Trw Limited

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Amsafe Commercial Products, Inc.

Talley Automotive Products, Inc.

Twr Inc.

Timothy A Swann

Bryan W Shirk

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Jess A Cuevas

Eric C Erike

Dean M Esterberg

John P O'Loughlin

Vincent J Mramor

Paul A Bowers

Kevin M Brown

Douglas P Campbell

Ernst M Faigle

Brian R Pitstick

Ivan L Stonich

Thomas H Deming

Wael S Elqadah

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Lee D Bergerson

Jerome W Emery

Christopher C Shih

Jeffrey Philip Baldwin

Daniel R Sutherland

Bruce R Hill

Agus S The

Michael James Walton

Nathan R Butters

Kirk W Christiansen

Eric N Streif

Eldron L Boehmer

John W Nicklos

Erin Edward Holmberg

Jack L Blumenthal

Michael F Fink

David T Merrill

David H Lewis, Jr

Dirk Schultz

James K O'Docherty

Kenneth D Brannon

John D Skouson

Michael F Daly

Wesley D Pack, Jr

Dan Lohavanijaya

Lawrence Endicott

Ahmad L Al-Amin

Vincent M Mramor

Lauren E Swann

Patrick A Swann

Aron Arnold

Ahamd K Al-Amin

Roy D Vanwynsberghe

Charles A King

Russell Bell

Gordon J Klages

An adjuster is provided for a restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object. The adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end. The adjuster includes a frame having a base member with an opening. The opening defines a first or edge plate and a second or securement plate. The first plate and the opening define a belt engaging edge. A clamping member is pivotally mounted between upright side flanges, the clamping member includes a pivoting lever and a load bar having a clamping edge, and a resilient spring member which urges the clamping member to rotate the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge of the frame.

Adjuster for adjustable restraint strap

The invention relates, generally, to a child restraint system and, more particularly, to an adjuster and harness for securing a child in a child restraint seat.

Web adjuster and harness for child restraint seat

An inflator () for providing inflation fluid ( ) to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a container () storing the inflation fluid under pressure. The container () has an outlet passage () through which the inflation fluid flows from the container. A rupturable closure member () fixed to the container () blocks flow of inflation fluid through the passage (). A support () for the rupturable closure member () defines a chamber () adjacent the rupturable closure member (). The rupturable closure member () has a first portion () deformed into the chamber () by the pressure of the inflation fluid and a second ring-shaped portion () encircling the first portion (). An initiator () ruptures the closure member () when actuated by shearing the first portion () from the second portion ().

Inflator for inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

Inflator

The present invention provides a buckle and frame for a restraint system resisting to a harsh environment. The buckle comprising a frame having a base wall, the base wall includes a debris exit opening; and a cover which encloses the frame and forms at least one vent opening and at least one passage which couples the debris exit opening to the vent opening. Debris, dust and other foreign objects which find there way into the buckle are not necessarily trapped but rather are presented with a means of exiting the buckle via the vent opening.

Buckle and frame for restraint system resistant to a harsh environment

A pretensioner ( ) tensions vehicle seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) has a member ( ) movable by an actuating fluid to tension the seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) further has at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device ( ) energizable to supply actuating fluid to move the member ( ).

Seat belt webbing pretensioner using MEMS devices

An inflator ( ) includes an assembly ( ) comprising a plurality of individually energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ) for, when energized, actuating the inflator. The assembly ( ) further comprises a sensor mechanism ( ) for sensing a condition of the inflator ( ) and for generating a control signal indicative of the sensed condition. The plurality of MEMS devices ( ) are responsive to the control signal to control actuation of the inflator ( ).

Air bag inflators

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) including a side door ( ) includes an inflatable tubular structure ( ) and an inflation fluid source ( ) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable tubular structure. The inflatable tubular structure ( ) has a stored position in which the inflatable tubular structure is deflated and stored in the side door ( ). The inflatable tubular structure ( ) is inflatable from the stored position to a deployed position in which the inflatable tubular structure is inflated and positioned between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant.

Door mounted inflatable tubular structure

An initiator ( ) for actuating an inflation fluid source ( ) for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a plurality of electrically energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ). In one embodiment, the MEMS devices ( ) are associated in a one to one relationship with chambers ( ) containing ignitable material ( ). Each one of the MEMS devices ( ), when energized, generates combustion products, including heat, for igniting the associated ignitable material ( ). At least one terminal pin ( ) is electrically connected with the plurality of MEMS devices ( ) for receiving an electric signal for energizing at least one of the MEMS devices.

Initiators for air bag inflators

An instrument panel assembly ( ) comprises a structural carrier member ( ) which is formed as one piece and has a first section ( ) defining a first chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a first component ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) has a second section ( ) defining a second chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a second component ( ). The first component ( ) comprises a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) received in the first chamber ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) further defines a deployment opening ( ) through which the first protection device ( ) is inflatable from the first chamber ( ). The second component ( ) comprises an occupant knee protection device ( ) received in the second chamber ( ) for helping to protect the vehicle occupant's legs in the event of a vehicle collision.

Vehicle instrument panel assembly

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) that is inflatable away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The device ( ) has a perimeter ( ) defined by an upper edge ( ) positioned adjacent the roof ( ), an opposite lower edge ( ), and front and rear edges ( and ) spaced apart along the upper and lower edges. The device ( ) includes overlying panels secured together along the perimeter ( ) to define an inflatable volume ( ) and is free from association with an inflatable tube. An inflator ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the device ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) extends through the device ( ) and is coiled around a portion ( ) of the inflatable volume ( ) of the device. The member ( ) has a first end ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) fixed to the vehicle side structure ( ). The member ( ) resists movement of the device ( ) away from the vehicle side structure ( ) when the device is inflated.

Inflatable curtain with positioning device

An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises an inflator housing ( ). A gas generating material ( ) is within the inflator housing ( ). The gas generating material ( ), when ignited, generates a gas for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device ( ). An autoignition material ( ) is provided for igniting the gas generating material ( ). The autoignition material ( ) comprises an additive that has a ratio of absorptivity of incident radiation to emissivity of internal energy by radiation of at least about 10.

Autoignition material additive

An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a housing ( ) and an inflation fluid source ( ) in the housing for, when actuated, providing fluid for inflating the protection device. An electrically actuatable initiator ( ) is connected with the housing ( ) for actuating the inflation fluid source ( ). The apparatus ( ) also comprises vehicle electric circuitry ( ) for actuating the initiator ( ) to actuate the inflation fluid source ( ) in response to sensing an occupant protection event for which inflation of the protection device ( ) is desired. A microelectromechanical system device (MEMS device) ( ) in the apparatus is electrically energizable to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source ( ). An autoignition mechanism ( ) responsive to an event other than an occupant protection event energizes the MEMS device to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source. The MEMS device ( ), when energized, generates heat for autoigniting the inflation fluid source ( ) or for deactivating a secondary inflation fluid source.

Air bag inflator with mechanism for deactivation of second stage and autoignition

An inflator ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a storage container ( ), a primary inflation fluid under pressure in a gaseous state in the container, and a secondary inflation fluid under pressure in the container. The container ( ) is openable to enable the primary inflation fluid to flow out of the container into the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device ( ). At least a portion of the secondary inflation fluid is in a non-gaseous state in the container ( ) during flow of the primary inflation fluid into the inflatable device. The portion of the secondary inflation fluid in the non-gaseous state thereafter changing to the gaseous state and flowing into the inflatable device to maintain the inflatable device in the inflated condition.

Long duration air bag inflator

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Timothy A Swann