Patents Assigned to Key Safety System, Inc.
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Patent number: 8220112Abstract: A device for anchoring a strap to a structural member has a strap and a strap anchoring member fixed to the strap at a first end of the strap. The strap anchoring member has a length and a width, wherein the length is greater than the width. The strap anchoring member is folded to provide only two layers of the strap anchoring member enclosing an end region of the strap adjacent a first end of the strap. A secured portion of the strap anchoring member is proximal the first end of the strap with both layers of the strap anchoring member fixed to the strap providing a three layer structure. An unsecured portion of the strap anchoring member is distal from the first end of the strap. A second end of the strap may be fixed to an airbag used for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Volker Hofmann, Matthias Volkmann, Robert Negele
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Publication number: 20120153603Abstract: An airbag cushion of flexible sheet material has a vent opening therein with a vent cover of flexible sheet material stitched to an interior surface of the airbag cushion aligned with the vent opening in the airbag cushion to form a pocket. The vent cover has a vent opening therein that allows airbag inflation gas to escape from the airbag cushion via the vent opening in the airbag cushion. A vent flap of flexible sheet material is disposed at least partially within the pocket and inboard of the vent openings in the airbag cushion and vent cover. The vent flap is fixed to at least one tether that extends outboard from the vent flap through an opening in the vent cover to a tether end that is permanently attached to the airbag cushion outboard of the vent cover. A tether extends inboard from vent flap to a tether end that is fixed in a releasable manner to a tether end securing device fixed to a module housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Heather Mallinger, Mary Raska, Derrick Ledford
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Publication number: 20120111985Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt, comprising a belt reel 2 onto which the safety belt is wound when the belt strap is reeled in and from which the safety belt can be unwound when the belt strap is pulled out, a belt strap-sensitive blocking mechanism 12 which blocks extension of the belt strap when the belt strap is extended with excessive acceleration, wherein a retarding device 1 which prevents activation of the belt strap-sensitive blocking mechanism along a specified length of belt strap extension at the beginning of the belt strap extension process is rotatably connected to the belt reel 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Martin Specht, Wolff Rainer
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Patent number: 8132863Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat base and a seatback. The vehicle seat has as a permanent feature a pair of seat belt guides positioned such that when a lap portion of a seat belt webbing is received in both of the seat belt guides the lap portion of the seat belt webbing intersects the seat belt guides at a selected distance from a forward face of the seatback. Each of the seat belt guides restricts movement of the lap portion of the seat belt webbing away from the forward face of the seatback. The seat belt guides direct the lap portion of the seat belt webbing across the seat base along a path such that the lap portion of the seat belt webbing interacts with the lower body of a child when the vehicle seat is occupied by a child aged three to twelve years and under 150 cm in height.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Key Safety Systems, IncInventors: Matthew Surgeon, John Bell
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Patent number: 8075019Abstract: A kit for a device for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a prefabricated seat belt retractor (1) that has a winding shaft (2) mounted in a rotatable manner in a retractor frame (4) to wind up and unwind the seat belt. The kit further includes a similarly prefabricated drive module (30) having an electric motor (32), the drive module being connectable to the retractor frame (4) in a rotationally fixed manner. Force-transmission elements are provided on the drive module (30) and on the seat belt retractor (1) that are to be connected to each other to transmit the torque from the electric motor (32) to the winding shaft (2) when the seat belt retractor (1) and drive module (30) are assembled. An assembled device for restraining a vehicle occupant and having the components of the kit is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, IncInventor: Martin Specht
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Patent number: 8013727Abstract: A device for detecting the occupancy status of a vehicle seat with an electrical capacity sensor device that is arranged in a seat belt buckle assigned to the vehicle seat and whose electrical capacity is altered relative to a reference potential (mass, ground) by the presence of a person occupying the vehicle seat and which, as a result, emits an electrical seat occupant presence output signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Martin Specht, Thomas Kilian
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Patent number: 8007002Abstract: An air bag module (60) including an inflatable air bag (50) having a first region formed by opposing edge borders (102, 104) of two facing panels or panel pieces (52, 54), the first region initially open to receive a gas distribution hose (40), the gas distribution hose comprising a tubular portion (42) and a flat portion (44) integrally formed with the tubular portion, the tubular portion configured to receive inflation gas at one portion and having openings (49) therein to permit the egress of inflation gas; the flat portion of the hose located between the opposing edge borders of the facing panels; and a seam or seams (110) extending through the facing borders to join the flat portion of the hose between the facing edge borders in a gas tight manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Kalandek, James A. Horton
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Patent number: 8007003Abstract: A diffuser (50) for use in an air bag system, the diffuser comprising: a connector part (52) configured to be connected to an air bag inflator, the connector part including a side wall (53); and a gas distribution part formed as an integral extension of the connector part and configured to deliver gas from the connector part to the air bag (150), and the distribution part including a first conduit (60) and a second conduit (70), the two conduits configured to give the diffuser a low profile.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
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Patent number: 7977935Abstract: A linear motion sensor has two pairs of opposed spaced apart stacks of two simple two-pole bar magnets. Each stack has one shorter outer magnet and one longer inner magnet, with the outer magnets centered on the inner magnets. The poles of the magnets are oriented the same in each pair, but opposite with respect to the other pair. The shape of the magnets results in the magnetic fields produced by each pair of magnets being substantially outside of the magnets themselves, so that the load line for the combined magnets is above the knee in its B/H material demagnetization curve. The pairs of magnets define a gap therebetween in which a magnetic field sensor is mounted for travel. The shorter magnets are about one half the length of the longer magnets such that the magnetic field in the gap varies substantially linearly as the sensor moves along the gap.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2009Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Steven R Stuve
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Publication number: 20110154624Abstract: A tongue (200, 400) for an inflatable belt restraint system, the tongue comprising: a narrow cylindrical hollow tube (204a, 204b) comprising a first formed member and a second formed member joined together along respective mating edges of the first and second formed members and two mating portions (202a and 202b) forming the looped portion of the tongue.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: David R. Arnold, Michael J. Moore, Bayard C. Temple
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Publication number: 20110068565Abstract: An inflatable member is inflated by compressed gas that flows through the latch and hollow tubular tongue of a seat belt anchor. The inflatable member is retained in an uninflated condition in a split two layer belt. The latch is pivotally secured to a conduit that receives compressed inflation gas from a cylinder that is provided with a diffuser.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: David R. Arnold, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Dean M. Jaradi, Edward Joseph Desmet, Rudi Grzic
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Patent number: 7908941Abstract: A steering wheel has a ring portion, spoke portions and a hub portion. The steering wheel is provided with a thermoelectric reversible heat pump to heat or cool a fluid. A closed hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic pump and at least one duct extending along the ring portion of the steering wheel. The fluid is heated or cooled by the thermoelectric heat pump and is circulated by the hydraulic pump within the ring portion of the steering wheel to heat or cool the ring portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Lorenzo Menaldo, Giuseppe Testa, Alberto Muscio, Stefano Soragni
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Patent number: 7887086Abstract: An air bag module (50) comprising: a curtain air bag (20) having an inflatable portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion or tab (30) including opposing first and second mounting sides or surfaces; a mounting bracket or clip (100) for the inflatable curtain air bag, comprising first and second plates (110, 120), each plate engagable with a respective first or second mounting side or surface (104, 106), the first plate having a first opening (160) and the second plate having a second opening (170); the first plate about the first opening, including a plurality of bendable first tabs (164a-d), each first tab deformable through the second opening to provide a crimp contact between the first plate (110) and the second plate (120) thereby trapping the mounting portion or tab (30) of the air bag between the first and second plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
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Patent number: 7887090Abstract: An ignition delay module (10) for use in an airbag inflator (100, 200) has an ignition delay module housing (11). The ignition delay module (10) separates the inflator (100, 200) into two chambers (40, 60). A pyrotechnic tablet (2) is positioned inside the ignition delay module housing (11). Upon activation of the inflator (100, 200) the ignition delay module (10) prevents a gas generant (62) in a second chamber (60) of the inflator (100, 200) from igniting until at least a portion of the pyrotechnic tablet (2) is burnt. Preferably a burn inhibitor layer (3) is affixed or otherwise applied to a surface of the pyrotechnic tablet (2).Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Dennis A. Trevillyan
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Publication number: 20100308805Abstract: A linear motion sensor has two pairs of opposed spaced apart stacks of two simple two-pole bar magnets. Each stack has one shorter outer magnet and one longer inner magnet, with the outer magnets centered on the inner magnets. The poles of the magnets are oriented the same in each pair, but opposite with respect to the other pair. The shape of the magnets results in the magnetic fields produced by each pair of magnets being substantially outside of the magnets themselves, so that the load line for the combined magnets is above the knee in its B/H material demagnetization curve. The pairs of magnets define a gap therebetween in which a magnetic field sensor is mounted for travel. The shorter magnets are about one half the length of the longer magnets such that the magnetic field in the gap varies substantially linearly as the sensor moves along the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INCInventor: STEVEN R STUVE
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Patent number: 7793982Abstract: A device for tightening a seat belt has a piston (2) drivable linearly in a piston guide (1) by the gas pressure of a propellant gas. A gearing (3) is also caused to move by the piston (2), the gearing serving the transmission of the piston movement to a pinion (4). The pinion (4) is connected to, or configured to be connected to, a belt spool of a seat belt retractor (13) in a manner whereby rotation of the pinion causes rotation of the belt spool. The gearing (3) on associated with the piston (2) is mounted displaceable transversely to the piston's direction of movement and meshes with the pinion (4) as a result of gas pressure in an expandable bladder (24).Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Key Safety Systems, IncInventor: Walter Krauss
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Patent number: 7789418Abstract: An air bag assembly comprising: an inflator for providing a source of inflation gas, and an air bag having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side, the air bag configured to have a first inflatable chamber proximate the first end, a second inflatable chamber proximate the second and a non-inflatable region therebetween; the air bag including an inlet communicated with the inflator, the air bag further including a plurality of joints or seams, which connect selective regions of the first and second sides together thereby controlling the inflatable volume of the air bag, a top portion of each of the plurality of joints or seams located a determinable distance from a top of the air bag to form within the air bag an integral gas flow path or channel, the inlet generally positioned spaced from a top of the air bag and generally located between the first inflatable chamber and second Inflatable chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Jeffrey Young, Chang-Hwan Ju, Prabhakar Padiyar
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Patent number: 7753402Abstract: An air bag assembly mounting system comprising: a fastener having a base plate with a front side and a rear side, a resilient expansion element along the rear side of the base plate which is configured to extend through an opening in a structural member of a vehicle so as to clamp the structural member of the vehicle and through a portion of an air bag or an air bag cover between the rear side of the base plate and the expansion element, the resilient expansion element comprising two co-acting resilient clips each having a center leg extending from the back plate and a resilient outer leg resiliently supported by the center leg; the outer leg, at a distal end, including extending wings which during assembly to the structural member rotate and over-travel the center leg to reduce the dimension between the wings of one of the outer legs and the wings of the other of the outer legs.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Matthias Volkmann, Volker Hofmann
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Publication number: 20100164208Abstract: A diffuser (50) for use in an air bag system, the diffuser comprising: a connector part (52) configured to be connected to an air bag inflator, the connector part including a side wall (53); and a gas distribution part formed as an integral extension of the connector part and configured to deliver gas from the connector part to the air bag (150), and the distribution part including a first conduit (60) and a second conduit (70), the two conduits configured to give the diffuser a low profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
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Publication number: 20100127553Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat base and a seatback. The vehicle seat has as a permanent feature a pair of seat belt guides positioned such that when a lap portion of a seat belt webbing is received in both of the seat belt guides the lap portion of the seat belt webbing intersects the seat belt guides at a selected distance from a forward face of the seatback. Each of the seat belt guides restricts movement of the lap portion of the seat belt webbing away from the forward face of the seatback. The seat belt guides direct the lap portion of the seat belt webbing across the seat base along a path such that the lap portion of the seat belt webbing interacts with the lower body of a child when the vehicle seat is occupied by a child aged three to twelve years and under 150 cm in height.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: MATTHEW SURGEON, JOHN BELL