Patents by Inventor Albert N. Felix

Albert N. Felix 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).

  • Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant's legs
    Patent number: 6217059
    Abstract: A safety apparatus (70) for helping to protect an occupant (30) of a vehicle (10) in the event of a vehicle collision comprises an air bag system including at least one inflatable air bag (80) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The air bag (80), when inflated, unlocks at least one of the occupant's knees (50) to minimize forces transmitted through at least the corresponding one of the occupant's legs (40) to the occupant's pelvis (36). Seat belt webbing (74) restrains forward movement of the occupant (30) relative to the vehicle (10) when the occupant's knee (50) is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignees: TRW Inc., TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin M. Brown, Cris C. Cabral, Albert N. Felix, Juede P. Pajela, Alexander Heilig
  • Rearward moving seat with breakaway latch
    Patent number: 6142564
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes a seat (11) for a vehicle occupant. The seat (11) has a forward position in the vehicle and a rearward position in the vehicle. A support (20) for the seat (11) enables the seat to move on the support from the forward position to the rearward position in the vehicle. A break-away seat latch (41) maintains the seat (11) in the forward position. An actuator (45), when actuated, breaks the latch (41) and moves the seat (11) from the forward position to the rearward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Juede P. Pajela, Cris C. Cabral, Kevin M. Brown, Albert N. Felix