Patents by Inventor Brian Downey

Brian Downey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240113980
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes one or more processors and one or more computer storage media storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations that include obtaining flight information of the UAV; determining one or more modifications based on the flight information; and transmitting data messages over data buses based on the one or more modifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan Downey, Bernard J. Michini, Brian Richman
  • Publication number: 20240067120
    Abstract: An airbag assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, an airbag, and a flap. The airbag is stored in the housing. The flap is secured to the housing and is configured to retain the airbag in a stored state. The flap has a tear seam at which the flap is configured to separate upon deployment of the airbag. The tear seam extends non-linearly from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Austin COOK, Brian DOWNEY
  • Publication number: 20240034262
    Abstract: An instrument panel defines an upper surface and a lower surface. An airbag device has an inflatable portion and is installed to the instrument panel below and spaced apart from the lower surface. A panel is installed to the lower surface of the instrument panel above the airbag. The panel has an opening that is at least partially covered by a first door, a second door and a third door located along the lower surface of the instrument panel prior to deployment of the airbag. In response to deployment of the airbag, the inflatable portion pushes the first, second and the third doors upward against the instrument panel with the first door pivoting about a first hinge that extends in a vehicle lateral direction, and at least one of the second door and the third door pivoting about a second hinge that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Brian DOWNEY, Ramakrishna CHUNDURI
  • Patent number: 11814000
    Abstract: A deployment flap for a vehicular airbag system is disclosed. The deployment flap includes: a main body portion; wings that extend laterally from the main body portion; and at least one expandable portion. The main body portion includes a tear seam that is configured to separate during the inflation of an airbag such that the airbag extends through the deployment flap. The at least one expandable portion is reconfigurable from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration to thereby facilitate lengthening of the main body portion and the wings prior to separation of the tear seam during multi-stage inflation of the airbag, whereby the deployment flap directs the airbag and inhibits eccentric deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Cook, Brian Downey
  • Patent number: 10829082
    Abstract: An airbag device includes a first section and a second section. The first section is defined by a first material having a first heat dissipating characteristic. The second section is defined by a second material having a second heat dissipating characteristic. The second section dissipates heat at a higher rate than the first section when the airbag device is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Campbell, Brian Downey
  • Publication number: 20190232912
    Abstract: An airbag device includes a first section and a second section. The first section is defined by a first material having a first heat dissipating characteristic. The second section is defined by a second material having a second heat dissipating characteristic. The second section dissipates heat at a higher rate than the first section when the airbag device is deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Stephanie CAMPBELL, Brian DOWNEY
  • Patent number: 10308114
    Abstract: A hand control throttle system includes an actuating mechanism and a sensor. The system is mounted to a standard steering wheel for a vehicle, so that a disabled driver can operate the throttle using a single hand (either right or left) while the hand is also holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Brian A. Downey, Ryan A. Downey, Philip W. Worthington
  • Publication number: 20160375764
    Abstract: A hand control throttle system includes an actuating mechanism and a sensor. The system is mounted to a standard steering wheel for a vehicle, so that a disabled driver can operate the throttle using a single hand (either right or left) while the hand is also holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Brian A. DOWNEY, Ryan A. DOWNEY, Philip W. WORTHINGTON
  • Patent number: 9393867
    Abstract: A hand control throttle system includes an actuating mechanism and a sensor. The system is mounted to a standard steering wheel for a vehicle, so that a disabled driver can operate the throttle using a single hand (either right or left) while the hand is also holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventors: Brian A. Downey, Ryan A. Downey, Philip W. Worthington
  • Publication number: 20150258890
    Abstract: A hand control throttle system includes an actuating mechanism and a sensor. The system is mounted to a standard steering wheel for a vehicle, so that a disabled driver can operate the throttle using a single hand (either right or left) while the hand is also holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Brian A. Downey, Ryan A. Downey, Philip W. Worthington
  • Patent number: 9033366
    Abstract: A system includes a fan and a duct system. The fan is configured to be attached to the steering wheel. The duct system has a first portion and a second portion, and is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of an armature of the steering wheel and enable air from the fan to be communicated from the fan to a surface of the steering wheel. The first portion includes a section extending along the armature of the steering wheel, and the second portion includes a plurality of nozzles extending radially from an outer surface of the first portion toward an outer surface of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Downey
  • Patent number: 8414081
    Abstract: A vehicle seating apparatus is provided with a seat assembly and a seat belt buckle assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is foldable between a seating configuration and a non-seating configuration in which the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a seat belt buckle bracket and a buckle head. The seat belt buckle bracket has a first end movably coupled to a lateral side of the seat bottom. The buckle head is movably arranged with respect to the seat assembly between a usage position and a stowed position. The buckle head is arranged with respect to the seat assembly such that movement of the seat back from the seating configuration to the non-seating configuration does not contact the buckle head while the buckle head is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Downey
  • Publication number: 20110121630
    Abstract: A vehicle seating apparatus is provided with a seat assembly and a seat belt buckle assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is foldable between a seating configuration and a non-seating configuration in which the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a seat belt buckle bracket and a buckle head. The seat belt buckle bracket has a first end movably coupled to a lateral side of the seat bottom. The buckle head is movably arranged with respect to the seat assembly between a usage position and a stowed position. The buckle head is arranged with respect to the seat assembly such that movement of the seat back from the seating configuration to the non-seating configuration does not contact the buckle head while the buckle head is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Downey
  • Patent number: 7793972
    Abstract: A vehicular interior trim piece with a tether for use with a side curtain airbag. The tether is attached to an integral first panel portion and a second panel portion which rotates about a hinge out of the path of the airbag. The tether prevents complete detachment of the second panel from the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Downey
  • Patent number: 7784818
    Abstract: At least one guide member extends longitudally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim stucture covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Neal Osterhout
  • Patent number: 7766377
    Abstract: At least one guide member extends longitudinally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim structure covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Neal Osterhout
  • Patent number: 7677593
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Downey
  • Patent number: 7607684
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Michael Bunce, Paul Peruski
  • Patent number: 7578521
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Jamison Jaramillo
  • Patent number: 7575263
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Downey