Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Stabilus Gmbh

Charles P Patterson

Todd Muck

Peter James Moegling

Matthew R Speck

Leon Toma

Lars Löhken

Raphael Piroth

Chad A Kwolek

Gregory Todd Donovan

Michael Zielinski

Shotaro Tani

Yashodhan Joshi

A kinetic seat assembly including a primary seat cushion frame including a rear rod extending between opposite rails, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of clamps provided on the rear rod of the primary seat cushion frame, and a pair of vertical dampers coupled between the secondary seat back frame and the pair of clamps on the primary seat cushion frame, each clamp receiving an end of a corresponding vertical damper. In embodiments, the vertical dampers are arranged in a V-shape such that the vertical dampers are oriented at an angle relative to one another such that a distance between a first end of each vertical damper is greater than a distance between a second end of each vertical damper.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with vertical dampers and clamps coupling the vertical dampers to the fixed frames

A kinetic seat assembly includes primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, and a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame. In embodiments, the secondary seat back frame includes a power lumbar mechanism. In embodiments at least one of the secondary seat cushion frame and the secondary seat back frame includes at least one of a cooling mechanism and a heating mechanism.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with power lumbar mechanisms, tilt mechanisms, and heating/cooling mechanisms

A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame, a pair of lateral dampers extending between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame, a pair of vertical dampers extending between the secondary seat back frame and the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of fluid reservoirs for providing a fluid into the pair of lateral dampers and the pair of vertical dampers, and an electronic control unit configured to control the rate at which the fluid is provided to and drawn out of each of the dampers to control a damping effect. In embodiments, an end of the lateral dampers is permitted to move freely relative to the secondary seat back frame.

Kinetic seat assemblies having dampers for fixed components and movable components including lateral damping mechanisms and fluid reservoirs

A kinetic seat cushion assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat cushion assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame, a seat cushion tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat cushion frame to the primary seat cushion frame such that the secondary seat cushion frame is movable with respect to the primary seat cushion frame, and a front pivot mechanism that pivotally couples a front portion of the primary seat cushion frame to a front portion of the secondary seat cushion frame.

Kinetic seat cushions for vehicles

A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame, and an upper pivot mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame. The upper pivot mechanism includes a bracket, and a pivotable link extending from a pair of opposite sides of the bracket and interconnecting the bracket and the primary seat back frame. A first end of each of the pivotable links is pivotally attached to the bracket, which is coupled to the secondary seat back frame, and an opposite second end each of the pivotable links is pivotally fixed to the primary seat back frame. The secondary seat back frame is permitted to move in a kinetic seat vertical direction relative to the primary seat back frame as the pivotable links permit the bracket to move in the kinetic seat vertical direction relative to the primary seat back frame.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with upper pivot mechanisms and rigid linkage assemblies

A kinetic seat assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat cushion frame pivotally connected to the primary seat cushion frame, and a secondary seat back frame pivotally connected to the primary seat back frame. The kinetic seat assembly further includes a front pivot mechanism for damping movement between the primary seat cushion frame and the secondary seat cushion frame in a kinetic seat vertical direction, and an upper pivot mechanism for damping movement between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame in a kinetic seat longitudinal direction.

Kinetic seat assemblies for vehicles

A kinetic seat back assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat back assembly includes a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame, a seat back tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame such that the secondary seat back frame is movable with respect to the primary seat back frame, and an upper pivot mechanism that pivotally couples an upper portion of the primary seat back frame to an upper portion of the secondary seat back frame.

Kinetic seat backs for vehicles

A door assembly for an automotive vehicle. The door assembly includes a vehicle door frame and an upper trim panel mounted to the vehicle door frame. The upper trim panel having an upper surface where the upper surface is angled down towards the exterior of the vehicle. The door assembly further including a sub-assembly having a first trim panel and a second trim panel. The first trim panel is mounted to the vehicle door frame behind the upper trim panel. A bracket on the first trim panel adapted to accept the second trim panel. A first surface of the first trim panel and a second surface of the second trim panel rest within the same plane to create a flush surface to give the same or a similar appearance of a one piece trim panel assembly.

Vehicle door trim panel assembly

Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.

Growing community of inventors

New Boston, MI, United States of America

Charles P Patterson