Amit G Kulkarni

US Patent:

8016331, Sep 13, 2011

Filed:

Feb 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/369310

Inventors:

Daniel D. Ralston - Farmington Hills MI, US
Kevin E. Holdren - Tecumseh, CA
Kenneth R. Bastien - Howell MI, US
David Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Amit Kulkarni - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Shape Corp. - Grand Haven MI

International Classification:

B60R 19/04

US Classification:

293120, 293121

Abstract:

A vehicle bumper system includes an elongated reinforcement beam for mounting to a vehicle frame and an energy absorber abutting a front surface of the reinforcement beam. The energy absorber includes longitudinally-elongated hollow crush lobes configured to crush and absorb energy upon a vehicle crash, the crush lobes including interconnected top, bottom, side and front walls. At least one opposing pair of the walls, such as the top and bottom walls, are elongated parallel a length of the beam to define enlarged areas that are generally unsupported, but the one pair of walls further include a plurality of spaced external ribs extending perpendicular to the length for stabilizing the enlarged areas.

US Patent:

20100001479, Jan 7, 2010

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/167536

Inventors:

Dalton Trybus - Rochester Hills MI, US
Amit Kulkarni - Troy MI, US
Olivier Boinais - West Bloomfield MI, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/24
A47C 7/02

US Classification:

280 29, 29745248

Abstract:

A vehicle seat includes a cushion carrier for a bottom seat cushion, the carrier having a rigid frame, a molded foam bottom seat cushion supported by the frame, in which at least a portion of the frame is exposed from the bottom seat cushion, the exposed portion having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface facing an interior space of the frame that is unoccupied by the seat cushion.

US Patent:

20100001568, Jan 7, 2010

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/167485

Inventors:

Dalton Trybus - Rochester Hills MI, US
Amit Kulkarni - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/00

US Classification:

297312, 2972841

Abstract:

A seat for a vehicle includes a cushion carrier for a bottom seat cushion, the carrier having a frame with a raised front portion and an integrated reinforcement member disposed in an interior space of the front portion, the reinforcement member being rigid and reticulated, the seat also including a molded foam bottom seat cushion disposed above the cushion carrier.

US Patent:

20110316320, Dec 29, 2011

Filed:

Mar 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/254695

Inventors:

Amit Kulkarni - Troy MI, US
Kipp O. Grumm - Grand Rapids MI, US
Peter A. Zorney - Plymouth MI, US
Bernard Denis - Itteville, FR
Philippe Duhamel - Longjumeau, FR
Gregory Brncick - Holland MI, US

International Classification:

A47C 7/02
B29C 70/84

US Classification:

29745248, 264263

Abstract:

A seat back includes a backrest formed of a first polymeric material for supporting an occupant. A bracket formed of a different material than the first polymeric material of the backrest is anchored to the backrest for coupling to a seat cushion. A reinforcing composite layer is connected to the backrest and is formed of a second polymeric material and a plurality of fibers impregnated in the second polymeric material. The first polymeric material of the backrest is mechanically engaged with the bracket free of melt bonding between the first polymeric material of the backrest and the bracket. The first polymeric material of the backrest is melt bonded to the second polymeric material of the reinforcing composite layer integrating the backrest, the bracket, and the reinforcing composite layer.

US Patent:

20120169103, Jul 5, 2012

Filed:

Jul 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/392005

Inventors:

Thierrry Renault - Vernon, FR
Amit Kulkarni - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile - Nanterre

International Classification:

B60N 2/22
B29C 65/70
B60N 2/20

US Classification:

29735412, 156182

Abstract:

The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat portion and a backrest connected to the seat portion by a hinge mechanism. A seat element selected from among the backrest and the seat portion comprises a shell, which is made of a plastic material and the side edges of which are overmolded onto composite reinforcement inserts. Each of the inserts comprises a core perpendicular to the medium plane of the seat element, and two side flanges parallel to the medium plane of the seat element. The insert is formed by assembling two composite parts having an L-shaped cross-section and forming a portion of the core and one of the side flanges of the insert.

US Patent:

20130241255, Sep 19, 2013

Filed:

Sep 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/612683

Inventors:

Amit Kulkarni - Troy MI, US
David Goligorsky - Cambridge MA, US
Timothy R. Proulx - Nashua NH, US
Yang Cao - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, INC. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/02

US Classification:

297285, 29428

Abstract:

A vehicle seat includes a seat back having a support frame coupled to a seat foundation. The seat back also further includes a deformable seat shell adapted to assume various shapes between initial position and final positions in response to variable rearward loads applied by a seated passenger. The seat shell is coupled to the support frame by a compliant shell-motion controller via upper and lower motion-control links. The motion-control links allow pivotal motion, and at least one of the links includes a spheroidal joint. A link foundation extends between and interconnects the upper and lower motion-control links and is coupled to the support frame so that the link foundation does not move during seat shell deformation. The shell-motion controller may be pre-assembled as part of a backrest or the motion-control links may be formed after the link foundation is attached to the support frame.