Patents by Inventor John Churilla
John Churilla 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: 8490487Abstract: An omni-directional mechanical acceleration sensor is disclosed for use in applications including, but not limited to, vehicular seat belt systems, aircraft safety harness systems and initiation of airbag safety systems. The mechanical acceleration sensor incorporates at least two masses which, upon an acceleration event occurring, will cause a lever, to pivot thereby releasing the lever from engagement with an actuating means which would then initiate the applicable safety system.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Pacific Scientific CompanyInventors: John Churilla, Bruce Campbell Glascock, Ronald John Nathan
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Patent number: 8276942Abstract: A combat vehicle restraint system accommodates a wide range of soldiers, both with and without battle, arctic, or chemical gear. The restraint system includes lengthened belts and an adjustable buckle position. The belts include loops for locating and grasping the belts, and separate lap and shoulder belts with small narrowing ends to prevent catching on gear. The belts are extendable from Inertial reels which are calibrated for off-road operation. The buckle engages each belt separately and includes a single action release. The buckle position is easily adjusted using an oversized knob so that a soldier may easily find and adjust buckle length in the dark, wearing heavy gloves, or with muddy slippery fingers. The latch/unlatch mechanism and associated hardware is an open frame type to reduce or eliminate affects of mud, dust, water or other contaminants on operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Charles E. Van Druff, John Churilla, Eric Kawabata
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Publication number: 20110175425Abstract: The present disclosure describes a dual mode emergency locking retractor (ELR) employing a mechanical strap acceleration sensing and locking mechanism in conjunction with an omni-directional housing acceleration sensing and strap locking system. The ELR utilizes a locking means responsive to the strap payout acceleration rate once a threshold rate of acceleration has been exceeded. The locking means terminates shaft rotation with a locking force which is proportional to the strap payout acceleration rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2008Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC COMPANYInventors: John Churilla, Bruce Campbell Glascock, Ronald John Nathan, Luong Manh Trinh
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Publication number: 20110043016Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a seat base pivotally connected to a seat mounting point and seat back pivotally connecting to the seat base. The seat base pivot reside proximal to a forward edge of the seat base and the seat back pivot resides proximal to a rearward edge of the seat base. Each pivot includes a toothed rack, and an engaging member for locking the pivot. The teeth define a radius about the pivots. The engaging members are attached to the seat base and are actuated by levers attached to the seat base. A harness is attached to the seat to prevent injury of an occupant in the event of a unanticipated maneuver, crash, rough terrain, or turbulence. The restraint system comprises a robust mechanism to withstand crash loads and offer sufficient adjustment between sitting and standing positions to accommodate an occupant's duties.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Charles E. Van Druff, Daniel H. Meggs, Eric Kawabata, John Churilla
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Publication number: 20100320740Abstract: A combat vehicle restraint system accommodates a wide range of soldiers, both with and without battle, arctic, or chemical gear. The restraint system includes lengthened belts and an adjustable buckle position. The belts include loops for locating and grasping the belts, and separate lap and shoulder belts with small narrowing ends to prevent catching on gear. The belts are extendable from Inertial reels which are calibrated for off-road operation. The buckle engages each belt separately and includes a single action release. The buckle position is easily adjusted using an oversized knob so that a soldier may easily find and adjust buckle length in the dark, wearing heavy gloves, or with muddy slippery fingers. The latch/unlatch mechanism and associated hardware is an open frame type to reduce or eliminate affects of mud, dust, water or other contaminants on operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Charles E. Van Druff, John Churilla, Eric Kawabata
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Patent number: 7722081Abstract: A combat vehicle restraint system accommodates a wide range of soldiers, both with and without battle, arctic, or chemical gear. The restraint system includes lengthened belts and an adjustable buckle position. The belts include loops for locating and grasping the belts, and separate lap and shoulder belts with small narrowing ends to prevent catching on gear. The belts are extendable from Inertial reels which are calibrated for off-road operation. The buckle engages each belt separately and includes a single action release. The buckle position is easily adjusted using an oversized knob so that a soldier may easily find and adjust buckle length in the dark, wearing heavy gloves, or with muddy slippery fingers. The latch/unlatch mechanism and associated hardware is an open frame type to reduce or eliminate affects of mud, dust, water or other contaminants on operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Charles E. Van Druff, John Churilla, Eric Kawabata
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Patent number: 7681953Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a seat base pivotally connected to a seat mounting point and seat back pivotally connecting to the seat base. The seat base pivot reside proximal to a forward edge of the seat base and the seat back pivot resides proximal to a rearward edge of the seat base. Each pivot includes a toothed rack, and an engaging member for locking the pivot. The teeth define a radius about the pivots. The engaging members are attached to the seat base and are actuated by levers attached to the seat base. A harness is attached to the seat to prevent injury of an occupant in the event of a unanticipated maneuver, crash, rough terrain, or turbulence. The restraint system comprises a robust mechanism to withstand crash loads and offer sufficient adjustment between sitting and standing positions to accommodate an occupant's duties.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Charles E. Van Druff, Daniel H. Meggs, John Churilla
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Patent number: 7418879Abstract: A latching inertial reel temporarily holds an inertial reel in a locked position during a lateral acceleration and resetably holds the reel in a latched position as a result of a vertical acceleration. The reel is latched when a latching sensor experiences a vertical acceleration above a threshold. A latch holds the reel in the latched position after the acceleration reduces to prevent subsequent injury from secondary impacts of a vehicle occupant with objects or surfaces in the vehicle. The latch may later be reset to release the reel. A vehicle seat may further include a seat inertial reel to provide support to the seat during a crash. The seat inertial reel may be attached to a floor mounting point, or to an elevated mounting point.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Inventors: Charles E. Van Druff, James Warrick, Alex Devonport, John Churilla
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Publication number: 20070257480Abstract: A combat vehicle restraint system accommodates a wide range of soldiers, both with and without battle, arctic, or chemical gear. The restraint system includes lengthened belts and an adjustable buckle position. The belts include loops for locating and grasping the belts, and separate lap and shoulder belts with small narrowing ends to prevent catching on gear. The belts are extendable from Inertial reels which are calibrated for off-road operation. The buckle engages each belt separately and includes a single action release. The buckle position is easily adjusted using an oversized knob so that a soldier may easily find and adjust buckle length in the dark, wearing heavy gloves, or with muddy slippery fingers. The latch/unlatch mechanism and associated hardware is an open frame type to reduce or eliminate affects of mud, dust, water or other contaminants on operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2006Publication date: November 8, 2007Inventors: Charles Van Druff, John Churilla, Eric Kawabata
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Publication number: 20060284466Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a seat base pivotally connected to a seat mounting point and seat back pivotally connecting to the seat base. The seat base pivot reside proximal to a forward edge of the seat base and the seat back pivot resides proximal to a rearward edge of the seat base. Each pivot includes a toothed rack, and an engaging member for locking the pivot. The teeth define a radius about the pivots. The engaging members are attached to the seat base and are actuated by levers attached to the seat base. A harness is attached to the seat to prevent injury of an occupant in the event of a unanticipated maneuver, crash, rough terrain, or turbulence. The restraint system comprises a robust mechanism to withstand crash loads and offer sufficient adjustment between sitting and standing positions to accommodate an occupant's duties.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2006Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventors: Charles Van Druff, Daniel Meggs, John Churilla
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Publication number: 20060243070Abstract: A latching inertial reel temporarily holds an inertial reel in a locked position during a lateral acceleration and resetably holds the reel in a latched position as a result of a vertical acceleration. The reel is latched when a latching sensor experiences a vertical acceleration above a threshold. A latch holds the reel in the latched position after the acceleration reduces to prevent subsequent injury from secondary impacts of a vehicle occupant with objects or surfaces in the vehicle. The latch may later be reset to release the reel. A vehicle seat may further include a seat inertial reel to provide support to the seat during a crash. The seat inertial reel may be attached to a floor mounting point, or to an elevated mounting point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Charles Van Druff, James Warrick, Alex Devonport, John Churilla
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Patent number: 5372328Abstract: A shaft on which a restraint belt is wound is rotatably mounted in the side walls of a U-shaped frame. A plastic belt guide is connected by side arm belt edge protectors to tubular flanges that form bushings for the shaft. A driving hub mounted on the shaft drives a locking hub through a clutch formed of ball bearings mounted in recesses in the faces of the hubs. Belt payout rotation of the shaft at a predetermined acceleration will cause the locking hub to rotationally lag. This causes the locking hub to move axially and further causes locking teeth on the locking hub to engage holes in the sidewall of the frame. This prevents further rotation until the belt extension load on the belt is removed. A synchronization spring arrests rotation of the locking hub as it moves axially into locking position.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Pacific Scientific CompanyInventors: David V. Haston, John A. Churilla
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Patent number: 5312066Abstract: A shaft on which a restraint belt is wound is rotatably mounted in the side walls of a U-shaped frame. A driving hub mounted on the shaft drives a locking hub through a clutch formed of ball bearings mounted in recesses in the faces of the hubs. Belt payout rotation of the shaft at a predetermined acceleration will cause the locking hub to rotationally lag. This causes the locking hub to move axially and further causes locking teeth on said locking hub to engage holes in the sidewall of the frame. This prevents further rotation until the belt extension load on the belt is removed.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1991Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: Pacific Scientific CompanyInventors: David V. Haston, John A. Churilla
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Patent number: D640588Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Pacific Scientific CompanyInventors: John Churilla, Ronald John Nathan