Patents by Inventor Craig A. Busch

Craig A. Busch 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: 6520588
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a guide assembly (52), a guide member (120) supported by a base member (80) for rotation about an axis (200), and an opening (140) through which a seat belt (20) extends in a first direction parallel to the axis. A retainer member (180) has end walls (184 and 186) extending through respective channels (160 and 162) in the guide member (120) to block the guide member from movement in opposite directions along the axis (200) and maintain the guide member supported on the base member (80). The channels (160 and 162) include walls (166 and 170) that engage the end walls (184 and 186) to block movement of the guide member (120) in opposite directions along the axis (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 6309024
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (12) seated in a vehicle seat (14). The apparatus (10) includes first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32), first and second lap belt portions (74, 85), and a buckle mechanism (49). The first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32) are connected with the vehicle (16) and extend from an upper portion (20) of the vehicle seat (14) adjacent the shoulders of the occupant (12). A first end portion (62) of the first lap belt portion (74) is connected at a first location (64) with the vehicle (16) adjacent a first side (22) of the vehicle seat (14). A first end portion (66) of the second lap belt portion (85) is connected at a second location (68) with the vehicle (16) adjacent a second side (24) of the vehicle seat (14). Each of the first and second lap belt portions (74, 85) extends from one of the first and second sides (22, 24) of the vehicle seat (14) and partially across the lap of the occupant (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 6076894
    Abstract: A seat belt system (10) comprises first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32) extensible from an upper portion (20) of the vehicle seat adjacent the shoulders of an occupant. The first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32) are connected with the vehicle. First and second lap belt portions (74, 85) are extensible from sides (22, 24) of the vehicle seat (14) adjacent sides of the occupant (12) and partially across the lap of the occupant. A first anchor (64) connects a first end portion (62) of the first lap belt portion (74) with the vehicle adjacent one side of the occupant (12). A second anchor (68) connects a first end portion (66) of the second lap belt portion (85) with the vehicle adjacent another side of the occupant (12). The first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32) and the first and second lap belt portions (74, 85) are interconnected adjacent a waist of the occupant (12). The first lap belt portion (74) has a second end portion (98) wound on a spool (96) of a retractor (76).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 5556171
    Abstract: A bezel assembly (40) for seat belt webbing (16) includes a bezel (42) and a trim plate (44) with a track (88) on which the bezel (42) is movable. The bezel (42) has a slot (62) through which the seat belt webbing (16) is movable in a lengthwise direction. The bezel (42) further has an axis (45) parallel to the lengthwise direction. The bezel (42) is supported for sliding movement along the track (88) in opposite directions perpendicular to the axis (45), and is supported for rotation about the axis (45) at any location to which the bezel (42) is slidable along the track (88).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 5286091
    Abstract: An arm assembly is movable from a stowed position adjacent one side of a vehicle seat toward the occupant to restrain the occupant in the seat and movable away from the occupant to the stowed position. The arm assembly has a first length when in the stowed position and a second length when restraining the occupant. The first length when the arm assembly is in the stowed position is less than the second length of the arm assembly when restraining the occupant. A motor-driven linear actuator moves the arm assembly from and to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 5037135
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a length of seat belt webbing relative to the body of a vehicle includes a D-ring with a slot through which the webbing can extend. A bolt is fixed to the webbing guide and has a portion extending through an opening in a bracket fixed to the body of the vehicle. The surfaces on the bracket which define the opening in the bracket include a pair of stop surfaces. The bolt is pivotable relative to the bracket. A surface on the bolt abuts the stop surfaces on the bracket to limit rotation of the bolt relative to the bracket and prevent the D-ring from rotating so far forward that the edge of the belt webbing jams or twists in the end of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Kotikovsky, Craig A. Busch