Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Kinetikos Medical, Inc.

Invenio Corporation

Edward W Clancy, Iii

Gerald Keller

Harold J Miller

Brian K Blackburn

H John Miller, Iii

Carl M Petersen, Iii

Susan A Richards

George S Popa

William L Palmer

Douglas L Forsyth

Michael D Wilkins

Rose A Filar

Mark Gerard Urbanski

Terence J O'Sullivan

William Bonner

Andrew Tyciak

Joseph M Heilig

Brian Nadeau

Herbert J Keller

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 strain, an electrical voltage is induced in the coil which is used to detect elastic or plastic strain of the torsion rod. A vehicle safety system uses the output of the magnetostrictive sensor to inform the vehicle operator when the seat belt load limiter is in need of replacement. The output of the magnetostrictive sensor as processed by the vehicle safety system can also be used to detect a situation where the seat occupant is not restrained by the seat belt and to make an airbag deployment decision.

Seat belt retractor torsion rod activity sensor

A system for eliminating residual seat belt slack about a plurality of occupants of a vehicle, the system comprising a plurality of seat belt assemblies securable about a respective occupant, each seat belt assembly including a lap belt portion, a tongue, and a buckle, one end of the lap belt secured to a support member and an opposite end of the lap belt operatively joined to the tongue, the buckle matingly locking with the tongue, the buckle secured to one end of a connecting member, the connecting member having an opposite second end; a belt tightener is secured to the second end of each connecting member, for generally simultaneously tightening each seat belt assembly about a respective occupant.

Multi-point pretensioner system

An energy absorbing retractor having a frame, locking mechanisms to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, a seat belt wound about the spool, and biasing device to retract the seat belt, a two-sided torsion bar for generating at least a first level of reaction torque on the spool permitting the spool to rotate in a controlled manner in a belt protracting direction including a torsion bar having a middle portion fixedly coupled to the spool to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a first torsion rod extending therefrom, the first torsion rod including a first end coupled to a first locking mechanism to prevent the first end from rotating upon such coupling, whereby upon locking of the first end, and the loading of the spool, the first torsion rod is twisted to generate a first level of control force. A second torsion rod including a second end coupled to a second locking mechanism to prevent the second end from rotating upon such coupling, whereby upon locking of the second end, and the loading of the spool, the first and second torsion rods are twisted simultaneously to generate a second level of control force.

Multi-level load limiting torsion bar retractor

An elongated anchor and an attached surgical tie are secured to a bone region for use in suturing ligaments, tendons, and the like to the bone. First, an entry hole of predetermined size is drilled in the bone, extending through the cortical layer into the cancellous layer. The hollow shaft of a disposable installation tool is inserted into the entry hole. The shaft has a distal end attached to an apertured deflecting nose, which preferably includes an rounded formation of resilient fingers. The tool houses an elongated anchor with a pair of sides closely interconnected by a bridge, where the sides together define an anchor body having a relatively small cross-section and a pair of opposing ends. The tool also houses a continuous tie that passes around the bridge. A plunger is slidably advanced down the tool's hollow shaft, advancing the anchor lengthwise through the tool shaft and nose into the cancellous layer of bone. Tightening the tie pulls a rounded end of the anchor against the deflecting nose; by tightening the tie even more, the anchor is rotated against the rounded deflecting nose until the anchor body is at angle to the entry hole. Further tightening of the tie pulls the anchor body firmly against the cortical layer, such that the anchor body spans the entry hole and locks the anchor in place.

Method and apparatus for anchoring surgical ties to bone

A right and left hand retractable wheel carriage for a removable vehicle bench seat opposite end latching mechanism. Each carriage includes mounting brackets, caster brackets interconnected by a link, associated casters, and a suitable spring for urging the casters apart and into engagement with the vehicle floor to prevent the casters from rattling during operation of the vehicle. Once the seat's latching mechanism is released, the spring forces the casters into a vertical orientation to thereby lift the bench seat to facilitate manually rolling it out of the vehicle, and then along the ground or floor.

Vehicle bench seat retractable wheel carriage

A vehicle recliner seat is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat bun frame, a seat back frame pivotally mounted with respect to the seat bun frame, an adjuster to selectively adjust the inclination of the seat back frame with respect to the seat bun frame, a strut pivotally mounted to the seat back along a first fixed pivotal axis and having a lost motion pivotal attachment with the seat bun frame, the strut having on an end adjacent to the seat bun frame a pin which is provided for translational movement with respect to the seat bun frame, and the seat bun frame having a pivotal latch and a pendulum to actuate the latch wherein, when the vehicle accelerates rearwardly over a predetermined level of rearward acceleration, the pendulum causes the latch to pivot upwardly to engage the pin, causing the strut to have a fixed pivotal axis with the seat bun frame and thereby tend to limit rearward motion of the seat back frame.

High strength seat back

A vehicle recliner seat is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat pan frame, a seat back pivotally mounted with respect to the seat pan frame, a rod having at least one end locationally fixed with respect to the seat pan frame, a first link with a first end pivotally connected with the seat back with a second end pivotally connected with the rod, and a second link with a first end pivotally connected with the seat back with a second end pivotally connected with the rod. The position of the second ends of the first and second links on the rod can be moved to selectively set the inclination of the seat back with respect to the seat pan frame.

Recliner seat

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Edward W Clancy, Iii