Patents by Inventor Laura Irigoyen

Laura Irigoyen 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: 7798526
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan A. Lopez, David Komiyama, Laura Irigoyen, Douglas M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20080272583
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Juan A. Lopez, David Komiyama, Laura Irigoyen, Douglas M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20050039560
    Abstract: A slide lining (9) for rack thruster (10) is dimensioned and shaped to come into contact with a steering rack (3) opposite to an operating pinion (4). The slide lining (9) is made of multi-layered material comprising a substrate layer intended to be bonded to a thruster body (8), an intermediate layer bonded to the substrate layer and an upper slide layer made of polymer composition with a low coefficient of friction. The intermediate layer forms raised structures which are distributed over the interface with the upper slide layer and are embedded in the said upper slide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Frederic Degorce, Laura Irigoyen