (17, 23) or link blocks are arranged within the same track (5) in the easy-entry position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Mühlberger, Birger Hahn
  • Patent number: 8408648
    Abstract: A fold and tumble mechanism may be used with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back that is pivotable with respect to the seat bottom, and a latch associated the seat bottom for coupling the seat to a vehicle body. The fold and tumble mechanism may include a recliner mechanism adapted to pivotally mount the seat back to the seat bottom, a recliner release lever, and a fold and tumble release lever. The recliner release lever is associated with the recliner mechanism and is movable to selectively release the recliner mechanism to allow the seat back to pivot. The fold and tumble release lever includes a cam that is engageable with the recliner release lever. Furthermore, the fold and tumble release lever is operable to move the recliner release lever to release the recliner mechanism, and is further operable to unlatch the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Champ
  • Patent number: 8336961
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending between front and rear ends. The front end is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor for pivoting the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneeling position. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the rear end of the seat cushion and is adapted to be releasably secured to the floor. A drive link is pivotally coupled between the floor and the seat back. The drive link urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion as the seat cushion pivots between the seating and kneeling positions thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Peter Paul Zeimis, III, Robert J. Szybisty, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Nelson E. Hurst, III
  • Patent number: 8333530
    Abstract: A latch assembly 5 includes a base plate 10 having a striker groove 11, a latch 12 provided in the base plate 10 and having a striker engaging groove 16, and a ratchet 20 for regulating rotation of the latch 12 in unlatch direction. A looseness eliminating lever 30 is attached to the latch 12 by means of a pin 31 moving around a latch shaft 13, one end of the looseness eliminating lever 30 is provided with a latch holding face 34 and an unlatch face 33 to contact with a post 32 provided at a specified position, the other end of the lever 30 is provided with a spring 14 for biasing the guide face 34 or the sliding face 33 to be always in contact with the post 32, and an apex 35 as a dead center is formed between the guide face 34 and the sliding face 33. The guide face 34 is formed in an arc-shaped inclined surface so as to be remoter from the pin 31 from a start end to a terminal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Misao Omori
  • Patent number: 8282141
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle seat is provided which includes a base plate, a latch coupled to the base plate to rotate between locking position and open position, and a pawl and a pawl plate being coaxial on the base plate and coupled to overlap and interact therebetween, wherein the latch includes a locking surface, the pawl plate includes a pressing surface pressing the locking surface when the latch is at the locking position and a first supporting surface supporting the locking surface when the latch receives impact, and the pawl includes a second supporting surface supporting the locking surface together with the pawl plate when the latch receives the impact. Thus, the latch assembly has an improved configuration enabling a convenient handling and smoothly operating although there is a coupling condition error, and stably maintaining a coupling state in spite of external impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Austem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sung Paing, Jun Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 8251450
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion. A front leg is pivotally coupled between the cushion and a floor for providing pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneel position. A front link is pivotally coupled to the cushion and includes a hook for selectively engaging a striker mounted to the floor. A seat back bracket includes an upper portion operatively coupled to the seat back allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between upright and folded positions, and a lower portion releasably coupled to the floor. The hook is engaged with the striker in the seating position to secure the seat assembly to the floor and released from the striker in response to moving the seat cushion to the kneel position to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between the kneel position and a tumble position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Carroll, Peter Paul Zeimis, III, Matthew J. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8186753
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seat for the vehicle, a seat moving mechanism moving the seat between a seating position and a stowed position, a plurality of engagement members provided at a vehicle floor, a plurality of locking members provided at the seat to face the plurality of engagement members respectively and engaging with the plurality of engagement members to lock the seat at the seating position, and an engagement position adjusting mechanism adjusting a position of at least one of the engagement member and the locking member that face each other in an engaging movement locus direction where the locking member moves to engage with the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Fujisawa, Hiroyuki Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8182015
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a removable rear seat assembly for use in a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle floor. A seat frame is mounted to the vehicle floor. A release mechanism is provided operatively connecting the seat frame to the vehicle floor as to prevent movement of the seat frame. A release handle is mounted to a rear of the seat frame and is connected to the release mechanism for purposes of activating the release mechanism. The release handle may also be used as a carrying handle allowing for increased maneuverability of the seat frame after removal. The seat frame is removable from the passenger compartment upon a downward pulling and upward rotation of the release handle. This specific movement requirement prevents the inadvertent release of the seat frame from the vehicle floor. The release handle is prevented from an immediate rotation upwards preventing a vehicle occupant from activating the release mechanism by kicking or lifting the release handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rupert Muck, John Fredrik Runske
  • Patent number: 8128135
    Abstract: A lock device for a vehicle includes a base plate provided with an entrance/retracting groove for receiving or retracting a striker and a latch pivotally supported on the base plate by a latch axis. The latch includes a lock groove engaging with or disengaging from the striker entering the entrance/retracting groove and rotatable between a lock release position allowing the striker entering into the entrance/retracting groove and a lock position for holding the striker in the entrance/retracting groove by the movement of the striker. A first biasing member is provided for biasing the latch in the rotational direction to the release position to bias the pawl in a rotational direction towards the release preventing position and a second biasing member is provided for biasing the rotation plate in a rotational direction towards the release position of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Maeta, Kouji Kondoh, Takuya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8109565
    Abstract: An automotive seat has a seat back and a seat bottom that are movable between a seating configuration and a work desk configuration. When moving from the seating configuration to the work desk configuration, the seat bottom pivots forwardly into a generally vertical orientation and the seat back pivots downwardly into a generally horizontal orientation. The seat bottom supports an end of the seat back when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. The back surface of the seat back faces upwardly to provide a work surface when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. Sufficient space is provided beneath the seat back when in the work desk configuration to accommodate a person's legs underneath the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Bright Automotive, Inc., Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John E. Waters, Daniel A. Friedman, David B. Busch, Rollin Nothwehr, Jonathan Peter Cansfield, Emery Jay Zadina
  • Patent number: 8038206
    Abstract: An operating lever is provided at one of a front face, an upper face, and a back face of a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back. The operating lever may include a first lever having a first end and a second end, and a second lever having a first end and a second end. The second end of the first lever and the first end of the second lever may be pivotably connected to each other, and the first end of the first lever may be pivotably connected to the seat such that the first lever is configured to change an attitude of the seat. In addition, the second end of the second lever may be formed as an operating portion, and when the operating portion is operated in a direction away from the seat, the first lever and the second lever pivot may away from the seat and the attitude of the seat is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Yoshihiro Ooishi, Tomohiro Muramatsu, Robert Day, Osamu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8016354
    Abstract: A seat assembly has a seat cushion that is pivotally mountable to a vehicle floor. The seat cushion is selectively movable between an operative condition and a standup condition. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion and is selectively movably angularly relative to the seat cushion. A pair of hinges pivotally receives the seat back and is linked to the seat cushion, whereby movement of the seat cushion from the operative condition to the standup condition rotates the pair of hinges, generally aligning the seat cushion and the seat back when the seat cushion is tumbled forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Selvakumaresan Veluswamy, Xiao Jun Wei, John Scholl, William John Gregory, Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 7997653
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back that is moveable between a first vertical position and a second vertical position forward and upward of the first vertical position. The vehicle seat assembly has a track assembly providing fore and aft adjustment. The vehicle seat assembly further includes at least one pivot assembly operatively coupled to the track assembly and pivotally mounted to a floor of a motor vehicle. The pivot assembly pivots the vehicle seat assembly between the seating position and a stand-up position. A stand-up link slidingly couples the pivot assembly and the seat back. A link lock locks to present a solid link between the pivot assembly and the seat back. The solid link guides the seat back between the first vertical position and the second vertical position as the vehicle seat assembly moves between the seating position and the stand-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Szybisty, Xiao Jun Wei, Ephraim Mark DeDios Lapingcao, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Selvakumaresan Veluswamy
  • Patent number: 7926858
    Abstract: A lock device that includes a lock mechanism provided on one of two members to be engaged with each other, and a striker provided on the other of the two members. The lock mechanism may include a first contact point in which a pawl contacts a hook in the unlocked condition by an elastic force of a lock spring and a second contact point in which a cam contacts the hook in the unlocked condition by an elastic force of a push spring. The hook, the pawl and the cam are arranged and constructed such that these contact points are separately set at different positions. Further, the second contact point is in a certain position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiyou Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7914077
    Abstract: A seat assembly that is releasably secured to a floor, wherein the seat assembly is released from the floor by simply lifting the handle is provided. The seat assembly includes a latch assembly which releasably engages a platform such as a vehicle floor. The handle is configured to bear the load of the seat, and is also operable to actuate the latch so as to release the seat from the floor by simply lifting the seat by the handle. Thus only one motion is used to remove the seat from the floor. Further the operation of releasing the seat from the floor is inherent as it requires the user to merely lift the seat by the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robbie Michael Linkner, Robert Joseph Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 7891720
    Abstract: A double folding seat for a vehicle may include a stationary bracket, coupled to the seatback frame and to the cushion frame, wherein the recliner bracket is coupled to the one end of the stationary bracket, a link unit elastically installed on the stationary bracket and configured to be selectively coupled to the recliner bracket and transmit a rotating force of the recliner bracket to a latch cam installed to the cushion frame, a stopper fixedly installed on the leg assembly which is connected to a vehicle body, a hinge member rotatably mounted on the cushion frame and rotated by the stopper, and an actuating wire connecting the hinge member and the link unit and displacing the link unit by a rotation force of the hinge member to a position where the link unit cooperates with the recliner bracket when the cushion frame moves backwards to the final position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Chan Ho Jeong, Young Dong Kim, Sung Hak Hong
  • 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: 7758122
    Abstract: A device for locking and/or unlocking a component (e.g., in or on a vehicle, etc.) in relation to a mating element is provided. The device comprises a locking element and a blocking element. The locking element is configured to be set into a locking position and into an unlocking position. The blocking element is configured to be set into a blocking position and into an actuating position. The setting of the blocking position brings about the setting of the locking position and the setting of the actuating position favors the adoption of the unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Haida, Kirubaharan Reginold Albert
  • Patent number: 7758123
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a frame part, which is lockable in its rear region on a rear foot or on the chassis side and is pivoted in a front hinge in a swiveling manner; a seat back pivoted in a seat back pivot on the frame part in a foldable manner; and a seat part for accommodating a user, which is adjustable downward into a lowered position when the seat back is folded forward. The seat part may be interlocked with the frame part in its lowered position, whereby the front lock of the frame part is released. Three positions may be set: a use position for accommodating a user, a functional position, in which the seat back is folded forward, and a storage position, which is adjustable from the functional position by releasing the rear lock of the frame part, interlocking the frame part with the seat part and folding forward about a front rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Picker, Mareike Krahn-Lau, Klaus-Dieter Habedank
  • 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: 7735911
    Abstract: A collapsible high chair for children comprises a frame, a seat portion, a backrest and an adjusting mechanism, all of which are sequentially connected with. The adjusting mechanism further comprises a pivotal member and a first engaging unit for connecting the seat portion with the frame at a first portion and a second portion of the pivotal member. Two actuating pieces of the first engaging unit respectively cooperate with two rods and make the rods be removed from the pivotal member at the first portion so as to allow the seat portion being pivotally rotated about the second portion. Also, the backrest can be rotated relative to the seat portion, so that the volume of the collapsed high chair is very small. Besides, the seat portion includes at least a movable piece with a bump for be engaged into the slits with different height at the arm of the seat portion to adjust the tray in height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Min Chen
  • Publication number: 20100141004
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending between front and rear ends. The front end is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor for pivoting the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneeling position. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the rear end of the seat cushion and is adapted to be releasably secured to the floor. A drive link is pivotally coupled between the floor and the seat back. The drive link urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion as the seat cushion pivots between the seating and kneeling positions thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Paul, III Zeimis, Robert J. Szybisty, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Nelson E. III Hurst
  • Patent number: 7717488
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of a vehicle is basically provided with a seat cushion, an annular frame, a hook or striking member and a vehicle body engagement element. The seat cushion is disposed within the vehicle. The annular frame disposed within the seat cushion. The striking member is attached to the annular frame to attach the vehicle seat to the vehicle body. The vehicle body engagement element is attached to the annular frame so as to serve as a load transferring point at which the vehicle body engagement element transfers a bending load of the annular frame to the vehicle body as the vehicle seat is being initially lifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Takahana
  • Patent number: 7651166
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a central structure, a seat cushion (219) which is carried by the central structure and has a seat cushion structure (218) and padding (220) at least partially resting on the seat cushion structure (218), and a backrest which can be pivoted relative to the central structure and/or to the seat cushion (219), the vehicle seat being transferable from a use position, in which it can be sat in, into a flat lowered position by pivoting of the backrest and lowering of the seat cushion (219), the padding (220) partially rests on a seat cushion support (241) which can be moved relative to the seat cushion structure (218) in order to transfer the vehicle seat into the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Schwingenschlögel, Markus Petry
  • Patent number: 7631938
    Abstract: An energy storage mechanism for folding seats for vehicles and the like includes an energy-storing component such as a spring that assists in moving the seat or other component. The mechanism provides for relatively small user input forces and distances, yet provides a relatively large force acting over a relatively large distance as an output of the mechanism. The mechanism may be configured to provide for a single user input/release, without requiring powered actuators or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Grand Rapids Controls Company, LLC
    Inventor: Mark G. Tomandl
  • Patent number: 7631907
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a locking device for vehicle free from the occurrence of rattle at the portion where the striker is locked. When a lock plate 5 and a latch plate 4 are brought into a locked state and a latch-side recessed portion 4d of the latch plate 4 is engaged with a striker 20, a plate pressing cam 7 rotates clockwise by a restoring force by a coil spring 12, so that its depressing-side cam portion 7e depresses a tip end 6c of a rattle-removing plate 6. A rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d of the rattle-removing plate 6 engages with the peripheral surface of the striker 20, to suppress the rattle of the striker 20. Since the rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d is formed into the shape that matches the peripheral surface of the striker 20, occurrence of rattle can be strictly suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yusuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20090243357
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes: a seat cushion frame, adapted to be mounted to a vehicle floor side to rotate around a front end portion relative to a vehicle floor and selectively operated to be in a raised state or in a used state relative to the vehicle floor; a seat back frame, adapted to be coupled at the vehicle floor side to rotate relative to the vehicle floor and operated to be in a stored state; a locking mechanism, provided between the seat cushion frame being in a used state and the vehicle floor and operated to lock the seat cushion frame; and an operating lever, rotatably provided at one side of the seat cushion frame and made from a rigid body unlocking the locking mechanism and rotating the seat cushion frame in a direction in which the seat cushion frame is raised in a single.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi MORI, Kouji Miyake
  • Patent number: 7588282
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom. The seat back and seat bottom are carried by bracketry. The seat back is foldable relative to the seat bottom. As the seat back folds toward the seat bottom, the seat bottom moves away from a rear of the bracketry. Once folded, the seat back, seat bottom and bracketry may tumble toward a front of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: David Kolena, Daniel Kirk, Artur W. Dlugosz, Brian D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7575280
    Abstract: A latch mechanism and a vehicle seat having a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a mounting plate, a latch, a pawl, and a cam. The latch, pawl, and cam are rotatably disposed on the mounting plate. The pawl engages the latch before the cam engages the latch to inhibit rotation of the latch. The pawl and cam disengage from the latch to permit the latch to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michele Palomba, Chad Balk, Matthew Kipf, James C. Dalian
  • Patent number: RE41964
    Abstract: A latch system for providing adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat bottom includes a seat-back latch mechanism interconnecting the seat back and the seat bottom for movement of the seat back between a use position and a folded position and a floor-latch mechanism selectively connecting the seat bottom to the base for movement of the seat bottom between a deployed position and a stowed position. An interlock mechanism interacts with the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism to selectively block operation of the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacob Paul Hellrung, Christopher James Ryan