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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7401677 | Self-centering steering system A steering system (10) for a vehicle (16) comprises a housing (20) having first and second end portions (32, 34) and an intermediate portion (50). A steering member (66) is supported for axial movement in the housing (20 | 07/22/2008 |
| 7163230 | Inflatable side curtain with fill tube Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable between the vehicle side structure (16) and a vehicle occupant. The device (14) defines an inflatable... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7123747 | Enhancement of vehicle interior digital images A method for helping to control a vehicle occupant protection device (22) includes taking an image of the vehicle interior with a digital imager (50) having an array of pixels (53). A contiguous portion of the image less than the entire image is... | 10/17/2006 |
| RE39314 | Housing assembly for an air bag and vehicle horn switch An apparatus for enclosing an air bag (38) on a steering wheel (22) includes an inner cover (34) at least partially enclosing the air bag (38) and having a tear seam central portion (50) along which the inner cover ruptures upon in... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7047836 | Surface treatment for a locking mechanism An apparatus (10) includes first and second plates (44 and 84) extending parallel to each other and movable relative to each other. A locking mechanism (140) prevents movement between the first and second plates (44 and 84).... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7048461 | Ball joint assembly with wear indication A ball joint assembly (10) comprises a socket (12) with a chamber (18), an opening extending through a first axial end (20) of the socket (12), and electrically conductive structure (60) closing the second axial end (22 | 05/23/2006 |
| 7021190 | Rack and pinion steering gear with integral support bearing A rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) comprises a first bearing surface (38) that is formed on a surface (36) that defines a passage (24) in housing (12). An input assembly (120) that includes a first portion (124... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7017942 | Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( | 03/28/2006 |
| 7015801 | Vehicle-controlled tire condition sensor communication utilizing fixed tire identification A tire condition sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for use within a tire condition communication system (10). The sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for association with a tire (e.g., 14A) of a vehicle (12) and, via a method, communicates a tire ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7016537 | Vehicle occupant sensor apparatus and method including scanned, phased beam transmission for occupant characteristic determination An apparatus (34) and associated method are provided for vehicle occupant sensing. An EM energy driver component (36) and associated EM energy source (40) provide a modulated beam (44, e.g., IR light), and a movable reflection component (... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7002483 | Configurable arrangement of multiple transmitters and multiple receivers for the performance of remote convenience functions An arrangement (10) for remotely controlling convenience functions at a plurality of devices (35X–35Y) includes a plurality of device-based receivers (30X–30Y) and a plurality of portable transmitters (20A–20C).... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6983955 | Air bag inflators An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device (12), and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device (20) energizable to cause actuation of the protection device. In one embodimen... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6984796 | Electrical switch assembly An apparatus (10) includes a switch assembly (12). The switch assembly (12) includes a housing (16) and a set of contacts (14) supported by the housing. The set of contacts (14) includes a first contact (20) and a sec... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6973989 | Steer-by-wire steering system with road feel A steering apparatus (10) for a vehicle having steerable road-engaging wheels comprises a rotatable steering wheel (11) and a sensor (12) which senses the rotational position of the steering wheel and generates a first signal corresponding to th... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6968176 | Vehicle communication path tracing system for long range remote communication with a vehicle A vehicle communication path-tracing system (10) has a portable transmitter (12) and transceiver/controllers (14A–14N, 14T), located separately from the transmitter (12). A transmitter/controller (14T) is located at... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964613 | Universal joint A universal joint (10) includes a cross member (24) having a trunnion (26) with a radially outer surface (32). A cup (20) is connectable with the trunnion (26) and a yoke (18). The cup (20) has an open end (... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6964211 | Steering column with improved housing A vehicle steering column (10) comprises an axially extending input shaft (12) for connecting to a vehicle steering wheel. The input shaft (12) is rotatable about an axis (A) upon rotation of the steering wheel. The vehicle steering column (1... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6952979 | Steering column A steering column (10) includes a support (24) through which a steering column member (12) extends connected with a mounting bracket (68). A locking mechanism (130) locks the support (24) in any one of a plurality of positio... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6951336 | Method of manufacturing a boot seal The present invention resides in a boot seal for use in sealing a joint. The joint comprises first and second relatively movable parts. The boot seal is configured in the form of a sleeve to extend between and around the vehicle relatively movable parts. The sleeve ... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6945350 | Steering apparatus for turning multiple sets of steerable vehicle wheels A steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle having first and second sets (14 and 16) of steerable wheels comprises a first steering gear (22) actuatable, in response to rotation of a handwheel (110), to effe... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6947575 | Apparatus and method for determining vehicle occupant characteristic utilizing imaging with provided light An apparatus (30) and associated method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. An imager (32) collects a first image of an occupant location while the occupant location is subject to a first lighting condition. A light source (38) provides... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6923288 | Electric steering apparatus A steering apparatus (10) for a vehicle having steerable wheels. The apparatus (10) comprises a rotatable vehicle steering wheel (12) and a first assembly (100) operatively coupled to the steering wheel. The first assembly (100) in... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6921107 | Apparatus for sensing vehicle seat position An apparatus (10) for sensing the position of a vehicle seat (12) movable between a forward position and a rearward position includes a Hall effect device (80) and a magnet (82) that produces a magnetic field that acts on the Hall effect ... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6914526 | Intrusion detection system using linear imaging A vehicle intrusion detection system (10) for detecting an intrusion condition of a vehicle (12) having an occupant compartment (14) partially defined by an outer structure (30) of the vehicle, comprises an actuatable illuminator (40 | 07/05/2005 |
| 6914523 | Method and apparatus for sensing tire pressure An apparatus for sensing pressure in vehicle tires includes an interrogator (102) for providing a tire pressure interrogation signal, and a tire pressure monitor (70) for sensing pressure within a first tire (24) of the vehicle (20) and p... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6908106 | Inflator An inflator (22) for providing inflation fluid ( ) to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a container (30) storing the inflation fluid under pressure. The container (30) has an outlet passage (80)... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6902637 | Process for preparing free-flowing particulate phase stabilized ammonium nitrate A process for preparing free-flowing, phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate comprises the following steps. A solution of ammonium nitrate (12), a surfactant (13), a phase stabilizer (26), and an inert liquid (20) is prepared. The solution is ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6902195 | Seat belt pretensioner A seat belt pretensioner mechanism (40) includes a part (36) for attachment to the seat belt (20). A strap (50) is connected to the part (36). A piston (78) and piston rod (58) are movable in a first direction to move... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6889128 | System and method for controlling vehicle suspension components and vehicle occupant protection devices A system (10) for controlling an active vehicle suspension component (12) and a vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a controller (70). The controller (70) is operatively connected to the active suspension component ( | 05/03/2005 |
| 6884991 | Steering wheel angle sensor Apparatus (10) includes a first data ring (72) rotatable with a member (24) and includes bit indicators (76) for indicating an absolute angular position of the member. Sensors (100, 102) read the bit indicators (76) of the f... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6879252 | Method and apparatus for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle An apparatus for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle includes two sensors, each sensor having an associated tire. Each sensor transmits an associated sensor identification in response to receipt of an interrogation signal. The interrogation signal is ... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6875295 | Cool burning gas generating material for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus A gas generating material (140) for use in a vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises about 5% to about 20% by weight of the gas generating material, of a binder, 0 to about 50%, by weight of the gas generating material, of an energetic fue... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6863305 | Steering column A steering column (10) includes a support (24), through which a steering column member (12) extends, connected with a mounting bracket (66). The support (24) supports the steering column member (12) for rotation about a long... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6860208 | Nitrocellulose gas generating material for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus An apparatus comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14) and a gas generating material (18). The gas generating material (18), when ignited, produces a combustion gas that actuates the vehicle occupant protection device (14). The ... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6857496 | Vehicle steering apparatus with anti-steer security device A steering apparatus (10) comprises a steering feel motor (14) that is operatively connected to a steering shaft (16) of the vehicle (12). A sensor (20) detects operator applied steering inputs to the steering shaft (16) and... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6854977 | Steering wheel rotary connector Apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering wheel (14), a device (220) mountable on the steering wheel, a rear cover (60) that at least partially covers the steering wheel, a rotary connector (100) including a housing (110) f... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6835899 | Load sensing assembly for a vehicle seat An assembly (10) is used in a vehicle having a seat (2) for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan (4) for supporting the vehicle seat (2). The assembly (10) includes a vehicle seat frame (20) for supporting a load of th... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6834863 | Ball joint seal A ball joint includes a socket and a stud having a ball end portion received in the socket and a shank projecting from the socket. An annular seal has an intermediate portion extending between first and second end portions. The second end portion of the seal has an ... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6832969 | Hydraulic power steering system with reservoir and method of operating same An apparatus (10) comprises a hydraulic fluid operated automatic transmission (20) for transmitting motive power from an engine (22) of a vehicle (16) to drive wheels (24) of the vehicle. The apparatus (10) also includes a h... | 12/21/2004 |
| 6830264 | Air bag inflator with initiator retainer An inflator (10) comprises a container (30) in which inflation fluid is stored under pressure. The container (30) has an opening (40) through which inflation fluid flows in a given direction from the container. A rupturable closure member... | 12/14/2004 |
