Pendulum Operator Patents (Class 242/384.5)
  • Patent number: 11135999
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor (5) for a vehicle seat belt system, comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably arranged within the frame (10), and a locking system which can lock the belt reel in a webbing-sensitive manner, wherein the locking system includes an inertia pawl (30) which per se co-rotates with the belt reel (14) and is pivotable from a home position in which the belt reel is freely rotatable about a pivot axis (S) to a locking position, characterized in that a means to trigger pivoting of the inertia pawl (30) is provided which is responsive to exceeding a predetermined centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Johann Hirsch, Jürgen Rink, Friedrich Littau
  • Patent number: 9751436
    Abstract: An arm rest for a vehicle seat includes a console part and an arm support mounted at the console part so as to be swivelable about a swivel axis between a use position and a rest position. Latching teeth fixedly arranged at the console part or at the arm support engage a latching engagement member mounted at the arm support or at the console part so as to be shiftable. An inertia member mounted so as to be shiftable between at least one release position and at least one blocked position. The inertia member, in the blocked position, prevents unlatching of the latching engagement member from a latched status, wherein inertia member is shifted from the release position into the blocked position upon an acceleration of the arm rest due to the inertia of the inertia member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Hessdörfer
  • Publication number: 20150034753
    Abstract: A pilot lever includes: a sleeve portion configured to be rotatably fitted on a mounting boss erected on a clutch rotatably arranged coaxially with a take-up drum; and an engagement claw portion projecting outward from an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion so as to face a locking gear attached integrally and coaxially with the take-up drum, and configured to engage with the locking gear. In case of an emergency, the engagement claw portion engages with one locking gear tooth formed on an outer circumference portion of the locking gear. The engagement claw portion is then elastically deformable toward the sleeve portion when pushed by the one locking gear tooth under the engaged state. If the engagement claw portion and the one locking gear tooth are disengaged, the elastic deformation of the engagement claw portion is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Eri Yamane, Insu Choi
  • Patent number: 8893999
    Abstract: In an acceleration sensor, a guide portion is formed on a swing push-us member contiguous to a pushing portion and further to a pull-out direction side than the pushing portion. A top-edge portion of the guide portion is sloped to gradually get lower on progression away from the pushing portion in the pull-out direction. When a coupling claw moves in the take-up direction together with the sensor gear, the guide portion contacts the coupling claw from below the leading end of the coupling claw. The guide portion swings the coupling claw upwards as the sensor gear is rotating in the take-up direction, and guides the coupling claw to be on the pushing portion. The swing push-us member can be prevented from unintentionally obstructing the coupling claw when the sensor gear is returning to the initial position, even without provision of structure to restrict the swing push-us member from rising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Akira Sumiyashiki
  • Patent number: 8770507
    Abstract: A self-locking belt retractor has a vehicle-sensitive controlled blocking system in which a mass (14) moves a locking lever (17) engaged in the toothing (29) of a controlled disk. The sensor mass (14) is fitted in a holder part (10) on a support surface (23) that can be tilted in case of vehicle accelerations, the locking lever (17) on the end (19) facing away from the engaging tip (18) being connected to the sensor mass (14) in a form-fitting manner and forming a support (21). A form fit occurs in an extension (15) of the sensor mass (14) which protrudes through a hole (33) in the contact surface (23) of the holder part (10). A projection (31) projecting into a hole (33) is provided at the border of the hole (33) facing the locking lever (17) that is contacted by the locking lever (17) in case of a deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Uwe Evers, Ronald Jabusch, Barbara Hantel
  • Publication number: 20140158807
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor inertial locking system for motor vehicle belt restraint systems. The inertial locking system incorporates features to reduce the influence of contaminants from causing unwanted locking of the associated retractor. The feature is in part provided by the positioning of a point contact between a ball mass and a locking lever. The inertia actuator forms the inertial ball mass nest surface which has a vented construction which permits the escape of contaminants and further contributes to reducing noise generated by contact between the ball mass and the nest surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Wanwambeke, James S. Bourn, Megan E. Mahorney, David Prentkowski
  • Patent number: 8727258
    Abstract: Provided is a webbing winding device having a lock mechanism in which a driven body is less influenced by an inclination of a driving body. A peripheral wall extends from an edge portion of a penetration hole formed at a sensor gear constituting the lock mechanism toward a link member, and a guide hole is formed at a bottom wall formed at the front end of the peripheral wall. An engagement pin of the link member passes through the guide hole from the base end portion rather than the front end portion thereof in the protruding direction. Further, in the front end side of the engagement pin passing through and protruding from the guide hole, the outer peripheral portion is spaced apart from the inner peripheral portion of the peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takamatsu, Akira Sumiyashiki
  • Patent number: 8490487
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Company
    Inventors: John Churilla, Bruce Campbell Glascock, Ronald John Nathan
  • Patent number: 8469302
    Abstract: This is the current invention of the components or their construction for the seat belt retractor. The invention enables the fitting angle of the seat belt to be adjustable to the specified range of the vehicle stabilization, deceleration/acceleration sensor. The bracket holder is constructed on the holder sensor, and contains the formation of the No. 1 hole, and the No. 2 hole that locks onto the No. 1 or 2 cylinders selectively. The retractor is adjustable to the biased angle to maintain its horizontality according to the vehicle's dynamic slope and rapid deceleration/acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Samsong Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Chan Lee, Sang Hee Park, Il Hwan Park, Gyu Ryul Cho
  • Patent number: 8448889
    Abstract: In a V-sensor of a webbing take-up device, concave portions are formed in supporting walls of a supporting member having a spring property, and peak ends of a rotating shaft of a sensor pawl gets into the concave portions, and the rotating shaft is thereby supported by the supporting walls. Cone-shaped concave portions come into contact by pressure with the cone-shaped peak ends of the rotating shaft due to the elasticity of the supporting walls, and therefore, when the rotating shaft attempts to be displaced in the axis direction thereof and in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the rotating shaft, the elasticity of the supporting walls withstand displacement of the rotating shaft. As a result, occurrence of a rattle of the rotating shaft, that is, the sensor pawl can be prevented or restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shinji Mori
  • Patent number: 8308099
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor includes a sensor case having a supporting surface which is maintained horizontal. A self-standing inertia body whose bottom surface is placed on the supporting surface is installed inside the sensor case in a self-standing condition, and which tilts when a horizontal acceleration is exerted. An actuating member which, in accordance with a tilting movement of the self-standing inertia body, activates a lock mechanism to lock the extraction of the seat belt. An outer contour of a contact area where the supporting surface of the sensor case and the bottom surface of the self-standing inertia body are in surface contact is configured such that a distance from a center axis of the self-standing inertia body to the outer contour differ, in a horizontal plane, in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Junya Ono
  • Patent number: 8086375
    Abstract: A method for adjusting sensitivity of a load detecting device of a seat for a vehicle includes a seat assembling step for assembling the seat with plural load sensors assembled, a zero point adjusting step for obtaining a non-load output value by totaling output values of the load sensors when no load is applied on the seat and memorizing the non-load output value in a memory of a processing device, an adjusted output value calculating step for obtaining an adjusted output value by subtracting the non-load output value from a total of the output values of the load sensors when a predetermined load is applied on the seat, a trimming coefficient calculating step for calculating a trimming coefficient by dividing a designed output value by the adjusted output value, and a trimming coefficient memorizing step for memorizing the trimming coefficient in the memory of the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto, Minoru Izawa
  • Patent number: 7731118
    Abstract: A holding mechanism for a vehicular acceleration sensor, comprising: a pair of lever arms operable to move independently of one another; and an inertia weight held between the lever arms, wherein movement of the inertia weight, in use, when under acceleration, causes at least a part of at least one lever arm or both arms to move in a generally linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Anthony Ruff, Alan David Crozier
  • Patent number: 7628349
    Abstract: An inertia sensitive actuator especially adapted for use with a dual spool retractor for a motor vehicle seat belt system, The dual spool retractor includes shoulder belt and lap belt spool assemblies engaging with the shoulder belt and lap belt portions of the seat belt webbing, The dual spool retractor incorporates an inertia sensitive actuator having an excitation mass which is coupled with both of the retractor spool assemblies via linkages,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter K. Clute, Jennifer Grove
  • Patent number: 7568649
    Abstract: A vehicle sensitive retractor control system having reduced sensitivity to Z-axis acceleration experienced during normal driving. The retractor control system incorporates a rolling mass and a locking lever which, in a resting position, are arranged such that the locking lever does not engage a ratchet wheel of a seat belt retractor spool. In response to accelerations in the horizontal plane, the rolling ball mass becomes unseated from its resting position and engages the locking lever, causing it to pivot and lock the retractor. In response to Z-axis acceleration, the rolling mass is prevented from contacting the locking lever by a mass restrictor. A soft damping spring is also provided to bias the locking lever against a lever rest. The spring is sized to overcome the inertia of the locking lever and prevent it from “bouncing up” and engaging the ratchet wheel in response to Z-axis accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter K. Clute, Robert A. Mical
  • Patent number: 7464892
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30, 32, 33) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30, 32, 33) has a guide surface (34, 35, 36) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34, 35, 36) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The guide surface (30) has an inner profile portion (62) and at least an outer profile portion (64). The actuator (26) is in contact with the inner profile portion (62) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion (64) as the actuator (26) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion (62) causes a different acceleration of the actuator (26) than the outer profile portion (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7461806
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30, 32, 33) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30, 32, 33) has a guide surface (34, 35, 36) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34, 35, 36) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The guide surface (30) has an inner profile portion (62) and at least an outer profile portion (64). The actuator (26) is in contact with the inner profile portion (62) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion (64) as the actuator (26) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion (62) causes a different acceleration of the actuator (26) than the outer profile portion (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7455256
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30) has a guide surface (34) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34) moves between an unlocking position (38) in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position (42) in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The actuator (26) has an actuator arm (25) with a surface contacting portion (54) in contact with the guide surface (34) and an open slot (57) above the surface contacting portion (54). The surface contacting portion (54) is connected to the actuator arm (25) by a beam structure (56) having a spring rate Kbeam sufficient to maintain the open slot (57) open during normal vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20080203208
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30, 32, 33) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30, 32, 33) has a guide surface (34, 35, 36) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34, 35, 36) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The guide surface (30) has an inner profile portion (62) and at least an outer profile portion (64). The actuator (26) is in contact with the inner profile portion (62) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion (64) as the actuator (26) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion (62) causes a different acceleration of the actuator (26) than the outer profile portion (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20080203209
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30, 32, 33) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30, 32, 33) has a guide surface (34, 35, 36) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34, 35, 36) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The guide surface (30) has an inner profile portion (62) and at least an outer profile portion (64). The actuator (26) is in contact with the inner profile portion (62) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion (64) as the actuator (26) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion (62) causes a different acceleration of the actuator (26) than the outer profile portion (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7377464
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor assembly (10) has a seatbelt retractor (14) and an actuator (26) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor (1). An inertial sensor mass (30, 32, 33) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass (30, 32, 33) has a guide surface (34, 35, 36) for interacting with the actuator (26). The guide surface (34, 35, 36) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator (26) unlocks the seatbelt retractor (14) and a locking position in which the actuator (26) locks the seatbelt retractor (14). The guide surface (30) has an inner profile portion (62) and at least an outer profile portion (64). The actuator (26) is in contact with the inner profile portion (62) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion (64) as the actuator (26) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion (62) causes a different acceleration of the actuator (26) than the outer profile portion (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7300013
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) has an actuator (14) for unlocking and locking the seat belt retractor (10). An inertial sensor (18) detects changes in vehicle acceleration and interacts with the actuator (14) to lock and unlock the seat belt retractor (10). The inertial sensor (18) has one inertial sensor mass, each mass (26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33) has a wide portion (70) and a narrow portion (72). Preferably each inertial sensor mass (26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33) has a high density body (31) embedded in the wide portion (70) of the elastomeric material (34). The inertial sensor mass (26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33) has a greater density than the elastomeric material (34). Moreover, the elastomeric material (34) at least partially surrounds an exterior circumferential surface (38) of the inertial sensor mass (26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Morgan, Huiyao Liu, Stephan F. Vetter, Kristopher Shaffer, David R. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6802470
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor for a vehicle safety restraint has a spool rotatably mounted in a frame. A ratchet wheel is rotatably mounted to rotate with the spool. A control member is mounted in the frame. A locking pawl is pivotally mounted in the frame to pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel. A sensor is responsive to the spool. Upon activation of the sensor, a cam surface and a cam follower couple the locking pawl to the control member. The cam surface has a discontinuity arranged so that the cam follower loses contact with the cam at high speeds but stays in contact with the cam surface at low speeds. Preferably, the discontinuity is a raised portion providing a first ramp in one direction in one portion on one side of the discontinuity of the cam surface and a second ramp in a different direction in a second portion of the cam surface on the other side of the discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan George Smithson, David Blackadder, Paul Bowman, David Charles Winter
  • Patent number: 6688547
    Abstract: The inertia sensor is a sensor for a seatbelt retractor used for sensing deceleration. The inertia sensor is composed of a primary mass, a secondary mass, and a lifter. The primary mass provides the inertia for the self compensating function. The secondary mass provides the inertia for sensing deceleration. The inertia sensor is not triggered when subjected to tilting angles of 30 degrees or less in any direction. Upon experiencing decelerating motion, the secondary mass tilts relative to the primary mass whereby this relative angular displacement causes the lifter to raise. The lifter rotates a locking pawl into an engagement position, which initiates the locking mechanism of the seatbelt retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Xunnan He
  • Patent number: 6443382
    Abstract: A vehicular seatbelt retractor is provided with a webbing control device and a pawl device, in which a mass member is inserted into a first tooth portion body of a clutch wheel and is positioned in a retainer ring of a retainer, so that its wing latch faces a second sprocket of the retainer ring. The webbing control device includes a retainer, a locking element and a clutch wheel, and the pawl device includes a housing and a standing weight mounted to be rocked from side to side in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Sungwoo Corporation
    Inventor: Ki-young Bae
  • Patent number: 6435442
    Abstract: A vehicle-sensitive sensor for a belt retractor for vehicle safety belt systems, comprises an inertia body displaceable in case of decelerations and accelerations of the sensor, and a two-armed lever. A first arm of the two-armed lever forms a coupling pawl, and a second arm of the two-armed lever is able to be engaged by the inertia body such that, in case of a displacement of the inertia body, the lever is pivoted so that the coupling pawl is directed into a clutch toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jürgen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 6247365
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor for a retractor for a vehicle safety restraint has a sensor mass in the form of an upturned hollow cup, formed in a single piece by injection molding or die casting, resting on an upstanding post. It may be of metal or high-density plastic material. Preferably a profiled pad is fixed or mounded on the underside of the lever or on the upper surface of the cup. In this way the arrangement causes the lever to lift through substantially the same angle whichever the direction of acceleration activating the sensor. This sensor is an improvement over known sensors because it is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, easier to calibrate relatively accurately, and does not exhibit right/left dependency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithson, David Blackadder
  • Patent number: 6230997
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a safety belt retractor locking sensor has a shaft rotatably mounted in a lock cup spade of a retractor and a cam part eccentrically mounted relative to the shaft. The cam part is received within an elliptical hole in the housing. Rotation of the cam part about the axis of the shaft causes the housing to move relative to the lock cup spade. Projections on the spade engaging in the vertical slots in the housing constrain the housing to move substantially vertically. Vertical adjustment of the housing relative to the retractor affects the position of the lever tip relative to the ratchet wheel of the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martyn Palliser
  • Patent number: 6213420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety belt apparatus with a belt roller (11) which is preferably subjected to a bias force in the wind-up direction by a spring and onto which a seat belt (12) is wound up to a greater or a lesser extent, with an acceleration sensor (13) with a movable mass (19) and an auxiliary pawl (15) which is impacted by the latter controlling with the auxiliary pawl (15) a position control ratchet wheel (14) which in turn acts via a transmission (16) on a main pawl (17) which is rotationally fixedly connected to the belt roller (11) in order that the latter engages into a main ratchet crown (18) during the blocking of the position control ratchet wheel (14) by the auxiliary pawl (15) in order to stop the further drawing out of the belt (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Kopetzky