Goor Associates, Inc.

Xsci, Inc.

Flight Safety Systems, Inc.

Digital Equipment Corporation

Other

Motus Corporation

Q-motus, Inc.

Ga International, Inc.

Xcsi, Inc.

Dan Goor

Robert C Kalberer

E Patricia Goor

David Clement

Tammy C Luttrell

Robert L Stone

Robert P Harnisch

Everett Niles

Kevin W Kreutzer

Kris Alan Arnott

Stephen T Long

Robert L Browne

The infant safety seat of the present invention provides improved occupant protection in all vehicles, especially in the front seat of vehicles equipped with a passenger-side airbag. The infant safety seat includes an air bag deflecting canopy, and dampening mechanisms to protect against the shock of airbag deployment and an impact. The safety seat comprises a base, adapted to be secured to a seat of the vehicle by a seat belt passed through an opening in the base and a cradle having a back portion and seat portion having sides and a handle attached across said sides. A latching mechanism incorporated in the base removably secures the cradle to the base by grasping an attachment element between the handle and sides. The cradle of the safety seat is removable utilizing a single-handed release mechanism to unlock the cradle from the base.

Child safety seat

The convertible child safety seat of the present invention provides improved occupant protection in all vehicles, in both the front and rear seats, and especially in vehicles equipped with a passenger-side airbag. The child safety seat includes an air bag deflector, including a shock absorbent canopy to deflect an expanding air bag away from the infant and dampen the shock of airbag deployment and an impact. The child safety seat is convertible from a rearward facing position to a forward facing position. The cradle of the safety seat is removable utilizing a single-handed release mechanism to unlock the cradle from the frame. A handle with ergonomically designed grips aids removal of the cradle and allows carrying the cradle to put less strain on the carrier.

Convertible child safety seat

The convertible child safety seat of the present invention provides improved occupant protection in all vehicles, and especially in vehicles equipped with a passenger-side airbag. The child safety seat includes an air bag deflector to deflect an expanding air bag away from the infant and is shock-mounted to reduce crash and airbag energy the occupant is exposed or subjected to. The child safety seat is convertible from a rearward facing position to a forward facing position. The cradle of the safety seat is removable. Additionally, to accommodate the changing size of the child a knee bracket is provided which allows a larger size child to be safely transported within the child safety seat.

An airbag module is positioned relative to an aircraft control yoke or shaft, the airbag being actuated by majority voting sensors that are responsive to acceleration forces upon the aircraft. The aircraft control yoke or control yoke post is constructed to telescope, extend, or move a limited distance toward the pilot as the airbag inflates. The yoke carries telescoping, extendable, or movable handle portions that allow left and right hand pilot grip handles to move, if necessary, under the force of the expanding airbag. Hand sleeves may be provided to help maintain the pilot's hands on the grip handles during airbag expansion. The movable yoke and handle portions may be manually or automatically restored to normal operative positions after airbag deflation. The yoke may be formed so as to provide a U shaped section that accommodates a horizontal support or table for holding the airbag module, a map, or a like device. The U shaped yoke and table support members are structured such that the table remains horizontal during pivoting movement of the yoke to control aircraft roll, and during generally horizontal movement of the yoke to control aircraft pitch.

Aircraft control yoke

A safety seat provides improved occupant protection, especially in a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag when the seat is positioned with the occupant facing rearward. The safety seat includes a head protector configured to deflect a forward facing portion of the seat downward upon interaction with an inflating air bag. The child safety seat, when occupied, has a center of gravity that causes a belt retaining the seat to be tightened for proper retention of the child seat during a collision and subsequent air bag inflation. The child safety seat can include one or more longitudinal members to strengthen the seat, provide additional head and torso protection, and transfer impact forces away from the head protector. In another embodiment the safety seat includes a cradle suspended in a frame by shock-isolating mounts. In an additional embodiment, a child safety seat includes two opposing frame rails, each frame rail including a side frame element. A pivot element, shock mounted on each of two ends to a respective side frame element, extends between the side frame elements. A lower shock mount is attached to a lower section of the frame. A cradle is resiliently suspended within the frame. The cradle is rotatably mounted to the pivot element at a first end, and attached to the lower shock mount at a second end. Additionally, an air bag impact surface is provided along a section of the frame. The air bag impact surface is pivotable at a first end with respect to the frame, and the second end of the air bag impact surface has a shock absorbing element positioned between it and the frame.

A safely seat provides improved occupant protection, especially in a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag when the seat is positioned with the occupant facing rearward. The safety seat includes a head protector configured to deflect a forward facing portion of the seat downward upon interaction with an inflating air bag. The child safety seat, when occupied, has a center of gravity that causes a belt retaining the seat to be tightened for proper retention of the child seat during a collision and subsequent air bag inflation. The child safety seat can include one or more longitudinal members to strengthen the seat, provide additional head and torso protection, and transfer impact forces away from the head protector. In another embodiment the safety seat includes a cradle suspended in a frame by shock-isolating mounts. In an additional embodiment, a child safety seat includes two opposing frame rails, each frame rail including a side frame element. A pivot element, shock mounted on each of two ends to a respective side frame element, extends between the side frame elements. A lower shock mount is attached to a lower section of the frame. A cradle is resiliently suspended within the frame. The cradle is rotatably mounted to the pivot element at a first end, and attached to the lower shock mount at a second end. Additionally, an air bag impact surface is provided along a section of the frame. The air bag impact surface is pivotable at a first end with respect to the frame, and the second end of the air bag impact surface has a shock absorbing element positioned between it and the frame.

An inflatable restraint system includes an airbag restraint module defining an opening for deploying an airbag perpendicularly to a seat surface. In one embodiment, a child safety seat includes an airbag restraint belt for positioning the airbag. The child safety seat may include an inertial sensor for triggering airbag inflation.

Inflatable restraint system

An aircraft airbag module and an energy or impact absorbing and shock reducing control yoke are disclosed, the airbag module using non toxic compressed gas to provide either pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic inflation of an airbag independent of other aircraft operational systems. An airbag with one or more sections, when inflated, provides pilot protection without physically engaging the aircraft's control yoke, thus affording the possibility of continued aircraft control by the pilot. The aircraft control yoke includes a mechanically keyed and physically compressible section, as well as padding, thus providing the pilot with additional impact protection with or without airbag deployment. The airbag is retractable or releasable mounted so as to allow the airbag to be manually or automatically removed from the airbag module after an airbag inflation/deflation cycle.

Adaptable aircraft airbag protection apparatus and method

An airbag assembly is positioned relative to an aircraft control yoke in a manner to minimize the application of an undesired force to the control yoke when the airbag assembly is inflated. A disc-shaped airbag assembly is horizontally rod-supported from an aircraft's instrument panel so as to surround the aircraft's horizontally extending control yoke and so as to be independent mechanically thereof. The rods that support the airbag assembly may be spring biased to a quiescent position, and may then be of the telescoping type to accommodate full inward movement of the control yoke as the aircraft's pitch attitude is controlled. In a alternate embodiment of the invention, the airbag assembly is mounted on the ceiling of the aircraft, generally above and somewhat forward of the pilot, the airbag assembly being of a size when inflated whereby the pilot is protected from impact with the instrument panel, and yet subsequent operation of the control yoke by the pilot is not prevented by obstruction of the control yoke.

Airbags are positioned in a general aviation aircraft cockpit relative to a control yoke, a pilot, and a front seat passenger. Airbag actuation is controlled by a adaptive programmable controller such as a microcomputer. Airbag actuation is based upon information that the controller receives from multiple acceleration sensors. The outputs of the acceleration sensors are subjected to thresholding techniques, such as output signal weighting and/or majority voting. A programmable threshold is adaptively established for the controller based upon unique aircraft parameters, such as weight, altitude, angle of attack, ground and/or air speed, etc. The controller ignores all acceleration sensor inputs that do not meet this adaptive threshold. Thus, airbag actuation takes place only when a sufficient acceleration event occurs concurrently with the presence or absence of defined aircraft parameters that establish a proper threshold for the acceleration event. Airbag inflation includes a controllable delay that is used to customize airbag inflation to particular aircraft parameters, such as ground/air speed and weight.

Aircraft airbag protection apparatus and method

A child/infant safety seat provides improved occupant protection, especially in a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag when the seat is positioned with the occupant facing rearward. The safety seat includes a head protector configured to deflect a forward facing portion of the seat downward upon interaction with an inflating air bag. The child safety seat, when occupied, has a center of gravity that causes a belt retaining the seat to be tightened for proper retention of the child seat during a collision and subsequent air bag inflation. The child safety seat can include one or more longitudinal members to strengthen the seat, provide additional head and torso protection, and transfer impact forces away from the head protector.

An inflatable restraint system for providing protection to an occupant in a moving vehicle including a module disposed adjacent to the chest area of the vehicle occupant, the module having an airbag and an high pressure gas generator for exerting a controlled force against the occupant in a direction opposite the direction of motion of the occupant caused by rapid deceleration of the vehicle while simultaneously inflating the airbag adjacent to the occupant. A second embodiment is disclosed which includes an ancillary module disposed adjacent to the rear base of the occupant's neck, providing an airbag for inflation behind the occupant's head while simultaneously exerting a force opposite the direction of motion of the occupant's head, as caused by the backlash forces acting against the occupant following initial impact of the occupant with a forward airbag. A third embodiment is disclosed wherein an airbag is in incorporated into a child safety seat providing protection from frontal and lateral impact. A fourth embodiment is disclosed for rear seat passenger protection. A fifth embodiment is disclosed wherein an adult passenger seat is convertible into a child safety seat that can incorporate an airbag.

Integral inflatable occupant restraint system

An inflatable restraint system for providing protection to an occupant in a moving vehicle including a module disposed adjacent to the chest area of the vehicle occupant, the module having an airbag and a high pressure gas generator for exerting a controlled force against the occupant in a direction opposite the direction of motion of the occupant caused by rapid deceleration of the vehicle while simultaneously inflating the airbag adjacent to the occupant. A second embodiment is disclosed which includes an ancillary module disposed adjacent to the rear base of the occupant's neck, providing an airbag for inflation behind the occupant's head while simultaneously exerting a force opposite the direction of motion of the occupant's head, as caused by the backlash forces acting against the occupant following initial impact of the occupant with a forward airbag. A third embodiment is disclosed wherein an airbag is incorporated into a child safety seat providing protection from frontal and lateral impact. A fourth embodiment is disclosed for rear seat passenger protection. A fifth embodiment is disclosed wherein an adult passenger seat is convertible into a child safety seat that can incorporate an airbag.

The invention provides a payment folder having a signal device for communicating to a server a patron's readiness and urgency to pay a service establishment's bill. In one embodiment, the signal device includes at least one battery powered light, such as a light emitting diode, mounted on the payment folder so as to be visible to an observer. The light(s) are illuminated in one or more colors and may be caused to blink in response to appropriate positioning of a control switch that can include a control circuit. In other embodiments, the signal device is a manually positionable colored surface, such as a flag, attached to the payment folder. Signaling is accomplished by withdrawing the colored surface from within the payment folder or by positioning the colored surface so that it is visible through an opening in or a transparent portion of the payment folder.

Waitstaff signaling device for use in a service establishment

An exemplary engine mounting system provides two sets of rails along which the engine can travel in the event of an impact. A first set of rails is longitudinally mounted within the vehicle with the inwardmost portions thereof curving towards the ground to prevent intrusion by the engine into the passenger compartment. A second set of rails, orthogonal to the first set, permits side-to-side movement of the engine and first set of rails. The second set of rails may be curved downward to lengthen the path of engine travel. Springs are used for biasing against both longitudinal and transverse movement, as well as for dampening of engine vibration. The two sets of rails may be used in conjunction with bumpers attached directly to the engine. In another embodiment the engine block is mated with lugs to an engine mount integrated with the vehicle frame via angled shock absorbing pistons. The lugs move within a track permitting lateral engine movement and the angled pistons direct the engine underneath the passenger compartment. In an embodiment for a transverse mounted engine, the engine is hinge mounted to a support plate that is mated to tracks in a support wall that is slidably disposed on downwardly angled engine support bars. The system encourages a complex motion having downward, rearward and rotational components to direct the engine away from the passenger compartment.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Dan Goor