Brian Edward Downey

US Patent:

7314235, Jan 1, 2008

Filed:

Dec 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/005476

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Westland MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/00

US Classification:

280808, 297483

Abstract:

Systems and devices which allow smaller passengers, such as children, in vehicles to direct a seatbelt along a more comfortable path are disclosed. A rear seat shoulder belt guide system for routing of a shoulder belt for a passenger in a vehicle seat includes a guide adapted to engage a seatbelt therein, a base plate secured to a seat back of the vehicle seat, and a tether connecting the guide to the base plate. The base plate may be secured to a headrest sleeve on the seat back of the vehicle seat, and the guide may be adapted to slidingly or frictionally engage the seatbelt. The guide may be stowed in contact with the base plate when the guide is not in use.

US Patent:

7364200, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Sep 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/222764

Inventors:

Brian M. Downey - Westland MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/00

US Classification:

2808011

Abstract:

A vehicle structure is provided with a vehicle seatbelt restraining apparatus. The vehicle structure includes a lower vehicle portion and an upper vehicle portion. The vehicle seatbelt restraining apparatus includes a lower seatbelt anchor, an upper seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt webbing and a biasing element. The lower seatbelt anchor is pivotally coupled to the lower vehicle portion to move between a passenger securing orientation and a retracted non-use orientation. The upper seatbelt anchor is configured and arranged to be mounted to the upper vehicle portion. The seatbelt webbing has a first end coupled to the lower seatbelt anchor and a second end coupled to the upper seatbelt anchor. The biasing element is operatively coupled to the lower seatbelt anchor to urge the lower seatbelt anchor into the retracted non-use orientation.

US Patent:

7511610, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Mar 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/388716

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Westland MI, US
Michael Bunce - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60Q 1/00

US Classification:

3404571, 3404071, 3404255, 340438, 340439

Abstract:

A seat belt notification system and process for a vehicle can include an occupant detection sensor operable to determine if a vehicle seat is in one of an occupied condition or an unoccupied condition. A seat belt sensor can be operable to determine if a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in one of a buckled condition and an unbuckled condition. A feedback device can be operable to provide a physical response to a particular vehicle seat, if the occupant detection sensor determines that the particular vehicle seat is in an occupied condition and the seat belt sensor determines that the seat belt associated with the particular vehicle seat is in an unbuckled condition.

US Patent:

7571930, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

Aug 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/848646

Inventors:

Neal Osterhout - Sterling Heights MI, US
Brian Downey - Westland MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/16

US Classification:

2807302

Abstract:

An inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether and method of manufacture can include forming an inflatable curtain from at least one panel of material defining at least one expandable chamber, forming a tether integrally from a salvage area of the at one panel of material, and attaching the tether at an attachment point to the inflatable curtain at one end and having opposite end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation. The side curtain airbag can be for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of a vehicle and adapted to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

US Patent:

7575263, Aug 18, 2009

Filed:

Sep 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/517625

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 7/04

US Classification:

296 2434, 296 3714, 224539

Abstract:

A storage apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a stationary platform connectible to a floor of the motor vehicle. A lid connects to the platform and moves between opened and closed positions. The lid engages with the platform when in the lowered position and includes an upper surface defining a reinforced ramp extending between two second row seats of the motor vehicle toward an elevated rear floor area. The platform includes an upwardly extending wall defining a reinforced support for the lid. The lid and the support being of sufficient strength to support foot traffic of vehicle occupants moving to and from the rear area of the motor vehicle. A reciprocal tray connects to the platform for movement between a raised position, and a lower stowed position. An articulated drive connects between the tray and the platform for moving the tray between raised and lowered positions.

US Patent:

7578521, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

Sep 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858555

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Farmington Hills MI, US
Jamison Jaramillo - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/213

US Classification:

2807302

Abstract:

A pillar trim component can include a main body member and a separately formed airbag support member having an integrally formed inflatable curtain deployment trajectory ramp surface, and complementary interconnecting shaped portions formed on the main body member and the airbag support member for interlocking assembly of a subassembly of the airbag support member to the main body member prior to installation in a motor vehicle. The complementary interconnecting shaped portions, when assembled, prevent unintended disassembly of the subassembly. An airbag positioning portion can be defined by at least a portion of an upwardly extending wall of the airbag support member angled inboard toward the main body member. A headliner retaining portion can be defined by a recess formed between the deployment surface and the main body member.

US Patent:

7607684, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

Mar 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/384880

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Westland MI, US
Michael Bunce - Ann Arbor MI, US
Paul Peruski - Sterling Heights MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/213
B60R 21/16

US Classification:

2807302, 2807282, 2807283

Abstract:

A pillar trim component can include a main body portion and an airbag support portion extending from the main body portion. An attachment portion can include an outwardly extending portion connected to the airbag support portion, an angled portion connected to an outer end of the outwardly extending portion, and an inboard stabilizing web extending between the outwardly extending portion and the angled portion. An airbag positioning portion can be defined by at least a portion of an upwardly extending wall of the airbag support portion angled inboard toward the main body portion. An airbag guide portion can be defined by a deployment surface located above the main body portion and extending between the main body position and the airbag support portion. A headliner retaining portion can be defined by a recess formed between the deployment surface and the main body portion.

US Patent:

7677593, Mar 16, 2010

Filed:

Feb 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/676088

Inventors:

Brian Downey - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/021

US Classification:

2807282, 2807302

Abstract:

An inflatable passenger protection system for a vehicle having a structural front pillar frame member to be covered by a separate interior trim component, and a side curtain airbag to be positioned in a stowed condition between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component, the interior trim component having at least a portion movable between a covered position enclosing the side curtain airbag in the stowed condition and an opened position in response to inflation of the side curtain airbag to the deployed condition, includes an extruded support bracket extending between the front pillar frame member and the interior trim component. The bracket has a primary attachment point and a secondary attachment point for supporting the interior trim component.