Patents by Inventor Thomas Ellington

Thomas Ellington 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).

  • Mode detection switch assembly for self-locking dual-mode seat belt retractor
    Patent number: 9150193
    Abstract: A dual-mode retractor for an automotive seat belt webbing is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being one of an ELR mode and an ALR mode, and the second mode being the other one of the ELR mode and the ALR mode. The retractor switches between the first mode and the second mode via a relative movement between a first part and a second part of the retractor. The magnetic field of a permanent magnet mounted on the first part is picked up by a Hall effect sensor. An interrupter plate is mounted on the second part in a position relative to the magnet, in which the interrupter plate, in which the interrupter plate exposes the HED to the original magnetic field in the first mode and to a modified magnetic field in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Vanwambeke, David Prentkowski, Thomas Ellington, Daniel K. Webb
  • Mode Detection Switch Assembly for Self-Locking Dual-Mode Seat Belt Retractor
    Publication number: 20130334355
    Abstract: A dual-mode retractor for an automotive seat belt webbing is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being one of an ELR mode and an ALR mode, and the second mode being the other one of the ELR mode and the ALR mode. The retractor switches between the first mode and the second mode via a relative movement between a first part and a second part of the retractor. The magnetic field of a permanent magnet mounted on the first part is picked up by a Hall effect sensor. An interrupter plate is mounted on the second part in a position relative to the magnet, in which the interrupter plate, in which the interrupter plate exposes the HED to the original magnetic field in the first mode and to a modified magnetic field in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Vanwambeke, David Prentkowski, Thomas Ellington, Daniel K. Webb