| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 6931963 |
Automatic shift knob actuator |
August 23, 2005 |
| A stick shift handle assembly has a stick shift handle and an actuator for releasing the stick shift handle for movement between a plurality of gear positions. The actuator has a housing. A sleeve is disposed between the actuator and the housing. The sleeve and the housing are made of di |
| 6929283 |
Variable time venting algorithm |
August 16, 2005 |
| An algorithm for evaluating information from sensors interacting with strips that are extended during activation of the airbag determines whether the airbag has contacted an out-of-position occupant. In one embodiment, each strip includes an alternating pattern that generates a frequ |
| 6921136 |
Automatic seat belt buckle tongue releasing mechanism |
July 26, 2005 |
| A vehicle seat that is removable from a vehicle has an automatic buckle release mechanism. The vehicle seat has a seat base and a seat back. To prepare the seat for removal from the vehicle the seat back is pivoted about an axis towards the seat base. The seat base has a seat belt buckle |
| 6920256 |
Fiber optic occupant or object classification system |
July 19, 2005 |
| An occupant classification system comprising: a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back; at least one optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, arranged in a specific pattern, the optic |
| 6916045 |
Seat belt retractor torsion rod activity sensor |
July 12, 2005 |
| A seat belt load limiter employs a magnetostrictive sensor to detect the elastic loading and plastic deformation of a torsion rod forming part of a seat belt retractor. A magnet and a coil are placed about or adjacent to the torsion rod. When the torsion rod undergoes elastic or plastic |
| 6913288 |
Load limiting structure for vehicle occupant restraint system |
July 5, 2005 |
| A load-limiting device has a mechanical structure designed to dissipate forces applied by a vehicle occupant to a safety belt during a crash. The load limiting device comprises a housing and a deformable member, at least one of which is configured for connection to a vehicle safety belt |
| 6908104 |
Pyrotechnic side impact inflator |
June 21, 2005 |
| A pyrotechnic side impact inflator is provided for inflating a side airbag in an automobile. The inflator has a few number of physical components and has a tubular shape. The inflator has an igniter that directly ignites the main gas generant in the inflator. The burning of the gas gener |
| 6904399 |
Simplified modeling software interface and method |
June 7, 2005 |
| Disclosed is a simulation based environment that allows a product based engineer, with a modest understanding of complex software programs, to use complex math models. The system provides an interface by which basic component models can be used within the simulation. Allowances are made |
| 6894595 |
Magnetically operated hinge switch |
May 17, 2005 |
| A switch has a unitary plastic body that can be formed by injection moulding or extrusion. The body has a base that holds a magnetic field sensor. The base is fastened to a support structure by a plurality of fasteners. The base is connected to an arm by an elastic U-shaped portion o |
| 6894483 |
Airbag deployment monitor and sensing electronics |
May 17, 2005 |
| An airbag deployment sensor has a cartridge containing a quantity of tape one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. Deployment of the cushion pulls tape from the cartridge at a rate that is monitored by transmitting light through the tape, or by detecting t |
| 6892573 |
Side-mountable fluid level sensor |
May 17, 2005 |
| A side-mounted float sensor has eight components: a reed switch, two leads, a molded connector, a sensor body, a sealing grommet, a float, and an activation magnet. The two leads are assembled to the molded connector and the reed switch is welded across the leads. The molded connector is |
| 6887325 |
Method of stabilizing the density of gas generant pellets containing nitroguanidine |
May 3, 2005 |
| A non azide gas generant composition of nitroguanidine and an oxidizer such as phase stabilized ammonium nitrate is provided. A gas generant having nitroguanidine and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate has many desirable characteristics such as little production of ash and the production |
| 6886858 |
Air bag assembly with tethers in a woven cushion and method of construction |
May 3, 2005 |
| The invention relates to an air bag and a method of forming the air bag. The invention comprises the steps of: a) partially constructing the air bag and leaving an opening at a determinable location at or near the periphery of the air bag to provide access to the interior thereof; b) |
| 6886856 |
Dual stage inflator |
May 3, 2005 |
| An inflator for inflating an airbag has a housing with a first housing portion defining a first chamber and a second housing portion defining a second chamber. A gas generant disposed in the first and second chambers. A barrier separates the first and second chambers. Each of the chamber |
| 6882914 |
Vehicle occupant safety system |
April 19, 2005 |
| A vehicle occupant safety system includes a crash severity determination system and one or more vehicle occupant safety devices. The crash severity determination system includes at least one crash sensor which generates a crash signal based upon the severity of the crash. A continuously |
| 6874819 |
Seat belt sensing for vehicle occupant load and misuse |
April 5, 2005 |
| A vehicle safety system uses sensors mounted between a seat belt frame and a seat belt spool to detect protraction of seat belt webbing after the seat belt spool has been locked by an inertial switch or the like. The vehicle safety system gathers information from vehicle mounted crash |
| 6874814 |
Multiple stage inflator |
April 5, 2005 |
| A dual stage inflator is disclosed in the present invention. The dual stage inflator comprises a diffuser subassembly and a gas generator subassembly. Also disclosed is a multiple stage inflator, which comprises a diffuser subassembly, a first gas generator subassembly, and a second gas |
| 6874386 |
Steering wheel armature with detachable rim |
April 5, 2005 |
| A steering wheel armature having a spoke joint allowing for the removal of the steering wheel rim from the hub plate. The steering wheel rim has a first plate that is aligned with a second plate from the hub plate whereby a fastening means secures the first plate with the second plate. A |
| 6871874 |
Airbag deployment velocity sensor |
March 29, 2005 |
| An airbag module utilizes tape dispensing cartridges. A tape end extends from each cartridge to the inside surface of an airbag. As the airbag inflates, tape is drawn from the tape cartridges as the tapes are drawn along with the deploying airbag. The rate at which tape is withdrawn from |
| 6871872 |
Air bag module diffuser |
March 29, 2005 |
| An air bag module comprises an air bag having an interior cavity. The air bag has an air bag opening in communication with the interior cavity. The air bag module has an air bag inflator with an outlet for inflating the air bag. At least one vane extends from the air bag opening into the |
| 6869101 |
Airbag with bag mounted sensor |
March 22, 2005 |
| A vehicle occupant position sensor is mounted on the front of an airbag which is deployed toward a vehicle occupant. The sensor comprises a capacitance sensor constructed by rendering portions of the airbag which face the vehicle occupant conductive. The airbag on which the sensor is |
| 6867690 |
Active magnetostrictive sensor for automotive horn or occupant weight sensor |
March 15, 2005 |
| An improved force-measurement system utilizes active magnetostrictive sensors for generating a signal representative of a force, such as the weight of a person or thing on a seat within a motor vehicle, or the force applied to the horn sensor switch on a vehicle steering wheel. The activ |
| 6863301 |
Driver side air bag module with annular air bag and centrally disposed control module |
March 8, 2005 |
| An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical port |
| 6863236 |
Electromagnetic seatbelt energy management devices |
March 8, 2005 |
| An energy management device has a plurality of electromagnets positioned between a shaft and a seatbelt spool. When energized, the electromagnets move radially outwardly to engage the inside surface of a hub of the seatbelt spool. By adjusting the amount of current supplied to the el |
| 6863235 |
Mechanical shifting of multi-load retractor |
March 8, 2005 |
| A seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a primary (40) and secondary (60) locking mechanism and deactivation mechanism (74) for mechanically deactivating the second locking mechanism (60) when the retractor is used by occupants not in a designated class; the retractor including at least |
| 6860671 |
D-ring assembly with a load limiting device |
March 1, 2005 |
| A D-ring assembly comprising a D-ring and a load limiting device. The D-ring has a slot therethrough for receiving a seatbelt webbing and for guiding the webbing from the retractor to the torso of a vehicle occupant. The load limiting device functions by absorbing kinetic energy of the |
| 6860509 |
Switch assembly for an airbag module attachment |
March 1, 2005 |
| A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multip |
| 6857657 |
Inflator having a support member capable of sliding to open the pressure vessel |
February 22, 2005 |
| An inflator has a tubular member with a sealing element hermetically sealing the open end of the tubular member. The tubular member and the sealing element form a pressure vessel for storing inert gas. The inflator has a support member for supporting the sealing element. The support |
| 6857326 |
Device for measuring force acting upon a seat belt |
February 22, 2005 |
| A device for measuring a belt force acting upon a vehicle seat belt has at least one spring that is connected indirectly to a bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to the vehicle structure. A measuring element is connected to the spring, and can be connected to the seat b |
| 6851374 |
Dual stage inflator for low melting gas generants |
February 8, 2005 |
| A dual stage invention is designed to autoignite an autoignition material before a low temperature gas generant melts. Low temperature gas generants include a high nitrogen content organic fuel with ammonium nitrate as the oxidizer. The dual stage inflator has a first gas generant and a |
| 6848738 |
Vehicle structure for pedestrian protection |
February 1, 2005 |
| A vehicle body assembly has an outer skin panel defining an exterior surface for a vehicle. An inner skin panel is spaced from the outer skin panel. One or more energy absorbing bodies are located between the inner skin panel and the outer skin panel such that the one or more energy |
| 6846005 |
Air bag cushion and module |
January 25, 2005 |
| An air bag module comprises an air bag inflator and an air bag inflatable by the air bag inflator. The air bag has a hole to receive the air bag inflator and at least one tab attached to the air bag near the hole to assist in the insertion of the air bag inflator into air bag. The air ba |
| 6843503 |
Controlled venting apparatus and method therefor |
January 18, 2005 |
| An air bag module (100) comprising: a housing (20) including a receiving feature (20a) to receive at least a portion of an inflator (20), the inflator providing inflation gas to a cooperating air bag; this inflator being removably received in the receiving feature (20a); a holding member |
| 6840544 |
Restraint system tensioning device with load limiting capability |
January 11, 2005 |
| A belt-tensioning device for an occupant restraint is provided, designed to tension a belt (101) about an occupant at the onset of a vehicle collision, and to provide a measure of controlled force dissipation as the occupant loads the belt during the collision. In a preferred form, a |
| 6840539 |
Airbag and a deployment sensor |
January 11, 2005 |
| A cartridge stores a quantity of string, one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. A spool which transitions to a cone is situated within the cartridge. A narrow gap around the spool forms a string storage space and a similar gap overlies the cone and leads |
| 6840537 |
Airbag module attachment arrangement |
January 11, 2005 |
| A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding hub engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multiple of switch |
| 6840534 |
Airbag module |
January 11, 2005 |
| An airbag module has at least a housing and an inflator. The inflator is pushed into a securing device on the housing in a longitudinal direction of the inflator. A first longitudinal end of the inflator abuts against an abutment on the housing. A securing element is inserted into the ho |
| 6838870 |
Airbag deployment monitor and sensing electronics |
January 4, 2005 |
| An airbag deployment sensor has a cartridge containing a quantity of tape one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. Deployment of the cushion pulls tape from the cartridge at a rate that is monitored by transmitting light through the tape, or by detecting t |
| 6836754 |
Biomechanical system development of a restraint system |
December 28, 2004 |
| Disclosed is a safety restraint design controller for controlling the design of a safety restraint system so that a predetermined desired level of an occupant's response (89) is produced. The controller has a database (85) for storing an occupant restraint factor response model (90). The |
| 6834822 |
Mechanical shifting of multi-load retractor |
December 28, 2004 |
| A seat belt retractor comprising: a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively activatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor; a switch |
| 6830265 |
Apparatus for actuating a flap for the venting of inflation gases |
December 14, 2004 |
| An airbag module comprises an airbag inflatable through an opening in the airbag. An airbag inflator provides an inflation gas into the opening in the airbag. A flap has a first position permitting gas to flow to the opening in the airbag and a second position deflecting inflation gas aw |
| 6830263 |
Method for attaching an airbag module |
December 14, 2004 |
| A method for installing an airbag assembly within a steering wheel assembly includes locating an airbag module engagement member with a corresponding armature engagement member. Once aligned, an operator presses downward on the airbag cover until switch engagement members engage their |
| 6825654 |
Airbag deployment monitor and sensing electronics |
November 30, 2004 |
| An airbag deployment sensor has a cartridge containing a quantity of tape one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. Deployment of the cushion pulls tape from the cartridge at a rate that is monitored by transmitting light through the tape, or by detecting t |
| 6824163 |
Airbag module |
November 30, 2004 |
| An airbag module has a base plate, an inflator and an airbag. To manufacture the airbag module in the most cost effective manner, the airbag is attached to the base plate or the inflator with a clamping connection. The inflator is attached to the base plate by a clamping connection. |
| 6823645 |
Radial tube air bag folding apparatus and method |
November 30, 2004 |
| A folding apparatus (100) for inserting an air bag and housing into an interior cavity of a cover, the apparatus comprising: an arcuately shaped tube, the tube sized in cross-section to slidably receive the housing and drawing the air bag up into the tube, the tube including an open firs |
| 6820458 |
Seat belt force sensor |
November 23, 2004 |
| A force-sensing mechanism (20) comprising: a housing having first (22) and second (24) housing members; a slidable plate positioned between plate portions of the first and second housing members and moveable thereto; various spacers located between the first housing member and the slidin |
| 6802530 |
Rollover air bag with damping mechanism |
October 12, 2004 |
| A rollover air bag system comprising: at least a first inflatable first chamber, the air bag adapted to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle in a manner such that when the air bag is inflated the first inflatable chamber is positioned to receive and protect the head of |
| 6802527 |
Devices for attaching an airbag to a vehicle |
October 12, 2004 |
| A clamp for attaching a folded airbag constituting part of a vehicle occupant restraint system to a vehicle structure has a head for attachment to the vehicle structure and at least one arm adjoining the head for holding the airbag. To prevent an arm being broken away from a clamp, the |
| 6802470 |
Seat belt retractor |
October 12, 2004 |
| A seat belt retractor for a vehicle safety restraint has a spool rotatably mounted in a frame. A ratchet wheel is rotatably mounted to rotate with the spool. A control member is mounted in the frame. A locking pawl is pivotally mounted in the frame to pivot into engagement with the ratch |
| 6796578 |
Airbag with bag mounted sensor |
September 28, 2004 |
| A vehicle occupant position sensor is mounted on the front of an airbag which is deployed toward a vehicle occupant. The sensor comprises a capacitance sensor constructed by rendering portions of the airbag which face the vehicle occupant conductive. The airbag on which the sensor is |
