Stephen N Porter

US Patent:

7188898, Mar 13, 2007

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/147149

Inventors:

James F. Patterson - Greentown IN, US
Stuart S. Sullivan - Peru IN, US
Rodney A. Lawrence - Frankfort IN, US
Duane D. Fortune - Lebanon IN, US
Edward J. Wallner - Westfield IN, US
Stephen B. Porter - Noblesville IN, US
William W. Fultz - Carmel IN, US
Kevin D. Kincaid - Kokomo IN, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

A47D 1/10
A47C 7/62

US Classification:

2972501, 2972172, 2972173

Abstract:

The child restraint system comprises a harness that extends through one of a plurality of slots in the shell for restraining a child occupant within the child restraint system, and a control unit for determining whether the harness is properly adjusted based upon the size of the child. Belt location sensors are disposed at the slots to detect the presence of a harness belt. The child restraint system also includes temperature sensors responsive to body temperature of the child. The control unit processes the signals from the belt location sensors and the proximity sensors and issues an alert signal if the belt location is not the recommended belt location based upon the size of the child.

US Patent:

7224270, May 29, 2007

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/146928

Inventors:

James F. Patterson - Greentown IN, US
Stuart S. Sullivan - Peru IN, US
Rodney A. Lawrence - Frankfort IN, US
Duane D. Fortune - Lebanon IN, US
Edward J. Wallner - Westfield IN, US
Stephen B. Porter - Noblesville IN, US
William W. Fultz - Carmel IN, US
Kevin D. Kincaid - Kokomo IN, US
Gary R. Grieb - Lake Orion MI, US
Jeffry N. Zolkower - West Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60Q 1/00

US Classification:

3404571, 340665, 340668, 2808011, 701 45

Abstract:

A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a shell portion; a harness for securing a child to the child seat, the harness comprising adjustable harness tether(s) secured to the shell portion at one end and having a latch plate at the other, the latch plate being configured to releasably engage a buckle of the harness; a tension sensor(s) for providing a signal indicative of a tension of the adjustable harness tether(s); and an electronic control unit secured to the shell portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the tension sensor(s) to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to compare the signal to a signal indicative of a predetermined range of acceptable tension, wherein the electronic control unit provides an output indicating whether the tension of the adjustable harness tether(s) is(are) within the predetermined range.

US Patent:

7422283, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/146926

Inventors:

James F. Patterson - Greentown IN, US
Stuart S. Sullivan - Peru IN, US
Duane D. Fortune - Lebanon IN, US
William W. Fultz - Carmel IN, US
Kevin D. Kincaid - Kokomo IN, US
Rodney A. Lawrence - Frankfort IN, US
Edward J. Wallner - Westfield IN, US
Stephen B. Porter - Noblesville IN, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/26

US Classification:

2972501, 2972172, 2972173, 297468

Abstract:

A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child seat has at least a first seat belt guide member configured to engage a vehicle seat belt webbing for securing the child seat to a vehicle seat. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the first seat belt guide member. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of an amount of tension being applied to the vehicle seat belt webbing. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to compute a first tension value based on the first signal. The controller further is configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first tension value is less than a predetermined tension value.

US Patent:

7478875, Jan 20, 2009

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/147148

Inventors:

James F. Patterson - Greentown IN, US
Stuart S. Sullivan - Peru IN, US
Rodney A. Lawrence - Frankfort IN, US
Duane D. Fortune - Lebanon IN, US
Edward J. Wallner - Westfield IN, US
Stephen B. Porter - Noblesville IN, US
William W. Fultz - Carmel IN, US
Kevin D. Kincaid - Kokomo IN, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

A47C 7/62
A47C 1/08

US Classification:

2972173, 2972172, 280735

Abstract:

A child restraint system and a method for monitoring installation of the child restraint system are provided. The child restraint system includes a child seat configured to receive a child occupant. The child restraint system further includes a first sensor coupled to the child seat. The first sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of positional angle of the child seat relative to a first axis. The child restraint system further includes a controller coupled to the child seat configured to receive the first signal and to calculate a first angle value based on the first signal. The controller is further configured to induce a first device disposed on the child seat to indicate when the first angle value is not within a predetermined angular range from the first axis.

US Patent:

20050280297, Dec 22, 2005

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/146927

Inventors:

James Patterson - Greentown IN, US
Stuart Sullivan - Peru IN, US
Rodney Lawrence - Frankfort IN, US
Duane Fortune - Lebanon IN, US
Edward Wallner - Westfield IN, US
Stephen Porter - Noblesville IN, US
William Fultz - Carmel IN, US
Kevin Kincaid - Kokomo IN, US

International Classification:

A47C031/00

US Classification:

297217400, 297217300

Abstract:

A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a shell portion configured for use with or without a base portion; at least one an adjustable tether secured to the shell portion at one end and having a clasping portion at the other; a tension sensor for providing a signal indicative of a tension of the adjustable tether; and an electronic control unit secured to the shell portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the tension sensor to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to compare the signal to a signal indicative of a predetermined range of acceptable tension, wherein the electronic control unit provides an output indicating whether the tension of the adjustable tether is within the predetermined range.