Patents Assigned to Automotive Technology, Inc.
  • Gas generator
    Patent number: 6553914
    Abstract: A gas generator according has a polymeric closure and an igniter subassembly comprising an igniter and a polymeric gas generator body. The gas generator body and the polymeric closure define a hermetically sealed combustion chamber for receiving a gas generant. The igniter receives an electrical current and ignites the gas generant. The generated gas can be used in vehicle occupant safety devices including seat belt pretensioners, airbags, compressed gas vessel openers, and other devices requiring a rapid pulse of high-pressure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Otis Hosey, Keith Hing Lam, J B Canterberry
  • Seat belt buckle and tongue presenter system
    Publication number: 20030075914
    Abstract: A system (20) comprising a buckle presenter (100) and/or a tongue presenter (200) and mechanism to activate and control each presenter. The buckle presenter and tongue presenter (200) are used to respectively move a seat belt buckle (26) and a corresponding tongue (24) from a stowed position to activated positions generally in front of the occupant to make the process of inserting the tongue into the buckle more convenient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray, Markell Seitzman, Mohannad F. Murad, Hossam Almasri, Randal Gosk
  • Miniature acceleration sensor
    Patent number: 6550306
    Abstract: An upper housing is ultrasonically welded to a lower housing forming a hermetic seal about two opposed ferromagnetic leads extending from a reed switch. A shock sensing magnet has a cylindrical bore and is spring biased within the housing to slide along the glass capsule of the reed switch in response to acceleration. The magnet functions as a shock sensing mass, and is shaped to increase the reed switch dwell time. The reed switch leads are bent to extend downwardly along the sides of the housing and are bent horizontally to be parallel to the housing sides and a circuit board. A strip of mu-metal wraps three sides of the housing and has tabs extending partly beneath the housing for soldering to the circuit board. The magnet and the housing are constructed from plastics which can withstand momentary high temperature associated with a re-flow solder process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martyn Bensley
  • Driver side air bag module with annular air bag
    Patent number: 6550804
    Abstract: An air bag module including an air bag, the air bag including: a face panel having a first central opening therein; a rear panel having a second central opening therein, that portion of the rear panel about the second central opening forming a neck portion; a tubular insert having an open end secured to the face panel about the first central opening, the tubular insert including a closed end opposite the open end, the tubular insert extending into the air bag, sides of the tubular insert including at least one opening; the tubular insert including an inflatable portion having an open end secured about the at least one opening and upon inflation the inflatable portion is moved into the center of the tubular insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Burdock
  • Device for testing internal pressure of a gas reservoir of an airbag inflator
    Patent number: 6550335
    Abstract: A device for testing the inflation state of an cold gas inflator for an airbag has a gas reservoir that is filled with gas at a high pressure, in particular an inert gas. Oscillations of frequencies varying within a particular frequency range are generated at an exterior surface the filled gas reservoir by an oscillation transmitter and the resonance frequency is measured using an oscillation sensor. A comparator compares the measured resonance frequency with a resonance frequency that was determined at the gas reservoir filled with the volume of gas. The oscillation transmitter and the oscillation sensor are integrated in a unit such that the generation and frequency measuring of the oscillations are carried out at locations on the exterior surface of the gas reservoir that are distanced from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the gas reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Weber, Stefan Wiesbaum
  • Method of stabilizing the density of gas generant pellets containing nitroguanidine
    Patent number: 6547900
    Abstract: A non azide gas generant composition of nitroguanidine and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate is provided. This gas generant composition has many desirable characteristics such as little production of ash and the production of essentially toxic free exhaust gas. When nitroguanidine is compressed into a pellet it has needle shaped crystals that bend or distort. When the gas generant pellets are subjected to thermal cycling some nitroguanidine crystals will return to their native conformation resulting in pellet growth. To eliminate this pellet growth, nitroguanidine is passed through a VBM mill. The media in the VBM mill pulverizes the nitroguanidine into an amorphous crumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. B. Canterberry, Mark A. Schmidt, Edward O. Hosey, Robert K. Walsh, John H. Adams
  • Paddle flow monitoring device
    Patent number: 6548775
    Abstract: A flow sensor has a paddle assembly that is mounted to a housing by opposed pivot posts which extend from the paddle assembly between the paddle and the magnet. The housing has two pivot post clips that resiliently capture the pivot posts which are received in mounting holes in resilient clips A shroud surrounds the housing and positions a biasing magnet which repels the magnet on the paddle assembly. The shroud slides over the housing and provides a transverse passageway that is aligned with a passageway in the housing. An activation sensor positioned within a sleeve is positioned within the transverse passageway of the housing and passes through a transverse passageway in the shroud pinning the two subassemblies together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul K. Edwards
  • Method of folding an air bag
    Patent number: 6547709
    Abstract: A method of folding an air bag consisting of the following steps: providing an air bag with a square configuration; folding four corners of the air bag toward the center of the air bag resulting in a smaller square configuration; repeating said folding step to place the air bag in a smaller square configuration; folding a resulting left corner of the air bag toward the center of the air bag; folding a resulting right corner of the air bag toward the center of the air bag; and pinching lower and upper portions of the air bag while folding the lower and upper portions, respectively, toward the center of the air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Dennis
  • Controlling headrest according to occupant size in a vehicle
    Patent number: 6540299
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and a seat headrest are adjustable to accommodate seat occupants of varying heights. The headrest, height and seat position are adjusted together by connecting the headrest drive motor and the seat drive motor to a single control switch. The headrest has a smaller total distance of travel in relation to the travel distance of the vehicle seat. The headrest motor may drive a thread with a smaller pitch. Alternatively, there may be employed pulse width modulation of the electrical power supplied by a common switch or a similar device to create a proportional relationship between the motion of the headrest and the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randal Gosk, Mohannad Murad, Hossam Almasri
  • Rollover air bag with damping mechanism
    Publication number: 20030057683
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Charles S.E. Walczak, Shakir M. Salmo
  • Buckle pretensioner
    Publication number: 20030047931
    Abstract: A buckle pretensioner for a vehicle safety restraint comprising a buckle head (1) for receiving a buckle tongue to secure safety restraint webbing about a vehicle occupant in a three-point belt system, a cable (2) connected to the buckle head (1); and means (7) for rapidly withdrawing the cable in a belt tightening direction, the withdrawing means (7) comprising a force reservoir (8), and driving means (6), and being of a compact construction through the use of step-up gearing (3, 4) to magnify linear movement produced by the force reservoir (8) which may be a pyrotechnic gas generator or a spring. The driving means (8) may be a piston-cylinder (6, 8) or a rack and pinion. The gearing may comprise a pulley arrangement (3, 4). Alternatively a roots motor or a gear pump could be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Rees, Alan George Smithson, David Burke, Andrew John Downie, Carlo Martellini, Richard Harman, David Blackadder
  • Driver side air bag module with annular air bag and centrally disposed control module
    Publication number: 20030047922
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Ford, Lawrence R. Langbeen, Mohannad F. Murad, Hossam Almasri, Randal Gosk, John M. Burdock
  • Airbag having back parts with a larger surface than the front part
    Patent number: 6530593
    Abstract: An airbag has a front part facing a vehicle occupant and from two back parts facing away from the vehicle occupant. The two back parts have a larger surface than the front part. The back parts each have a first portion which is dimensioned in such a way that the two first portions of the back parts jointly correspond to the front part in terms of shape and size. The two back parts are connected along the free edges of their first portions to the front part along the outer circumference of the latter. The back parts have second portions that extend essentially transversely to the front part and are connected to one another along their outer edges. The connection of the second portions of the back parts is interrupted at least in one portion to form a gas inlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert Ross, Frank Saeuberlich
  • Device for tightening a rear seat belt
    Patent number: 6527299
    Abstract: A device for tightening a three-point seat belt is located in the rear of a vehicle. A linear belt tightener is located in the region of the vehicle door sill aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle door sill. The linear belt tightener acts via a pulling element on the belt webbing of a seat belt. The belt webbing is guided through a belt guide anchored to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Andreas Knych
  • Radial tube air bag folding apparatus and method
    Publication number: 20030038465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Breed Automotive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Ford
  • Air bag, method of manufacture and system therefor
    Patent number: 6523855
    Abstract: A partitioned air bag (55) comprising an upper (54) and a lower (52) inflatable chamber, the lower chamber upon inflation is positioned to provide a cushioned boundary generally against the lower chest and abdomen of an occupant to be protected, the lower chamber first receiving inflation gas from a source of inflation wherein the inflation gas is sequentially transferred to the upper chamber through one or more ports (162) formed by a separator panel that separates the air bag into the upper and lower chambers. The air bag is inflated by a single stage air bag inflator (26) characterized as having a relatively low fill rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Musiol, Paul R. Weber, Tony B. Popovski, James R. Athon
  • Sled test apparatus and method for simulating pre-impact crash event
    Patent number: 6522998
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for simulating impact conditions which has a test sled 10, simulated occupant (14), and a pre-impact force-generating device. The pre-impact force-generating device can apply force directly to the simulated occupant being (14), thereby overcoming many of the cost problems associated with applying a low and long duration force directly to a test sled (10). The pre-impact force-generating device can be designed such that instead of providing a low and long duration force to a simulated occupant (14), it provides a short and high impact force to the simulated occupant (14). An impact force-generating device provides impact force directly to the sled (10) which simulates impact conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Mazur, Brian K. Blackburn, H. John Miller, III, Scott B. Gentry, Michel P. Rossey, Edward J. Burley, Timothy W. Hill, Kurt W. Schulz
  • Steering wheel assembly featuring the elimination of a contact coil
    Patent number: 6517105
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly including an inflator subassembly, a steering wheel armature, and a cushion subassembly. The inflator subassembly and the cushion subassembly are located on opposite sides of the steering wheel armature. The inflator subassembly comprises an inflator. The inflator subassembly has a lip, which fits into a circular channel on the bottom portion of the steering wheel armature. The cushion subassembly includes an airbag, a retainer, and an airbag cover. Upon detection of a crash from a crash sensor, the inflator begins to generate gas. The gas flows through the inflator subassembly and then is forced to flow through the hub portion of the steering wheel and into the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ford
  • Mounting bracket for an airbag inflator
    Patent number: D471080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Joseph Baumbach
  • Rear view mirror cover
    Patent number: D472860
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paolo Vian