Patents by Inventor Kent Barker

Kent Barker 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).

  • Patent number: 7237796
    Abstract: An actuatable fastener assembly is disclosed. The actuatable fastener assembly includes a fastener body and a fastener head attached to the fastener body. An initiator is embedded within the fastener body. Activation of the initiator causes the fastener head to separate from the fastener body. The actuatable fastener assembly also includes a retainer that is slidably movable along the fastener body toward the fastener head. The retainer includes a retention feature that resists movement of the retainer away from the fastener head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Mike Ayers
  • Patent number: 7077428
    Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Dario Brisighella, Brent Parks
  • Patent number: 7004778
    Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Jeff Kida, Dario Brisighella, Brent Parks
  • Publication number: 20050052000
    Abstract: An actuatable fastener assembly is disclosed. The actuatable fastener assembly includes a fastener body and a fastener head attached to the fastener body. An initiator is embedded within the fastener body. Activation of the initiator causes the fastener head to separate from the fastener body. The actuatable fastener assembly also includes a retainer that is slidably movable along the fastener body toward the fastener head. The retainer includes a retention feature that resists movement of the retainer away from the fastener head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Mike Ayers
  • Publication number: 20050006887
    Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Dario Brisighella, Brent Parks
  • Publication number: 20050009390
    Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Jeff Kida, Dario Brisighella, Brent Parks
  • Publication number: 20040112244
    Abstract: An initiator assembly for use with an assembly for use in a vehicular safety restraint installation such as in an airbag inflator or micro-gas generator is provided. The initiator assembly includes an integral, one-piece insert member that is injection molded with insulating material to an initiator. The insert member suitably engages a housing of the assembly for properly holding the initiator assembly in place relative to the housing both before and after the initiator is activated. The insulating material defines a receiving portion for receiving a shorting element. The shorting element creates a short circuit between a pair of initiator electrical terminals. The insulating material further defines an interface having a keyed mating portion for receiving a correspondingly shaped electrical connector in electrical contact with the electrical terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Dario Brisighella, Scott Gordon, Michael S. Constance