Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Dale Drew

Paul W Alexander

Michael G Carpenter

Leigh A Berger

Clayton J Hayes

Michael E Kilpinen

Patrick Thomas Whalen

James A Smith

The disclosed embodiments relate to an aircraft having an in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard the aircraft that includes a swivel mechanism providing selective rotational movement of the a rear portion of the seat to compensate for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight. A locking mechanism is coupled to the swivel mechanism to retain the seat in a first position for use on the ground and a second position for use during flight. An actuator moves the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the seat to move between the first position to the second position enabling the seat to be substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground and during flight.

In-flight leveling system

An active head restraint for supporting the head of an occupant, includes a shell, and an actuator disposed within the shell, wherein the actuator further includes a spring-biased bar linkage system pivotally coupled to the shell, a radial ratcheting sector coupled to the linkage system, a pawl selectively engaging the sector, and a solenoid drivenly coupled to the pawl, and configured, when activated, to cause the pawl to disengage the sector.

Active head restraint utilizing solenoid activation and bar linkage transmission

An active headrest for selectively supporting the head of an occupant, includes a shell, and an actuator disposed within the shell, including a bar linkage system drivenly coupled to the shell, so as to adjust the distance or engagement between the shell and head when displaced, and an active material element drivenly coupled to the system, so as to cause or enable the displacement of the system, and preferably further including a ratchet sector/pawl and latch cooperating to present plural achievable deployment positions.

Active material actuated headrest utilizing bar linkage deployment system

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Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, United States of America

Dale Drew