Patents by Inventor Alford F. Collins

Alford F. Collins 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).

  • Patent number: 4235455
    Abstract: A seat belt inhibitor system is designed to prevent door mounted inertial seat belt retractor 14 from locking the seat belt webbing 13 whenever the door is opened. The retractor pendulum 31, sensitive to acceleration, moves the locking bar 28 upward locking the retractor and prevents the belt webbing from paying out. An electromagnet 36, when energized, attracts a leaf spring 37 extending from the locking bar inhibiting movement of the latter. System inhibiting is initiated by closing either a door latch switch 42 or a door release handle switch 41. At low accelerations (occurring while the door is being opened), the locking bar 28 is restrained by the electromagnet 36 through the leaf spring 37. If the system should fail such that the electromagnet was energized while the door is closed, high acceleration of the pendulum would force the locking bar up, locking the retractor. Deenergizing occurs normally whenever the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Alford F. Collins, Bill A. Dixon