Patents by Inventor Robert William McCoy
Robert William McCoy 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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Publication number: 20180086303Abstract: A plus-two belt system is provided. The plus-two belt system is a supplement to a traditional three-point belt system. The plus-two belt system has a longitudinal webbing anchored at a first end and coiled on a retractor at a second end. When an occupant is sensed and the vehicle engine is on, a reminder chime can sound when a magnetic strip in the webbing of the plus-two belt system is detected. The magnetic strip can be detected with a Hall effect sensor and the Hall effect sensor can be located adjacent the retractor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert William McCoy, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
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Publication number: 20180015897Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions. The processor of the controller is programmed to receive a side-impact signal representing a collision to a side of the vehicle, receive an occupancy signal indicating that a first rear seat of the vehicle is occupied, and send an output control signal to deploy an airbag between a front seat adjacent the side of the vehicle and a second rear seat adjacent the side of the vehicle in response to the side-impact signal and the occupancy signal only when the second rear seat is unoccupied.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le, Robert William McCoy, Hubert Szawarski
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Patent number: 9868372Abstract: A seatback includes a frame and a panel rotatably coupled to the frame. A support bracket is attached to the frame with a lever is rotatably coupled to the support bracket. The lever is configured to engage the panel with a frame supported actuator via a cable attached to the actuator and the lever.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert William McCoy, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Iskander Farooq
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Patent number: 9821758Abstract: A seat belt assembly for a vehicle includes a pretensioner, and a cable connected to the pretensioner. The seat belt assembly includes a torsion bar having a plurality of teeth. The cable has slots interlocking with the teeth. During a sensed impact of the vehicle, the pretensioner is activated to retract the cable to pretension the seat belt assembly relative to an occupant of the vehicle. The interlocking of the slots with the teeth exerts torsional forces on the torsion bar, which yields to reduce forces on a chest of the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Shenaq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Robert William McCoy
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Patent number: 9816898Abstract: A testing fixture for a vehicle includes a tube and a piston slideably disposed in the tube. A seat belt D-ring is mounted t the piston. An actuator is supported on the tube in communication with the piston through the tube for moving the piston relative to the tube to an extended position in a designated time interval during a simulated vehicle rollover. The piston defines teeth, and a ratchet is supported on the tube and engages the teeth of the piston for preventing movement of the piston relative to the tube toward the retracted position during or after the simulated vehicle rollover.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jamel E. Belwafa, Michael Barnhart, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20170291576Abstract: A plus-two-point belt system is disclosed. The plus-two-point belt system includes a longitudinal webbing anchored at a first end to a seat and fixed at a second end to a retractor. The webbing is extendable from the retractor to allow an occupant to slip their arm under the webbing to provide a supplemental restraint. The webbing includes first and second portions where the second portion is retractably coiled on the retractor and the second portion has at least one conductive marker. A sensor is provided to sense the marker and a processor is provided to set an alarm when the marker is not detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20170240075Abstract: A seat bottom includes a frame, a first thigh support, a second thigh support, and a controller. The first thigh support and the second thigh support are each supported by the frame and are independently movable relative to the frame to adjustable positions. A first deployable device is coupled to the first thigh support, and a second deployable device is coupled to the second thigh support. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second deployable devices. The controller is programmed to independently inflate the first and second deployable devices based at least on the adjustable positions of the first and second thigh supports in response to a sensed vehicle impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert William McCoy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jaeho Cho
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Publication number: 20170240074Abstract: A seat bottom includes a frame, a first thigh support, and a second thigh support. The first thigh support and the second thigh support are each supported by the frame and independently movable relative to the frame. A first deployable device is coupled to the first thigh support, and a second deployable device is coupled to the second thigh support. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second deployable devices. The first and second deployable devices are each formed of thermoplastic elastomer and are inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert William McCoy, Cortney Stancato, Jaeho Cho, Mohammed Shenaq
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Patent number: 9738187Abstract: A seat bottom includes a frame, a first thigh support, and a second thigh support. The first thigh support and the second thigh support are each supported by the frame and independently movable relative to the frame. A first deployable device is coupled to the first thigh support, and a second deployable device is coupled to the second thigh support. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second deployable devices. The first and second deployable devices are each formed of thermoplastic elastomer and are inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Inventors: Robert William McCoy, Cortney Stancato, Jaeho Cho, Mohammed Shenaq
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Publication number: 20170225644Abstract: A seat belt assembly for a vehicle includes a pretensioner, and a cable connected to the pretensioner. The seat belt assembly includes a torsion bar having a plurality of teeth. The cable has slots interlocking with the teeth. During a sensed impact of the vehicle, the pretensioner is activated to retract the cable to pretension the seat belt assembly relative to an occupant of the vehicle. The interlocking of the slots with the teeth exerts torsional forces on the torsion bar, which yields to reduce forces on a chest of the occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Shenaq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20170210325Abstract: A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and an airbag that is supported by the steering wheel. The airbag is inflatable away from the steering wheel in an inflation direction. An airbag tether includes a first end coupled to the steering wheel, and a second end spaced from the first end and coupled to the steering wheel. The airbag is disposed between the steering wheel and the airbag tether. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the airbag tether may be positioned independent of steering wheel position to restrict inflation of the airbag adjacent a thorax of a driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20170120785Abstract: A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, Kenneth S. Laird, Linh Doan
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Patent number: 9610873Abstract: A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, Kenneth S. Laird, Linh Doan
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Patent number: 9604588Abstract: A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to make readings of an infrared sensor positioned to sense objects and motion in a rear passenger foot well. The controller determines if there is an object present in the foot well using the readings. The controller then determines if there is motion in the foot well using the readings. The controller then activates a knee bolster when motion is determined, and deactivates a knee bolster when motion is not determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Mark A. Cuddihy, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20160375857Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly includes a disk having a cam surface and a cam follower surface. A lever that engages the cam surface when the lever is in a disengaged position and engages the cam follower surface when the lever is in an engaged position. The lever moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position in accordance with rotation of the disc. A Hall effect switch detects whether the lever is in the disengaged position or the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Iskander Farooq, Robert William McCoy
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Patent number: 9527408Abstract: First and second pads are configured to be arranged at a front of a vehicle seat. First and second passive movement devices are provided to be respectively arranged under, and to cause movement of, the first and second pads. The first and second passive movement devices are configured to be actuated independently of one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cortney Stancato, Robert William McCoy, Jaeho Cho
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Patent number: 9505367Abstract: A plurality of pads are configured to be arranged in a vehicle seat. A plurality of passive movement devices are provided to be respectively arranged behind, and to cause movement of, the plurality of pads. The passive movement devices are configured to be actuated independently of one another.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Cortney Stancato, Robert William McCoy, Jaeho Cho
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Patent number: 9475405Abstract: A vehicle system includes at least two sensors. A first sensor is configured to output a child restraint signal indicating a presence of a child restraint system. A second sensor is configured to output a belt tension signal representing a tension associated with a seat belt. A processing device is programmed to determine whether the child restraint system includes a child seat or a booster seat based on the child restraint signal and the belt tension signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Agnes S. Kim, Robert William McCoy
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Publication number: 20160304046Abstract: A seatback includes a frame and a panel rotatably coupled to the frame. A support bracket is attached to the frame with a lever is rotatably coupled to the support bracket. The lever is configured to engage the panel with a frame supported actuator via a cable attached to the actuator and the lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert William McCoy, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Iskander Farooq
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Publication number: 20160288761Abstract: A vehicle includes an instrument panel, a front airbag, a first side curtain airbag, and a second side curtain airbag and two front seats. The front seats are disposed between the first side curtain airbag and the second side curtain airbag. The vehicle includes a roof, and the front airbag is supported by the roof. The front airbag extends from the first side curtain airbag to the second side curtain airbag between the instrument panel and the front seats to absorb energy from occupants during an impact event to reduce the likelihood of head injury and to urge the occupants to remain seated in an upright position to reduce chest loading by seat belts. The front airbag may protect an unbelted occupant ejecting out of the vehicle through a windshield in a crash event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng