Richard C Magnuson

US Patent:

6524039, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Feb 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/720648

Inventors:

Richard Magnuson - Kentwood MI
Douglas Fassett - Kentwood MI
Bernard Harold, III - Grandville MI

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B60P 708

US Classification:

410 23, 410 4, 410 7, 410 12, 410100

Abstract:

A system for restraining a wheelchair in a vehicle comprises a barrier having housings for restraining belts thereon. A remote release assembly is mounted on the barrier remote from the housing and is connected to the housing, as by a cable. The wheelchair is secured by first operating the assembly to release the belt from the housing to allow the vehicle operator to withdraw the belt from the housing and attach it to the wheelchair before the wheelchair is fully in the securing area Then, as the wheelchair is moved fully into the wheelchair area the operator again operates the remote assembly to cause the housing to retract the belt into the housing to tension the belt.

US Patent:

6755474, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Dec 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/028372

Inventors:

Richard Magnuson - Kentwood MI

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

A47C 754

US Classification:

29741138

Abstract:

A pivoting armrest is configured for mounting on the bottom part of the aisle side of a vehicle seat frame. The armrest may receive a control cable and is mounted on a hub that allows passage of the control cable to the vehicle seat mechanism. The armrest is maintained in position by a lock pin, and a resilient plate controls the lock pin. A handgrip is mounted to a lower part of the armrest for easy grasping by the fingers of a user. The handgrip engages a lower edge of the resilient plate so that a users pulling outward on the lower edge of the handgrip releases the lock pin.

US Patent:

7963730, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Apr 19, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/406384

Inventors:

James A. Ditch - San Pedro CA, US
Richard C. Magnuson - Kentwood MI, US

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B60P 7/08

US Classification:

410 7, 410 4, 410 18, 410 23

Abstract:

Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchairs. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.

US Patent:

20020110434, Aug 15, 2002

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/944402

Inventors:

James Ditch - San Pedro CA, US
Richard Magnuson - Kentwood MI, US

International Classification:

B60P003/06

US Classification:

410/007000

Abstract:

Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchair. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.

US Patent:

20050275271, Dec 15, 2005

Filed:

Dec 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/028371

Inventors:

Richard Magnuson - Kentwood MI, US

International Classification:

B60N002/46

US Classification:

297411380, 297411320

Abstract:

A bracket for an armrest is capable of mounting the armrest for alternative conditions. In one of the conditions the armrest may pivot, while in a second of the conditions, the armrest is fixed.

US Patent:

58397876, Nov 24, 1998

Filed:

Jul 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/896738

Inventors:

Richard C. Magnuson - Kentwood MI
Michael E. Phillips - Jenison MI

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

A47C 510

US Classification:

2974522

Abstract:

An improved seat assembly for mass transit vehicles and an improved methodology for providing seating in mass transit vehicles. The seat assembly includes a universal seat frame which is formed of aluminum extrusions welded together and which is usable in combination with a variety of support bracketry so that a single common seat frame may be utilized to provide a variety of seating positions and seating attitudes within the vehicle. The seat frame includes side rails and cross rails extending between the side rails. Each cross rail includes an upper tube portion and a lower track portion formed integrally with the bottom wall of the upper tube portion and defining a groove. A slot in the bottom wall of the track portion communicates with the groove. Fastener assemblies mounted on the associated bracket hardware include a nut slidably positioned within the respective groove and a bolt extending upwardly from a mounting portion of the bracket and through the slot in the lower wall of the track portion of the rail for threaded access to the nut. The bracketry may comprise a pedestal positioned beneath the seat frame and supported on the underlying floor surface; a cantilever beam structure secured at one end to a side wall of the vehicle and secured at its free end to the cross rails of the seat frame; or sundry other bracketry to allow the seat frame to be mounted within the vehicle in overlying relation to wheel housings or the like.

US Patent:

51525828, Oct 6, 1992

Filed:

Mar 28, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/676661

Inventors:

Richard C. Magnuson - Kentwood MI

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

A47E 700

US Classification:

297440

Abstract:

A self-aligning fastener system incorporates a stud member fastened to a first member and a female member attached to a second panel member for fastening the first member to the panel member. The female member includes a head portion which spans an aperture of the panel and has an aperture therethrough, the head portion includes leg portions which depend from the head portion which extend through the panel aperture and are engaged by a clip on the opposite side of the panel for retaining the female fastener in the aperture. The panel aperture and leg spacing are dimensioned such that the female fastener is adapted to move along a first axis of said aperture thereby allowing the female fastener to accommodate any alignment errors between itself and the stud fastener along the first axis. The leg portions of the female fastener have a pair of linear engagement surfaces arranged perpendicular to the first axis whereby the leg portions can engage and retain the stud member anywhere along their length. This feature allows the fastener to accomodate alignment errors along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

US Patent:

49713418, Nov 20, 1990

Filed:

Nov 13, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/434277

Inventors:

Richard C. Magnuson - Kentwood MI

Assignee:

American Seating Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B60P 700

US Classification:

280 1

Abstract:

A U-shaped frame has opposite pivoted jaws adapted to move to and from a position closing the frame gap. A releasable locking member is pivoted to the frame in half-bearings, and is held in place by a cover plate that similarly retains the journals of an actuator plate responsible for closing the jaws around an entered wheel. The locking member is rotated out of locking position by forces on a handle that cause the chair to be pushed out of the retainer coupling. Placement of the locking member in the release position causes warning projections to appear above the housing, and these retract into the housing when the unit is in locked condition.