Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Tachi-s Engineering U.s.a., Incorporated

Other

David William Gaines

Benjamin Kulhawik

Brian McClintock

Diego Santillan Gutierrez

Kurt Leon Kormos

Mike Shuo Wang

Macit Aktas

Jung Jeon

Anton Crainic

Craig Rackers

Peter T Mueller

Raul Javier Elias

Arya Sabeti

Shawn Anthony Dixon

A seating system for a vehicle includes a first seat assembly having a first seat base and a first armrest that is convertible between an armrest position and a center seat position, and a second seat assembly having a second seat base and a second armrest that is convertible between an armrest position and a middle seat position. The seating system also includes a convertible third seat assembly located between the first and second seat assemblies and having a third seat formed by the first armrest and the second armrest in the middle seat position, wherein the first and second armrests are moveable between the armrest position and the center seat position.

Vehicle seating system having convertible center seat

A seatback assembly includes a pair of lateral seatback assembly frame members and a moveable thoracic back support defining a support surface operably coupled with an upper thoracic support bracket. An attachment assembly operably couples the thoracic back support to the upper thoracic support bracket, and includes a pair of mounting lugs disposed on either of one of the upper thoracic support bracket or the moveable thoracic back support, and a pair of mounting bosses disposed on the other of the upper thoracic support bracket or the thoracic back support. The seatback assembly is assembled by aligning the pair of mounting lugs with the pair of mounting bosses as the moveable thoracic back support is horizontally positioned above the lower seatback insert, whereby the pair of mounting lugs are received within the pair of mounting bosses, and vertically lowering the moveable thoracic back support relative the lower seatback insert.

Upper thoracic support paddle attachment assembly

A convenience assembly includes a work surface coupled to a support structure by a mounting structure. A switch protrudes from the support structure toward an underside of the mounting structure. A switch-actuation assembly is positioned between the support structure and the work surface and is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the switch to indicate a rotational position of the work surface relative to the support structure.

Convenience assembly

A climate controlled seat test apparatus is provided. The test apparatus may have a pump arrangement configured to alter a pressure within a vicinity of a climate controlled portion of a vehicle seat. A controller may be programmed to detect airflow obstructions or losses within the climate controlled portion of the seat. The climate controlled portion may include a blower motor. The controller may detect airflow obstructions and/or losses based on a change in current consumed by the blower motor caused by the pump arrangement altering the pressure within the vicinity of the climate controlled portion.

Apparatus and method for testing a climate controlled vehicle seat

A vibration damper for a vehicle seat back is disclosed. The vibration damper includes an enclosure provided inside the upper end of a vehicle seat back. The enclosure includes a plurality of projections, preferably in the form of spaced apart, vertically extending pins, extending from one or more interior walls of the enclosure. A non-newtonian stress thickening fluid is provided within the enclosure. When the seat back is at rest the stress thickening fluid is free flowing within the enclosure. When the seat back is moved the stress thickening fluid is acted upon by the walls of the enclosure, the internally mounted pins, or both. As the walls and pins push on the fluid it comes under shear stress which causes the fluid to harden. As the pins pass through the hardened fluid they absorb energy and dampen the motion.

Non-newtonian stress thickening fluid vibration damper system for vehicle seat

A power seating system includes a selector, a transmitter, a receiver, a controller and a seat function circuit. The selector has a plurality of user-actuated switches configured to generate one or more command signals for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat throughout its range of motion. The selector is disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle away from a seat assembly having the receiver, controller, and seat function circuit. The transmitter has an input for receiving the command signals and an output for transmitting electromagnetic radiation signals corresponding to the command signals. The receiver receives the generated electromagnetic radiation signals and reproduces the command signals. The controller generates control signals according to the reproduced command signals. The seat function circuit includes an adjusting circuit arranged to adjust the position of the seat according to the control signals. Wireless remote control eliminates the need for a wiring harness connecting the selector with the seat assembly.

Remote power seat control system and method

A heated vehicle seat is brought forth which includes a first bus bar of conductive ink applied to either the vehicle seat cushion or to its cover. The conductive ink can be applied directly to the seat cushion or cover, or the conductive ink can be applied to a noncellulosic fabric substrate which is then connected with the seat cushion or cover. A second bus bar of conductive ink is also applied. Between and connecting the two bus bars is a resistive pattern of a conductive ink. The heated vehicle seat has a high thermal reaction time and generates heat at a position closer to the vehicle seat occupant.

Electric seat heater

A Simulated Custom Wheel suitable for automotive wheels or truck wheels is described and which is suitable for use on either Ford wheels of General Motor wheels. A unique retainer ring is placed against a decorative cover which is placed adjacent to the wheel. The ring has a flanged rim on the periphery which defines a shoulder portion. The flanged rim is positioned so as to point away from the wheel, and the lug nuts are assembled in the conventional fashion for the Ford wheels. The General Motor wheels use a solid retainer plate against the retainer ring. A universal center hub also having a flanged rim on the periphery defining a shoulder portion is adapted to frictionally engage the shoulder portion on the retainer ring whereby the center hub is supported and held only by the frictional relationship existing between the shoulder on the retaining ring and the shoulder portion on the center hub. In the preferred embodiment, decorative lug nut covers are attached to the universal center hub thereby providing a wheel that is completely covered.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington, MI, United States of America

David William Gaines