Molded Patents (Class 297/DIG2)
  • Patent number: 4793607
    Abstract: A molded plastic swing seat has a pair of fully encapsulated thin flexible steel straps. To maintain the straps from warping or buckling under the forces exerted by inflow into the shallow mold of plastic material under high pressure, the straps are retained flat in a plane by the tips of closely spaced pairs of pins. Molding pressure forces a film of plastic material in the clearance beneath each tip, leaving the straps protected against corrosion. Since the embedded straps spread the force applied by ejection pins, the molded part may be ejected from the mold without waiting for it to harden, thus increasing production capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Lemay Machine Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Suellentrop
  • Patent number: 4792189
    Abstract: A novel seat assembly is disclosed including a foam cushion assembly, a rigid shell, a cover and means for holding the components in assembled relation. The cushion assembly comprises a foam cushion, including a peripheral lip extending around the side of the cushion, and an internal rigid framework located to maintain the predetermined configuration of the lip. The shell has an edge configured to align and mate with the cushion lip. The cover overlies the front of the cushion with its free peripheral section extending between the cushion lip and the shell edge. The cushion assembly is rotatably mounted to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: John S. Shovar
  • Patent number: 4784437
    Abstract: An automobile seat comprising a main foam pad and a sub-pad made of a softer foam material relative to the foam cushion body, the sub-pad being mounted on the main foam pad. In this seat, a covering member is provided over those pads such that the section of the covering member which covers the sub-pad is fixed in a dotted manner to the section thereof which covers the main foam pad. With this arrangement, a plurality of decorative creases are created in the lateral side portions of the covering member section which covers the lateral surfaces of the sub-pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Shimada
  • Patent number: 4781417
    Abstract: A seat cushion support for an upholstered seat cushion comprises a one-piece, form-retaining, resilient seat pan, preferably of molded plastic, and a pair of mounting tangs, each unitary with the seat pan. The seat pan has a curvilinear upper surface, ishium accommodating means in a rearward portion of the seat pan, which is concavely curved downwardly, and a forward portion which curves downwardly to a forward edge. The mounting tangs are located inboard of and proximate lateral edges, each mounting tang extending downwardly from connection with the seat pan. An upholstered seat cushion assembly comprises such seat cushion support, a cushion, an upholstery covering, and mounting brackets to which the mounting tangs are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Roger A. Shipman, Richard M. Kostin, William J. Brezina
  • Patent number: 4776635
    Abstract: A railway car seat modularly adaptable to provide various seating accommodations, consisting of a load bearing frame (10), a seat element (20) and a backrest element (30), where the frame (10) is made up of a tubular member (11) connecting two horizontal rail members (12) serving to support the seat element, the seat element (20) and backrest element (30) each having a semicircular channel (21A, 31A), both of which channels mate with the tube (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Alsthom
    Inventor: Gerard Halliez
  • Patent number: 4768833
    Abstract: A utility chair having spaced apart leg members, a frame supported by the leg members having a base portion and a back portion, the improvement consisting of a one-piece blow molded hollow back member and a one-piece blow molded hollow seat member adapted to be mounted on the base portion. The seat member comprises integrally formed front, back, top, and bottom walls. The top wall is vertically spaced from the bottom wall and is yieldably deformable. An upstanding reinforcing member is integrally formed with the bottom wall for providing rigidity to the seat member while at the same time permitting the top wall to flex downwardly a limited distance upon downward forces being exerted on the upper surfaces of the seat, thereby providing a cushioning effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Virco Mfg. Corporation
    Inventor: Julian A. Virtue
  • Patent number: 4762368
    Abstract: A light-weight, weather-proof piece of lawn furniture is constructed of hollow rigid outer polyvinylchloride extrusions which are heated and pulled over metal rods forming members having the same shape as the metal rods. The metal reinforced polyvinylchloride extrusions are connected to form the frame of, for example, a chair. Straps are connected across portions of the frame to form a back and a seat of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Omni Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Schwartz, Bertram Lesser
  • Patent number: 4753480
    Abstract: A modifiable pressure distribution pad assembly for a wheelchair comprises a bottom pad of resilient foam material of high density and at least one upper pad of resilient foam material of intermediate density having at least one cutout defining an opening therethrough. Filler foam material of low density is frictionally mounted as an insert in at least one of the openings of one of the upper pads and removable therefrom. A cover encloses the pads, the cover permitting removal of the upper pads and associated filler material therefrom so that filler foam material in one opening can be separated from the upper pads and replaced in the one opening by filler foam material of a different density prior to return of the upper pads and associated filler foam material to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Inventor: Theodore R. Morell
  • Patent number: 4744603
    Abstract: A shell construction is provided for seating, such as chairs and the like, and comprises a semi-rigid, resiliently flexible sheet, having a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration. The sheet has a bottom shaped to support a buttock area of an adult user, and a back with a central area disposed directly behind a lumbar area of a seated adult user to support the same. An upper area of the back is disposed generally behind an upper back area of a seated user to selectively support the same. At least one rib is formed integrally on the rearward side of the sheet, and extends generally vertically along the central area of the back to stiffen the central area of the back in a vertical plane for firm support of at least the lumbar area of the seated user, yet permit at least the upper portion of the back to flex in a horizontal plane for improved freedom of movement of the upper back area of the seated user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Knoblock
  • Patent number: 4744601
    Abstract: A headrest apparatus comprising at least one support member mounted on a seat, a high cushioning elastic base provided on said support member, a low cushioning elastic support wall provided on said elastic base, an empty room formed in front of said elastic support wall, a head resting part formed at the front side of this empty room and a gel material layer formed by filling said empty room with gel material, wherein a load to be applied to said head resting part is applied to said gel material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Cubic Engineering
    Inventor: Motoyasu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4733910
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a chair having a seat and a backrest which is hinged to the seat by a resilient hinge. The hinge is substantially moulded together with the shell formed by the seat and backrest. The degree of flexure of the backrest exceeds any flexure of prior art. One piece plastic shells and stops are preferably provided to limit the degree of flexure of the hinge. Moulding the hinge with the shell substantially reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Sebel Furniture Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Brennan
  • Patent number: 4732359
    Abstract: New seat support for a public transport vehicle and seat equipped with this support. The invention relates to a seat support for a public transport vehicle, intended to be mounted overhung on a side wall of this vehicle. As seen in section through a vertical plane perpendicular to the sidewall, the framework of this support has a generally C-shaped cross-section. The upper branck of the C is intended to serve as a base for a seat, the lower branch of the C rests on the floor of the vehicle and is fixed to the latter, and the verticle part of the C, which joins the branches together, is designed to bear against the side wall of the vehicle and to be fixed to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite Etablissements Compin
    Inventor: Jean L. Danton
  • Patent number: 4730873
    Abstract: In a one-piece seat shell which consists of at least two individual seats and which, on every outer seating edge, has a closed channel which runs from the front side of the seat up to the upper side of the seat back and is set back from the rear side of the seat shell and which is provided on the channel base side with reinforcing portions for accommodating fastening means, a further channel, formed like the outer lying channel, is also located in the transition area between the two individual seats and is likewise closed on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Janz
  • Patent number: 4717202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outdoor courtesy bench and is specifically concerned with providing such a bench which is constructed of a lightweight easily handled material for visibly displaying a plurality of advertising panels, both on the front and back of the bench. Prior art devices have been constructed of heavy, high maintenance materials which in use are subject to the accumulation of debris and the like therebeneath and which are subject to the collection of rain water and the like on the seat portion thereof and have only been adaptable to display a single advertising panel on the frontside thereof. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing an outdoor courtesy bench of three-piece modular construction of a lightweight material having a hollow base portion to which discreet weight members can be added for increased weight and stability of the bench after positioning at a selected bench site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: The Batchelder Company
    Inventors: Joseph H. Batchelder, III, John M. Parks
  • Patent number: 4711497
    Abstract: A seat mounted on a vehicle floor comprising a seat frame and a backrest. The seat frame contains a plastic base member and an open section formed within the base member. The base member is circumscribed by a rim extending upward along a substantial portion of the base member and a support surface extending outward from the base member substantially perpendicular to the rim. The base member contains a plate section integrally connected to the base member and extending within the open section. A device is provided for adjustably supporting the seat frame along the floor of the vehicle. A pair of support rods are connected to the adjustable support device and the seat frame is mounted on the support rods. A device is also provided for flexibly supporting the plate section in response to downward pressure thereon. A seat cushion is mounted on the seat frame. The backrest, which is connected to the seat frame, includes a fixed backrest frame having sidewalls extending outward from the backrest frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushika Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kazaoka, Fumio Wakamatsu, Yasuo Shinkai
  • Patent number: 4693516
    Abstract: An automobile seat back headrest assembly and a method of fabricating same. The method comprises the steps of simultaneously molding a support (16, 116) and head (14, 117) to produce an integral and homogeneous frame member (12, 112). The head (14, 117) is covered with a known protective foam material (26). The assembly (10, 110) is characterized by the support (16, 116) and body (14, 117) being integral and homogeneous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Inventor: Hillery G. Knecht
  • Patent number: 4685739
    Abstract: An upholstery support for the back rest of a vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle seat, has two reinforced half-shells connected with each other along a portion of their edges. The half-shells form hollow box-like arms which distance themselves from each other from a hollow box-like joining area toward their free ends. The free ends of both arms form the lower end of the upholstery support, which has a V-like shape that is open toward the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Elmar Deegener, Hans W. Voss, Gunter Franzmann
  • Patent number: 4682816
    Abstract: This invention relates to an easy chair comprising a seat surface fixed to the frame and with respect to which are pivotally mounted, to the rear, a backrest with several positions and, at the front, a leg rest composed of two hinged panels. The backrest is maintained in its various positions by means of the armrests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventor: Henry Massonnet
  • Patent number: 4682818
    Abstract: A modifiable pressure distribution pad assembly for a wheelchair comprises a bottom pad of resilient foam material of high density and at least one upper pad of resilient foam material of intermediate density having at least one cutout defining an opening therethrough. Filler foam material of low density is frictionally mounted as an insert in at least one of the openings of the one of upper pads and removable therefrom. A cover encloses the pads, the cover permitting removal of the upper pads and associated filler material therefrom so that filler foam material in one opening can be separated from the upper pads and replaced in the one opening by filler foam material of a different density prior to return of the upper pads and associated filler foam material to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventor: Theodore R. Morell
  • Patent number: 4674799
    Abstract: A light-weight, weather-proof piece of lawn furniture is constructed of hollow rigid outer polyvinylchloride extrusions which are heated and pulled over metal rods forming members having the same shape as the metal rods. The metal reinforced polyvinylchloride extrusions are connected to form the frame of, for example, a chair. Straps are connected across portions of the frame to form a back and a seat of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventors: Larry A. Schwartz, Bertram Lesser
  • Patent number: 4671570
    Abstract: A chair, specifically engineered and designed for musicians which in both adjustable and stackable. A highly developed human factored design which is mechanically correct has been developed. The basic framework for the seat pan and back support of the chair is specifically designed and contoured to enable a performing musicians to breathe properly while comfortably seated. Blow molded plastic is used for the seat pan having a desired amount of flexibility. The seat pan is covered by molded foam and a stretch fabric to enhance the function and comfort of the chair. This combination of materials prevents degradation of the posture configuration of the pan for the life of the chair. The backrest is similarly designed and provides upper back support rather than just a posture guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Wenger Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Hockenberry, Leslie R. Abraham
  • Patent number: 4650251
    Abstract: A seat for use in an automobile, airplane and house is disclosed and includes a top cover member having a decorative welt therein that is formed in a portion of the top cover member. The top cover member is fixed to the surface of a cushion member formed of foam material. The welt is formed by enveloping the external periphery of a string-shaped welt core member with the top cover member in a .OMEGA.-shaped manner using a groove which is formed by mating two molding pieces. Accordingly, the seat according to the invention can be manufactured at lower costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Shimada
  • Patent number: 4647109
    Abstract: An upholstered seat assembly and also a cushion and a one-piece seat and back shell for the assembly and molded of thin-walled plastic. The shell has a seat and an upwardly extending back, a continuous edge flange formed around said seat and back and formed integrally therewith. The cushion is secured to said flange, and the back and seat have side walls for the reception and support of the cushion. The seat has a plurality of generally parallel curvilinear slots which demarcate a plurality of generally parallel curvilinear spring segments extending transversely across the seat. The seat is sloped to have a positive bow for the segments to permit them to deflect downwardly in response to a load created by the occupant of the upholstered seat. The seat also has an underside and a generally rectangular and downwardly extending frame formed on the seat underside and which provides a mounting surface for the upholstered seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David J. Christophersen, Steven P. Spiegelhoff
  • Patent number: 4643481
    Abstract: A seat system comprised of a base and cushion. The base has a specially contoured support surface including a forward section and a rearward section. The rearward section has a pair of wings surrounding a void over which the user's ischia and coccyx are to be positioned. The void is mushroomed in its cross-sectional shape because the rearmost portion of the wings contain enlargements for providing support to the buttock at the rear. A sloped forward support surface rises forwardly of the void and tapers into a single ridge which continues forwardly to separate a pair of troughs. This forward support surface, together with the wings and rear support surfaces form a "bucket" or bowl-shaped portion of the total seating surface for proper positioning of the ischia and coccyx over the void. The cushion has a peripheral shape matching that of the base, including a void which is mushroomed in cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventors: William S. Saloff, David Saloff
  • Patent number: 4636005
    Abstract: The seat back for a motor vehicle rear seat assembly has a rear panel made of plastics. A locking mechanism housing, which is part of a seat back locking arrangement, and the rear panel are forming a one-piece structure. To provide the necessary rigidity, fiber glass mats are laminated into the plastics. The plastic material itself is polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Bolz, Walter P. Trutter
  • Patent number: 4631766
    Abstract: An infant seat for holding low birth weight neonates which supports an infant in such a manner as to prevent most position-induced deformities from occurring. The seat includes a head-receiving cavity, a back-supporting region and a buttocks-receiving hollow; a leg-containing structure is disposed on each side of the hollow. The back-supporting region is configured to hold an infant in a supine position and includes an arcuate surface on each side for biasing a supported infant to remain in the supine position. The head-receiving cavity is designed to not only maintain the infant's head in alignment with the infant's back, but also engages the infant's head over a large semi-spherically area to prevent flattening of the skull. The leg-containing structure prevents the infant's legs from flailing outwardly away from the infant's body, thus reducing hip rotation deformities and abduction stress in the leg and hip joints of the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Caryl J. Semmler, Carol A. Cook, Jackie D. Smith
  • Patent number: 4627660
    Abstract: A decorative button for use in the surface of an automotive seat and method for making same are disclosed. In the method, a button core member is set on the back side of a trim cover assembly comprising a top cover member, a wadding and a wadding cover, and the button core member is covered by a reinforcing member. The peripheries of the button core member are then pressed and heated to weld the top cover member, wadding, wadding cover and reinforcing member around the button core member to one another into an integral body and, at the same time, to form a deep-valley-shaped recessed portion in the surface of the top cover member around the button core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Kon
  • Patent number: 4626029
    Abstract: The work chair is provided with a backrest support (13) which is connected movably to the seat shell (4) or respectively to a base plate (10) stiffening the latter, for the purpose of individual adjustment of inclination, and is flexible in terms of bending along its vertical extension and the contour curve of which, under load, essentially approximates to the curve of the human spinal column. The inclination of the backrest can be fixed by means of a locking arrangement (14) which consists essentially of a pawl (16) which is spring-loaded (20) and of an engagement toothing (17) provided at the lower end of the backrest support (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Protoned B.V.
    Inventor: Egon Brauning
  • Patent number: 4623187
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat bearing insert for fitting in the bed of a pick-up truck. The insert is of a size to substantially fill and essentially eliminate horizontal movement in the truck bed and includes securing members for attaching to the truck to secure against vertical movement. The insert further includes forward and rearward sitting regions each having a seat for readily converting the truck bed to a sitting area and each seat comprises a seat portion and a backrest portion at generally right angles to one another, extending widthwise across the insert in a forwardly facing direction when fitted in the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Inventor: Aftab Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 4615562
    Abstract: This invention relates to a child restraint for automobiles which can be used either in a rearward facing or in a forward facing direction, and that can be moved from one configuration to another without mechanical adjustments. In order to obtain the possibility to use the child restraint both in a rearward facing direction and a forward facing direction the undersurface of the restraint seat includes a heel (13) at the back support (11) side of the seat undersurface, a toe (15) at the free end of the seat undersurface, and a concave curved slope (14) joining the heel (13) and the toe (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: AB Akta Barnsakerhet
    Inventors: Robert Bell, Stefan Westius, Bjorn-Ake Skold
  • Patent number: 4609225
    Abstract: A chair is disclosed in which a support member is provided by a membrane shell having at least one structural support region of relatively low resilience and at least one flexing region of relatively greater resilience to provide for the structural integrity of the membrane shell yet to permit the support surface to deform under loading for the comfort of the person seated thereon. Further, a folding chair is disclosed which provides a plurality of legs hingedly connected to the support member and disposed to swing between a first position which folds flatly against the underside of the support member and a second position which distends the legs for holding the chair in a convenient position for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Inventor: Harry D. Loucks
  • Patent number: 4609226
    Abstract: A seat for use in a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed which comprises a cushion member formed of foam material, a top member for covering the cushion member and a plurality of hanger members. In this seat, the top surface of the top member and the upper portion of the cushion member are respectively divided into a central portion and side portions independently of each other. A partition cloth is provided between the central and side portions of the top member and is then inserted within a cut groove separating the central and side portions of the cushion member from each other. After then, the hanger member is used to pull the inserted partition cloth and thus the top surface of the top member into their respective desired positions. With this structure, when an occupant is seated on the central portion of the seat, it is ensured that such a load applied to the central portion of the seat by the occupant will not have a deterimental effect on the peripheral or side portions of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 4606580
    Abstract: A loose-cushion seat for use in a vehicle such as a bus, a passenger car or the like is disclosed which comprises a main pad provided with a skirt portion, a sub-pad placed on the main pad, a top member for covering the sub-pad. In the seat, the main pad is mounted such that it covers the outside surfaces of a seat frame. An insert wire is embedded in the skirt portion of the main pad and the end of the top member for covering the sub-pad is fixedly secured to the insert wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 4603907
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly which includes a frame having side rails with upright webs and upper flanges and a load carrying pre-stretched web mounted on and extending between the side rails. A plurality of J-clips are provided for mounting the web on the side rails so as to maintain the web in its pre-stretched condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane W. Witzke
  • Patent number: 4598949
    Abstract: A seating platform e.g. for domestic furniture or motor vehicle seats comprises at least one moulded elastic element mounted on a frame member and covered by a non-stretch sheet which, upon installation, is only lightly tensioned. The elastic element is of a substantially incompressible material, e.g. a rubber composition high in natural rubber, and includes spaced apart grooves which permit controlled transverse deformation of the element upon loading of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Pirelli Limited
    Inventor: James P. Miln
  • Patent number: 4591208
    Abstract: The safety shield is designed to be energy absorbing and is constructed of a non-rigid self-supporting energy-absorbing material and is adapted to engage across the side walls of a children's car seat. The lateral sides of the shield are provided with depending flanges which envelop the upstanding side walls of the car seat as well as with snap-lock protuberances for engaging the side walls at top and bottom. Also, the shield is provided with a face guard which extends from the shield and with padding which envelops the face guard and the inside of the shield. A gripping means is provided on the front of the shield to securely receive and grip a retaining belt, such as an automobile seat belt, to hold the seat and shield in place against lateral movement and pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Bobby-Mac Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin H. McDonald, Richard L. Panicci, Ralph M. Nowak
  • Patent number: 4582361
    Abstract: A vehicle seat frame having "Z" section side rails which form part of a rigid cubic section. Each of the side rails has an upright web formed at its upper end with an integral outboard extending upper flange and at its lower end with an integral inboard extending lower flange. This arrangement provides for a load bearing surface for seating loads of increased width and frame mounting flanges that are closer together to enhance structural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kennel
  • Patent number: 4580836
    Abstract: The seat (1) and the back (2) are identically shaped shells (12) having side supporting ribs (10, 11). With the exception of the portion intended for connection to the other part, the supporting ribs are in the form of channels (13) open at the bottom. The remaining portion is in the form of a hollow cylinder (15) having a partition (17). The connecting members (3, 4) disposed on both sides consist of bent-over spring material (30) in band form. The ends (33, 34) of the arms (31, 32) of the connecting members are integrally fastened in slots (35, 36) in cylindrical pegs (37, 38) by means of screws (39, 40). The pegs (37, 38) are produced with snug fit tolerance in relation to the hollow cylinders (14, 15). An O-ring (40, 41) is compressed by means of a screw (44, 45) between the partition (16, 17) and the peg (37, 38). This provides adequate fastening of the connecting member even when thin-walled moulded polypropylene is used for the shells (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Intercollection Development S.A. Gyrenmoos
    Inventor: Claude J. Verney
  • Patent number: 4577907
    Abstract: A seat assembly 10 having as its principal components a generally rigid integral blow molded seat construction 12 having bottom and back portions, and bottom and back cushions 20,22, received within recessed areas 42,44 of the bottom and back portions. The blow molded seat construction is provided with a pair of reinforcing wells 46,48 in each of the bottom and back portions, each well bottom wall being bonded to the corresponding opposed surface 34,38. Mounting plates 18 are disposed within the reinforcing wells 46 of the bottom portion and threaded fasteners 16 are screwed into the mounting plates to secure the blow molded seat construction to a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Air-Lock Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Floyd H. Talmon, David K. Talmon
  • Patent number: 4575073
    Abstract: A child's swing seat having an elliptical strap-like perforated body of molded plastic material. A continuous strand of reinforcing cable is integrally molded in a peripheral flange on the body and has end loops projecting from the ends of the body forming hangers for attachment to suspending chains or strands for the seat. The end loops of the cable are covered with plastic during the molding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Thacker
  • Patent number: 4574786
    Abstract: A massage apparatus having a movable massaging assembly is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a front open boxlike base member molded from plastic to have a closed bottom and side walls extending forwardly from the lateral sides thereof. A front cover closing the front opening of the base member is cooperative therewith to define a space for receiving therein the massaging assembly. The plastic base member is provided at its lateral sides with racks each of which extends longitudinally of the base member to be in meshing engagement with each one of the pinions provided on the massaging assembly, such that the assembly is guided along the racks to move in the longitudinal direction of the base member by applying a massaging force through the front cover to the back of a user resting on the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Hashimoto, Teruhisa Innami, Ken Kakino, Yukio Yamamura
  • Patent number: 4565036
    Abstract: A telescoping seating structure having a plurality of rows, each row having two or more row assemblies, a seating assembly, and a front support. Each row assembly having a carriage assembly, a vertical post attached to the carriage assembly and extending upwards, and a cantilevered arm attached to the vertical post and extending forwardly. Each seating assembly having a vertical front riser at the forward free end of the cantilevered arm, a seat rigidly attached to the front riser, a tread panel positioned upon the cantilevered arm, and a vertical rear riser extending upwardly from the tread panel. A front support wheel attached to the lower surface of the tread panel or cantilevered arm engages the upper surface of the adjacent seat below when the structure is in the retracted position. The entire seating assembly is formed as an integral unit of molded fiberglass, and the upper surface of the seat is contoured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Inventor: Hugh M. Lyman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4564240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lounger or reclining chair made from a rigid plastic body with a continuous supporting surface. The lounger or reclining chair must be floatable and at the same time must possess the good qualities of erectable loungers or reclining chairs, so that the user can float on the water in a comfortable and restful position on the water with the lounger or reclining chair. For this purpose, the floating body has been designed to be floatable and is provided with at least one cavity which is enclosed on all sides, in order to produce the buoyancy. The top surface of the plastic body, which acts as a supporting surface, has a depression which is adapted to the shape of a human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Inventor: Gerd Thieme
  • Patent number: 4556254
    Abstract: A backrest comprising a moulded shell support having in medial longitudinal section a shallow S shape and in lateral section a shallow concave shape. The support is upholstered by a foam layer and a fabric cover stretched between the lateral margins to assist in delocalizing pressures on the back of a user and assist in ventilating the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: Bio-Support Industries Limited
    Inventor: Frank L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4555140
    Abstract: A seat for use in vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes or the like is disclosed in which each of panel-like frames is formed with integral, closed hollow chambers and expandable/contractible hollow chambers by means of blow molding so as to correspond to required projected portions and elasticity holding portions provided on the surface of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Japan
    Inventor: Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 4533179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable assembly whose members can be unfolded to form a seat or a table. The assembly comprises five flat members, one member being the seat or table top, and the other being the supporting members. The assembly is preferably unitary with each member being rotably connected with one another at coextensive linear edges that are flexibly connected. In the assembled position, the seat or table top is set upon an upright support member that is set on a bare surface. Another support member is angled upwards to the underside of the seat member, while yet another support member meets the angled support member at the underside of the horizontal seat, or table, member. Still another support member extends approximately horizontally at surface height to brace the other three support members connecting to the upright member by a demantable connecting means. In the disassembled, folded, position, the five members fold against one another, with two pairs of members being nested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Franklyn M. Markus
    Inventors: James Nichols, Franklyn M. Markus
  • Patent number: 4529247
    Abstract: A one-piece shell chair (10) includes an unitary integrally formed shell body (12) having a flexurally supported seat pan (14) and a flexurally supported backrest (16) defined in part by an H-shaped opening (20) in the shell body. The backrest (16) and the seat pan (14) resiliently flex as independent units in response to an occupant's body shape, size, posture and positioning. Integral, flexible straps join the backrest (16) to the seat pan (14) to permit resilient flexing of the backrest (16) with respect to the seat pan (14) about an axis through the occupant's hip joint to minimize shear between the backrest and the occupant's back during flexing movement of the backrest 16 with respect to the seat pan 14. The seat (12) is mounted to a tilt mechanism (28) which pivots the seat (12) about an axis forward and below the front edge (14a) of the seat pan (14) enabling the user's feet to remain stationary on the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Donald T. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 4529248
    Abstract: A composite underbody cushioning and ventilating structure of general use and especially useful as a seat pad for the occupants of vehicles, formed of two sheet members with padding material between them, one sheet member being of woven, fibrous decorative material designed for ready passage of air therethrough and the other sheet member being a formed plastic three-dimensional preferably air impervious sheet member that serves the multi-purposes of (a) spacing the sheet members apart for passage of ventilating air between them; (b) presenting an exterior surface that ventilates by lateral air movement and thermal current air movement within local areas of the member; (c) acting as a support for a body while contacting the body in measurably less than 50% of the area of the body; and (d) presenting an exterior surface having a decorative appearance. The present invention also involves the features of the formed plastic sheet member, per se.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Inventors: Helen H. Trotman, Herbert H. Trotman
  • Patent number: 4526421
    Abstract: Improved, lightweight multi-passenger aircraft seating unit utilizes an elongated, generally S-shaped, composite panel to provide the sole support for the seat cushions, the seat back and seat back tray table, the seat belt anchors and the armrests. Front legs and rear legs made of thin sheet metal can be attached directly to the panel by bolts passing through the panel. A downwardly projecting front portion of the panel and an upwardly projecting rear portion, in cooperation with channel-shaped members bonded to the panel's peripheral edges, enhance the rigidity of the panel. The unit provides cantilever support without the necessity for the front and rear tubular stretcher members and the fore and aft support members used in conventional seats. The composite panel has a honeycomb core and its top and bottom skin surfaces are formed of continuous layers of resin-impregnated fibrous material such as graphite fibers, with additional swatches of such material overlying and integrally bonded into the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: PTC Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Brennan, William A. Long, Rene J. Brunelle
  • Patent number: 4524966
    Abstract: A seat suitable for use with a recreational swing set generally comprising a body of flexible material, an insert embedded in the body of flexible material, the insert having a greater stiffness than the body of flexible material to impart a form and strength to the body of flexible material, at least one strand of flexible material embedded in the body of flexible material and fixed to the insert under tension, and device disposed at end portions of the body of flexible material for connecting such end portions to a pair of depending members of a swing set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Game Time, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Shannon, Wesley D. Sutton, Jr.