Patents by Inventor Brian Ford

Brian Ford 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: 20040222622
    Abstract: An airbag is folded by attaching a line located inside the airbag to a front side an airbag and extending the line across a guide. The airbag is then compacted around the guide and the line. The line is then placed in communication with a sensor. The line may be a flexible element having an optical pattern read by the sensor. During the folding process, the line may be reeled into a sensor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Brian Ford
  • Patent number: 6800029
    Abstract: A gaming environment includes portable transaction/tracking devices for rendering services and tracking game play. In one embodiment, the gaming environment includes at least one table game and a portable transaction interface capable of receiving and sending information over a wireless communication link to/from a player tracking server adapted to store player identification and player game play data. One embodiment of a method comprises the tracking of player game play in such a gaming environment using the portable transaction device or interface. Player identification information and player game play data is input to the portable transaction device and transmitted to the player tracking server for association with a player's rating file. Graphical information may be generated and displayed to the user of the portable transaction device regarding the gaming environment. This information may be used by the user to identify players or their location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Rick Rowe, Larry C. Lewis, Brian Ford, Daryn Kiely
  • Publication number: 20040155442
    Abstract: An airbag module comprises an airbag inflatable through an opening and an airbag inflator in communication with the opening. A block selectively diverts inflation gas away from the airbag opening. The block may move from a first position and a second position, the first position permitting the inflation gas to flow to the opening and the second position deflecting the inflation gas away from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Ford, Joel Jerrim, Rolf Sawall
  • Publication number: 20040155443
    Abstract: An airbag module comprises an airbag inflatable through an opening in the airbag. An airbag inflator provides an inflation gas into the opening in the airbag. A flap has a first position permitting gas to flow to the opening in the airbag and a second position deflecting inflation gas away fro the opening in the airbag. A propellant discharges into a discharge space moving the flap between the first position to the second position. A hood at least partially covers the discharge space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Brian Ford
  • Publication number: 20040119273
    Abstract: An airbag module utilizes tape dispensing cartridges. A tape end extends from each cartridge to the inside surface of an airbag. As the airbag inflates, tape is drawn from the tape cartridges as the tapes are drawn along with the deploying airbag. The rate at which tape is withdrawn from the cartridges is measured by sensible indicia of a magnetic or optical nature positioned on the tape and drawn past a sensor contained within the tape cartridge. The markings on the tape can be nonuniform along the length of the tape. The tape storage area outlet and the cartridge outlet are each formed by two relatively large radius corners. The tape is sealed to the cartridge to prevent the ingress of contaminants. As the airbag withdraws tape from the cartridges, the seals are unseated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Harald S. Husby, John Fisher, Brian Ford, Joel Jerrim, Rolf Sawall
  • Publication number: 20040108699
    Abstract: An air bag module comprises an air bag inflator and an air bag inflatable by the air bag inflator. The air bag has a hole to receive the air bag inflator and at least one tab attached to the air bag near the hole to assist in the insertion of the air bag inflator into air bag. The air bag has a heat shield near the air bag inflator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Ford, Mary Grondin, Lawrence R. Langbeen
  • Patent number: 6616181
    Abstract: An airbag module has an airbag and a cover having a tear seam for the airbag. A backing plate is mounted to the cover and positioned between airbag and cover. Disposed between packing plate and cover is a horn switch. The horn switch is nested in a depression of the backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Tedhnology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ford
  • Patent number: 6517105
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly including an inflator subassembly, a steering wheel armature, and a cushion subassembly. The inflator subassembly and the cushion subassembly are located on opposite sides of the steering wheel armature. The inflator subassembly comprises an inflator. The inflator subassembly has a lip, which fits into a circular channel on the bottom portion of the steering wheel armature. The cushion subassembly includes an airbag, a retainer, and an airbag cover. Upon detection of a crash from a crash sensor, the inflator begins to generate gas. The gas flows through the inflator subassembly and then is forced to flow through the hub portion of the steering wheel and into the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ford
  • Publication number: 20020103027
    Abstract: A gaming environment includes portable transaction/tracking devices for rendering services and tracking game play. In one embodiment, the gaming environment includes at least one table game and a portable transaction interface capable of receiving and sending information over a wireless communication link to/from a player tracking server adapted to store player identification and player game play data. One embodiment of a method comprises the tracking of player game play in such a gaming environment using the portable transaction device or interface. Player identification information and player game play data is input to the portable transaction device and transmitted to the player tracking server for association with a player's rating file. Graphical information may be generated and displayed to the user of the portable transaction device regarding the gaming environment. This information may be used by the user to identify players or their location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Rick Rowe, Larry C. Lewis, Brian Ford, Daryn Kiely
  • Patent number: 5516977
    Abstract: Immunocompromised hosts comprising xenogeneic fetal lymph node tissue implanted in the ear pinna are provided. The chimeric hosts are prepared by inserting the xenogeneic lymph node tissue into the ear pinna and closing the incision. The tissue is found to be rapidly vascularized and can be productively infected with HIV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Systemix, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Ford, Hideto Kaneshima