James C Mulvihill

Title: James C. Mulvihill: Automotive Seat Innovation

Introduction

James C. Mulvihill is an inventor associated with Lear Corporation and based in Birmingham, Michigan. His patent work addresses automotive seating, with a focus on an adjustable head restraint designed to improve how the restraint moves in relation to a seat occupant.

Latest Patents

Mulvihill is credited with 1 patent: “Translatable Head Restraint for Automotive Seat Backrest.” The invention describes a vehicle seat with a headrest mounted on posts above the backrest. Its occupant-engaging contact portion moves along tracks relative to the headrest’s base, guided by an articulated linkage and opposed by a return spring. A control signal, such as tension applied through a Bowden cable, can initiate this movement. The design also controls the contact surface’s inclination as the portion translates, helping maintain its orientation throughout its range of travel.

Career Highlights

The patent reflects Mulvihill’s work in automotive seating technology at Lear Corporation. Its mechanism combines guided movement, linkage control, and spring bias in a head restraint intended to adjust in response to an applied force or control signal.

Collaborations

The supplied information identifies Eric C. Veine and Thomas J. Fowler as Mulvihill’s coworkers. Their names are associated with his professional context, though no specific roles in the patent are provided.

Conclusion

James C. Mulvihill’s patent documents a practical approach to adjustable automotive head restraints, combining controlled translation with management of the contact surface’s inclination.