Patents by Inventor Ben Penner

Ben Penner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Occupant restraint mechanism
    Patent number: 7204515
    Abstract: An occupant restraint mechanism is disposed between a rigid member and an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle. The occupant restraint mechanism includes first and second brackets each extending between proximal ends fixedly secured to the rigid member and distal ends coupled to the instrument panel. One of the first and second brackets has at least one notch formed therein. The notch has a predetermined size to allow a predetermined amount of deformation of the first and second brackets during contact of an occupant with the instrument panel during a sudden deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Penner, Takao Sato, Jesse Buehler
  • Occupant restraint mechanism
    Publication number: 20050200109
    Abstract: An occupant restraint mechanism is disposed between a rigid member and an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle is provided. The occupant restraint mechanism includes first and second brackets each extending between proximal ends fixedly secured to the rigid member and distal ends coupled to the instrument panel. One of the first and second brackets has at least one notch formed therein. The notch has a predetermined size to allow a predetermined amount of deformation of the first and second brackets during contact of an occupant with the instrument panel during a sudden deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Ben Penner, Takao Sato, Jesse Buehler