Patents by Inventor Kristi Elliott-Rumberger

Kristi Elliott-Rumberger 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: 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: 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: 7571930
    Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether and method of manufacture can include forming an inflatable curtain from at least one panel of material defining at least one expandable chamber, forming a tether integrally from a salvage area of the at one panel of material, and attaching the tether at an attachment point to the inflatable curtain at one end and having opposite end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation. The side curtain airbag can be for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of a vehicle and adapted to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Osterhout, Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger
  • Publication number: 20090058053
    Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether and method of manufacture can include forming an inflatable curtain from at least one panel of material defining at least one expandable chamber, forming a tether integrally from a salvage area of the at one panel of material, and attaching the tether at an attachment point to the inflatable curtain at one end and having opposite end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation. The side curtain airbag can be for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of a vehicle and adapted to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Osterhout, Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger
  • Publication number: 20080238054
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Neal Osterhout
  • Publication number: 20080238053
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Neal Osterhout
  • Publication number: 20080054604
    Abstract: An apparatus for assisting and guiding deployment of a side airbag through a deployment seam of a seat cover for a vehicle seat having a seat frame includes an airbag assembly connectable to a support portion of the seat back frame, an intensifier pocket having an inboard and outboard panel, and an elongate support rod releasably connectable to the seat back frame of the vehicle seat for closing and anchoring an opening in the pocket. Each panel has a first peripheral portion connected to opposite edges of the deployment seam in the seat cover to be forced open during inflation of the side airbag, second peripheral portions extending inwardly toward the seat back frame where the inboard and outboard panels are connected to one another, and third peripheral portions defining an opening in the pocket of sufficient size to allow the pocket to be positioned over the airbag assembly and support portion of the seat back frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Tiago Castro, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Kazuya Hirata, Robert Panek
  • Publication number: 20080007034
    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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Jamison Jaramillo