Patents by Inventor Brian Michael Curtis
Brian Michael Curtis 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).
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Patent number: 7083190Abstract: An air bag sensor module fastening device for a vehicle is provided includes a vehicle mounting structure having an internally threaded member. A sensor is secured to a base for sensing vibrations caused by a crash of the vehicle. The base has an aperture extending therethrough that is aligned with the internally threaded member. The aperture includes a retaining portion. A fastener for securing the base to the vehicle mounting structure has a shaft with a head and a threaded portion opposite the head. The threaded portion is temporarily retained within the retaining portion in a shipping position. The threaded portion has a minor diameter and the shaft portion has a shaft diameter less than the minor diameter. As a result, the shaft will not be in an interference fit relationship with the retaining portion so that the compressive load of the fastener alone secures the base to the vehicle mounting structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Allen Clark, Brian Michael Curtis, Andrew Joseph Wisniewski
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Patent number: 6959779Abstract: An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Brian Michael Curtis, Jeffrey A. Clark, Maria T. Kremer, Harald Lichtinger, Michael Allan Dingman
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Publication number: 20040213644Abstract: An air bag sensor module fastening device for a vehicle is provided includes a vehicle mounting structure having an internally threaded member. A sensor is secured to a base for sensing vibrations caused by a crash of the vehicle. The base has an aperture extending therethrough that is aligned with the internally threaded member. The aperture includes a retaining portion. A fastener for securing the base to the vehicle mounting structure has a shaft with a head and a threaded portion opposite the head. The threaded portion is temporarily retained within the retaining portion in a shipping position. The threaded portion has a minor diameter and the shaft portion has a shaft diameter less than the minor diameter. As a result, the shaft will not be in an interference fit relationship with the retaining portion so that the compressive load of the fastener alone secures the base to the vehicle mounting structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Clark, Brian Michael Curtis, Andrew Joseph Wisniewski
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Patent number: 6752419Abstract: An air bag sensor module fastening device for a vehicle is provided includes a vehicle mounting structure having an internally threaded member. A sensor is secured to a base for sensing vibrations caused by a crash of the vehicle. The base has an aperture extending therethrough that is aligned with the internally threaded member. The aperture includes a retaining portion. A fastener for securing the base to the vehicle mounting structure has a shaft with a head and a threaded portion opposite the head. The threaded portion is temporarily retained within the retaining portion in a shipping position. The threaded portion has a minor diameter and the shaft portion has a shaft diameter less than the minor diameter. As a result, the shaft will not be in an interference fit relationship with the retaining portion so that the compressive load of the fastener alone secures the base to the vehicle mounting structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Allen Clark, Brian Michael Curtis, Andrew Joseph Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20040049461Abstract: An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael Curtis, Jeffrey A. Clark, Maria T. Kremer, Harald Lichtinger, Michael Allan Dingman
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Patent number: 6623032Abstract: An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Brian Michael Curtis, Jeffrey A. Clark, Maria T. Kremer, Harald Lichtinger, Michael Allan Dingman, Ronald Cook
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Publication number: 20020024205Abstract: An occupant restraint assembly and for a motor vehicle operates to sense the tension forces on a seat belt to detect the presence of a human occupant or a child restraint seat. A sensor attached to the seat belt measures tension forces. The sensor is mounted in line with the seat belt. A strain gauge senses tension on the seat belt. An additional embodiment of the sensor includes three prongs attached to a common beam that allow the sensor to be slipped onto the seat belt without modification to the seat belt. A middle prong includes the strain gauge to sense movement relative to outside prongs. The seat belt threads over the outside prongs and under the middle prong such that tension on the seat belt forces the middle prong transversely to tension exerted on the seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventors: Brian Michael Curtis, Jeffrey A. Clark, Maria T. Kremer, Harald Lichtinger, Michael Allan Dingman, Ronald Cook