Rainer A Glaser

US Patent:

7594697, Sep 29, 2009

Filed:

Sep 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210188

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Adrian B. Chernoff - Boulder CO, US
Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
James Y. Khoury - Macomb MI, US
Ukpai I. Ukpai - Columbus IN, US
Pablo D. Zavattieri - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/42
B60R 21/055
A47C 7/38

US Classification:

29721612

Abstract:

A headrest assembly including active material drivenly coupled to a headrest component, such as for example, an interior frame member, bag, or gear device wherein the material is actuated upon receipt of an activation signal, and configured to morph, reposition, reduce the resistance of, change a modulus property of, or otherwise modify an engaging surface defined by the headrest when actuated, and autonomously restore the headrest upon the deactivation of the material.

US Patent:

7758121, Jul 20, 2010

Filed:

Apr 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/734308

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Pablo D. Zavattieri - Ann Arbor MI, US
Ukpai I. Ukpai - West Bloomfield MI, US
John C. Ulicny - Oxford MI, US
John A. Cafeo - Farmington MI, US
Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
Gary L. Jones - Farmington Hills MI, US
James Y. Khoury - Macomb MI, US
Carol Ann Perelli - Rochester MI, US
William R. Rodgers - Bloomfield Township MI, US
Xiujie Gao - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/427

US Classification:

29728411, 29745241, 2972161

Abstract:

A seat assembly includes an active material in operative communication with a seat surface configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to change at least one feature of the seat surface.

US Patent:

8050420, Nov 1, 2011

Filed:

Jan 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/023551

Inventors:

Richard A. Close - Farmington Hills MI, US
Matthew R. Kirsch - Shelby Township MI, US
Frank A. Mills - Brighton MI, US
Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
James B. Milnar - St. Clair Shores MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H04B 1/00
H04R 1/02

US Classification:

381 87, 381 86, 381332, 381333

Abstract:

An integrated seat speaker includes a cushion, a seat frame defining a first internal air volume, and a speaker enclosure defining a second internal air volume. The second internal air volume is acoustically coupled to the first internal air volume through an air passageway, thus producing a continuous acoustical air volume. An acoustic sealing member is disposed between the enclosure and the frame. The frame includes a closure feature at one end for isolating a portion of the first internal air volume. The cushion includes an outer surface, and the speaker enclosure is enclosed within the seat cushion and at least partially concealed by the outer surface. A method optimizes the acoustical performance of a speaker assembly by acoustically coupling an internal air volume defined by a speaker enclosure to another internal air volume defined by a seat frame to create a continuous acoustical air volume.

US Patent:

8556348, Oct 15, 2013

Filed:

Nov 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/289059

Inventors:

Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
Krzysztof Wroblewski - Washington MI, US
Stanislaw A. Wieclawski - Hohenkammer, DE

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/02

US Classification:

297341, 29737812, 296 6509, 296 6513

Abstract:

A seat assembly includes a track mount configured to shift along a track and a platform configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the track mount. The assembly also includes a seat-back and a seat-cushion, each connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the platform. The assembly additionally includes a first mechanism configured to selectively operate the seat assembly in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-back and unlatching and pivoting the platform such that the seat assembly tumbles relative to the track. The second mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-cushion and unlatching and pivoting the seat-back such that the seat-back comes to rest substantially parallel to the track mount. A vehicle having the seat assembly is also provided.

US Patent:

20070246979, Oct 25, 2007

Filed:

Apr 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/736086

Inventors:

Alan Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Adrian Chernoff - Boulder CO, US
Rainer Glaser - Washington MI, US
Nancy Johnson - Northville MI, US
James Khoury - Macomb MI, US
Ukpai Ukpai - West Bloomfield MI, US
Pablo Zavattieri - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/42
B60R 21/055
A47C 7/38

US Classification:

297216120, 297404000, 297406000, 297407000

Abstract:

Active material actuated headrest assemblies and their methods of operation are described herein. The headrests include an active material incorporated in a frame member, a bag, gear device, or the like, wherein the active material actuates upon receipt of an activation signal.

US Patent:

20080272259, Nov 6, 2008

Filed:

May 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/744417

Inventors:

Pablo D. Zavattieri - Ann Arbor MI, US
Mark A. Kramarczyk - Sterling Heights MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
James Y. Khoury - MaComb MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Chandra S. Namuduri - Troy MI, US
Senthil N. Karuppaswamy - Rochester Hills MI, US
Nilesh D. Mankame - Ann Arbor MI, US
Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

A47K 1/08

US Classification:

2483112, 901 31

Abstract:

In an embodiment, a device comprises an active material. Activation of the active material causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain an object without engaging the object below a surface of the object. In another embodiment, contact with an object causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain the object. In yet another embodiment, an object holder can comprise: a recess, a cover disposed over the recess, and a switch configured to cause the active material to retain a deformed shape in the recess. The cover comprises an active material. The active material is configured to deform into the recess when contacted with an object.

US Patent:

20120001461, Jan 5, 2012

Filed:

Jul 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/830311

Inventors:

Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Rainer A. Glaser - Washington MI, US
James Y. Khoury - Macomb MI, US
Michael G. Carpenter - Romeo MI, US
Leigh A. Berger - Brighton MI, US
Jennifer P. Lawall - Waterford MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/48
B60R 21/02

US Classification:

29721612, 297391

Abstract:

An active headrest adapted for use with a rear seat, including a translatable, conformable, or otherwise reconfigurable shell, an active material actuator disposed within and drivenly coupled to the shell, and preferably including a linkage system fixedly coupled to the seat and/or shell, wherein the actuator is operable to cause the headrest to achieve one of a plurality of achievable positions.

Author:

Rainer Glaser

ISBN #:

0841236895

Author:

Rainer Glaser

ISBN #:

3925928138