Patents by Inventor Joe Harte

Joe Harte 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).

  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6209916
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6196589
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6183015
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6168205
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automative Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6102439
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 6099078
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a metal member and means for deforming the metal member associated with the seat belt. Excessive load on the seat belt is transferred to the metal member by deforming the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees
  • Load limiting device for a seat belt
    Patent number: 5971489
    Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a metal member and means for deforming the metal member associated with the seat belt. Excessive load on the seat belt is transferred to the metal member by deforming the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder, John Taylor, Andrew Downie, Joe Harte, Andrew Park, Elizabeth Rees