Patents by Inventor Douglas R. Mutter

Douglas R. Mutter 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).

  • Seat belt usage indicating system
    Patent number: 5483221
    Abstract: Seat belts in a vehicle are monitored, and a reminder is initiated in response to a restraint sensor indicating the engaged or nonengaged state of a seat restraint, a vehicle sensor indicating when the vehicle is in use, an annunciator controllably producing a reminder, and an electronic control controlling the annunciator. The reminder is produced when the seat restraint is in a nonengaged state after having been an engaged state while the vehicle is in use. Thus, monitoring of the continued buckling of a seat belt, especially a rear seat belt, is provided without need for seat occupancy sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Mutter, Peter Langer, Payal Agarwal