Mark A Folkert, 58Port Sheldon, MI

6559392, May 6, 2003

Oct 12, 2001

09/976501

Ian D. Haynes - Windsor, CA
Mark Folkert - Farmington Hills MI
Joseph M. Phares - Detroit MI

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

G01G 1952

177144, 280735, 180273

A weight-sensing assembly for supporting an automotive seat cushion frame atop a track assembly includes a pair of coupling members that are secured to the seat cushion frame. A set of mounting locations on each coupling member, preferably separated by an elongate portion of the coupling member of generally uniform cross-section, are secured to a respective end of a strain gage sensors elongate sensing beam. The other end of each sensing beam is secured to a respective mounting location defined on the upper rails of a seat track assembly. The elongate portion of the coupling member, and respective portions of the upper rails separating the mounting locations thereon, are characterized by a flexural stiffness, in a bending plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the sensing beam of at least one sensor assembly, that is at least three times greater than the flexural stiffness of each sensors sensing beam.

6560872, May 13, 2003

Sep 27, 2001

09/966432

Gerald O. Morrison - Beverly Hills MI
Mark A. Folkert - Farmington Hills MI
Jack S. Palazzolo - Dearborn MI
Ian D. Haynes - Windsor, CA

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B21D 5388

298972, 29458, 2952513

A method for manufacturing a cross car beam assembly for use with a vehicle includes joining first and second support brackets to opposite ends of a cross car beam using an adhesive, such that the adhesive is a primary attachment means for joining the support brackets to the cross car beam. Furthermore, the support brackets are attachable to the vehicle so as to support the cross car beam in the vehicle.

6709040, Mar 23, 2004

Sep 27, 2002

10/259270

Dale Michael Drew - Grosse Pte. Farms MI
Eric Anthony Woods - Allen Park MI
Mark Allyn Folkert - Farmington Hills MI

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60N 214

296 66, 296 6509

A vehicle seat assembly for mounting on a vehicle floor includes a cross bar having ends adapted to be mounted on the vehicle floor. The vehicle seat assembly further includes a seat bottom having a rear portion pivotally mounted on the cross bar such that the seat bottom is structurally secured to the vehicle. The seat bottom defines an upper surface and a lower surface. The seat bottom is pivotable about the cross bar to a storage position within a recess formed in the floor of the vehicle.

6746083, Jun 8, 2004

Sep 27, 2002

10/259266

Dale Michael Drew - Grosse Pte. Farms MI
Eric Anthony Woods - Allen Park MI
Mark Allyn Folkert - Farmington Hills MI

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60N 236

29737812, 297 15, 297331, 297335, 296 6505, 296 6509, 296 66

A vehicle seat assembly for mounting on a vehicle floor including a seat bottom pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle floor. The seat bottom defines an upper surface and an opposed lower surface. The seat bottom is movable between a seating position, wherein the upper surface faces upwards, and a storage position, wherein the lower surface faces upwards. A panel is pivotally connected to the seat bottom. The panel is automatically moved between a first position underneath the seat bottom when the seat bottom is in the seating position, and a generally horizontally deployed position when the seat bottom is moved to the storage position.

7152900, Dec 26, 2006

Mar 17, 2005

10/907039

Matthew T. Trombley - Allen Park MI, US
Eric A. Woods - Allen Park MI, US
David K. Williams - South Lyon MI, US
Mark A. Folkert - Farmington Hills MI, US
John Malcolm - Windsor, CA
Michael R. Ferrari - St. Clair Shores MI, US

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60N 2/02

296 6509

A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position.

7192088, Mar 20, 2007

Aug 29, 2005

11/162096

Matthew T Trombley - Allen Park MI, US
Eric A Woods - Allen Park MI, US
Michael R Ferrari - Clair Shores MI, US
David K Williams - South Lyon MI, US
Mark A Folkert - Farmington Hills MI, US
John G Malcolm - Windson, CA

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60N 2/02

297335, 297332, 297333

A stowable seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a floor and a recess formed therein. The assembly includes a seat and a pivot tube adapted to be secured to the vehicle floor, with the seat being operatively pivotal about the pivot tube between a first, collapsed position and a second, stowed position with the seat being at least partially stowed within the vehicle recess. The seat passes through a third, upright position intermediate the first and second positions as the seat is pivoted between the first and second positions. The assembly further includes a torsion rod mounted on the pivot tube and free to twist, with the torsion rod being operatively coupled to the seat during pivoting of the seat toward and away from the third, upright position. The torsion rod provides a first biasing torque for assisting pivotal movement of the seat from the stowed position toward the upright position and a second biasing torque for assisting pivotal movement of the seat from the collapsed position toward the upright position.

7222875, May 29, 2007

Jun 28, 2004

10/878337

John Meyendorff - Plymouth MI, US
Israel Jaramillo - Canton MI, US
Dave Williams - South Lyon MI, US
Jerry Maroudis - Shelby Township MI, US
Mark Folkert - Farmington Hills MI, US

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60R 21/21

2807282, 2807302

A close out retainer for a side air bag chute comprising at least two retainer pieces, a bar code wherein a portion of the bar code is printed on said at least two retainer pieces, and a strap connecting that retainer to the side air bag. This close out retainer increases the safety of side air bags by utilizing a retainer that ensures correct installation. Correct installation is only obtained when the bar code printed on each of at least two retainer pieces is aligned and complete.

7344195, Mar 18, 2008

Feb 11, 2005

11/057284

Mark Allyn Folkert - Farmington Hills MI, US
Dave Williams - South Lyon MI, US
Eric A. Woods - Allen Park MI, US

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI

B60N 2/48

2973781, 2973014, 2974631, 2973015

A recliner assembly for a vehicle seat having a seat back movably mounted relative to a seat bottom includes first and second frame members. The first frame member supports the seat back. The second frame member supports the seat bottom. The first frame member is pivotally attached to the second frame member and is movable between an upright position and a storage position. In the upright position, the seat back is in a generally vertical position for supporting an occupant seated on the seat. In the storage position, the seat back is positioned above the seat bottom. A damper is operatively connected between the first and second frame members. The damper dampens the movement of the first frame member relative to the second frame member when the first frame member is pivoted from the upright position to the storage position.