Inflatable Passenger Restraint Or Confinement (e.g., Air Bag) Or Attachment Patents (Class 280/728.1)
  • Patent number: 11960988
    Abstract: A classification device receives sensor data from a set of sensors and generates, using a context classifier having a set of classifier model parameters, a set of raw predictions based on the received sensor data. Temporal filtering and heuristic filtering are applied to the raw predictions, producing filtered predictions. A prediction error is generated from the filtered predictions, and model parameters of the set of classifier model parameters are updated based on said prediction error. The classification device may be a wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Emanuele Plebani, Danilo Pietro Pau
  • Patent number: 11932191
    Abstract: A vehicular seat includes a first conduit that guides gas from a first gas generator to a first airbag, the first conduit includes a first flexible tube portion having flexibility and disposed along a first side end inside at least one of a seat surface or a seat back, and the first flexible tube portion expands to deform the seat body when the gas supplied to the first airbag from the first gas generator passes through the first flexible tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Daicel Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11897407
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle has a seat system including a seat cushion and a backrest, and an airbag apparatus which has an airbag and a retaining element, which is tensioned by filling the airbag. The retaining element has a connection region in which the retaining element is coupled to the airbag. By filling, the airbag can be moved from a stowed position to a functional position in which the airbag provides impact protection for an upper body of a seat occupant in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat. The retaining element has an additional connection region in which the retaining element is coupled to a retaining device of the vehicle seat. The retaining device is spaced apart from the backrest in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Florian Ober
  • Patent number: 11878649
    Abstract: An improved modularization of an airbag cushion covered with a cover member and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A first press is performed on the first portion of the cover member in a state where the folded airbag cushion 30 is not covered with the cover member. The first portion has at least a portion that includes a position corresponding to an inflator within the folded airbag cushion. Next, the folded airbag cushion is covered with the cover member, and in the covered state, a second press is applied to at least a part of the second portion of the cover member excluding the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai, Hideho Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11873001
    Abstract: A radar controller for a vehicle and a method therefore are provided. The radar controller includes a radar that detects a passenger located inside the vehicle and an obstacle located outside the vehicle and a controller that determines sensitivity and a detection speed corresponding to an operation mode of the radar and controls the radar to operate at the determined sensitivity and the determined detection speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eung Hwan Kim, Gyun Ha Kim, Sang Kyung Seo, Dae Yun An
  • Patent number: 11865988
    Abstract: PROBLEM: To provide a side airbag device that can be stored compactly. RESOLUTION MEANS The present invention is an airbag device to be stowed in a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying; an inflator arranged on the inner side of the seat frame which supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and a cover member made of a ductile material that melts and shrinks under heat and pressure to retain the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a rear chamber section where the inflator is stowed, and a front chamber section that extends forward from the rear chamber section that is arranged outside of the seat frame when stowed. The cover member is then configured to heat and pressurize the region corresponding to the front chamber section of the airbag cushion, thereby pressurizing and retaining the relevant section of the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai, Tomofumi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 11827125
    Abstract: A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Freienstein, George Marutz, II, Kevin Orava
  • Patent number: 11708045
    Abstract: Methods for production of automobile airbags with decreased air leakage and an increased duration of their inflated state, as well as airbags produced in accordance with these methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: INV PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC
    Inventors: John Barnes, Neil Hunt, Varunesh Sharma, Martin Townson, Anne Gauthier
  • Patent number: 11685334
    Abstract: An airbag module according to various implementations includes an inflatable cushion, a folding tab, and an inflator. The inflatable cushion includes a first panel and a second panel, each of the first and second panels including an inner surface and an outer surface. When the outer surfaces of the first and second panels are coupled together to form an inverted seam, the folding tab is coupled between the respective outer surfaces of the first and second panels. As a result, the inflatable cushion includes an increased strength while maintaining an ease of assembly using current inflatable cushion folding machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Fecteau
  • Patent number: 11643043
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat. The assembly includes an anchor fixed relative to the seat. The assembly includes a blanket engageable with the anchor and inflatable to an inflated position. The assembly includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions to inflate the blanket in response to detecting engagement of the blanket with the anchor and to deflate the blanket in response to detecting disengagement of the blanket from the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Joseph E. Abramczyk
  • Patent number: 11613323
    Abstract: To realize disposition of a retainer that can improve an occupant comfort of a passenger of a saddled vehicle. In a saddled vehicle including: a vehicle body including a head pipe that supports a steering system and a down frame that extends downward from the head pipe; a retainer provided behind the head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag accommodated in the retainer, the airbag being configured to be expanded by gas released by the inflator and deployed in front of the passenger, the retainer is provided with a fastening portion that fastens the retainer to the vehicle body, and the fastening portion includes a plurality of fastening members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kurohori, Yutaka Aikyo, Takashi Sato, Makoto Fuma, Masaru Habu, Sho Murakami
  • Patent number: 11584469
    Abstract: To realize disposition of a retainer that can improve an occupant comfort of a passenger of a saddled vehicle. In a saddled vehicle including: a vehicle body including a head pipe that supports a steering system and a down frame that extends downward from the head pipe; a retainer provided behind the head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag accommodated in the retainer, the airbag being configured to be expanded by gas released by the inflator and deployed in front of the passenger, the retainer is provided with a fastening portion that fastens the retainer to the vehicle body, and the fastening portion includes a plurality of fastening members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kurohori, Yutaka Aikyo, Takashi Sato, Makoto Fuma, Masaru Habu, Sho Murakami
  • Patent number: 11491950
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body. The body includes a front pillar and a front-end structure spaced from the front pillar. The front-end structure includes a grille. The body includes a hood extending from the front pillar to the front-end structure. An airbag is mounted to the front-end structure adjacent to the grille and is inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes an upper portion inflatable along the front-end structure and the hood to the inflated position. A pyrotechnic actuator is disposed at the front pillar. The pyrotechnic actuator is positioned to pull the upper portion across the hood towards the front pillar during inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11414040
    Abstract: An airbag cushion is formed by combining a front panel and a rear panel, so the structure is simple and the number of parts is small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost, the weight, and the volume, so the airbag cushion can be easily packed and manufactured. The airbag cushion is also configured to safely protect a passenger because it can be quickly unfolded and can be supported by a vehicle body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Seok Koh
  • Patent number: 11351953
    Abstract: An airbag can include active vents to manage the pressure within the airbag when deployed. The active vent can be at least partially controlled by using a tether. A tether separator can be configured to separate the tether. The tether separator can include an explosive. The tether separator can be operatively positioned relative to the tether such that, when the tether separator is activated, the explosive produces shockwaves and/or heat energy. The shockwaves and/or the heat energy can cause the tether to be separated into two pieces. In some instances, a portion of the tether can be held in tension to facilitate the separation of the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy P. Deutschmann, Srinivas Krishnan, Roland Furtado
  • Patent number: 11338760
    Abstract: A cushion of an airbag apparatus may include: a rear panel having a gas inlet formed at the rear thereof, and a first connecting end formed along the edge thereof and deployed forward when gas is introduced into a primary filling room open to the front; and a front panel having a second connecting end formed along the edge thereof at the front of the rear panel and coupled to the first connecting end, and a passenger support region which is formed at the front surface thereof and deployed forward when gas is introduced into a secondary filling room open to the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Seok Koh
  • Patent number: 11332859
    Abstract: A textile sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes an elongate, braided wall having a circumferentially continuous, tubular outer periphery extending along a central axis between opposite open ends. The wall includes shrinkable yarns and non-shrinkable yarns. The shrinkable yarn provides the wall with an ability to be radially contracted from a first, diametrically enlarged assembly state to a second, diametrically shrunken state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain LLC
    Inventors: Xiaodan Qiu, Leigh Krauser, Mike Piotrowski, Tianqi Gao, Emma Adamski
  • Patent number: 11332582
    Abstract: Crosslinkable or crosslinked silicone compositions that can be used, in particular, to form a non-stick and water-repellent coating or film for flexible substrates and in the form of natural or synthetic polymer films are provided. These compositions comprise crosslinking organopolysiloxanes bearing SiH units and unsaturated organopolysiloxanes, preferably vinyl organopolysiloxanes, capable of reacting with the crosslinker by addition reaction, in the presence of platinum in order to form the non-stick crosslinked coating on the flexible substrate, and at least one crosslinking and attachment-promoting additive X. These compositions are advantageously free of solvent and can be crosslinked instantaneously into a non-stick and/or water-repellent coating for a flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Elkem Silicones France SAS
    Inventors: Michel Feder, John White, Sébastien Marrot
  • Patent number: 11292418
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deployable structures, such as airbag systems, for vehicles. A system is disclosed for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. The system may include a seat configured to accommodate the passenger and an airbag system. At least a portion of the airbag system may be incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system. The airbag system may include an airbag and a locking feature. The locking feature may be configured to lock the airbag with a locking portion of a vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed. The locking feature may be attached to the airbag. Aside from airbags, other confining structures, such as nets, shades, curtains, etc., may also be used as deployable structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Thomas Daniel, Courtney McCool, Atul Gupta, Peter Craig Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 11267429
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Anton Fischer, Robert Disam, Achim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11254278
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag assembly comprising an airbag through-opening arranged over the chute channel of the airbag, which opening is closed by at least one airbag flap and an, in particular sprayed-on, covering made of plastic and secured over the airbag flap, wherein the covering has at least one target break line at the edge of the airbag flap in order to enable the unfolding of the airbag cushion, and wherein the airbag flap is connected via a joining point to a flap support wall in a moulded manner, which is in contact with the inner side of the chute channel wall in a secured manner, wherein am additional flat element is inserted (as a cover) in the chute channel between the airbag cushion and the airbag flap, which flat element at least partially overs the airbag flap and the inner side of the chute channel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: K.L. KASCHIER—UND LAMINIER GMBH
    Inventors: Rembert Schulze-Wehnink, Albert Roring
  • Patent number: 11242027
    Abstract: A front airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer cover including a front wall and a peripheral wall, wherein a fixing portion (22) for fixing the front airbag tightly to the vehicle is provided on the peripheral wall and the front wall constitutes a baffle for the vehicle occupant and includes a circumferential first peripheral edge (20) which is circumferentially connected at a circumferential second peripheral edge (24) of the peripheral wall to the latter. The length of the two peripheral edges (20, 24) is equal. The front wall includes a cut (12) that is flatly spreadable. The front wall cut (12) has at least one notch (28) starting from the first peripheral edge (20) at two connecting points (32), wherein from each of the connecting points (32) an edge portion (34) of the notch (28) extends into the interior of the front wall cut (12) so that the two edge portions (34) are convergent in V-shape and meet in one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Ruth Munoz Melgar, Michel Calzada Adeva
  • Patent number: 11214226
    Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes: an inflator configured to generate gas upon receiving a predetermined actuating signal; and an airbag body folded and configured to deploy by supplying the gas from the inflator to the airbag body. The airbag body includes a predetermined area on which adhesive is applied. The predetermined area adheres to an adherend when the airbag body is deployed. An adhesive force of the adhesive is decreased by a predetermined action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11180103
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a housing configured to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an inflator assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag that receives inflation gas from the inflator assembly to expand and deploy out of the housing from a packaged configuration to a deployed configuration to provide occupant crash protection during a collision event, the airbag defining an inflatable chamber. A diffuser is disposed within the inflatable chamber and is in fluid communication with the inflator assembly. An occupant-facing panel of the diffuser comprises an aperture disposed in the center of the occupant-facing panel of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Hess, Yutaka Hirota, Akira Koizumi, Christopher Banatin, Derrick Staheli
  • Patent number: 11161443
    Abstract: A grab handle assembly for a vehicle includes first and second anchoring features coupled to a vehicle surface. A rail extends between the first and second anchoring features in a spaced relationship with the vehicle surface. A slot is defined by the rail and configured to receive a key feature for attachment of the key feature to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Alejandro Adams-Campos, Eric Bryan Arellano Aguilar, Jay P. Miles, Paul Alan Forgette, Ramon Bakerjian
  • Patent number: 11155233
    Abstract: A completely folded body of an airbag, includes: an outer peripheral wall including a vehicle body side wall portion, and a receiving side wall portion. An outer peripheral edge side in a state where the receiving side wall portion is superimposed on the vehicle body side wall portion and is flatly deployed is subjected to radial folding and folded. An accommodation recess portion for accommodating an upper portion on a gas supply port side of an inflator is provided on a bottom surface. A radially-folded folded portion is disposed so as to surround a circumference of an intermediate portion from a base portion near the center of the ceiling surface of the accommodation recess portion in a linear supply path, for supplying the inflation gas from the inflator, to a tip portion disposed on an inner surface side near the center of the receiving side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihito Yanagisawa, Takanori Komatsu, Hideo Higashi, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 11148555
    Abstract: A car seat system for automatically displacing the movable components of the car seat. The car seat including sensors and a computing module to detect the measurements of a child placed in the car seat. The car seat system determines the current position of the movable components and displaces the movable components automatically based on the child's measurements or a desired amount. The car seat system automatically learns child's behaviors when the child is placed in the car seat. The car seat system learns schedules utilized by the child, routes taken by the driver of the car, and other data over a period of time. The behavioral, scheduling, routing, and other data obtained is stored by the car seat system and utilized to enhance the safety and comfortability of the child during a car ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Firasat Ali
  • Patent number: 11142158
    Abstract: A vehicle trim piece assembly for an interior of a vehicle includes a mount and a trim piece coupled to the mount. The trim piece has an inboard surface and an outboard surface, at least one projection extending from the outboard surface in a first direction to an outer surface, and a guard extending from the outboard surface in the first direction to a location beyond the outer surface. The projection is received within the at least one opening to secure the trim piece to the mount. In use, an airbag tether engages the guard which directs the tether over the projection so that the tether does not become snagged on the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael P Schoemann, Richard Power, Brian Begg
  • Patent number: 11117498
    Abstract: A child seat including a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child seat to a vehicle seat is provided herein. The child seat, which may be front- and/or rear-facing, includes a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat base can receive an untensioned belt to secure the child seat to a vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. A tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion and is rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the backrest portion and a second position disposed therefrom. In the second position, the tensioning mechanism can receive a portion of the belt. In the first position, the tensioning mechanism applies tension to the portion of the received belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. Methods of manufacturing child seats are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC.
    Inventors: Lynn Curtis Strong, Mark Gunter, Scott Alan Reed
  • Patent number: 11097683
    Abstract: An airbag includes a mounting portion, a top wall deployable towards a vehicle occupant, and a circumferential wall disposed between the mounting portion and top wall. An airbag base member for forming the airbag includes a top-forming panel for forming the top wall, and at least three circumferential panels that extend generally radially from the top-forming panel and form the circumferential wall by being joined together by adjoining edges thereof. Each of the circumferential panels is formed into a generally band-like contour which has a first and a second curving edges that make the circumferential panel enlarge in width from the leading end towards an intermediate portion and then narrow towards the top-forming panel. When the airbag base member is laid flat, adjoining edges of any two adjoining circumferential panels are generally symmetrical to each other in curving shape with respect to a line disposed there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ishii, Masashi Hotta, Koji Kawamura, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 11084449
    Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes an inflator and an airbag body. The inflator is configured to generate gas upon receiving a predetermined actuating signal. The airbag body is folded and configured to deploy by supplying the gas from the inflator to the airbag body. The airbag body includes a predetermined area on which adhesive is applied. An adhesive force of the adhesive is exerted by heat of the gas from the inflator during deployment of the airbag body, so that the predetermined area adheres to an adherend at a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11052858
    Abstract: A behavior control airbag apparatus including: a floating cushion disposed in a seating part of a seat, and configured to push up a passenger on the seating part while deployed by gas injected by an inflator; and a behavior cushion disposed eccentrically on an outboard side of the floating cushion, and configured to push up the outboard side of the passenger according to the injection of the gas, such that the passenger is inclined to an inboard side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Ji Woon Song, Byung Ho Min, Sang Won Hwangbo, Do Hyoung Kim, Hae Kwon Park, Rae Ick Jang, Kyu Sang Lee
  • Patent number: 11021125
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Patent number: 11026163
    Abstract: A computerized method performed by logic of a wireless transceiver coupled to an interior of an automobile. The computerized method includes operations of responsive to an application processing on a first network device detecting a speed below a predetermined threshold, receiving a first instruction initiating the logic of the wireless transceiver, obtaining sensory data indicating an acceleration value from an accelerometer of the wireless transceiver, and transmitting the sensory data to the first network device. The computerized method includes situations in which the acceleration value indicates at least one of positive acceleration or negative acceleration. The computerized method includes situations in which the sensory data includes one or more interrupts generated by the accelerometer when the acceleration value exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Nocell Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald McKeefery, Frederick Thiel, Himanshu Patel
  • Patent number: 11001222
    Abstract: Vehicle safety devices, seam tapes for use in safety airbags along with their methods of formation and use are provided. The vehicle safety device can comprise an airbag and a pyrotechnic device positioned within working proximity to an aperture defined in the airbag and configured to fill the interior space of the airbag with a gas upon ignition. The vehicle safety device can also comprise a seam tape positioned over the seam joining a first fabric section and a second fabric section of the airbag. The seam tape can be configured to melt enough to flow into the needle puncture holes formed along the seam upon ignition of the pyrotechnic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FELTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC
    Inventor: Vernon J. Lowe
  • Patent number: 10994693
    Abstract: An airbag and an airbag assembly including a gas generator and an airbag. The airbag (10) forms a first end (11) and a second end (12), the first end (11) being a free end of the airbag, and the second end (12) being used for fixing the airbag to a mounting position. The airbag (10) forms a folding portion (13) and a rolling portion (14) in the collapsed stat. The folding portion (13) is formed by folding one part of the airbag in an “N” shape; the rolling portion (14) surrounds a periphery of the folding portion (13), so that the folding portion (13) is surrounded by an inner side of the rolling portion (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Liang Wang, Jin Zhang, Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10889259
    Abstract: A coated fabric for an airbag having improved tensile strength of coated fabric without increasing the strength of a raw yarn is provided. The coated fabric for the airbag comprises a coated silicone resin on one surface of a textile made of synthetic fiber filaments, wherein the silicone resin is present at a joint between warp and weft of a non-coated surface of the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOBO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Akechi
  • Patent number: 10766445
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a housing and an airbag supported by the housing. A sheet includes a first end fixed relative to the housing and a second end. A reinforcement is elongated on the sheet. The sheet is deployable below the airbag with the second end free from the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Huelke, Eric Axel Smitterberg
  • Patent number: 10752199
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle airbags for occupants in rear-facing seats. An example vehicle includes an instrument panel, a rear-facing seat adjacent the instrument panel and including a seatback and a headrest, and an airbag including a lower portion and an upper portion. When undeployed, the airbag is stored in the instrument panel. When the airbag deploys, the lower portion presses onto a back of the seatback and the upper portion presses onto a back of the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Huipeng Chen, Robert William McCoy, Agnes S. Kim, James Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 10744968
    Abstract: An airbag device for a driver may include: a plate mounted in a steering wheel; an inflator inserted into the plate; a damper coupled to the plate and the inflator so as to reduce vibration of the inflator; a cage covering the inflator, and mounted on the plate; and a gasket coupled to the cage so as to prevent leakage of the gas provided from the inflator to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do Hyoung Kim, Kyu Sang Lee, Hae Kwon Park, Seok Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 10699457
    Abstract: An object exterior to a vehicle can be detected, and an augmented image of the detected object can be output to a vehicle display device, wherein at least one of dimensions and a motion of the augmented image is adjusted based on an environmental condition and physical attribute of the detected object including at least one of a speed, an acceleration, a location, and a direction of the detected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shankar Mohan, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, John Ottavio Michelini
  • Patent number: 10618490
    Abstract: Disclosed is an occupant ankle protection apparatus for a vehicle. When an airbag cushion deploys, side portions support the fronts of both ankles of an occupant and a center portion is inserted between the ankles and supports the inner sides of the ankles. Accordingly, the apparatus is capable of preventing injury to the ankles of the occupant and preventing a secondary injury by allowing an occupant to escape from the vehicle after a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Ji Son, Hyock In Kwon, Hyo Shub Shin, Bo Pil Seo
  • Patent number: 10596992
    Abstract: A variable control apparatus for an airbag of a vehicle includes: a plurality of tethers each of which having one side coupled to a front sheath among a plurality of sheaths of an airbag cushion, each of the plurality of tethers formed to have a length shorter than a distance between the front sheath and a rear sheath when the airbag cushion is fully deployed; a release mechanism provided at a rear sheath side of the airbag cushion, connected to the respective other sides of the plurality of tethers, and selectively releasing a tether among the plurality of tethers upon an operation of the release mechanism; and a controller configured to variably control a deployment shape of the airbag cushion by operating the release mechanism based on a collision direction of the vehicle, a seat state of a seat of the vehicle, or a sitting posture of a passenger in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10583801
    Abstract: An airbag comprises a textile substrate and a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. An airbag module comprises an airbag, a gas generator connected to the airbag, and a cover at least partially enclosing the airbag and the gas generator. A process for producing an airbag comprises the steps of providing a textile substrate, providing a coating composition, applying the coating composition to the substrate, and heating the textile substrate. A system for producing a filled, cross-linked silicone polymer comprises a first part and a second part. Each part comprises a polysiloxane compound and a plurality of filler particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Keshavaraj
  • Patent number: 10583855
    Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering wheel hub or steering wheel spokes which are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the steering wheel for transmission of a steering motion, a central part which is disposed in a stationary position with respect to the steering wheel in a central region defined by the steering wheel and which has a visible surface area in the central region formed predominantly by a screen display and wherein the screen display is an input/output device and is configured for control of at least one functionality of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Byton GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Toddenroth, Felipe Roo-Clefas, Wolfram Luchner
  • Patent number: 10549712
    Abstract: A method of folding a driver airbag that has a front airbag layer connected at least in portions to a rear airbag layer includes flatly spreading the airbag onto a support surface so that the front airbag layer comes to rest on the rear airbag layer. Each of an upper airbag portion and a lower airbag portion are zigzag folded multiple times in the direction of a transverse axis of the airbag. Each of a left-hand lateral airbag portion and a right-hand lateral airbag portion are furled in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Angel Collazo Gomez, Ramon Bana Castro
  • Patent number: 10543803
    Abstract: An airbag base fabric satisfying characteristics A to D: (A) the cross-sectional deformation (WR), calculated by formula (1), of multifilament warp threads constituting a textile is 4.0 to 6.0, WR=(Major axis of warp thread cross section in textile)/(Minor axis of warp thread cross section in textile)??(1) (B) the cross-sectional deformation (FR), calculated by formula (2), of multifilament weft threads constituting the textile is 2.4 to 4.0, FR=(Major axis of weft thread cross section in textile)/(Minor axis of weft thread cross section in textile)??(2) (C) the single fiber cross-sectional shape of the multifilament threads constituting the textile is substantially circular, and (D) the multifilament threads constituting the textile have total fineness of 145 to 720 dtex, single fiber fineness of 2 to 7 dtex, and tensile strength of 6.5 to 8.5 cN/dtex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10532717
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag includes at least one chamber configured to be inflated when the airbag is triggered and at least one gas generator fluidically connected to the at least one chamber for filling the at least one chamber with a gas. At least one respective interior tensioning bag is arranged in the at least one chamber at each opposing chamber end. The two tensioning bags are configured in such a way that during the filling of the at least one chamber, they synchronously tension and deploy the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Christian Burczyk, Till Heinrich, Bengt Larsson
  • Patent number: 10507782
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes a gas generator and an airbag. The gas generator includes a gas generator main body and at least one mounting protrusion. The airbag includes a first fabric portion, a second fabric portion, and a storage chamber located between the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion. Part of the storage chamber is constituted by the first fabric portion. The storage chamber includes as insertion port, which allows the gas generator to be inserted, and one or more mounting holes, which allow the at least one mounting protrusion to be passed. The rearmost one in the insertion direction of the one or more mounting holes is a rearmost mounting hole. The storage chamber further includes an opening promoting portion, which is located between the insertion port and the rearmost mounting hole and causes the insertion port to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matsuo Nagata, Akihisa Tange
  • Patent number: 10493946
    Abstract: A method of folding an airbag for a driver airbag module having a front airbag layer connected at least in portions to a rear airbag layer includes flatly spreading the airbag onto a support surface so that the front airbag layer comes to rest on the rear airbag layer. Each of a left-hand lateral airbag portion and a right-hand lateral airbag portion is zigzag folded multiple times in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the airbag. Each of an upper airbag portion and a lower airbag portion is furled in the direction of a transverse axis of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Angel Collazo Gomez, Ramon Bana Castro