Vertically Patents (Class 297/338)
  • Publication number: 20100242168
    Abstract: A raiser seat for assisting a person from a sitting to a standing position is described. The seat comprises: a seat frame (4); a seat (10) supported for movement relative to the seat frame between a lowered position and a raised position; and a movement mechanism for moving the seat between the lowered and the raised positions. The movement mechanism comprises at least one cam (104) and the seat rests on the at least one cam such that rotation of the at least one cam results in movement of the seat relative to the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Corcost Limited
    Inventor: Steven Phillip Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20100244523
    Abstract: A chair includes a chair leg, a backrest, a seat and a support member. The chair leg includes a stem that has a connecting end at a top thereof. The seat is integrally formed and has a seat frame, two reinforcement beams and a support member disposed between the reinforcement beams. The support member includes a plurality of ribs, and an axle connecting portion and an adjusting portion surrounded by the ribs. The axle connecting portion has an axle hole to couple with the connecting end. The support member has a support portion below the axle connecting portion. The adjusting portion includes a fixation hole. A bottom of the support member includes an axle mounting flange. One end of a support beam connects with the backrest and the other end of the support beam pivotally connects with the axle mounting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Min-Chun Ho
  • Patent number: 7784871
    Abstract: An occupational support chair system and method that provides frontal support to a user. The support chair system includes a lower support frame composed of a dual section hydraulic frame and an upper support frame. The upper support frame can be configured as a spinal column associated with a number of individual locking segments. The upper support frame further includes a breast support and a removable chin support in order to provide frontal support to the user. An adjustable swivel seat can be attached to the upper support frame to relieve stress and fatigue stemming from prolonged periods of standing. The support chair system further includes a stabilizing base segment, which comprises retractable wheels and a housing for batteries, electrical and computer components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Dennis Cochran
  • Patent number: 7758007
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle seating and operating unit fastened to a support (1) comprises a rotatably supported base plate (2), by means of which the seating and operating unit is supported rotatably about a vertical axis of rotation. The bearing arrangement comprises two cylindrical sleeves, which are disposed one coaxially in the other, a first inner sleeve (19) that is rigidly connected to the commercial vehicle and a second outer sleeve (21) that is rigidly connected to the seating and operating unit, the inner sleeve (19) forming a passage for the penetration of cables, pipes or hosepipes that connect the seating and operating unit to a unit of the vehicle. The bearing arrangement has a limiting device, which limits the rotation of the seating and operating unit about the vertical axis to a preset maximum angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Dipl.-Ing. agr. Andreas Reichhardt
    Inventor: Alfred Link
  • Publication number: 20100117427
    Abstract: A chair includes: a seat body (7) an upper surface of which is a seat surface for a user to be seated thereon; a frame (8) supporting the seat body (7) in a manner to permit the seat body (7) to move between a center position and swing positions to which the seat body (7) is swung from the center position; and a driving portion for forcibly moving the seat body (7). The height of the seat surface determined when the seat body (7) is at the center position is lower than the height of the seat surface determined when the seat body is at the swing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Fukuyama, Tomohisa Shirakawa, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7703850
    Abstract: A retrofit height adjustable seat for a chair having a support frame includes a base for connection to the support frame, a seat movably connected to the base by a displacement mechanism, a bracket connected to the base and an elastic member removably connected to the bracket and for interconnecting the seat to the support frame, thereby positionably securing the seat to the support frame. A collapsing seat back with pivoting arms is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Dale A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20100060060
    Abstract: A safety seat for vehicles, including a seat portion having a tubular frame for a textile sitting surface. The seat portion is secured to a strap framework secured to a vehicle via two vertical support straps. A shoulder harness secures an occupant and has two strap portions in the vicinity of the occupant's back, each strap portion extending vertically between a releasable securement on a vehicle roof and a rear end of the seat portion. The two strap portions are deflected at the rear end and are then guided in a crossed manner beneath the sitting surface of the seat portion to securements disposed near the front edge of the seat portion. The shoulder harness has two shoulder straps held on the strap portions and extending to releasable securements near the front edge of the seat portion. The shoulder straps have a releasable cross connection for their interconnection over an applicant's chest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 7665157
    Abstract: A child's toilet training chair includes a seat supporting structure and an adjustable seat that can be positioned at an acute angle relative to the horizontal. The front section of the seat is pivotally attached to a front portion of the supporting structure and the rear portion of the seat is provided with at least one engagement member that releasably mates with one of a plurality of vertically-spaced receiving elements in the chair back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Diana Dorfman Deutsch
  • Patent number: 7614639
    Abstract: A modular standing frame is described herein. The modular standing frame has a chair module adapted to raise and lower a user between sitting and standing postures without inducing shear between the user and the seat and seat back of the chair module. The chair module may be selectively coupled to one of a glider module adapted to provide walking-type exercise to a standing user, a workstation module that provides a work surface for a sitting or standing user, and a mobility module that allows the standing frame to be moved about by a user much like a wheel chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Alan L. Tholkes, Wesley Ovre, Gabriel Routh, Jeffrey Schmidt, Michael Lokken, Duffy Trotter, Tamera Trotter, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7594698
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved seat to be attached to standard wheelchairs and scooters with or without the original seat thereon. It further may be used as a standalone seat in regular chairs where additional assistance is needed to elevate and/or tilt the seat. In the preferred embodiment, a portable inflatable seat is positioned to the two seat rail tubes with brackets. Upon the top of a lower frame is stack mounted a plurality of box-like inflatable seat bags. An air pump unit with battery is removably attached to the back of the wheelchair. A control unit is also removably to the wheelchair and a control box is attached to the armrest and to the control unit. When turned on, the air pump unit will inflate the seat bags. The user will be elevated to a height of about 6 inches or so. As an additional feature, a tilt seat bag is attached to the top of the highest inflatable seat bag. Its inflation will cause the seat to tilt forward allowing the user to more easily dismount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Inventor: Marge Palmer
  • Publication number: 20090085390
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus of a seat for a vehicle includes a first frame adapted to be supported by a member provided on a vehicle floor and adapted to support a seat cushion, a second frame rotatably supported by the first frame and vertically rotatably supporting the seat cushion, a link member rotatably supported by the first frame and linked to the second frame for rotatably moving the second frame relative to the first frame, and a rotational member rotatably supported by the first frame and including an eccentric shaft portion, wherein the eccentric shaft portion has a first rotational portion including a first rotational center about which the second frame rotates relative to the first frame and a second rotational portion including a second rotational center about which the rotational member rotates relative to the first frame and which is eccentrically provided relative to the first rotational center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka KOGA, Hirokazu SUZUMURA, Eiichiro TSUJI
  • Publication number: 20090058151
    Abstract: A device (1) for supporting a human body comprising at least one support element (10) defining a cross-sectional area (50) and at least one longitudinal bar (13), whereby the support element (10) is positionable in height and depth. A support bar (11) for each of the at least one support elements (10) is directly connected to the at least one longitudinal bar (13). The support bar (11) extends at least partly along a first longitudinal axis (12) of the at least one support element (10) through the at least one support element (10). The support bar (11) is eccentrically arranged in the cross-sectional area (50) of the at least one support element (10). The invention furthermore discloses an application of the device (1) for supporting a human body in a working system (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Stefan Zoell
  • Publication number: 20090058158
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly including a 2 in 1 activating lever that has two operating positions, a forward position and a rearward position. The 2 in 1 activating lever is operatingly coupled to a bracket including a first and second cam that are operatingly coupled to an inner and outer rotating shaft. In the forward position, the movement of the 2 in 1 activating lever upward or downward causes the first cam and inner rotating shaft to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. In the rearward position, the movement of the 2 in 1 activating lever upward or downward causes the second cam and outer rotating shaft to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The adjustment assembly may be utilized on an automotive seat assembly to control both the seat height and seat inclination angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Publication number: 20090050162
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an operating support that supports a surgeon in a sitting position straddling a patient. By straddling the patient, the surgeon is ideally positioned to perform certain types of laparoscopic surgery, such as pelvic surgery, which requires the use of relatively long surgical instruments. The operating support supports the surgeon in a more ergonomically correct position that reduces the stress and strain on the surgeon's body as compared to the conventional technique of performing laparoscopic surgery in a standing position at one side of the operating table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Craig Turner, John Economaki
  • Publication number: 20090055216
    Abstract: In a bed (home care equipment) 1, based on the switch operation, respective drive units of a head unit 12, a leg unit 13, and a height adjustment unit 14 are actuated by motor units 15a to 15c and actuator units 16a to 16c. The actuation state of the respective drive units are detected by the sensor units 17a to 17c, and a respective-unit-operation control means 21 figures out the actuation state of the drive units based on a detection signal, and stores the performance history of the drive units in the operation history storage unit 22 as operation history information. The operation history information in the operation history storage unit 22 is transmitted to a host computer 4 by a communication unit 7. The host computer 4 processes the received operation history information to data which can be displayed by the animation display, graph display, and accumulated time period display, and transmits thus processed data to a computer 5 etc. which is connected to the host computer 4 through the Internet line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Mitsunori Inaba, Kuniaki Kawagoe, Yuichi Nagase, Hiroshi Nagaoka, Masato Shimokawa, Rika Matsumiya
  • Publication number: 20090026791
    Abstract: A seat may be obtained with good operability of plural operating members for operating plural adjustable units. A vehicle seat 10 is provided with: a seat lifter 22, provided to a seat body for sitting on and adjustable by operation force transmitted from a first operating system; a reclining mechanism 20, provided to the seat body and adjustable by operation force transmitted from a second operating system; and an operation force imparting unit 28 that is provided at a position where it is able to be operated by a seat occupant at a predetermined position on the seat body. The operation force imparting unit 28 is able to independently take up a first state in which a lifter knob 32 is operated and the seat lifter 22 adjusted, and a second state in which the reclining lever 30 is operated and the reclining mechanism 20 adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Takahiro Ishijima, Katsuya Ueda
  • Publication number: 20080303327
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a lift structure for adjusting the position of the seat employs a load transfer link (9) to transfer the loads applied to the seat from a lift link (3) and an upper support (2) to a pivot bracket (7), which is typically coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The load transfer link is coupled to the pivot bracket on one end and to the lift link on the opposite end, in order to transfer the load. The lift structure permits movement of a restraint seatbelt with the height adjustment of the vehicle seat, thus reducing the potential for discomfort of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Ganesh T. Ramaseshadri, William S. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20080290711
    Abstract: A toileting chair has a flexible seat support and a removable seat. The removable seat is positioned on a seat support platform. At least one of the seat support platform and the flexible seat support is vertically movable with respect to the others so as to permit the insertion and removal of the seat. The flexible seat support is independent of the drive means so as to provide a comfortable suspended support on which a person may be seated during the reconfiguration of the chair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: TORONTO REHABILITATION INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Geoffrey Roy Fernie, Gerald Thomas Griggs, Adam Mathew Sobchak
  • Publication number: 20080224521
    Abstract: A portable chair for use by an obstetrics practitioner during delivery of a baby, comprising a seat for receiving the posterior of the practitioner, a height adjustment means for varying the height of the seat above a floor surface (such as in a delivery room or home environment), and a base unit configured to allow translation of the chair in a plurality of directions across the floor surface. The height adjustment means is adapted for lowering the height of the seat to a first 0 level at which the posterior of the practitioner is maintained substantially at the level of the base unit, thereby allowing the practitioner to facilitate delivery when the mother gives birth in a standing or upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: Kathleen Topping
  • Publication number: 20080217979
    Abstract: A seat (1, 41, 61) for stadia, auditoria and the like is disclosed. The seat has a fixed backrest (2, 42) pivotable between a horizontal use position and a vertical standby position. A spring (33) or other resilient means urges the seat (5, 45) into the standby position. A damping mechanism such as a viscous grease damps the motion, preferably in both directions. Mounting straps (51, 52, 71, 72) enable a body (45) to be clamped to a spine (7, 47). By lightly tightening the straps, the position of the seat on the spine can be subject to small final adjustments before final tightening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: The Product People Pty Limited
    Inventor: Sheldon King
  • Publication number: 20080136238
    Abstract: A chair comprises a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair and support means for supporting the seat portion. The seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions on the support means, and includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the support means at each height position, by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Anthony Hill Designs Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Edwin Hill, Kenneth Paul Poberezny, Bruce Renfrew
  • Patent number: 7377589
    Abstract: An automotive bucket seat with a frame, a back cushion mounted on the frame, a bottom cushion removably mounted on the frame, and a set of interchangeable bottom cushions in a range of lengths that are alternately mountable on the frame. A tool-less releasable attachment mechanism provides fast but secure interchange of cushions. This provides a bucket seat that properly fits users of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Irving W. Glater
  • Patent number: 7338125
    Abstract: The rehabilitative and recreational armchair constructed of a framework made of tubes, bars and/or other elements, such as flat bars and angle bars, wherein the arms, the backrest and the seat are mounted. The seat is mounted only to the top of the spring whose lower end is fixed to the framework, while the mounting of the backrest to the framework allows for swinging motions. According to special mode of invention at least one head, preferably two heads, made of two extreme vertical connecting elements, connected to each other with two rollers all of these making up a framework. The framework is connected in a swinging manner to the main framework of the backrest, with the connecting rollers, serving as the upper and the lower side of the said framework, being equipped with swivel massage rolls which have an even surface and/or a rack-like shaped one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Stanislaw Grabowski
  • Publication number: 20070295882
    Abstract: A scissor suspension includes a first arm having a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured for pivotal attachment to a structure and a first bearing may be pivotally connected proximate to the second end of the first arm. A second arm having a first end and a second end may be pivotally connected to the first arm between the first and second ends of the first and second arms. The first bearing may be moveably coupled to the first rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Catton
  • Patent number: 7278686
    Abstract: A height adjusting device, wherein a pinion gear (8) rotated by an operating knob (7) for adjusting the height of the entire vehicle seat and a sector gear (9) are covered by a gear cover (12) and fixedly fitted to the inside of a seat side frame section (2), and a rotating shaft (7a) of the operating knob (7) and a supporting pin (9a) of the sector gear (9) are held by both the seat side frame section (2) and the gear cover (12) at their opposite ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7273255
    Abstract: A patient chair is provided that includes a chassis with a frame, a seating device intended for a patient and connected to the chassis, and a driving device for moving the seating device relative to the frame in the vertical direction between a lower position and an upper position, wherein in the upper position the seating device and, thus, a patient sitting in it are inclined backwards relative to the lower position. In one implementation, a stand belonging to the chassis extends upwards from the frame, and an element connected to the stand is continuously arched. Means cooperating with each other and positioned on the stand and the seating device are arranged for guiding the seating device along the element in the movement of the seating device between the lower and upper positions, so that the seating device is continuously gradually tilted in the course of its curved movement in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Arjo Hospital Equipment AB
    Inventors: Pär Nylander, Per Ekelin, Bo Persson
  • Patent number: 7198329
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair has an upper portion that moves relative to a lower portion. Push-off arm rests are provided so that a person need not leave the chair to adjust the seat height upwardly. A seated person can transfer their body weight to the push-off arm rests supported directly by the stationary lower portion while the seat is being adjusted upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: John E. Larson
  • Patent number: 7147277
    Abstract: A chair. The chair folds by a plurality of hinges between an expanded position and a collapsed position to seat a person substantially horizontal while the chair is positioned on an angled surface. The chair comprises a back assembly, a seat assembly, a leg assembly, a seat, an arm assembly, and a foot assembly. The chair further comprises at least one anchor that is configured to penetrate the angled surface in order to stabilize the chair on the angled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Greg Miller
  • Patent number: 7063386
    Abstract: A tilting seat bottom assembly for a passenger seat includes: a seat pan assembly for supporting a passenger and a pivot assembly for being attached to the seat frame. The seat pan assembly is mounted for pivotal motion about at least two axes relative to the seat frame, and can be locked in a selected orientation by the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Brian Dowty, James R. Yurchenco
  • Patent number: 7021713
    Abstract: A seat elevating mechanism for chair particularly designed for old men and patients having weak legs mainly includes a seat that can be elevated or lowered using a power-actuated telescopic lifter. The seat is maintained in a horizontal position while being elevated or lowered, so that a user may stably sit thereon until the seat is fully elevated or lowered to enable the user to get up or sit down effortlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Dynamic Healthtech Inc
    Inventors: Chin-Chin Kao, Yu-Yao Lin
  • Patent number: 6991292
    Abstract: A seat is pivotally connected to a frame of a wheelchair and is connected by one or more resilient supports. Each support includes a housing attached to either the seat or the frame and a bracket arrangement attached to the other of those wheelchair components. A spring biases the bracket arrangement with respect to the housing and an adjuster enables the force of the spring to be varied to alter resiliency of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Adaptive Engineering Lab, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon-Michael Kasten
  • Patent number: 6971718
    Abstract: A child safety seat is disclosed which is incorporated into the squab of a vehicle seat in which part of the squab can be moved to an elevated position. The child safety seat incorporates at least one latch to maintain two components of the seat in a predetermined relative position. One of those components carries the latch and the other component carries a latch pin configured to co-operate with the latch. The latch defines a channel between two side walls, the side walls being provided with recesses. The channel contains a pivotally-mounted latch element which defines a recess. The latch element is movable pivotally between a first position in which the recess therein defines a mount accessible by the latch pin to enable the latch pin to be inserted into the recess in the latch element and being movable to a retaining position in which the latch pin, retained in the recess in the latch element, is retained in the recesses formed in the side walls of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Lennart Haglund
  • Patent number: 6945606
    Abstract: A chair with at least one foot, a support profile, on which a seat and optionally a backrest is arranged, whereby the seat is continuously adjustable for height on the support profile. The seat is thus securely locked at a desired height by a height lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Pius Ponticelli
  • Patent number: 6926365
    Abstract: A mechanic's body support including first and second horizontally-oriented and spaced-apart base rails and first and second spaced-apart support rails. Each of the support rails has one end connected to a respective one of the first and second base rails. Each support rail also extends upwardly from and is in vertical alignment with the base rails for supporting a mechanic as he kneels in an elevated position over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. A chest pad and a knee pad are mounted in spaced-apart relation between the support rails for securing the support rails in a fixed, spaced-apart relation, and for supporting the chest and knees of the mechanic while in the kneeling position, thus allowing the skeletal structure of the body to support the weight, rather than the back and leg muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Auto Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Bottoms
  • Patent number: 6902178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wheelchair for transporting a patient. The wheelchair comprises a support frame having a front, a rear, and opposing sides with the front and rear facing in respective forward and aft directions and the opposing sides facing in opposing lateral directions. The wheelchair further comprises at least two main wheels mounted on the support frame and a seat base disposed upon the support frame between the main wheels. The seat base is configured for selectively raising and lowering the patient between a first level and a second level with the aid of at least one security beam disposed adjacent one of the main wheels. The security beam may have a substantially vertical orientation and may be configured as a hand hold for steadying the patient when transferring onto and off of the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: O-Matic Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Wing
  • Patent number: 6834916
    Abstract: A gardening stool that allows for tilting and pivoting is provided. The gardening stool has an elongated base connected to a seat by a post. The elongated base is convex and is tapered towards the front for pivoting. The base may include a flattened region located toward the rear of the post for stability. The base may further include compartments for holding tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: White Pine Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Cheryl Volkman, Dianne Goodwin, Sherry Rovig
  • Publication number: 20040232755
    Abstract: A chair includes a frame and a seat bottom associated with the frame. Flexible seat mounts are used to retain the seat bottom on the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Nathan W. Heisey, Larry Voris
  • Publication number: 20040232751
    Abstract: A vehicle seat subframe assembly includes a subframe to which are attached a plurality of seat height adjuster links and a plurality of weight sensors. The subframe assembly is adapted to be mounted between the vehicle seat and a seat slide assembly. In one embodiment, the seat height adjuster links are connected to the seat slide assembly and the weight sensors contact the vehicle seat. In another embodiment, the seat height adjuster links are connected to the vehicle seat and the weight sensors contact the seat slide assembly. Overload bolts provide gaps that protect the weight sensors from being overloaded in the event of a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Otman A. Basir, Kristopher Desrochers, Alexander M. Nassonov, Sergey Krivtsov, Dmitri L. Axakov, Makalai Makaranka
  • Patent number: 6752460
    Abstract: A chair (1) has a base (2) and upwardly projecting from the base (2) a supporting column (6) holding a seating device (7). Disposed on the base (2) is a plug-type connection piece (19). The supporting column (6) is slipped onto the onto the plug-type connection piece (19) and secured on the plug-type connection piece (19) in a manner so that it is detachable from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Moll System- und Funktionsmöbel GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Looser
  • Patent number: 6692076
    Abstract: A bolster chair includes a seat having a horizontal position to support a seated user and an upwardly folded vertical position where it enables a user to stand in a space bordered by back and side walls of the bolster chair. The vertical position of the seat is height adjustable so that users of differing heights may lean against the seat when standing in the bordered space. When the seat is in its vertical configuration, the user may displace a handle in a first direction to lock the plunger and the seat into a position of vertical adjustment and to cause a pair of locking members to extend and to lock the seat so that it cannot be folded into a horizontal position. Displacing the handle in an opposite direction releases a gas spring plunger to unlock the seat for vertical adjustment and retracts the pair of locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Peter J. Burer
  • Patent number: 6676213
    Abstract: A dimensionally adjustable booster seat for use in combination with a seat belt system, including a seat back and a plurality or set of optional seating planes that are stack-able to form a 3-dimensional trapezoid base, and a coupling mechanism for detachably receiving combinations of the optional seating planes to the seat back. In the preferred embodiment, the seat back is contoured to blend with different combinations of the optional seating planes to provide a plurality of seating surface dimensions and heights, as to where a smaller passenger can be positioned within an adult seat belt system without modifying the natural path of the seat belt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy S. Dlugos
  • Patent number: 6655731
    Abstract: An orthopaedic chair including a frame for supporting a contoured chair seat and chair back; each of which is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis. Horizontal adjustment for the axis of the chair seat and vertical adjustment for the axis of the chair back are provided thereby holding the person in an orthopaedically beneficial position. The orthopaedic chair may be in the form of an arm chair or folding camp chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Charles N. Martin
  • Publication number: 20030205924
    Abstract: A gardening stool that allows for tilting and pivoting is provided. The gardening stool has an elongated base connected to a seat by a post. The elongated base is convex and is tapered towards the front for pivoting. The base may include a flattened region located toward the rear of the post for stability. The base may further include compartments for holding tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Cheryl Volkman, Dianne Goodwin, Sherry Rovig
  • Patent number: 6634712
    Abstract: A child's stool having a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel, vertically extending side walls, each having a pair of receivers provided therein. Each receiver includes a vertically extending slot communicating with a plurality of vertically extending inclined slots. A floor is provided having rods cooperating with the receiver slots so that the height of the floor above the ground can be varied so that the stool can accomodate children of various sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Carol D. Gamble
  • Patent number: 6595590
    Abstract: A mechanic's body support including first and second horizontally-oriented and spaced-apart base rails and first and second spaced-apart support rails. Each of the support rails has one end connected to a respective one of the first and second base rails. Each support rail also extends upwardly from and is in vertical alignment with the base rails for supporting a mechanic as he kneels in an elevated position over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. A chest pad and a knee pad are mounted in spaced-apart relation between the support rails for securing the support rails in a fixed, spaced-apart relation, and for supporting the chest and knees of the mechanic while in the kneeling position, thus allowing the skeletal structure of the body to support the weight, rather than the back and leg muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Auto Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Bottoms
  • Publication number: 20030132655
    Abstract: A child's stool having a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel, vertically extending side walls, each having a pair of receivers provided therein. Each receiver includes a vertically extending slot communicating with a plurality of vertically extending inclined slots. A floor is provided having rods cooperating with the receiver slots so that the height of the floor above the ground can be varied so that the stool can accomodate children of various sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Carol D. Gamble
  • Patent number: 6554359
    Abstract: A sprung vehicle seat has a base member and a top member, and a scissor support assembly operatively disposed therebetween. The scissor support assembly comprises first and second pivotably interconnected scissor levers. Secured to the first scissor levers is a sliding guide in the form of a plate member which is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the seat. A spring member bears against the sliding guide and the top member and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the seat for the purposes of weight adjustment of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Josef Kohl, Hermann Meiller
  • Patent number: 6550740
    Abstract: A shock absorbing platform includes a bottom plate and a top plate joined to one another at their respective rearward and side peripheral edges by elongate rigid links that enable the plates to remain in parallel relation to one another as the top plate moves in relation to the bottom plate. In a first embodiment, an opening formed in the bottom plate accommodates the upper end of a platform-supporting pedestal so that the platform may be retrofit onto a pre-existing pedestal. The forward edge of the platform is open so that height-adjusting and seat-rotating pins are readily accessible. A cylinder is pivotally mounted on each outboard side of the platform and its plunger bears against a roller of a truncate link assembly that interconnects the top and bottom plates at their respective forward edges. Downward forces applied to the top plate are resisted by the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Peter J. Burer
  • Patent number: 6540301
    Abstract: A mechanic's body support including first and second horizontally-oriented and spaced-apart base rails and first and second spaced-apart support rails. Each of the support rails has one end connected to a respective one of the first and second base rails and diverging upwardly from and along the length of the base rails for supporting a mechanic in an elevated position over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. A chest pad and a knee pad are mounted in spaced-apart relation between the support rails for securing the support rails in a fixed, spaced-apart relation, and for supporting the chest and knees of the mechanic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Auto Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Bottoms
  • Patent number: 6467785
    Abstract: A wheelchair has an adjustable seat that can be raised and lowered between a normal wheelchair operating height and ground level for enabling a wheelchair-dependent person to gain access to the seat from ground level and independently raise himself or herself from the ground level to the normal operating height. The seat can be further raised above the normal operating height to a higher level for improved reaching capability. In one embodiment, an elongate shaft is connected to the seat for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A plurality of cables have first ends that are connected to a wheelchair supporting frame and second ends that are connected to the elongate shaft. Rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis in one direction causes the cables to wind around the shaft to thereby raise the seat. Rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction causes the cables to unwind from the shaft to thereby lower the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Tony Toppses