Prince Corporation

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Jay M Frankhouse

Russell L Clark

Walter M Weiland

Michael B Vanden Elzen

James Theodore Hotary

Sheldon J Watjer

Neil J Bush

Chester R Wisniewski

Nick G Xiromeritis

Bradford J Burrows

Scott S Bainbridge

Philip C George

James D Allardyce

Ryan S Anair

Kenneth R Hill

Susan M Kennedy

John J Bleau

R Scott Anair

A tray table for a vehicle seat assembly which has a stowed position within the seat back in which the tray table forms a portion of the seat back seating surface. The tray table is mounted to the frame structure of the seat assembly by a multiple axis pivot mount to rotate first to a generally horizontal position in which it extends forward from the seat back. The pivot mount enables the tray table to then rotate about an upright axis to swing the tray table laterally toward an adjacent seat assembly. The pivot mount is located along one side edge of the tray table such that the tray table is cantilever supported to the seat back.

Vehicle seat assembly with multiple axis pivoting tray table

A vanity console is provided with a housing having a mirror mounted therein made of a material providing both reflectivity and transmissivity characteristics. A source of illumination such as a peripheral fluorescent tube extends behind the outer periphery of the mirror and directs light through the two-way mirror for use of the vanity mirror in low ambient light conditions. The mirror preferably is shaped to conform to the shape of a user's face. In one embodiment of the invention, positioned centrally behind the mirror is a video image source, such as an LCD display, which is supplied with video information from a variety of sources such as vehicle mounted cameras that the vanity console can serve the function of video imaging as well.

Vanity console

A sliding visor includes a visor body with a slide extending within a track extending along the upper edge of the door frame and downwardly into the A-pillar. A storage pocket located at the end of the track receives the visor body for the unobtrusive storage of the visor when not in use. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a windshield mounted track visor is employed and includes a track concealably mounted behind the vehicle headliner above the windshield. The headliner includes a recess formed therein for receiving the visor for storage.

Track visor

An assist strap is made of a flexible exoskeleton of a tubular shape which overlies a tubular core to provide a strong yet cushioned strap. Opposite ends of the strap are held by clamps which in turn are secured to a vehicle for attaching the strap to a vehicle.

Assist strap

An armrest includes an armrest body and mounting mechanism to allow the armrest body to be pulled upwardly from a lower forward edge from a stored vertical position into a generally horizontal use position and subsequently be swiveled on a generally vertical axis in a generally horizontal plane from side to side to fully support and align with the longitudinal axis of the forearm of the In one embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of the armrest body was concave to cradle the user's arm. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the armrest body was adjustable in a generally vertical plane for tilting the armrest to the most comfortable position.

Adjustable armrest

Vehicle seat

A switch assembly includes a housing with facing mounting surfaces on which opposed facing switches are mounted. In one embodiment, three spaced generally planar mounting members extended between end supports with actuating levers extending in the two spaces between each of the horizontally extending mounting members. Mounted in facing relationship on opposing surfaces are switches such that an actuating lever extending into a space between the opposing surfaces engage a first switch when moved in a first direction and a second switch when moved in a second direction. The actuating levers are, in the preferred embodiment, pivotally coupled by axles means to end walls supporting the switch mounting members so that they can be moved in first and second directions for actuating the associated first or second switch with each of the levers. The intermediate partition member or wall can include one or more switches on both upper and lower surfaces while the lower member or floor can contain a single one or a row of switches as can the inside of the top surface. As a result there can exist four switches in vertical alignment, while the elongated planar support members can similarly carry a plurality of horizontally spaced switches. Such an arrangement, therefore, provides for vertical and horizontally stacking of switches with the levers being mounted on offset pivot axles and coupled to relatively elongated actuating bars for ease of operation.

Electrical switch assembly

An assist strap is made of a flexible exoskeleton of a tubular shape which overlies a high density foam core to provide a strong yet cushioned strap. Opposite ends of the strap are held by clamps which in turn are secured to a vehicle for attaching the strap to a vehicle.

A subdividable storage bin is provided for a vehicle which includes a divider movably mounted therein, which moves between a use position dividing the bin into separate areas and a stored position leaving the bin substantially undivided. In one embodiment, the divider pivotally rotates into position. In another embodiment, the divider slideably rotates into position. In still other embodiments, the divider resiliently flexes into position. In another embodiment, the divider slips or is dropped into position and is removable for cleaning, washing or storing.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Jay M Frankhouse