Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

William E Thomas

Joseph D McCleary

Chandra S Namuduri

Alan L Browne

Gary Lee Jones

Jenne-Tai Wang

David Charles Viano

Scott R Webb

Edward A Jedrzejczak

Francis D Wood

Richard A McCormick

Mark J Sawade

A new and improved seat belt retractor system having an electronic control unit which is adapted to receive a signal from a sensor responsive to the buckling of the seat belt and causes an electric motor acting through a chain drive to drivingly rotate a reel in one direction for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on the seat occupant and that is responsive to the braking of the vehicle under emergency conditions to increase the tensioning of the seat belt to a level that exceeds the predetermined seat belt loading.

Seat belt retractor system

A knee bolster system is capable of automatic extension and retraction during specified scenarios that are determined based on sensor input. A microprocessor electrically controls an actuator capable of extending at least one telescoping mechanism which is rigidly engaged to a knee bolster pad located in the lower portion of an instrument panel at knee height to an occupant. Each telescoping mechanism houses a plowing mechanism. This plowing mechanism generates reaction forces during actuation.

Extendable and retractable knee bolster system

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

William E Thomas