Slidably Adjustable Footrest Patents (Class 297/423.36)
  • Patent number: 11634057
    Abstract: A lower leg support device for a vehicle seat, with a bracket and with a lower leg support displaceably arranged on the bracket, which can be moved between a non-use position and a use position upstream in longitudinal extension, wherein the lower leg support has at least two support parts which are moveable relative to each other to increase or reduce a lower leg support surface of the lower leg support. It is provided that the support parts can be moved transversely to the longitudinal extension to each other in order to increase or reduce the width of the lower leg support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arne Stahl, Tim Brueckner, Matthias Koehler, Christian Busch
  • Patent number: 10625641
    Abstract: A gyro seat includes: a seat body comprising a seat cushion and a seat back coupled to the seat cushion; and a seat gyroscope mounted to the seat body, the seat gyroscope compensating a movement of the seat body by control of first, second and third axes, where the first axis corresponds to a yaw of the seat body as a z axis of an xyz coordinate system, the second axis corresponds to a pitch of the seat body as an x axis of the xyz coordinate system, and the third axis corresponds to a roll of the seat body as a y axis of the xyz coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jong-Min Park
  • Patent number: 9492339
    Abstract: A system for supporting, lifting, moving, mobilizing, ambulating, and physically rehabilitating a user such as patients in hospitals comprises a chair 100, a frame 200, and a lifting garment 300. The chair 100 has a seat 102 having a front portion 104 and a rear portion 106 and is so constructed that as the seat 102 moves towards a standing position, the rear portion 106 of the seat 102 remains substantially horizontally so a user does not slide out of the seat. The frame 200 is constructed so that the user can enter the frame 200 from either the front side 202 or the rear side 204. The lifting garment 300 is made of a fabric that contracts normal to a direction in which it is pulled for ease in raising a patient in or out of a bed, a chair, or a toilet, to or from a standing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Develop, LLC
    Inventor: Roger Kenneth Leib
  • Patent number: 8662595
    Abstract: A chair with articulable support sections and an integrated lift system may have support sections mechanically linked such that a single actuation control device may articulate multiple sections. The chair includes configurable accessories directed to the comfort of an occupant of the chair. The support sections may include air cells to adjust firmness of support section surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Kramer, Marshall S. Dahneke, Reed N. Wilcox, David T. Schwanemann, John P. Biondo, Francis C. Ganance, Scott A. Schultz, Russell L. Hardy, Troy D. Acton
  • Patent number: 8602499
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a leg-rest assembly comprising a leg-rest pan, a first frame, a slider bar, a second frame, and at least one deployment link. In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least two slides that are coupled to the slider bar. In other embodiments, the leg-rest assembly includes at least two seat diaphragm mounts, wherein the at least two seat diaphragm mounts are coupled the leg-rest assembly to a seat diaphragm. In some embodiments, a cushion is coupled to the leg-rest pan exterior surface. In yet other embodiments, the leg-rest assembly includes a foot-rest pan and a single frame with at least two foot-rest slides, where the foot-rest pan is coupled to the foot-rest slides. In these embodiments, the leg-rest assembly may also include a foot-rest bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Peter Driessen, Rik Westerink
  • Patent number: 8573696
    Abstract: An ottoman device includes a first mechanism that has an operating portion operable to adjust a longitudinal position of a front end portion of a seat cushion corresponding to the inner sides of knees of a seated person, and is operable to vary a cushion length by adjusting the longitudinal position of the front end portion of the seat cushion by means of the operating portion, an ottoman body that extends from the front end portion of the seat cushion toward toes of the seated person, and a second mechanism operable to lift the ottoman body by reducing a flexion angle of the ottoman body at the front end portion of the seat cushion, so as to bring the ottoman body into a lifted condition. The ottoman body is provided as a unit with the operating portion, and the first and second mechanisms operate independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8567868
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, an ottoman portion that includes a shaft member that attaches to the sitting portion, a first frame member that rotates about the shaft member, and a second frame member that is fixed to a cushion. One side of the first frame member is attached to one side of the second frame member, and the other side of the first frame member is attached to the shaft member. From a position in which the other side of the second frame member that faces the cushion is close to the other side of the first frame member to a second position in which the ottoman portion is extended in front of the seat from the sitting portion so as to support a calf of the occupant, the other side of the second frame member and the other side of the first frame member spread apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8523282
    Abstract: A foldable leg support contains two rotary arms and a supporting surface between the two rotary arms, and the two rotary arms are rotatably connected with a seat member. When in a rest position, the foldable leg support is pulled outward to expand the supporting surface. Hence, the legs are capable of being extended on the supporting surface comfortably to improve blood circulation, and the foldable leg support is suitable for any size of the legs. When the foldable leg support is not used, the supporting surface is put between the two rotary arms, and, then, the rotary arms and the supporting plane surface are folded under an office chair, saving storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Chuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8249773
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle capable of performing a transition between a stable state and an inverted state with a simple structure. A vehicle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle that moves by inverted pendulum control, including a rider seat, a chassis, a right driving wheel, a left driving wheel, motors to rotationally drive the right driving wheel and the left driving wheel, a forward bar protruding forward beyond the chassis, a motor to rotational drive the forward bar, a footstep attached to the forward bar, and a control box to control the motor. The feet of a rider 80 are put on the footstep. The control box changes the vehicle to an inverted state by raising the footstep so that the footstep moves away from a ground, or changes the vehicle to a stable state by lowering the footstep so that the footstep comes into contact with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiko Kawada, Mitsugu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8191913
    Abstract: A center footrest apparatus for use on an existing wheelchair comprises a foot resting plate arranged in a sling-like manner and attached to each side of the chair frame. The apparatus is further provided in a second embodiment comprising a rigidly mounted and height adjustable center footrest portion supported by a T-bar that attaches to the chair frame. The center footrest allows a person to be moved around in tight quarters without interference caused by conventional folding dual footrests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Emmett A. Jessome
  • 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: 7641217
    Abstract: A detachable mobile seat includes a first part connected to a motor; a second part attached to the seat; and two links, each connected to the first part, the second part, and a wheel. The links transfer movement of the first part to the wheels. The first part includes a shaft connected to the motor, and two nuts disposed around the shaft that have screw threads in opposite directions and move along the shaft in response to operation of the motor. Each link includes a first link connected to the second part and to the nut, and a second link connected to the nut and to the wheel. The end of each second link that is nearest the wheel is rotatably connected to a connecting arm that has a rotating bar that rotates the wheel in response to operation of the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yeon Sang Yoo, Ju Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7611207
    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: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Linda Barfuss
  • Patent number: 7571964
    Abstract: An electric telescopic apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a base body provided at one of the vehicle seat or an ottoman, a movable body provided at a movable portion, the movable body assembled to the base body so as to extend or retract relative to the base body, a rack fixed on one of a top surface or a bottom surface of the base body or the movable body, the rack being formed in a plate shape which extends in the extending and retracting direction of the movable body and having teeth, a pinion housed in the other of the base body or the movable body and engaged with the rack, a drive unit for driving the pinion, and a guide mechanism provided at the base body and the movable body to guide the movable body in the extending and retracting direction of the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Taniguchi, Takuya Mizuno, Masaki Okada, Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7360841
    Abstract: An articulating leg rest is provided having a first member pivotally connected to a base frame. The base frame may be either connected to or part of a wheelchair frame. A second member is telescopically received by the first member. A drive system includes a motor-driven lead screw. First and second housings each have internally threaded portions engaged with the lead screw. A link connects the first housing to the base frame. The second housing engages the second member. Rotation of the lead screw advances the first housing along the lead screw, moving the link and causing the first and second members to rotate relative to the base frame. Rotation of the lead screw also advances the second housing along the lead screw, causing the second housing to linearly translate the second member relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: Richard T. Barlow, Stephen J. Antonishak, John C. Carminati, Kip D. Alder
  • Patent number: 7293839
    Abstract: A footrest apparatus according to the present invention enables change of the position of a footrest and fixation of the same both in a position in which a surface for massaging lower limbs is oriented frontward and a position in which a lower limb resting surface is oriented frontward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Daito Electric Machine Industry Company Limited
    Inventor: Nobuzo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7219956
    Abstract: A convertible stool is interchangeable between a utility function which has a seat movable up and down and has casters as feet at the end of legs connected with the seat through an upstanding member. In a second use, the casters are replaced by feet to give stability to the chair on a floor or base. As such, the second use can be a furniture type use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Larin Corporation
    Inventor: Shouyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7201451
    Abstract: A drive (35, 37) reversible to two active states for optional generation of a force of displacement effecting retraction or extension of a foot rest configuration (11) is provided in an aircraft seat. The seat has seat components such as backrest seat element (1), and leg rest (9) coupled to the front edge area (3) of the seat element and pivotable between a lowered non-use position and raised use position. A foot rest configuration (11) is mounted to be movable longitudinally on the leg rest (9) between a retracted position and an extended position to form an extension of the leg rest (9). The leg rest is coupled to drive (35, 37) which may be switched between an inactive state of rest and an active state generating a force for displacement of the foot rest configuration (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Jurgen Baumann
  • Patent number: 7121627
    Abstract: A leg-rest assembly for use with a chair, in particular, a reclining chair is disclosed. The leg-rest assembly is comprised of a leg-rest pivotally connected to a seat, and a foot-rest portion attached in a telescopic relationship with the leg-rest portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Pawan Gaikwad, Pedro Meneses
  • Patent number: 6926366
    Abstract: The present invention provides an extendable and retractable foot section for a medical examination table whereby the footrest is adapted to extend when the footrest section is raised to its generally horizontal height for use, and alternatively, retract when the footrest section is lowered to its generally vertical position for storage. The coordinated movement of the footrest section is accomplished through the use of a linkage assembly, a slidable footrest section, and a table footrest support frame. Additionally, an actuator is provided to operably cause the linkage assembly to rotate the footrest support frame while simultaneously sliding the footrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Wolters
  • Patent number: 6916069
    Abstract: A seat, in particular a vehicle seat, preferably an aircraft passenger seat, has seating components such as a sitting part (20), a back rest (22), and a leg rest (24). The positions of these components, particularly their inclination relative to each other, is adjustable by at least one operating device (32), and by a control device (40) with at least one control component, preferably manually actuatable. The control device (40) is provided with at least one function element (48, 50) which makes certain that the control device and/or control component cannot be activated unintentionally. In addition to the control device, such as one in the form of an operating component or operating key, another structural component (function element) is present as a switching component. Operation of the function element in the form of a connection process is necessary to cause activation of the control device for initiation of an operating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Jurgen Bauer, Heribert Lischka
  • Patent number: 6880845
    Abstract: A wheelchair footrest retractor (10) is disclosed for use with a footrest (16, 18) in a wheelchair (14) to allow the wheelchair user or caregiver to readily manipulate the footplates (20) between an upper retracted position and a lower use position by simply manipulating a handle(56) located to the side of the knee of the wheelchair user. The wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be mounted to the wheelchair with little or no modification of the wheelchair. The rod (58) in the wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be adjusted in length to fit a particular wheelchair and also adjusted when the length of the footrest(16, 18) is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventors: William H. Broyles, Daniel F. Boone
  • Patent number: 6874855
    Abstract: The method for controlling the dynamics applies to a seat (10) comprising at least three parts (16, 20, 22) which can move with respect to each other and at least two actuators (24, 26) for moving the three parts (16, 20, 22). The method comprises a step of operating the two actuators (24, 26) jointly to modify the configuration of the seat. The step of joint operation comprises the following successive steps: activating a first actuator (24) at a first instant; and activating a second actuator (26) at a second instant subsequent to the said first instant and separated from the first instant by a predetermined length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Labinal
    Inventor: Laurent Nivet
  • Patent number: 6773074
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a lower-leg support, transferable from a stowed position into a utilization position, and a footrest. To achieve comfortable support with easy operation, the footrest has a footplate that may be folded out and that is located in the stowed position approximately parallel, and in the utilization position approximately perpendicular, to the lower-leg support, and coacts with an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Flory, Guenter Franzmann, Hermann Gaus, Thomas Geisel, Klaus Hassler, Christoph Jung, Rainer Leucht, Heiko Utsch, Erik Weber, Norman Windham
  • Patent number: 6764137
    Abstract: A seat (1), notably for an aircraft, comprising a squab (2), a backrest (3), and a legrest (4) fixed in an articulated fashion to the structure of the seat so as to be able to adjust its inclination between a substantially vertical position (B) and a position (A) situated substantially in line with the squab, this legrest (4) carrying a footrest (5) able to move between a retracted position and an extension position situated in line with the legrest. The seat (1) comprises control means (6) consisting of an electronic circuit (7) for making the legrest (4) pivot between the two positions defined above and simultaneously controlling the mergence or progressive retraction of the footrest according to predetermined kinematics. The said electronic circuit (7) also cooperates with means (11) able to be actuated by the user in order to adjust the position of the legrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiel Aeronautique
    Inventor: François Menard
  • Patent number: 6755463
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a portable chair specifically adapted for the unique needs of a professional reflexology therapy session. The chair is collapsible and provides numerous adjustments to fit the particular anatomy of each individual client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Gaetano Lardieri, Mary Alice Arre
  • Patent number: 6752463
    Abstract: The method of managing the kinematics of a seat (10) includes at least three seat elements (16, 18, 22) able to move with respect to each other and at least two actuators (26, 27) for moving the three elements (16, 18, 22) with respect to each other. When a first actuator (27) is actuated in at least one direction, it includes a step of actuating a second actuator (26) first of all in a given direction and then in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Labinal
    Inventor: Laurent Nivet
  • Patent number: 6685271
    Abstract: A chair support device includes a frame having a rear portion pivotally secured to a front portion of a base and movable relative to the base between a downward folding position and a working position. A foot pedal is slidably supported on the frame and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame. A rotating device may rotate the frame between the downward folding position and the working position, to move the foot pedal forwardly relative to the frame when the frame is rotated toward the working position, in order to comfortably support the feet of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Horng Jiun Chang
  • Patent number: 6663184
    Abstract: A leg rest and a seat back are rotatably mounted at the front and rear of a seat cushion of a passenger seat respectively, and a footrest is mounted on the leg rest in such a manner that it can be extended and retracted. Adjustment of the angle of the seat back and the leg rest and positioning of the footrest are performed using a seat back actuator, a leg rest actuator, and a footrest actuator. A proximity sensor is provided at the end of the footrest, wherein, when the proximity sensor detects that the footrest is approaching an obstacle, downward rotation of the leg rest is stopped and the footrest is moved backward. When the leg rest or the footrest is moved, the interference of the obstacle such as a baggage with the footrest can reliably be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Hagiike
  • Patent number: 6659562
    Abstract: A leg rest and a seat back are rotatably mounted at the front and the back of a sea cushion of a motor-driven seat, respectively. A foot rest is mounted on the leg rest so that it can be extended and retreated. Motor-driven actuators each having a potentiometer are individually connected to them. The motor-driven actuators are controlled by a controller in response to an input of an operation switch, based on a position determined by the potentiometer, and in accordance with a predetermined reference position, thereby adjusting the angles and the positions of the seat parts. The motor-driven actuator is temporarily moved to the end of the stroke, so that limit switches are activated, and the reference position is adjusted based on the position determined by the potentiometer, thereby significantly reducing the amount of adjustment work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Company, Limited
    Inventor: Satomi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6652033
    Abstract: A leg rest and a seat back are rotatably mounted at the front and rear of a seat cushion of a passenger seat respectively, and a footrest is mounted on the leg rest in such a manner that it can be extended and retracted. Adjustment of the angle of the seat back and the leg rest, and positioning of the footrest are performed with a seat back actuator, a leg rest actuator, and a footrest actuator. A contact sensor is provided at the end of the footrest, wherein when the contact sensor detects contact with an obstacle, downward rotation of the leg rest is stopped and the footrest is moved backward. When the leg rest or the footrest is moved, the interference of the obstacle with the footrest such as a baggage can reliably be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20030209933
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a lower-leg support, transferable from a stowed position into a utilization position, and a footrest. To achieve comfortable support with easy operation, the footrest has a footplate that may be folded out and that is located in the stowed position approximately parallel, and in the utilization position approximately perpendicular, to the lower-leg support, and coacts with an energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gerhard Flory, Guenter Franzmann, Hermann Gaus, Thomas Geisel, Klaus Hassler, Christoph Jung, Rainer Leucht, Heiko Utsch, Erik Weber, Norman Windham
  • Patent number: 6517160
    Abstract: An extensible footrest, particularly for armchairs, sofas and the like, which comprises a frame adapted to be hinged to a frame of a seat of an armchair, sofa or the like, the footrest frame being constituted by a first pair of lateral arms and by a second pair of lateral arms which are slideable with respect to the first pair of lateral arms, at least one actuator being rigidly connected to the seat frame at one end and to the footrest frame at an opposite end, in order to transfer the footrest frame from a first retracted inactive position to an extended active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ciar S.p.A
    Inventor: Egidio Marcantoni
  • 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: 6454353
    Abstract: A chair has a seat shell, a cushion having a front edge which extends outwardly beyond a front edge of the seat shell, a shaft arranged under a seat surface, an actuating element connected with the shaft and also connected with the front edge of the cushion, at least one first toothed disc arranged on the shaft, an endless element guided on the toothed disc and connected with the seat shell, a second toothed disc which together with the first toothed disc is displaceable parallel to the seat shell, so that by raising or lowering of the actuating element the front edge of the cushion is displaceable forwardly or rearwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Interstuhl Bueromoebel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oskar Knaus
  • Publication number: 20020109390
    Abstract: A leg rest and a seat back are rotatably mounted at the front and rear of a seat cushion of a passenger seat respectively, and a footrest is mounted on the leg rest in such a manner that it can be extended and retracted. Adjustment of the angle of the seat back and the leg rest, and positioning of the footrest are performed using a seat back actuator, a leg rest actuator, and a footrest actuator. A proximity sensor is provided at the end of the footrest, wherein, when the proximity sensor detects that the footrest is approaching an obstacle, downward rotation of the leg rest is stopped and the footrest is moved backward. When the leg rest or the footrest is moved, the interference of the obstacle such as a baggage with the footrest can reliably be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Hagiike
  • Patent number: 6382727
    Abstract: A foldable deck chair having a leg support unit that can be manually retracted into a stored position beneath the chair seat and raised into a horizontally extended position in front of the seat by a person seated in the chair. A pair of support members are rotatably supported upon the front legs of the chair so that they can be rotated by a person seated in the chair between raised upper and a lowered down position. A leg support frame is movably mounted in parallel guideways formed in the support member and the motion of the frame is regulated with that of the supporting arms through a control linkage so that the frame is retracted along the support members when the members are lowered into the down position and is extended along the support members when the members are raised to the up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Peter B. Pickard
  • Publication number: 20020003370
    Abstract: A seat (1), notably for an aircraft, comprising a squab (2), a backrest (3), and a legrest (4) fixed in an articulated fashion to the structure of the seat so as to be able to adjust its inclination between a substantially vertical position (B) and a position (A) situated substantially in line with the squab, this legrest (4) carrying a footrest (5) able to move between a retracted position and an extension position situated in line with the legrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: Francois Menard
  • Publication number: 20010022461
    Abstract: An extensible footrest, particularly for armchairs, sofas and the like, which comprises a frame adapted to be hinged to a frame of a seat of an armchair, sofa or the like, the footrest frame being constituted by a first pair of lateral arms and by a second pair of lateral arms which are slideable with respect to the first pair of lateral arms, at least one actuator being rigidly connected to the seat frame at one end and to the footrest frame at an opposite end, in order to transfer the footrest frame from a first retracted inactive position to an extended active position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: C.I.A.R. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Egidio Marcantoni
  • Patent number: 6267445
    Abstract: The present device is directed to a leg rest for a seat, such as an aircraft seat, and includes a body having a generally flat support surface, a pivoting mechanism for mounting the body so as to pivot about a front edge of the seat squab so that the surface of the seat squab and the support surface of the body form a dihedron with variable angles. The leg rest further includes an extension mechanism that moves from a retracted position to various unfolded positions in order to adjustably extend the body of the leg rest on its side opposite to the pivoting mechanism, a roller shutter and a guidance mechanism for deploying the roller shutter when the extension mechanism is unfolded so that the roller shutter comes in line with the support surface of the body of the leg rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiel Aeronautique
    Inventor: Joel Marais
  • Patent number: 6264278
    Abstract: An adjustable footrest for a car seat. The adjustable footrest can be permanently attached, with screws and bolts, to a given car seat. The adjustable footrest has a vertical plate and a horizontal plate that can be swung into place with the use of ball bearing turning spools. The horizontal plate can be further adjusted in relation to the vertical plate with the use of a spring loaded dowel and a plurality of alignment apertures on the vertical plate. This enables the adjustable footrest to adjust to each individual child that sits in it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Irene A. Weimer, April L. Weimer
  • Patent number: 6203108
    Abstract: A tailgate seat for attachment to the rear tailgate of a pickup truck is comprised of a first frame member having a first leg and a second leg joined by a first cross member and a second frame member having a third leg and a fourth leg joined by a second cross member. A first seating member is attached to the first frame while a second seating member is attached to the second frame. A first strut is pivotally attached to the first leg and to the third leg, and a second strut is pivotally attached to the second leg and to the fourth leg, the first and second struts being made from a resilient material. A third strut is pivotally attached to the first leg and to the third leg while a fourth strut is pivotally attached to the second leg and to the fourth leg. A first clip is attached to the first leg while a second clip is attached to the second leg, the first clip and the second clip each having a non-scuff member attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: James E. Mattison, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6185769
    Abstract: A chair apparatus includes a base frame, an intermediate frame coupled to the base frame, and a resident support frame including a back section, a seat section, and a leg section pivotably coupled to the base frame and the intermediate frame by a plurality of links to permit the support frame to move from a chair position to a flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Larisey, Jr., Charles M. Stout, Brian L. Crosley