Patents by Inventor Kurt L. VanVoorhies

Kurt L. VanVoorhies 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: 6843143
    Abstract: A lever is adapted to rotate about a first pivot at a first location responsive to a tension load from a webbing applied to an attachment pivoted or arcuately slotted about a second location. Tension load is reacted by a spring against a reaction element, and is sensed by either a displacement sensor or a force sensor. The sensed load range can be limited by a stop that engages the lever. The anchor bolt can be utilized as a stop in cooperation with a slot in the lever, wherein the lever is adapted to rotate about a stud depending from the reaction element. A tang portion of the lever engages a slot of a slide, and the displacement of the slide caused by a rotation of the tang reacted by springs at the ends of the slide is measured by a magnetic field sensor on the reaction element in cooperation with a pair of magnets on the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan N. Steele, James G. Stanley, Kurt L. VanVoorhies
  • Publication number: 20030226409
    Abstract: A lever is adapted to rotate about a first pivot at a first location responsive to a tension load from a webbing applied to an attachment pivoted or arcuately slotted about a second location. Tension load is reacted by a spring against a reaction element, and is sensed by either a displacement sensor or a force sensor. The sensed load range can be limited by a stop that engages the lever. The anchor bolt can be utilized as a stop in cooperation with a slot in the lever, wherein the lever is adapted to rotate about a stud depending from the reaction element. A tang portion of the lever engages a slot of a slide, and the displacement of the slide caused by a rotation of the tang reacted by springs at the ends of the slide is measured by a magnetic field sensor on the reaction element in cooperation with a pair of magnets on the slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan N. Steele, James G. Stanley, Kurt L. VanVoorhies
  • Patent number: 6385787
    Abstract: An inlet valve and a discharge valve are operatively coupled by a coupling element so that when the discharge valve is closed, the inlet valve is open, and when the inlet valve is closed, the discharge valve is open. A biasing element biases the inlet valve closed. Upon closure of the discharge valve, a releasable retaining element retains the inlet valve open and the discharge valve closed against the action of the biasing element, thereby enabling the inlet valve to fill a tank with a fluid. A float responsive to the level of fluid in the tank engages and releases the retaining element when the tank is full, thereby enabling the biasing element to close the inlet valve and open the discharge valve, thereby discharging the fluid from the tank. In one aspect, the retaining element comprises a clamp mechanism that releasably clamps either the coupling element, the inlet valve, or the discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kurt L. VanVoorhies
  • Patent number: 5918696
    Abstract: A hydrostatic weight sensor incorporates a load distributor to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out under the influence of applied loads of sufficient concentration and magnitude. The load distributor comprises a flexible mat proximate a load bearing surface of the hydrostatic weight sensor, wherein the flexible mat may be constructed from slitted, punched, pierced, or expanded semi-rigid sheet, a multi-layer plurality of such sheets, or a woven assembly of a plurality of semi-rigid strips. The load distributor is sufficiently flexible to not interfere with seating comfort, yet sufficiently stiff to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out as a result of concentrated loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt L. VanVoorhies
  • Patent number: 5361737
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an ignition source for internal combustion engines comprises a radio frequency oscillator, an amplifier and a coaxial cavity resonator. The coaxial cavity resonator is adaptable for communication with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Robert M. Craven, Kurt L. VanVoorhies, Thomas J. Bonazza
  • Patent number: 5100172
    Abstract: An airbag inflator comprises a housing having a frontal opening for the deployment of an airbag and a plurality of air aspirating and exhaust ports in the sidewalls thereof. An airbag is folded into the housing so as to overlie and close the ports in the sidewalls thereof. The airbag covers the ports in the housing during initial deployment of the airbag but subsequent deployment of the airbag opening the ports to first permit aspiration of the air into the housing and subsequently permit exhaust of air outwardly of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt L. VanVoorhies, Donald J. Mecsey