Donald M Schaefer

US Patent:

60007427, Dec 14, 1999

Filed:

Feb 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/241881

Inventors:

Donald Richard Schaefer - Waterford MI
Frank Qiukui Liu - Canton MI
Lucian Bela - Troy MI
Leon Bruce Liu - Novi MI
Majid Hammoud - Plymouth MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60N 210

US Classification:

296 6509

Abstract:

A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat allows the seat to be positioned in three possible positions allowing for improved ingress/egress and cargo carrying. The seat mounting apparatus includes a seat back frame (28), a seat bottom frame (36), a front leg (50), and a rear leg (44). A guide mechanism (59) is disposed between the seat bottom frame and the front leg for guiding the front leg. A reclining mechanism (91) is interposed between the seat back frame and the seat bottom frame for allowing the seat back frame to move between first and second reclined positions and into a first folded position. A front release mechanism (61) is interposed between the seat bottom frame and the front leg for controlling relative motion between the front leg and the seat bottom upon actuation of the front release mechanism. A coupler mechanism (79) is disposed between the seat back frame and the rear leg and is connected to the front leg for positioning the seat back frame into a second folded position over a lowered seat bottom frame. A rear release mechanism (108) is interposed between a bottom end (46) of the rear leg and a floor (20) for releasing the bottom end of the rear leg from being rigidly connected to the floor such that with the seat back frame in the first folded position, the seat can be displaced from a seated position to a tumbled position for improved ingress and egress.

US Patent:

60709340, Jun 6, 2000

Filed:

Feb 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/241880

Inventors:

Donald Richard Schaefer - Waterford MI
Frank Qiukui Liu - Canton MI
Majid Hammoud - Plymouth MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60N 232

US Classification:

297 14

Abstract:

A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and for allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position. The seat mounting apparatus includes a seat back frame (24) having an upper end (27) and a lower end (28) pivotally attached to the floor; a seat bottom frame (34) having a forward end (35) and a rearward end (36) disposed adjacent to the seat back frame when the seat is in the upright seating position; a leg (44) having a first end (46) pivotally connected to the seat bottom frame and a second end (48) pivotally connected to the floor; a slotted link (50) having a third end (52) pivotally connected to the floor and a slot (54) extending from a position substantially adjacent to the third end to a fourth end (56) opposite the third end, the slot being slidably engaged with a slider pin (57) disposed on the seat back frame; and a rear link (58) having a fifth end (62) rigidly attached to the seat bottom frame and a sixth end (68) pivotally attached to an intermediate pivot point (64) on the slotted link, the intermediate pivot point being disposed intermediate of the third and fourth ends of the slotted link. Upon movement of the seat back frame from the upright position to the folded position, the slotted link together with the rear link position the seat bottom frame forward and downward such that the seat back frame lies substantially flat and parallel to the floor.

US Patent:

20200369138, Nov 26, 2020

Filed:

May 23, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/420526

Inventors:

- Sterling Heights MI, US
Donald R. Schaefer - Waterford MI, US

Assignee:

JVIS-USA, LLC - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60J 10/76
B60J 10/15
B60J 10/30
B60J 5/04

Abstract:

A vehicular window trim assembly includes a decorative outer trim member having upper and lower outer boundary mating portions formed on the perimeter of the trim member. The assembly also includes a channel-shaped window seal having a mouth to receive a panel-like member and upper and lower outer boundary mating portions formed on the perimeter of the seal mateable in sealed relationship with the upper and lower outer boundary mating portions, respectively, of the trim member to form an outer boundary. Mating portions of the trim member and the seal are joined together to form an outer boundary.

US Patent:

20190184884, Jun 20, 2019

Filed:

Dec 18, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/845444

Inventors:

- Sterling Heights MI, US
Donald R. SCHAEFER - Waterford MI, US
Jason T. MURAR - Macomb MI, US

Assignee:

JVIS-USA, LLC - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60N 3/00
A47B 1/10
B60R 11/02

Abstract:

A mechanized tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to the coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. The tray subassembly includes a lid and a container having an opening for allowing ingress and egress of items into and out of a storage compartment of the container, respectively, in an open position of the lid. An actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path from the stowed position to the use position through stored potential energy without consuming electrical energy.

US Patent:

20190184885, Jun 20, 2019

Filed:

Dec 18, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/845457

Inventors:

- Sterling Heights MI, US
Donald R. SCHAEFER - Waterford MI, US
Jason T. MURAR - Macomb MI, US
Kendall MILLER - New Baltimore MI, US

Assignee:

JVIS-USA, LLC - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60N 3/00
A47B 1/10
B60R 11/02

Abstract:

A tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to be coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. A bi-directional, electrically-powered linear actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and includes a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive. The threaded member is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the use position based on a deployment command signal.