Ford Motor Company Limited

Universal Propulsion Company, Inc.

Lap Belt Cinch, Inc.

Goodrich Corporation

Michael T Vecchio

Edward I Hull

Saeed David Barbat

Paul G Curry

Priyaranjan Prasad

Philip Kosarek

Priya Prasad

Bruce Alan Mather

Wesley J Blanchard

Wesley Pack

Thomas Junior Luckett

Robert V McClenathan

Jeffrey Allyn Baker

Timothy Smith

John H Young

Steve Hailstone

Steven Thompson

Richard McCulloch

Tom Manley

Richard Lonetto

Kenneth Gordon Grant, Jr

Paul Casimer Arone

Jefferey A Baker

Robert V Mcclenathan

In one embodiment, an apparatus for reversibly locking a lap belt portion of a safety belt webbing in a three-point, continuous loop seat belt system which includes a tongue assembly having the belt webbing routed therethrough, includes a cinch body adapted to mount to the tongue assembly, and a cam coupled to the cinch body and adapted to urge the belt webbing against the cinch body.

Method and apparatus for use on a safety belt system for restraining the movement of an occupant or child seat

An airbag () for mounting in the bumper () of a motor vehicle () is provided. The airbag can have an up-side-down 'L' shape or a cylindrical shape. Further, multiple bags can be combined within one system. The airbag is configured to cover substantially the width of the vehicle upon deployment and also provide protection to the occupant of a struck vehicle () in the event the occupant is partially expelled from the struck vehicle in the direction of the bag. The airbag is combined with an inflation (), collision sensor () and an electronic control unit () to form the airbag system.

Bumper airbag and system

An automotive door interior assembly has an interior door trim panel with a plurality of bosses extending therefrom having sections of varying wall thickness for allowing energy absorption through columnar deformation of the bosses. The bosses comprise conically shaped, hollow pedestals having a first end attached to the trim panel, a second truncated end opposite the first end, a wall connecting the first end and the second end, and an inner surface on the wall having at least one groove thereon. Connectors on the second truncated end of the bosses attach the trim panel to receiving apertures in the inner door panel.

Collapsible automotive trim panel boss

A vehicle door interior assembly has an inner door panel attached to a trim panel with a plurality of pins having splines thereon which are sheared from the pins for absorbing energy to lessen the energy transfer to the vehicle interior during a collision or otherwise. The pins have a shaft with a spear shaped nose section on one end which assists in attachment of the pins to holes in the inner door panel assembly. Finger members attached near the nose section help retain the pins in the holes and are deformed or sheared from the pin shaft should the assembly separate. A water seal is attached to the shaft to prevent moisture from seeping through the holes to the passenger compartment. Under compression, the pins are forced through the holes thus shearing the splines from the shaft and convert kinetic energy of the pin to heat energy.

Trim panel attaching pin with water seal

A side door assembly is provided which includes a catch and striker reinforcement mechanism positioned between the free-edge of the door of the adjacent body panel of the vehicle. The striker cooperates with the catch to enhance engagement in response to the imposition of laterally imposed loads through providing a disc-like knob for engagement with catch plate upon deflection of adjacent body panels.

Rear door assembly for automobiles

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Michael T Vecchio