Movable To A Rear-horizontal Position Patents (Class 297/354.13)
  • Patent number: 6609753
    Abstract: A reclinable seat includes a seat bottom with a seat frame, and a backrest with a backrest frame pivotably connected to the seat bottom to be adjustable to an upright seating configuration and a reclined lying configuration. The seat bottom includes a support arrangement having an adjustable firmness. A firmer support is provided in the upright seating configuration, and a softer support is provided in the reclined lying configuration. In the support arrangement, seat support rods extend across the seat bottom and are pivotably supported on the seat frame. A shaft is connected to the backrest frame. Straps are connected to the shaft and to each of the seat support rods while weaving over and under the rods. When the recline angle of the backrest is adjusted, the shaft rotates and either pulls or slackens the straps to pivot the support rods between a firmer orientation and a softer orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Schmidt-Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 6568699
    Abstract: An adjustable sissy bar mechanism for use with a cycle vehicle, such as a motorcycle, and which includes a body supported upon rotatable front and rear wheels and a seat secured atop the body. The sissy bar mechanism includes a pair of substantially planar plate-shaped members, each of the plate members being fixedly secured to the frame in aligning fashion and on opposite sides of the seat. An elongate and arcuately configured sissy bar has a central extending portion and first and second interconnecting and extending ends. The ends of the sissy bar are engaged with each of the plate shaped members in a plurality of differing and pivotally associated positions including first and second rider incline positions and a luggage rack carrying position, and in which said sissy bar is arranged substantially level with a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Gilbert McCann
  • Publication number: 20030085597
    Abstract: A reclining seat for use in a vehicle is provided with a back shell at least partially surrounding the back so that between a first upright position and a second reclined position the back shell is capable of independent positioning relative to said back cushion, whereby privacy may be enhanced by the position of the back shell. Preferably, the armrest is selectively moveable from above the seating surface to a position approximately level with the seating surface, and most preferably there is also at least one shoulder privacy panel selectively extendible within an area between the seating surface and the back shell. In certain preferred embodiments the back shell has a range of pivot of about 15 degrees between a first position and a second position. In another aspect of the present invention, a video monitor is integrated into the back shell, preferably independently tiltable from a fist position to a second position, most preferably within a range of tilt of approximately 25-degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Christine Ludeke, Alberto Veneruso
  • Publication number: 20030075962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, especially for aircraft, comprising a seat part (10) and a backrest (12) that can be displaced relative to each other by means of at least one adjustment device (14). The respective adjustment device (14) is provided with a plurality of articulation points (16) that are at least partially interconnected via a bar-type supporting frame (18) with individual bar elements (26, 30, 32, 36 and 40). Said supporting frame raises and supports the seat part (10) relative to the vehicle or cabin floor and eftects a displacement movement by means of an actuator device (20) in such a manner that the seat part (10) can be brought from an initial position (I) into at least one further position (II, III) and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Saltzer, Hans-Dieter Abt
  • Patent number: 6540295
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is movable between a seating position and a storage position to form a relatively flat horizontal load floor. The seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. A side member extends upward from the seat bottom. The seat back is rotatably mounted on the side member such that the seat back is rotatable about a horizontally extending axis. The seat back is preferably mounted on the side member so that the seat back can be rotated or flipped around by about 180 degrees so that a seating surface and a back surface of the seat back are rotatable to a reverse position. Preferably, the side member is pivotally attached to the seat bottom and is capable of moving the seat back into a generally horizontal position to define the load floor. An optional panel can be movably attached to the seat back. The panel is movable between a first position adjacent the seat back, and an extended position extending outward from the seat back and covering the seat bottom to further extend and define the load floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Saberan, Ernesto Blanco, Eugene S. Dudash, H. Winston Maue, Eric A. Partington
  • Publication number: 20030011221
    Abstract: Each of right and left X-shaped leg assemblies (2) is constructed by pivotally joining middle parts of a front leg (3) and a rear leg (4). The right and the left X-shaped leg assembly (2) are connected to parallel right and left bases (8). One of the front leg (3) and the rear leg (4) of each X-shaped leg assembly (2) has a lower end pivotally connected to the base (8), and the other of the front leg (3) and the rear leg (4) has a lower end supported for turning and longitudinal movement on the base (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Toshiro Yoshie, Yutaka Ukitsu, Tokihiko Ikuno
  • Patent number: 6494536
    Abstract: A reclinable passenger seat having a seat frame mounting a seat bottom, a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom, and a seat bottom/seat back articulation assembly for simultaneously varying the adjustment of the seat bottom and seat back relative to each other. A translation linkage is provided for mounting the seat bottom and seat back for translating movement of the seat bottom relative to the seat back as the seat back is reclined from an upright position and raised to an upright position. The translation linkage extends the effective length of the seat bottom relative to the seat back to provide additional support to the buttocks and legs of the seated passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy G. Plant
  • Patent number: 6474741
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat supporting carrier. A seat cushion is pivotally mounted on the carrier. The carrier has a swing arm pivotally attached thereto. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the swing arm. The seat cushion is pivotable on a first pivot axis P1 between a laid position and an erected position. The swing aim is pivotable on a second pivot axis P2 between a laid position and and erected position. The seat back is pivotable on a third pivot axis between a laid position and an erected position. When the seat back is in the erected position and the seat cushion is in the laid position, the third pivot axis is positioned higher than the first and second pivot axes. The seat back, by pivoting from the erected position to the laid position, lies on the seat cushion held in the laid position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kamida, Masayuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6464297
    Abstract: A load floor seat assembly for an adjustable seat is disclosed movable from a normal position to a load floor position. A seat base is adapted to be attached to a motor vehicle floor, at least one seat back arm is pivotably mounted to the seat base about a seat back pivot, and a seat back is pivotably attached to the seat back arm about a load floor pivot. A load floor assembly is attached to the seat back so that in the normal position the seat back is generally perpendicular to the seat base, and in the load floor position the seat back is generally parallel with the seat base and rotated about the load floor pivot, so that the load floor assembly covers the seat back and the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies
    Inventors: Pascal E. Garrido, Andrew W. Guthrie, Gregory J. Andrigo, Keith C. Horsfield
  • Patent number: 6460930
    Abstract: A convertible clinical chair/table apparatus for allowing patients to easily and conveniently get in and out of the clinical chair. The convertible clinical charitable apparatus includes a wheel assembly; and also includes a seat assembly including first and second frame members; and further includes a backrest assembly being pivotally attached to the seat assembly; and also includes a footrest member being pivotally attached to the seat assembly; and further includes an armrest assembly being detachably mounted to the seat assembly; and also includes a seat lift assembly being mounted to the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Belinda D. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20020130543
    Abstract: A bed chair structure includes an inverted U-shaped seat backrest frame and a U-shaped seat cushion frame connected by normal directional gears. The seat backrest frame has two sides each provided with an upper reinforcing frame which is connected with the seat cushion frame by an armrest upright rod and an armrest transverse rod. The total length of the armrest transverse rod and the armrest upright rod is greater than the length between the upper reinforcing frame and the seat cushion frame, such that the armrest transverse rod and the armrest upright rod can form an inverted V-shaped structure. In such a manner, the armrest transverse rod and the armrest upright rod can be adapted to function as an armrest automatically when the bed chair structure is in turn converted from a bed into a chair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Wei-Luen Tsai
  • Patent number: 6439636
    Abstract: A set of vehicle electrically actuated reclining seats are provided to replace stationary seats in a van permitting comfortable sleeping. The invention consists of a pair of side walls (30) attached to the van interior, with each side wall including a slotted frame (31) having a horizontal slot (32) therein. A set of rollers (42) on a bench frame (40) interface with the slots permitting the frame to slide horizontally as driven by a first electric motor drive. A pair of seats (60) and back rests (72) are attached to the bench frame, connected to a second electric motor drive such that when the back rest is substantially upright the back of the seat is lower than the front of the seat and when the back rest is pivoted flat the seat is simultaneously raised to a horizontal position parallel to the back rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Ming C. Kuo
  • Patent number: 6427262
    Abstract: A connecting device for a sofa bed includes a first connecting member with opposite first and second end portions, and a second connecting member with a rear end portion that is pivoted to the second end portion and that is provided with a spring-loaded pawl unit. A fixed mounting plate is disposed below the first and second connecting members. A pivotable linking plate unit has an upper end pivoted to the first end portion, and a lower end pivoted to the mounting plate such that the first connecting member is movable forward and rearward relative to the mounting plate. The second connecting member is pivotable relative to the first connecting member in a first direction so as to enable the pawl unit to engage one of the ratchet teeth in order to retain the second connecting member at a certain angularposition relative to the first connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Huang
  • Patent number: 6428103
    Abstract: A wheelchair has a base with a pair of wheels connected to each side of the base, a seat pivotally connected to the base, a backrest pivotally connected to the seat and a transmitting mechanism for pivoting the seat and the backrest. The transmitting mechanism includes a seat bracket secured to the seat, a seat shaft received in the seat bracket, a front gear and a rear respectively mounted on two end of the seat shaft, a main shaft slidably received in the base and extending into the seat bracket, a back shaft securely connected with the backrest and extending into the seat bracket, a back gear mounted on the back shaft and engaging with the rear gear, a seat gear and a main gear mounted on the main shaft and engaging with the front gear alternately. By such an arrangement, the seat and the backrest can be pivoted to an upright position or horizontal position to assist a disabled person to stand up or lie on the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Chin-Lien Hong
  • Patent number: 6412870
    Abstract: A seating unit for a passenger vehicle, especially an aircraft, has a reclinable seat back connected to a seating portion by a hinge. A slider is mounted in a guide track and supports the hinge. A pivotally connected front strut supports the seating portion at a location in front of the hinge. A pivotally connected rear strut supports the seat back at a location spaced apart from the hinge. As the slider along the guide track, the seat back moves to an orientation substantially coplanar with the seating portion so as to provide a flat surface for a sleeping passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Britax Rumbold Limited
    Inventors: John Robert Higgins, Simon Lunn, Benedict Nicholas Samuels
  • Patent number: 6390555
    Abstract: The infant product of the invention is of the type having an infant receptacle suspended from a frame. The infant product is foldable between a deployed position for use and a compact configuration for shipping and storage. In the assembled configuration, the infant receptacle is convertible between a bassinet configuration in which the infant receptacle has a substantially planar support surface and an infant seat configuration in which the support surface of the infant receptacle is partially titled or disposed at an angle such that the infant can be supported in an elevated or seated position. The infant product may include a fabric canopy incorporating floating webs and a quick connect system for securing the canopy in an open position. When the canopy is closed, it is folded so as to lie flat against the infant receptacle. The infant receptacle may also include a lateral support assembly to cradle the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Fisher-Price, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Wilkins, John S. Canna, Sandra M. Darling, Kenneth Von Felten
  • Patent number: 6386637
    Abstract: To maintain rigidity of a seat cushion frame at a seating position, an operating member (14) is axially supported pivotably by a lower arm (3) and a position of a wheel capable of pressing a floor is changed in accordance with a pivoting angle of the operating member (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Tatsuya Hattori, Kousaku Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6371556
    Abstract: A seat cushion is to pivot to be in a horizontal reversed state and it has a back side. A seat back is to pivot to be in a horizontal reversed state and has a reverse side. The reverse side in the horizontal reversed state has a height substantially equal to one of the back side of the seat cushion in the horizontal reversed state. An arm is attached to a lower end of the seat back and supports the lower end of the seat back to be rotated. A roller is fixed to a lower end of the arm and projects outward in a transverse direction of a vehicle body. A slide rail is fixed to a floor and engages with the roller to be slid forward and rearward. A lock mechanism detachably engages with the roller. A back link is connected to an intermediate fulcrum of the seat back above the roller and is connected to one of an intermediate portion of the slide rail and a peripheral member around the portion. A stopper is provided at the lower end of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., LTD
    Inventor: Tomiji Arai
  • Patent number: 6352309
    Abstract: A sleeper seating unit for an aircraft, and including a primary seat having a seat frame for being stationarily-mounted to the aircraft deck, a seat back for being selectively moved by a seat occupant among fully upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions, a scat bottom for moving between retracted and extended positions in coordination with the seat back, and an ottoman for being positioned on the deck forward of the primary seat. The ottoman has a top cushion positioned on a top surface thereof and a leg rest cushion positioned on a side of the ottoman facing the primary seat. The leg rest cushion is movable between positions wherein when the primary seat is in an upright position, the leg rest cushion is positioned at an angle to engage and support the bottom of the feet, and when the primary seat is in a reclined position, the leg rest cushion is in a generally horizontal position adjacent to and forming an extension of the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Beroth
  • Publication number: 20020017810
    Abstract: A seating unit (1) comprises a fixed housing (10) containing a primary seat with a reclinable back arranged to recline in such a manner that it remains within the housing. The seating unit is suitable for a aircraft cabin and may further comprise a leg-rest arranged to cooperate with the seating portion to form part of a substantially flat surface when the back is reclined in a substantially horizontal position. The seating unit may further comprise a secondary seat (3) positioned to face the primary seat, the secondary seat having a seating portion positioned to cooperate with the leg-rest of the primary seat to form a is portion of the substantially flat surface when the back of the primary seat is reclined in the substantially horizontal position. Privacy between seats and use of available space within an aircraft. cabin may be optimized by arranging at least some of the seats in an echelon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Ian Dryburgh, Simon Lunn, Russel Mulchansingh
  • Patent number: 6336235
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus is provided having a base and a patient support platform having a head portion and a seat portion. The patient support apparatus further includes a plurality of links configured to coordinate movement of the head portion of the patient support platform relative to the seat portion of the patient support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Ruehl
  • Patent number: 6318804
    Abstract: The child's hair shampooing system is a chair designed to comfortably, conveniently, and safely accommodate babies, toddlers, and small children while washing and rinsing their hair, and to eliminate the chance of slipping. The child's hair shampooing chair protects the child's face, eyes and ears from water and suds while washing and rinsing the hair. The chair has an adjustable inserted neck rest (24A) to comfortably rest the child's neck and to allow water to freely flow away from the child's face, eyes and ears. The chair also has a replaceable cushioned lining (26) for the adjustable inserted neck rest, chair back, and body contoured seat for added comfort. The left and right arms (28L to 28R) prevent the child from falling out. A adjustment device (30), used while the child is seated to adjust inserted neck rest into desire reclining positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Linda Gale Brown
  • Publication number: 20010040400
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat supporting carrier. A seat cushion is pivotally mounted on the carrier. The carrier has a swing arm pivotally attached thereto. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the swing arm. The seat cushion is povotable on a first pivot axis P1 between a laid position and an erected position. The swing arm is pivotable on a second pivot axis P2 between a laid position and an erected position. The seat back is pivotable on a third pivot axis between a laid position and an erected position. When the seat back is in the erected position and the seat cushion is in the laid position, the third pivot axis is positioned higher than the first and second pivot axes. The seat back, by pivoting from the erected position to the laid position, lies on the seat cushion held in the laid position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kamida, Masayuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6305644
    Abstract: A passenger seat configuration for an aircraft cabin having a fuselage wall with windows therein and an aisle for permitting movement within the cabin. The configuration includes an outboard seating unit for being positioned adjacent the fuselage wall of the aircraft, the outboard seating unit having a primary scat formed of a seat back and seat bottom, and a forwardly spaced-apart ottoman movable with respect to each other to define upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions. An inboard seating unit is provided for being positioned adjacent the at least one aisle and between the inboard seating unit and the aisle, the inboard seating unit having a primary seat formed of a seat back and a seat bottom, and a forwardly spaced-apart, free-standing ottoman movable with respect to each other to define upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions, the primary seat and ottoman of the inboard seating unit being positioned aft of the primary seat and ottoman of the outboard seating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Beroth
  • Patent number: 6296265
    Abstract: A wheelchair provides for raising and lowering of the pivot point of the seat back to accommodate both the occupants particular body features (i.e., the occupant's torso pivot point) and the height or thickness of the seat cushion. The wheelchair is adapted to maintain the relatively close positions of the pivot points of both the wheelchair seat back and the back or torso of the wheelchair occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence F. Lovins
  • Publication number: 20010015569
    Abstract: The infant product of the invention is of the type having an infant receptacle suspended from a frame. The infant product is foldable between a deployed position for use and a compact configuration for shipping and storage. In the assembled configuration, the infant receptacle is convertible between a bassinet configuration in which the infant receptacle has a substantially planar support surface and an infant seat configuration in which the support surface of the infant receptacle is partially titled or disposed at an angle such that the infant can be supported in an elevated or seated position. The infant product may include a fabric canopy incorporating floating webs and a quick connect system for securing the canopy in an open position. When the canopy is closed, it is folded so as to lie flat against the infant receptacle. The infant receptacle may also include a lateral support assembly to cradle the infant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Fisher-Price, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Wilkins, John S. Canna, Sandra M. Darling, Kenneth Von Felten
  • Patent number: 6276635
    Abstract: A seating unit for a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, that has a movable portion including a back rest, a seat pan and a leg rest, and a fixed portion having front and rear legs. The movable portion is movable between a fully reclined position and an upright position. A recess is disposed below the back rest and seat pan in the upright position, the recess constituting a foot-well for a person using another seat therebehind. Front and rear cross-members can be fixedly secured respectively to the lower ends of the front and rear legs, and are fixed to seat tracks provided in the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fixed portion includes two spaced rear legs that are positioned on opposing sides of the recess, and the rear cross-member can be fixedly secured to the lower ends of both of the rear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Reynard Aviation Limited
    Inventors: David Ferry, James H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6257659
    Abstract: The infant product of the invention is of the type having an infant receptacle suspended from a frame. The infant product is foldable between a deployed position for use and a compact configuration for shipping and storage. In the assembled configuration, the infant receptacle is convertible between a bassinet configuration in which the infant receptacle has a substantially planar support surface and an infant seat configuration in which the support surface of the infant receptacle is partially titled or disposed at an angle such that the infant can be supported in an elevated or seated position. The infant product may include a fabric canopy incorporating floating webs and a quick connect system for securing the canopy in an open position. When the canopy is closed, it is folded so as to lie flat against the infant receptacle. The infant receptacle may also include a lateral support assembly to cradle the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fisher-Price, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Wilkins, John S. Canna, Sandra M. Darling, Kenneth Von Felten
  • Patent number: 6247753
    Abstract: A piece of reclining or seating furniture is designed with two or more mutually adjustable articulated members (R, S, F), which together form an adjustable frame for support of a mattress, cushion, upholstery or the like. The adjustable frame is mounted in a support member (A) by means of horizontal axles/dowels, stays, sliding elements or the like, which constitute fulcrums (2, 3, 5) for the mutually adjustable, articulated members (R, S, F). The back member (R) has a fixed fulcrum (2) in relation to the support member (A), located at a distance from the linkage (1) to the seat member. The adjustment of the furniture's respective articulated members is performed via a fixed, downwardly projecting arm (6) mounted on the underside of the back member (R), in the area below the back member's fulcrum (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Kjartan Alvestad
  • Publication number: 20010000639
    Abstract: A seat for, for example, an aircraft that has an open outer shell which embraces a seat portion, a seat back, a head rest and a foot rest when the seat is in an upright position. Also embraced by the shell are a pair of arm rests. The seat is reclinable into a bed configuration such that the seat portion is moved forwardly out of the open end of the shell. Simultaneously, the arm rests are movable between the raised position and the position substantially flush with the seat portion. In the bed configuration, the removal of the arm rests from the raised position significantly increases the width of the bed, thus enhancing the comfort of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Applicant: Singapore Airlines Ltd.
    Inventors: James William Park, Philip Haith
  • Patent number: 6212713
    Abstract: An examination table including a base member supporting a seat section and including a back section pivotally supported on the seat section. The back section includes an elongated pivot frame connected to the seat section at a pivot connection, and a sliding frame supported for longitudinal sliding movement along the pivot frame. A coupling member is supported on the pivot frame for rotational movement and includes telescoping members engaged with the sliding frame wherein the coupling member is rotated by a linkage during pivotal movement of the back section to cause the sliding frame to move longitudinally of the pivot frame to accommodate movement of a patient's back relative to the pivot frame as the pivot frame is pivoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Jay L. Kuck, Paul P. Kolada, Sean W. Svendsen
  • Patent number: 6209956
    Abstract: A seating unit (1) comprises a fixed housing (10) containing a primary seat with a reclinable back arranged to recline in such a manner that it remains within the housing. The seating unit is suitable for a aircraft cabin and may further comprise a leg-rest arranged to cooperate with the seating portion to form part of a substantially flat surface when the back is reclined in a substantially horizontal position. The seating unit may further comprise a secondary seat (3) positioned to face the primary seat, the secondary seat having a seating portion positioned to cooperate with the leg-rest of the primary seat to form a portion of the substantially flat surface when the back of the primary seat is reclined in the substantially horizontal position. Privacy between seats and use of available space within an aircraft cabin may be optimised by arranging at least some of the seats in an echelon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: British Airways PLC
    Inventors: Ian Dryburgh, Simon Lunn, Russel Mulchansingh
  • Patent number: 6209154
    Abstract: A multiple-stage positioner includes a stationary first part, a second part connected pivotally to the stationary first part, a holding pin projecting from the first part, a positioning piece having a lower edge formed with a plurality of first grooves, a spring urging the positioning piece against the holding pin, and a guiding piece having a bottom edge substantially flush with the lower edge of the positioning piece. The bottom edge has a plurality of second grooves and groove-free parts between adjacent ones of the second grooves. The guiding piece is slidable between a first position, in which the second grooves are aligned respectively with the first grooves to receive the holding pin, and a second position, in which the groove-free parts are aligned respectively with the first grooves to prevent the holding pin from entering into the first grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Huang
  • Patent number: 6196629
    Abstract: A vehicular child safety seat includes a seat main body (1A) attached to a base body (1C) in a rotatable manner. The seat main body includes a seat portion (16), a backrest (11) reclinably hinged to the seat portion, a head guard (10) tiltably hinged to the upper edge of the backrest, side guards (12, 13) protruding perpendicularly from lateral edges of the backrest, and armrests (14, 15) protruding upwardly along side edges of the seat portion. When the backrest is in its most reclined position, and the seat main body is rotated on the base body to be transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the seat portion and backrest are substantially coplanar and horizontal to form a baby bed. When the backrest is in a more upright position, and the seat main body is rotated to face forward or rearward in the vehicle, the safety seat is suitable for an infant, toddler or older child sitting upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Aprica Kassai Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onishi, Toshiyuki Imamichi