Pivoted For Vertical Swinging (i.e., About Horizontal Axis) Patents (Class 297/423.26)
  • Patent number: 11930935
    Abstract: Various implementations include a convertible swinging seat assembly. The assembly includes a seat and at least four suspenders. The seat includes four segments. A first end of a second segment is pivotably coupled to a second end of the first segment at a first joint. A first end of a third segment is pivotably coupled to a second end of the second segment at a second joint. A first end of a fourth segment is pivotably coupled to a second end of the third segment at a third joint. The first, second, and third joints are independently pivotable relative to each other. The suspenders each have a first suspender portion and a second suspender portion. The second suspender portion of each suspender is coupled to a different one of the first, second, third, and fourth segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Gary C Kromer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11827361
    Abstract: A powered seat-base release system includes a rod rotatably mounted in a bucket assembly of an aircraft seat and a motor mechanically coupled to the rod. The motor is configured for rotating the rod from a locked position to a released position. A locking mechanism is configured for preventing motion of the bucket assembly. A cable has a first end and a second end, the first end being mechanically coupled to the rod, and the second end being mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism. A user interface is configured to activate the motor for rotating the rod to the released position such that the rod pulls the cable thereby releasing the locking mechanism to enable motion of the bucket assembly. Upon deactivation of the motor, a biasing mechanism is configured to counter rotate the rod from the released position to the locked position thereby back driving the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Stokholm Warren, Stephen Howard Fagan
  • Patent number: 11827362
    Abstract: A deployable ottoman extension fills the gap between the ottoman and fully reclined oblique aircraft seat. The deployable ottoman extension can pivot out from the ottoman about a pivot point and/or slide out along a rail. Alternatively, the ottoman extension may be hinged to the ottoman to deploy by flipping down. The deployable ottoman extension may include deployable support features that extend to the aircraft floor when deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark B. Dowty
  • Patent number: 11800923
    Abstract: A recliner system, including a suspension point adapted to be mounted onto an upright anchor and to extend outwardly therefrom. The recliner system further includes a support platform and a plurality of cords, each attached to the support platform at two attachment points and suspended from the suspension point. The support platform is adjustable between an upright position and a reclined position by pulling on at least a subset of the plurality of cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TENTSILE LTD
    Inventor: Alex Shirley-Smith
  • Patent number: 11634056
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a conjunction mechanism and a locking mechanism. When a seat cushion is placed at a raised position, the conjunction mechanism causes an ottoman to be placed at a stored position closer to the seating surface relative to a standby position. The locking mechanism restricts movement of the ottoman when the seat cushion is placed at a seating position. The locking mechanism includes an anchoring portion, a traction cable, and a wound portion. In response to a change being made in an amount of winding of the traction cable around the wound portion due to the seat cushion being moved, anchoring of the ottoman by the anchoring portion and canceling of the anchoring are caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Sera, Shun Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 11559448
    Abstract: A medical chair includes a base, a seat section, and a leg rest pivotally mounted relative to the seat and adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The chair further includes a scissor mechanism coupled to the leg rest to extend and contract the leg rest and an actuator mounted on one end relative to the seat section and having an extendible driving end coupled to the leg rest wherein when the extendible driving end extends the extendible driving end pivots the leg rest about the pivot axis and extends the scissor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Adam Upchurch, John P. Zerbel, Richard A. Derenne
  • Patent number: 11548424
    Abstract: A power leg rest for a vehicle includes a pair of fixed plates; a main pipe connected to between internal surfaces of the fixed plates; a tilt motor tiltably mounted to the main pipe; a pair of main links fastened to external surfaces of the fixed plates by respective first hinge pins; a support pipe connected to between front end portions of the main links; a lead nut bracket coupled to a lead screw and movable forwards and backwards and hingedly fastened to the support pipe; a pair of leg rest links mounted on both sides of a leg rest frame; and a pair of driving links, each being hingedly fastened to corresponding ones of the leg rest links, the main links, and the fixed plates, operating in linkage with the main link, and folding or unfolding the pair of leg rest links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, DAS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tae Su Kim, Soo Hyun Moon, Hyun Kyu Moon, Sang Hwi Yoon, Du Go Jung, Hyun Ko, Won Jin Choi, Young Joon Kim
  • Patent number: 11511657
    Abstract: [Object] To inhibit leg rests from colliding with each other and to allow a leg rest of his/her own seat to operate even in the case where a power source failure or the like occurs. [Solving Means] A seat apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a seat body; a control unit; and a setting means. The seat body includes a leg rest. The control unit includes a controller. The controller determines whether the seat body is in a first state in which the seat body does not face a front seat or a back seat of the seat body or a second state in which the seat body faces one of the front seat and the back seat. The controller enables, where the controller has determined that the seat body is in the first state, a tilt operation command for the leg rest to tilt forward, and invalidates, where the controller has determined that the seat body is in the second state, the tilt operation command. The setting means fixes the determination result by the controller to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Murase, Takao Okura
  • Patent number: 11492123
    Abstract: A low profile armrest articulation mechanism for a passenger seat is disclosed. The passenger seat has a seatback reclinable from an upright configuration to a berthed or horizontal configuration (e.g., parallel to the seatpan). The mechanism includes moving stops connecting the armrests on either side to the seatback and linkages connecting the moving stops to the seat frame. As the seatback reclines, the moving stops maintain the armrests at an optimally ergonomic angle (e.g., substantially parallel to the seatpan) for as long as possible. When the seatback reaches the fully reclined or berthed configuration, the armrests may be pivoted upward into a berthed orientation flush with the seatback, adding bed space to the berthed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Twinkle V. Jacob, Catalin Bunea
  • Patent number: 11485498
    Abstract: A passenger seat incorporating a path and follower mechanism for nonlinear deployment of a passenger leg rest is disclosed. The passenger seat incorporates lightweight tubular members linked to backrest linkages, the backrest linkages driven by a passenger occupying the seat, e.g., via a reclining motion of the seatback. The reclining motion drives the backrest linkages which in turn drive path followers through a curving path such that, as the path follower drives forward or backward, the leg rest deploys at a variable rate between undeployed and fully deployed configurations, consistently providing an optimally relaxing leg position at any point between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Catalin Bunea, Twinkle V. Jacob
  • Patent number: 11427327
    Abstract: An aircraft seat may include an upper aircraft seat assembly, a lower aircraft seat assembly, and a frame actuation assembly configured to actuate the upper aircraft seat assembly relative to the lower aircraft seat assembly. The lower aircraft seat assembly may include at least one spring coupled to a foundation with a sloped actuation surface configured to cause the upper aircraft seat assembly to be at a decreased height when in a bed position. The compressing of the at least one spring may be configured to counterbalance a load within the aircraft seat and generate a controlled actuation of the upper aircraft seat assembly from an upright position to the bed position. A return force provided by the at least one spring may assist the frame actuation assembly during actuation of the upper aircraft seat assembly from the decreased height of the bed position to the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy Pence, Twinkle V. Jacob
  • Patent number: 11214180
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back, a seat base, a base structure that is connected to the seat base, a guide structure, and a primary pivot joint that connects the guide structure to the base structure so that the guide structure is able to rotate with respect to the base structure to change a recline angle of the seat back with respect to the seat base. The vehicle seat also includes a slide structure that is connected to the seat back and has a sliding connection to the guide structure, and a link that connects the seat back to the seat base so that the slide structure slides with respect to the guide structure during rotation of the guide structure with respect to the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Tavakoli Targhi, Lukas Satas, Per G. Isaksson, Donald R. Monroe
  • Patent number: 11173083
    Abstract: A chair includes a frame unit including a seat frame, a leg rest that is pivotally mounted to the seat frame, and a rest adjusting mechanism that is connected between the leg rest and the seat frame. The rest adjusting mechanism is convertible between an unlocked state, where the leg rest is permitted to pivot relative to the seat frame, and a locked state, where the leg rest is not permitted to pivot relative to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Xiaojian Zhang
  • Patent number: 10604261
    Abstract: An ottoman for an aircraft seat includes a guide assembly, a foot platform, and an actuator assembly. The guide assembly is configured to couple to a frame of the aircraft seat. The guide assembly includes a guide and a slide that is translatable along the guide. The foot platform is coupled to the slide. The actuator assembly is configured to selectively translate the slide along the guide to reposition the foot platform between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator assembly includes an actuator and an arm. The arm defines a first interface coupled to the slide and a second interface coupled to the actuator. Engagement of the actuator causes the arm to pivot and move the slide along the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Suhre, Michael J. Schmid
  • Patent number: 10555857
    Abstract: A patient support is provided with a membrane made of a stretchable material. The membrane may be fixed in one embodiment to lateral supports and used as a patient's knee or calf support. During use, the membrane can stretch on the application of force by a patient, which stretch will reduce discomfort and pain and can also assist in preventing slippage of the patient during movement. The flexible membrane may be used also in patient slings and other supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Arjo IP Holding AB
    Inventors: Mimmi Anderberg, Per Ekelin, Marcus Johansson, Marie Rubin, Thomas Nilsson, Karolina Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10513212
    Abstract: An occupant support may include a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom. In some embodiments, a leg support is coupled to the seat bottom and configured to support an occupant's leg when in an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Mateusz Antoniuk, Boris Von Kujawa, Andreas Rohlfing, Jacek Miszczak
  • Patent number: 10351022
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes a rail system that has a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rails. The vehicle seating arrangement also includes at least one seating assembly coupled to the rail system. The seating assembly includes one or more armrests coupled to a seat-base. The armrests are configured for articulation in a vertical direction relative to the seat-base. The armrests enable the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • Patent number: 10293717
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat cushion and ottoman pillars attached to the seat cushion, the seat cushion can be formed in a compact manner. The vehicle seat (S) comprises a cushion frame (F1) including a pair of cushion side frames (85), a cushion front member (86) connecting front ends of the cushion side frames with each other and a cushion rear member (87). The cushion front member is provided with a pair of recesses (143) extending in a fore and aft direction, and a pair of pillar support portions (141) extending in the fore and aft direction are received in and bonded to the respective recesses, the ottoman including a pair of ottoman pillars (135) inserted into the respective pillar support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Aita, Hirotaka Takei, Masahiko Yamamoto, Shingo Kimata, Shigekazu Otake, Takahiro Mitsui, Masashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9232860
    Abstract: A foldable leg rest has a seat, a first folding frame and a first stage drive mechanism. The first folding frame is pivotally connected to the seat. The first stage drive mechanism includes two angle adjusters, two first stage DC motors and a drive rod. Each of the angle adjusters is disposed between one of opposite sides of the seat and one of opposite sides of the first folding frame. The first stage DC motors are respectively disposed on the sides of the seat. The drive rod is connected between the angle adjusters. In use, the first stage DC motors are actuated to drive the drive rod and the angle adjusters such that the first folding frame is pivoted relative to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Wan-Yu Li
  • Patent number: 9028002
    Abstract: A vehicle seat can include a seat bottom frame having a front, a back opposite the front, and enclosing a volume. Pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame can be a seat back frame and pivotally connected to the front of the seat bottom frame can be a seat leg rest. The seat leg rest has a length. Mounted in the volume of the seat frame are at least two leg rest springs which are connected to the leg rest. When the leg rest springs are actuated, the seat leg rest can be directly pivoted approximately and incrementally parallel with the seat bottom frame. The two leg rest springs are mounted a first distance apart and the first distance is less than half of the length of the leg rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hector Noel Marini
  • Publication number: 20150115685
    Abstract: A footrest for a car seat is disclosed. The footrest includes a coupling plate including at least one first coupling hole formed in a surface of the coupling plate, a supporting plate including at least one second coupling hole formed in a surface of the supporting plate, and at least one guide bar having a column shape and detachably coupled into the first coupling hole and the second coupling hole. Through combination of these configurations, feet of all age groups of children sitting on the car seat are comfortably and safely supported by adjusting the height and inclination of the supporting plate, and the footrest is simply and easily installed and fixed and is used for all types of car seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Myungjoo LEE
  • Publication number: 20150108817
    Abstract: A legrest assembly adapted for use with an aircraft passenger seat including a pair of spaced parallel support members adapted to extend forward from the front of the seat, a legrest pivotally supported on ends of the support members configured to pivot from near vertical when stowed to near horizontal when deployed, a brake mechanism for stopping forward deployment of the legrest, and an actuator for driving forward deployment of the legrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Peter C. Meister, Aravinda Mahabaleshwara
  • Patent number: 8991929
    Abstract: A stroller seat has a seat bottom with a calf support pivotally connected thereto and pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position. A positioning mechanism is coupled to the calf support and movable between an engaged arrangement and a released arrangement. The positioning mechanism, when in the engaged arrangement, retains the calf support in a position selectable from among at least the lowered position and raised position. A release actuator on the calf support is coupled to the positioning mechanism. The release actuator moves the positioning mechanism to the released arrangement. The positioning mechanism, whether in the engaged or released arrangement, allows the calf support to move in the direction of the raised position. The positioning mechanism, when in the engaged arrangement, prevents the calf support being moved in the direction of the lowered position. The positioning mechanism, when in the released arrangement, permits the calf support to move toward the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Doucette, Shelley Palazzolo, Thomas J Pollack, Brady Matthew Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8973939
    Abstract: An adjustable seating frame assembly includes a side frame member, first and second joint members, a footrest hanger, a pivot fastener and a lock fastener. The first joint member is affixed to the side frame member and includes a first pivot aperture and at least one first lock aperture. The second joint member is affixed to the footrest hanger and includes a second pivot aperture and at least one second lock aperture. The pivot fastener is secured through the first and second pivot apertures to pivotally attach the second joint member to the first joint member. The lock fastener is secured through a selected one of the at least one first lock aperture and a selected one of the at least one second lock aperture to secure the second joint member in a selected one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to the first joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Freedom Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Mauricio Melgarejo, Michael H. Nordquist, Alejandro Melgarejo
  • Publication number: 20150060156
    Abstract: A lightweight folding motorized chair with mechanical traction steering and braking. A folding frame supports the traction wheels and the drive system with hinged frame members configured to mechanically fold the control levers, wheels and periphery components into a substantially flat configuration for easy storage in small spaces. A mix of weight saving choices including: structural materials; mechanical traction control system; lithium ion battery; and overall lightweight design keeps the folding motorized chair at a size and weight that a person can lift into the trunk of a car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: ROYCE HUSTED, Joel Husted
  • Patent number: 8944513
    Abstract: A footrest apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a fixed member fixed to the vehicle seat, a footrest movable between a retracted position and an operating range, and a link mechanism which connects the fixed member and the footrest to each other and moves the footrest between the retracted position and the operating range by extending and contracting. The link mechanism includes a pair of link members which rotate in synchronization with each other, each of which is formed as a plate that is orthogonal to a widthwise direction of the vehicle seat, and a connecting member formed as a plate which extends in the widthwise direction, wherein common edges of the pair of link members are connected to opposite ends of the connecting member in the widthwise direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Takuji Yamazaki, Takayuki Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20150021969
    Abstract: A foldable leg rest has a seat, a first folding frame and a first stage drive mechanism. The first folding frame is pivotally connected to the seat. The first stage drive mechanism includes two angle adjusters, two first stage DC motors and a drive rod. Each of the angle adjusters is disposed between one of opposite sides of the seat and one of opposite sides of the first folding frame. The first stage DC motors are respectively disposed on the sides of the seat. The drive rod is connected between the angle adjusters. In use, the first stage DC motors are actuated to drive the drive rod and the angle adjusters such that the first folding frame is pivoted relative to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Wan-Yu Li
  • Patent number: 8931848
    Abstract: A modular footrest assembly allowing an independent height and swivel adjustment functionality for a pedestal or wall-mounted seat configured in a modular manner. The footrest swivel is independent of the seat swivel and is obtained by manually lifting the seat until the swivel latch is disengaged. The footrest is then rotated and manually laid down to position on a bottom height limit. The footrest height adjustment is independent of the footrest swivel and is optional. The footrest may include a lockable piston element activated by a foot button to modify the bottom height limit position. The footrest swivel position may be manually changed in any height position and the height adjustment is the same after the swivel position modification. A damper may be added to the system to prevent a free drop of the foot support during a manual swivel adjustment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Baultar I.D. Inc.
    Inventors: Etienne Archambault, Augustin Archambault
  • Patent number: 8888190
    Abstract: A wheelchair includes a pivotable mechanism. The pivotable mechanism allows for a pivoting movement about an axis defined by an interface between adjacent components. These components may be (a) a seat member and a back member, (b) a seat member and a footrest, (c) a foot rest and a footplate support, (d) a baseplate and a footplate, or (e) a back member and a headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: American Track Roadsters, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Alan Peek
  • Publication number: 20140333111
    Abstract: A seating furniture structure having a carrier unit and a seat part arrangement movably mounted relative to the carrier unit, and a leg rest arrangement with a guiding part and a support carriage displaceable relative to the guiding part by a mechanical tension cord control system. The tension cord control system has a forced coupling to a pivot mechanism of the guiding part such that the support carriage is displaceable between different end positions relative to the guiding part in response to a pivot position of the guiding part. The tension cord control system includes adjacent deflection elements, wherein a tension cord of the tension cord control system is guided alternatingly deflected in opposite directions over the deflection elements, and a deflection element is dislocatably retained and is in operative connection to the pivot mechanism of the guiding part by a forced coupling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Boris BESLER, Andreas HORTIG
  • Patent number: 8876212
    Abstract: A seat adjustment apparatus for a vehicle includes a first bracket, a second bracket defining an accommodating void with the first bracket, a pawl, and a pawl reverse spring, The pawl includes a ratchet portion, a pawl side reverse wall portion, and a pawl side return wall portion, the ratchet portion allowing a relative rotation of the first and second brackets in a first direction and prohibiting a relative rotation of the first and second brackets in a second direction in a case where the pawl is biased to rotate in a normal direction, the pawl side reverse wall portion allowing the relative rotation in the second direction so that the pawl is reversed by being biased to rotate in a reverse direction, the pawl side return wall portion bringing the pawl to be returned by being biased to rotate in the normal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 8864220
    Abstract: A chair according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a seat frame, a plurality of legs, a backrest and an armrest. The plurality of legs are rotatably coupled to the seat frame at front and rear portions of the seat frame. The backrest is rotatably coupled to the seat frame at the rear portion of the seat frame. The armrest is rotatably coupled to upper ends of the legs. The armrest includes a movable member and a first elastic member. The movable member is retained inside the armrest and is movable along the armrest. The movable member is rotatably coupled to the backrest. The first elastic member is located inside the armrest and applies an elastic restoration force against the movement of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Han Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 8864221
    Abstract: A folding massage chair that includes a chair with attached front and rear support frames. The chair includes a seat portion and a backing portion, and also includes a massage and heating pad that is placed over the seat portion and a backing portion. The massage and heating pad includes a number of heating units and heating coils, along with a number of vibrator units. The chair also includes a cup holder and a music player holder, along with a foot rest attached to the front support frame. The chair also has a canopy that is attached to the backing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Antonio J. Delvilla
  • Patent number: 8708417
    Abstract: In one embodiment now described, and according to one aspect of the invention. There is provided a leg rest mechanism 100. The leg rest mechanism is suitable for use with a seat pad 200 of a seat arrangement 300 in a passenger vehicle (not shown). The leg rest mechanism 100 comprises a support member 110 adapted for at least partially supporting a passenger's weight; and an extension arrangement 400. The extension arrangement 400 comprises a pair of horizontal support mechanisms 120 for supporting the support member 110, an adjustable support mechanism 160 and a drive arrangement 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Air New Zealand Limited
    Inventor: Marsel Mejuhas
  • Publication number: 20140070591
    Abstract: A powered wheelchair includes a seat assembly configured to support an individual, a legrest assembly pivotally connected to the seat assembly, and an adjustment assembly including an actuator operatively connected to the central column through a piston slidably secured within a sleeve. The adjustment assembly is secured underneath the seat assembly. The powered wheelchair may also include an extension bracket that allows legrests and a central column of the legrest assembly to be separately and independently adjusted with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Permobil AB
    Inventors: Bo Engman, Urban Lind, Niklas Backstrom, Jonas Jahkel, Mehdi Mirzaie
  • Patent number: 8651569
    Abstract: An apparatus that supports a person in a variety of positions so that a tattoo artist can comfortably apply a tattoo to the skin of the supported person is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be articulated to cause a person's legs and arms to be optimally positioned and supported to receive a tattoo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: InkBed, Inc.
    Inventors: Cosmo J. Andoloro, Kevin Richardson
  • Patent number: 8585144
    Abstract: A seat for supporting the bottom area of a seated person, which seat is intended and adapted to form part of an article of seating furniture, such as a chair or a couch, a seat for a means of transport such as a car, a bus or an aircraft, or a wheelchair, has the feature that the seat consists of two parts, i.e. a left-hand seat part and a right-hand seat part, which seat parts are separated from each other along the nominal median plane of a user, each of the seat parts is pivotable around a pivot zone extending at least roughly perpendicularly of said median plane; and the projected position of the pivot zone lies in front of the tubera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: PR Sella B.V.
    Inventor: Alouisius Gerardus Huttenhuis
  • Publication number: 20130292988
    Abstract: A wheelchair footrest retraction device has been developed to allow wheelchair users to easily retract the footrest and have assistance as they rise from the wheelchair. The device includes a handle that can be rotated by the user from a horizontal to a vertical position where it can then be used to provide support as the user rises from the wheelchair. Rotation of the handle acts to retract the footrest through a series of linkages that transmit force from the handle to the footrest. The device also includes a support post that prevents the wheelchair from tipping forward as the user rises from the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jeswin Jeyasurya, Jaimie Borisoff
  • Patent number: 8567866
    Abstract: A stroller seat pod includes a seat bottom having front, left side, right side, back, top, and underside; seat back having first piece and second piece, first piece and second piece slidably connected to one another; first piece of seat back being hingedly connected to seat bottom such that seat back and seat bottom have first seat position and second seat position, wherein, in first seat position, seat back and seat bottom have open configuration for sitting, and wherein, in second seat position, seat back and seat bottom have a closed configuration for storage; second piece of seat back being connected to first piece of seat back such that first piece of seat back and second piece of seat back have first backrest position and second backrest position, wherein, in first backrest position, first piece of seat back and second piece of seat back are extended relative to one another to increase seat back area for sitting, wherein, in second backrest position, first piece of seat back and the second piece of seat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Ascanio Carimati Di Carimate, Andrew Serbinski, Richard Wyant
  • Publication number: 20130249190
    Abstract: A powered wheelchair includes a seat assembly configured to support an individual, a curved legrest assembly pivotally connected to the seat assembly, and an adjustment assembly including an actuator operatively connected to the central column through a piston slidably secured within a sleeve. The adjustment assembly is secured underneath the seat assembly. The powered wheelchair may also include an extension bracket that allows legrests and a central column of the curved legrest assembly to be separately and independently adjusted with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Permobil AB
    Inventors: Bo Engman, Urban Lind, Niklas Backstrom, Jonas Jahkel, Mehdi Mirzaie
  • Patent number: 8534762
    Abstract: A stylist chair is provided that includes a chair, a center bar and a footrest assembly. The center bar couples the footrest assembly to the chair. The footrest assembly includes a gear assembly, a first pedal and a second pedal. The first pedal and the second pedal move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein in the open configuration, the first pedal and the second pedal form a footrest and in the closed configuration, the first pedal and the second pedal are moved toward one another to form a configuration that enables a user to easily exit the stylist chair. Also, the first pedal and the second pedal are coupled to the gear assembly so that when one of the first pedal and the second pedal moves, the other of the first pedal and the second pedal simultaneously moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Sam Linhoff, Graham Smith
  • Patent number: 8444225
    Abstract: A legrest assembly including a calf support hinged to a forward end of a seat frame and moveable between a stowed configuration generally vertically disposed below the forward end of the frame and a deployed configuration inclined above the stowed configuration, a foot support movable with and telescopically connected to the calf support, and a foot rest pivotally connected to the foot support and pivotable between a stowed configuration substantially parallel to the foot support and a deployed configuration extending outward from the foot support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Behe
  • Patent number: 8430456
    Abstract: A stroller seat assembly has a seat bottom with a forward end and a rear end. A calf support is pivotally connected to the seat bottom adjacent the forward end and is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position. A lock mechanism can, in a locked arrangement, retain the calf support in a selected one of the raised and lowered positions. A release actuator is actuable between a locked position associated with the locked arrangement and a released position that reconfigures the lock mechanism to a released arrangement. The release actuator is gripped and released by one hand of a user whereby the calf support is selectively pivotable toward either of the raised and lowered positions by the same hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Europe Brands S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Hartmut Nowak, Matthew Ransil
  • Publication number: 20130093228
    Abstract: A wheelchair includes a pivotable mechanism. The pivotable mechanism allows for a pivoting movement about an axis defined by an interface between adjacent components. These components may be (a) a seat member and a back member, (b) a seat member and a footrest, (c) a foot rest and a footplate support, (d) a baseplate and a footplate, or (e) a back member and a headrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: American Track Roadsters, Inc.
    Inventor: American Track Roadsters, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8403420
    Abstract: A reversible footrest includes an upper mounting device having attachment mechanisms mountable to either side of a wheelchair. An upper mounting device is connected to the lower mounting device which has a first support member that is capable of supporting a foot of a wheelchair user. A second mounting device having a support rod and supporting mechanism may be used to allow the reversible footrest to be raised or lowered. A second support member may also be used to support the lower leg of the wheelchair user. The attachment mechanisms and leg supporting components of the footrest are capable of being reversed to allow use on either side of the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Ramon Billescas
  • Publication number: 20130062923
    Abstract: A lower leg rest device includes an engaging member and a support member having a length adjusting mechanism. An end of the support member is pivotally connected to the frame of the baby carriage at a pivot point. The engaging member is disposed on another end of the support member. The support member is used for supporting a child safety seat. The length adjusting mechanism is used for adjusting a length between the engaging member and the pivot point. When the lower leg rest device pivots to a position below the frame body, the length of the support member can be shortened so as to support legs of a baby seated in the baby carriage. When the lower leg rest device pivots to a position above the frame body, the support member can be lengthened so that the engaging member can be engaged with and support the child safety seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Wanquan Zhu
  • Publication number: 20120286545
    Abstract: A highchair comprises a seat and a leg portion, and two embedding holes are formed on both sides of the seat respectively, and a latch groove is formed at an end of the seat. The leg portion includes two latch bumps and a link axle, and the latch bumps correspond to the embedding holes respectively, and the link axle corresponds to the latch groove. The latch bumps are engaged with the embedding holes and the link axle is engaged with the latch groove to couple the seat and the leg portion. In other words, the seat and the leg portion are coupled securely and reliably in different degrees of freedom. After the use of the highchair, users can simply separate the latch groove and the embedding holes from the link axle and the latch bumps respectively to disassemble the highchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Chung-Jen CHENG
  • Patent number: 8070219
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a chair leg rest assembly or kit. The assembly or kit may include, among other things, a leg rest and a frame for extension and retraction of the leg rest. In addition, the invention may include a roller assembly connected to the leg rest for covering the frame. The invention is also related to a combination of the chair leg rest assembly or kit with a chair. In such a combination, the invention also includes a back which hingedly rotates independently from a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Joseph L. Walters, Dana E. Lockwood, Robert Ripplinger, James A. Riegsecker
  • Patent number: 7963610
    Abstract: A novel salon chair having a novel movable footrest assembly with a sliding or pivoting footrest which replaces a conventional rigid tubular one-piece footrest typical of salon chairs. The salon chair includes a chair portion structured for being elevated above a floor surface, the chair portion having a seat portion elevated on a support portion and a seat back portion. A footrest portion has a foot support portion that is movable between an extended configuration relative to the seat portion of the chair portion, and a retracted configuration relative thereto. An actuator mechanism coupled between the chair portion and the footrest portion is structured for moving the foot support portion between the extended and retracted configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Linda Barfuss
  • Patent number: 7918508
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with an integral, retractable step. A generally hollow base is secured to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step is coupled to the base, the step being selectively positionable between a stowed position, closing off an open base portion, and a deployed position wherein the step extends at least partially outwardly through the open base portion. In the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kelly M. Whalen