Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Trw Limited

Robert P Ellis

Adrian Parvulescu

Keith R Ball

Louis R Brown

Tim Johnson

Robert J Desmarais

Ron D Johnson

Edgar H Schlaps

Carl M Petersen, Iii

Timothy J Cahill

Clare R Cunningham

Leon P Niedzwiecki

Franklin L Kiiskila

Duan W Chisnell

Charles W Sorenson

Robert E Nill

A seat belt pretensioner mechanism () includes a part () for attachment to the seat belt (). A strap () is connected to the part (). A piston () and piston rod () are movable in a first direction to move the strap () and the part () to tension the seat belt (). A pivot connection () between the piston rod () and the strap () causes the strap to move with the piston rod. A cam () pivots the strap () about the pivot connection () and effects movement of the part () toward the piston rod () as the piston () and the piston rod move in the first direction.

Seat belt pretensioner

A small transmitter built into the electric system of an environment, either stationary or potentially mobile, transmits a weak RF field capable of at least partially disabling a communication device in response to receiving a trigger signal. The trigger signal is generated by the electric system in response to the presence of one or more so-called &ldquo;forbidden&rdquo; conditions that require that the communication device be disabled. Disabling the communication device in this manner prevents the user from using the communication device under inappropriate conditions and thereby operates to greatly enhance public safety. Disabling the communication interface of the communication device may entail disabling all keypad functions of a cellular phone, for instance, disabling all but valid, predetermined emergency uses of the communication interface, or powering-down the communication device during the existence of the condition.

Method, system, and structure for disabling a communication device during the occurrence of one or more predetermined conditions

A medical image archiving system and method. A medical image archiving system receives analog NTSC or PAL video from a medical imaging device and converts it to a digital format for storage. The storage can be via local hard disc drive, or CD writer, or other optical storage medium, or via Local or Wide area network storage to a remote electronic storage medium. The system includes an integral web server to permit easy access over a network using a browser. When an image is stored on a CD, it can be stored as a session and the CD closed to prevent further writing.

Medical image processing system

Pole cover kit

A buckle ( ) for a vehicle seat belt system ( ) comprises a latch mechanism ( ) for connection with a tongue assembly ( ) of the seat belt system. The latch mechanism ( ) has a latched condition and a released condition. The buckle ( ) also comprises a manually engageable pushbutton ( ) connected with the latch mechanism ( ). The pushbutton ( ) is movable between a first position in which the latch mechanism is in the latched condition and a second position in which the latch mechanism is in the released condition. The buckle ( ) contains an illumination mechanism ( ) comprising an electroluminescent panel ( ) which may or may not be movable with the pushbutton when the pushbutton moves between the first and second positions.

Illuminated seat belt buckle

The container includes a base portion and a removable lid portion. The base and lid portions, interfit with each other to form a waterproof seal. The portions are easily separable for quick access to the interior of the container. The eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and various contact lens and eye wear lens solutions are housed in the base portion. The lid portion includes lens cleaning tissues and a mirror. In addition, a handle secured to the base portion is hollow and separable into two pieces to reveal an adjustable string or strap to facilitate the carrying of the container. The strap is placed over the shoulder or around the waist of an individual for carrying the container with the individual. The strap is adjustable so as to lengthen or shorten its length, dependent upon its use.

Personal optical care container

A seat belt buckle (12) includes a buckle base (34) having a passage (36) for receiving a tongue (16) by movement of the tongue in a first direction into the passage. An ejector (40) in the passage (36) is biased in a second direction opposite the first direction. The ejector (40) moves in the first direction against the bias upon insertion of the tongue (16) into the passage (36). A latch (42) latches the tongue (16) in the passage (36). The buckle (12) includes structure (24, 32) defining an opening (22) through which the tongue (16) is inserted into the passage (36). A shield (60) blocks the opening (22) and blocks foreign matter from passing through the opening.

Seat belt buckle with a shield blocking a tongue receiving opening

An apparatus includes a latch (42), an armature structure (64), and a spring structure (66). The latch (42) is movable from a non-locking position to a locking position in which the latch (42) engages a seat belt tongue (16). The armature structure (64) conducts magnetic flux from a magnet (62) to a Hall effect device (60). The spring structure (66) biases the armature structure (64) into sliding contact with the latch (42) during movement of the latch (42) between the non-locking and locking positions. The latch (42) affects the magnetic flux conducted by the armature structure (66) so as to cause the Hall effect device (60) to have a first output when the latch (42) is in the non-locking position and to have a second, different output when the latch (42) is in the locking position.

Seat belt buckle with Hall effect locking indicator

An apparatus (10) includes a base (30) defining a passage (32) which receives a seat belt tongue (16). The base (30) has an intermediate portion (108) between a pair of opposite end portions (106 and 112). The apparatus (10) further includes a housing (28) which contains the base (30). The housing (28) and the end portions (106 and 112) of the base (30) have structures (100, 128, 132) that interlock following movement of the base (30) within the housing (28) in a first direction and subsequently in a second, opposite direction. One of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a slot (144). The other of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a tab (102) which moves into abutment with a surface (146) in the slot (144) upon movement of the base (30) in the second direction.

Base and housing for seat belt buckle

An over-the-cab transporting device, including a pair of tracks extending from a position adjacent the vehicle-supporting surface over the cab to a position aft of the cab. A load-carrying platform moves from a position partly supported by the vehicle-supporting surface for loading and unloading to a position above the cab, where it is secured for transport.

Over-the-cab loader and carrier

A vehicle occupant restraint system (20) includes an inflatable air bag (41) and an actuatable inflator (40) for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid for inflating the air bag. A seat belt (105) extends across the vehicle occupant to restrain the occupant. A tongue (110) is connected with the seat belt (105), and a buckle (57) receives and latches the tongue (110) in the buckle (57). A pretensioner (44) is operatively connected to the belt (105). An indicator (59) indicates to the occupant if the tongue (110) is not received in the buckle (57). A seat belt buckle switch (66) is operatively connected to the buckle (57). The seat belt buckle switch (66) has electrically conductive normally closed contacts (74, 76) which open upon insertion of the tongue (110) into the buckle (57). A resistor network is electrically connected to the normally closed contacts (74, 76). The resistor network provides a first electrical signal having a first characteristic when the normally closed contacts (74, 76) are closed and a second electrical signal having a second characteristic when the normally closed contacts (74, 76) are open. A controller (24) is operatively connected to the inflator (40), the pretensioner (44), the resistor network (60, 72) and the indicator (59). The controller (24) controls actuation of the inflator (40), the pretensioner (44) and the indicator (59) in accordance with the first and second electrical signals.

Dual resistance switch for buckle confirmation

A pretensioner (40) is connected with a seat belt buckle (32) and is operable to move the buckle through a pretensioning stroke to remove slack from a seat belt. Movement of an actuator member (36) from an unactuated position to an actuated position under the influence of its own inertia at the end of a pretensioning stroke is resisted by a pair of counterbalance assemblies (162, 164) disposed in the buckle (32). The counterbalance assemblies (162, 164) include masses (168, 176) having inertia which results in the application of force against counterbalance cams (212, 232) connected with the actuator member (36). This force resists movement of the actuator member (36) to an actuated position at the end of the pretensioning stroke. Upon the application of manual force against an outer end portion of the actuator member (36) to release the buckle, the masses (168, 176) are pivoted by the counterbalance cams (232, 212). Cam followers (196) connected with the masses then slide along longitudinally extending side surfaces (216, 240) of the counterbalance cams (212, 232). The counterbalance masses (168, 176) are mounted between elongated sections (132, 134, 148 and 150) of the actuator member (36).

Inertia sensitive buckle for seat belt pretensioner system

A seat belt buckle (11) comprises a base (10) including a rear end portion (74) and a front end portion (75) located opposite the rear end portion. The base includes a first set of tabs (76, 77) at the rear end portion of the base and a second set of tabs (78, 79) at the front end portion of the base. A latch mechanism (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) is supported on the base for engaging a seat belt locking tongue and locking it to the base. A one-piece buckle cover (26) includes wall portions (130, 131, 132, 133) defining a cavity (95) for receiving the base and the latch mechanism. The cover also includes a front portion and a rear portion located opposite the front portion. The cover further includes a first shoulder (136, 137) at the rear portion of the cover and a second shoulder (138) at the front portion of the cover. The first shoulder engages the first set of tabs when the base is received in the cavity in the cover. The second shoulder engages the second set of tabs when the base is received in the cavity in the cover. The first and second sets of tabs and the first and second shoulders cooperate together to retain the base and the cover against relative movement.

Seat belt buckle

A seat belt buckle has a spring biased ejector member and a slidable pushbutton member. A coil spring biases both the pushbutton member and the ejector member. A secure connection between the ejector member and the pushbutton member is provided in a vertically compact structure. Contact surfaces on the ejector member and contact surfaces on the pushbutton member are all contained vertically within the confines of a track along which those members slide horizontally in the buckle.

A self-contained, free standing, on-demand, woodburning furnace including a firebox (52), including means to force combustion gases through a manifold (68), a hot air gathering plenum and means to selectively force feed the fire (34, 36, 38, 40, 68) and draw heated air from the furnace (8, 10, 12, 14).

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Almont, MI, United States of America

Robert P Ellis