Patents by Inventor Chaozhuo Chen

Chaozhuo Chen 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).

  • Dual seam air bag module cover
    Patent number: 6540252
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (15) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20), an inflator (30), and a cover (40) for the protection device (20). The inflator (30) provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (20). The cover (40) has side walls (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) and a front wall (44) for positioning between the vehicle occupant (15) and the protection device (20). The cover (40) has at least one strong tear seam (50) and at least one weak tear seam (60). The weak tear seam (60) tears when subjected to a first force by the protection device (20). The strong tear seam (50) tears when subjected to a second force by the protection device (20). The second force is larger than the first force. The strong and weak tear seams (50, 60) are located so that a first portion (22) of the protection device (20) initially ruptures the weak tear seams (60). The protection device (20) initially deploys primarily laterally relative to the vehicle occupant (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Mu, Jianping Sheng, Chaozhuo Chen
  • Dual seam air bag module cover
    Publication number: 20020185848
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (15) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20), an inflator (30), and a cover (40) for the protection device (20). The inflator (30) provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (20). The cover (40) has side walls (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) and a front wall (44) for positioning between the vehicle occupant (15) and the protection device (20). The cover (40) has at least one strong tear seam (50) and at least one weak tear seam (60). The weak tear seam (60) tears when subjected to a first force by the protection device (20). The strong tear seam (50) tears when subjected to a second force by the protection device (20). The second force is larger than the first force. The strong and weak tear seams (50, 60) are located so that a first portion (22) of the protection device (20) initially ruptures the weak tear seams (60). The protection device (20) initially deploys primarily laterally relative to the vehicle occupant (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Mu, Jianping Sheng, Chaozhuo Chen
  • Telescoping vehicle steering column apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle driver
    Patent number: 6227571
    Abstract: An apparatus (12) comprises a first steering column member (40) rotatable about a first axis (26) and a steering wheel (20) mounted on the first steering column member. A second steering column member (100) is connected with the first steering column member (40) so that rotation of the first steering column member about the first axis (26) causes rotation of the second steering column member. The first and second steering column members (40 and 100) have a telescoping relationship and have axially overlapped portions (70, 108). An air bag module (30) is mounted on the steering wheel (20) and includes an inflatable air bag (32). An actuatable device (90) emits gas which causes the first and second steering column members (40 and 100) to telescope together and causes at least a portion of the air bag module (30) to move away from the vehicle driver as the air bag (32) is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Sheng, Wei Mu, Chaozhuo Chen