Patents by Inventor James Joseph McCulloch

James Joseph McCulloch 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).

  • Seat belt retractor
    Patent number: 6390404
    Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Joseph McCulloch
  • Seat belt retractor
    Publication number: 20010010111
    Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: James Joseph McCulloch
  • Seat belt retractor
    Patent number: 6256848
    Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Joseph McCulloch