| US 7,364,186 B2 | ||
| Vehicle air bag minimum distance apparatus, method and system | ||
| Richard W. Levine, Chappaqua, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc., Valhalla, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jul. 19, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/490,358. | ||
| Application 11/490358 is a continuation of application No. 11/126854, filed on May 10, 2005, granted, now 7,097,202. | ||
| Application 11/126854 is a continuation of application No. 10/648550, filed on Aug. 25, 2003, granted, now 6,916,040, filed on Jul. 12, 2005. | ||
| Application 10/648550 is a continuation of application No. 09/897536, filed on Jul. 02, 2001, granted, now 6,634,669, filed on Oct. 21, 2003. | ||
| Application 09/897536 is a continuation of application No. 09/220832, filed on Dec. 24, 1998, granted, now 6,293,584, filed on Sep. 25, 2001. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/101487, filed on Sep. 23, 1998. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/105245, filed on Oct. 22, 1998. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/105595, filed on Oct. 26, 1998. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0255576 A1, Nov. 16, 2006 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. B60R 21/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 280—731 [74/512; 74/513; 180/271; 180/274; 180/282; 280/735; 296/68.1; 701/45; 701/49] | 21 Claims |
| 1. A vehicle safety system for providing a minimum safe clearance distance between a front-seat passenger driver and a front
air-bag arrangement in a vehicle, compnsing:
a position determining arrangement having a distance sensor arrangement to determine distance information for a distance between
the passenger driver in a front seat arrangement of the vehicle and the front air-bag arrangement of a steering wheel assembly;
a clearance distance adjusting system to adjust the distance between the front seat driver and the front air-bag arrangement,
the front seat arrangement of the front seat driver and the front air bag arrangement being movable, based on the distance
information, with respect to one another within the vehicle, the clearance distance adjusting system including at least a
front seat position adjusting arrangement that allows relative movement of the front seat arrangement with respect to the
front air-bag arrangement to provide the minimum safe clearance distance between the passenger driver in the front seat arrangement
and the front air-bag arrangement; and
a pedal adjusting arrangement that includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move at least one pedal between a
first position and a second position, the at least one pedal being forward of the front seat arrangement, wherein a distance
between the first position and the second position accommodates a range of passenger leg lengths.
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