Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Markell Seitzman
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Patent number: 7067754Abstract: A bezel-button assembly comprising at least one button connected to a bezel. The button is moveable between a first position and at least a second position. An elastic layer connects the bezel to the button and is adapted to provide at least a partial mechanical bias of the button toward the first position. A method for forming a bezel-button assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Key Plastics, LLCInventors: Mark Weston, Stanley Dobson
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Patent number: 7044500Abstract: A side impact air bag curtain apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag adapted to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate the roof rail of a vehicle and when inflated expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle; the air bag including a set of first air bag anchors fixedly connected to a determinable set of fixed first vehicle anchors within the vehicle, the air bag including at least one second air bag anchor at an end of the air bag; and a force-resolving member such as a bent rod or other member fixedly mounted at a determinable orientation within the vehicle and adapted to slidingly receive and support the second air bag anchor. The force-resolving member in concert with the foreshortening of the air bag during inflation causing the second air bag anchor to move to a preferred orientation.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Kalandek, Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Philip J. Macy, Jovica J. Jakovski, Mark O. Olson, Michael A. Hague, Shakir M. Salmo, John C. MacLean
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Patent number: 7036628Abstract: An apparatus that secures a hunter to a tree while in a tree-mounted hunting stand that includes a safety harness assembly (200) having a belt retractor (24) and a body harness (16). The belt retractor is configured to be removably secured about the tree and removably secured to the body harness. The belt retractor along with energy-absorbing materials improves the hunter's safety while in tree stand and provides a sufficiently large range of motion about the stand.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Key Saftey Systems, Inc.Inventors: Timothy L. Wilcox, Patrick J. Gorman, Gerald R. DeMeyer, William K. King, David R. Arnold
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Patent number: 7021653Abstract: An air bag assembly (20) comprising: an air bag (24) and means for inflating the air bag, and a partial hood or tether (40) for causing the air bag to inflate in an asymmetric manner during inflation, the hood or tethers operatively disengageable from the air bag.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: John M. Burdock, John Cooper, Jin Ho Jung, Robert L. Arwood, III, Robert J. Sadenwater, Walter R. Green, Mutaz A. Shkoukani, Jean-Luc Blancou
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Patent number: 6994372Abstract: A steering wheel assembly having a fastenerless air bag module assembly is disclosed. This assembly employs a housing with a projection and a steering wheel armature configured to receive the projection. The cover is retained between the housing and the steering wheel armature. Furthermore, the present invention provides a steering wheel cover with a tear seam that permits the air bag to deploy more efficiently with less damage to the occupants.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Brian C. Ford, Lawrence R. Langbeen
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Patent number: 6994129Abstract: A fluid reservoir, bottle, pump or storage chamber (50, 70, 80) capable of being refilled by a refill bottle (100), the refill bottle including an outlet passage (106) closed by a fluid seal (104), the fluid reservoir, bottle or storage chamber comprising: an inlet passage (44, 52, 60, 74, 84); a housing (202, 204, 206) for receiving and supporting the refill bottle (100) in an orientation to encourage fluid in the refill bottle to flow into the inlet passage of the fluid reservoir bottle or storage chamber and second means for piercing the fluid seal (104) as the refill bottle is placed upon the first means.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Key Plastics, LLCInventor: Timothy J. Fesko
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Patent number: 6955377Abstract: An air bag module comprising an air bag pack including an inflator and folded air bag is disclosed; the air bag is capable of inflating upon receipt of inflation gas and includes a tether having a first portion fixedly attached in relation to one of the air bag and the inflator, the tether including a second portion, which is loosely positioned relative to the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: John Cooper, John M. Burdock, Jin Ho Jung, Robert L. Arwood, III, Robert J. Sadenwater, Walter R. Green, Mutaz A. Shkoukani, Jean-Luc Blancou
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Patent number: 6932378Abstract: Disclosed is a passenger module (10) with a cover coupling mechanism (12, 14, 28, 30). The cover coupling mechanism has a generally C-shaped bracket (12, 14), which interfaces with a plurality of slots (65, 66) defined in an air bag cover (20). The C-shaped bracket further has a plurality of apertures (22) which interface with a plurality of threaded studs (24) on the module's housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: David E. Thomas
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Patent number: 6920256Abstract: An occupant classification system comprising: a seat upon which an occupant may sit or on which an object may be placed, the seat having one of a seat cushion and a seat back; at least one optical fiber having a measurable optical characteristic, arranged in a specific pattern, the optical characteristics of the fiber changeable when a force is applied to the fiber; and a processor responsive to an output signal from each fiber for generating a control signal determinative of a physical characteristic of an object or occupant on the seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mohannad F. Murad, Peter C. Kempf, Almasri Hossam, Randal Gosk
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Patent number: 6904399Abstract: Disclosed is a simulation based environment that allows a product based engineer, with a modest understanding of complex software programs, to use complex math models. The system provides an interface by which basic component models can be used within the simulation. Allowances are made for particular variables to be adaptable by the product based engineer.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignees: Key Safety Systems, Inc., TNO Madymo North AmericaInventors: John Cooper, Paul Francis Altamore, William Edward Rockwell
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Patent number: 6886858Abstract: The invention relates to an air bag and a method of forming the air bag. The invention comprises the steps of: a) partially constructing the air bag and leaving an opening at a determinable location at or near the periphery of the air bag to provide access to the interior thereof; b) inserting a tether into the interior of the bag through the opening; and c) securing one side of the tether to a first panel of the air bag and securing a second side of the tether to a second panel of the air bag; and closing the access opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Mark O. Olson
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Patent number: 6863301Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Brian C. Ford, Lawrence R. Langbeen, Mohannad F. Murad, Hossam Almasri, Randal Gosk, John M. Burdock
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Patent number: 6863235Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a primary (40) and secondary (60) locking mechanism and deactivation mechanism (74) for mechanically deactivating the second locking mechanism (60) when the retractor is used by occupants not in a designated class; the retractor including at least two load limiting mechanisms including for example, a torsion bar and variable elongation webbing or a torsion bar and a friction brake (or clutch) configured to be selectively employed depending on the size of the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Koning, Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray, Michael J. Moore
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Patent number: 6849226Abstract: A control panel assembly having a plurality of buttons located in a bezel and supported by a switch mat. A bezel and/or button is formed using a vacuum forming technique and has a transparent inner surface layer and a middle translucent color layer and an opaque outer surface layer. A portion of the opaque outer surface layer is removed to define a desired indicia on an outer surface of the bezel or button. In addition, the bezel or button can be backlit to allow visibility in low light conditions. A method of making a control panel component, such as a bezel or button, is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Key Plastics, LLCInventors: Kenneth J. Ardrey, Mark R. Weston
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Patent number: 6843503Abstract: An air bag module (100) comprising: a housing (20) including a receiving feature (20a) to receive at least a portion of an inflator (20), the inflator providing inflation gas to a cooperating air bag; this inflator being removably received in the receiving feature (20a); a holding member (40) movable between a first position and a second position, the holding member, while in the first position operatively holding an inflator (30) to a housing (20), the holding member movable between the first and the second positions under the influence of the inflator.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Brian C. Ford
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Patent number: 6840544Abstract: A belt-tensioning device for an occupant restraint is provided, designed to tension a belt (101) about an occupant at the onset of a vehicle collision, and to provide a measure of controlled force dissipation as the occupant loads the belt during the collision. In a preferred form, a tensioning member (122) moves in one direction (124) to tighten a belt about a vehicle occupant at the onset of a collision, and a braking device (130a, 130b) is configured to apply a controlled braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction after the tensioning member has tightened the belt about the vehicle occupant. An array of braking members (130a, 130b) applies different levels of braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction, thereby providing controlled braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2002Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: David Prentkowski
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Patent number: 6834822Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprising: a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively activatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor; a switch mechanism for operatively selecting one or the other energy level and a mode shifter for shifting between the first energy absorption level and the second energy absorption level as a function of the rotation of a spool of the retractor.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Koning, Michael J. Moore, Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray
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Patent number: 6836754Abstract: Disclosed is a safety restraint design controller for controlling the design of a safety restraint system so that a predetermined desired level of an occupant's response (89) is produced. The controller has a database (85) for storing an occupant restraint factor response model (90). The model (90) interrelates at least one predetermined restraint factor (88) with the occupant response (89), the restraint factors having a level that is indicative of setting values for controlling the safety restraint design. A database engine connected to the database (85) determines a level for the occupant response (89) based upon the model and upon a first level of the restraint factors.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: John Cooper
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Patent number: 6823645Abstract: A folding apparatus (100) for inserting an air bag and housing into an interior cavity of a cover, the apparatus comprising: an arcuately shaped tube, the tube sized in cross-section to slidably receive the housing and drawing the air bag up into the tube, the tube including an open first end oriented so that a plane through the first end is substantially parallel to vertical; a ram apparatus movable through the tube and adapted to hold and move the housing and air bag through the tube; a holding apparatus means for orienting the cover so that its internal cavity is in alignment with and adjacent to the first end such that the housing and air bag can be rammed into the cover internal cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Brian C. Ford
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Patent number: 6802530Abstract: A rollover air bag system comprising: at least a first inflatable first chamber, the air bag adapted to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle in a manner such that when the air bag is inflated the first inflatable chamber is positioned to receive and protect the head of an occupant, an accumulator chamber located downstream of the first chamber, the accumulator chamber initially maintained at a negative pressure relative to the inflated first chamber, wherein in order to restrict the pressure in the first chamber from increasing upon impact with a body part of the occupant, the inflation gas in the first chamber is allowed to be pushed into the accumulator chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Charles S. E. Walczak, Shakir M. Salmo