JOHN ERBIN SULLIVAN, JR
Pilots at Division St, Ann Arbor, MI

6375270, Apr 23, 2002

Jan 13, 2000

09/482689

John L. Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI
Kirsten Marie Carr - Ypsilanti MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

B60R 2100

297484

A seat belt restraint system is provided for a vehicle seat having a seat back extending between a top and bottom portion and a seat cushion extending between an inboard and outboard side. The seat belt restraint system includes a clasp interconnecting an inboard shoulder belt webbing with an inboard lap belt webbing adjacent the inboard side of the seat cushion. The seat belt restraint system further includes a buckle interconnecting an outboard shoulder belt webbing with an outboard lap belt webbing adjacent the outboard side of the seat cushion. The seat belt restraint system includes a buckle anchor mounted to the inboard side of the seat cushion for lockably receiving the buckle. The buckle includes an outboard connect mechanism for releasably locking the clasp to the buckle and define a four point seat belt configuration with the buckle and clasp positioned midway between the inboard and outboard side of the seat cushion. The buckle also includes an inboard connect mechanism for releasably locking the buckle to the buckle anchor and define a three point seat belt configuration with the clasp latched to the buckle and the buckle latched to the buckle anchor adjacent the inboard side of the seat cushion.

6601915, Aug 5, 2003

Sep 4, 2001

09/946263

John L. Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI
John Matthew Ginder - Plymouth MI
Kirsten Marie Carr - Ypsilanti MI
Paul Ralph Schulz - Macomb MI

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

B60N 242

2972161, 29721614

A programmable seat back damper assembly for a motor vehicle includes a generally horizontal seat cushion portion and a generally upright back portion operatively connected to the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly includes a recliner for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly also includes a damper for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein. The programmable seat back damper assembly further includes a controller electrically connected to the damper to control an apparent viscosity of the MR fluid to increase and decrease damping of the damper for adjusting an angle of the seat back portion relative to the seat cushion portion.

6705559, Mar 16, 2004

Jun 14, 1999

09/332070

John L. Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI
John Matthew Ginder - Plymouth MI
Kirsten Marie Carr - Ypsilanti MI

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

B60R 2234

242381, 280805, 280807

A programmable seat belt damper assembly for a seat belt in a motor vehicle. The programmable seat belt damper assembly includes a retractor operatively connected to the seat belt for winding and unwinding the seat belt. The programmable seat belt damper assembly also includes a rotary damper operatively connected to the retractor and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein. The programmable seat belt damper assembly further includes a controller electrically connected to the rotary damper to control an apparent viscosity of the MR fluid to increase and decrease a damping torque of the rotary damper for the unwinding of the seat belt.

2002008, Jul 11, 2002

Jan 4, 2002

09/683473

Paul Bedewi - Dearborn MI, US
Stephen Rouhana - Plymouth MI, US
John Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

B60R022/00

280/801100, 280/808000

An occupant restraint system for a vehicle seat includes a three-point belt assembly comprising a shoulder belt and a lap belt releasably secured at an first buckle element and a supplemental shoulder belt having an upper end adjacent an upper first portion of the seat back and a lower end releasably secured to a second buckle element. The second buckle element is secured to the lap belt attachment in a position to restrain the second ends of the lap belt and supplemental shoulder belt in a configuration that is symmetric about the centerline of the seat with the configuration of the first ends of the lap belt and the shoulder belt where they are secured to the first buckle element. The load-carrying paths for the first ends of the lap belt and shoulder belt intersect one another at an intersection point that is symmetric with the intersection point where the load-carrying paths for the second ends of the lap belt and supplemental shoulder belt intersect one another about. The symmetric configuration of the belts provides for more effective and safe restraint of the occupant of the seat during rapid deceleration of the vehicle.

6312049, Nov 6, 2001

Jul 1, 1999

9/346380

John L. Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI
John Matthew Ginder - Plymouth MI
Kirsten Marie Carr - Ypsilanti MI
Paul Ralph Schulz - Dearborn MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

B60N 242

2972161

A programmable seat back damper assembly for a motor vehicle includes a generally horizontal seat cushion portion and a generally upright back portion operatively connected to the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly includes a recliner for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly also includes a damper for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein.

7625048, Dec 1, 2009

Jun 4, 2007

11/757762

Stephen William Rouhana - Plymouth MI, US
Paul George Bedewi - Ashburn VA, US
Dean M Jaradi - Macomb MI, US
Kirsten Marie Carr - Ann Arbor MI, US
John L. Sullivan - Ann Arbor MI, US
Tiffani Michelle Natalini-Whitmore - Cathedral City CA, US
Sundeep Venkat Kankanala - Ann Arbor MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

B60R 22/00

297484

A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. Two shoulder belts are provided which are buckled together with a pair of lap belts. The convergence of the shoulder belts created at the buckles defines a V-shaped configuration which aids in occupant safety and comfort. Movably-adjustable retractors are provided to anchor the upper end of each shoulder belt to the vehicle seat. A movable headrest having a pair of laterally-adjustable belt loops is provided to further enhance occupant security and comfort.