Patents Assigned to Autoliv ASP, Inc.
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Publication number: 20140261927Abstract: Gas generants comprising copper are provided that have improved slagging ability. In certain aspects, the gas generants include a fuel, an oxidizer comprising basic copper nitrate, and a large particle size endothermic slag-forming component, such as aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3). The gas generants may be cool burning, e.g., having a maximum flame temperature at combustion (Tc)?about 1,900K (1,627° C.). The disclosure also provides methods of enhancing slag formation for a gas generant composition that comprises copper. Such methods enhance slag formation during combustion of the gas generant composition by at least 50%.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Bradley W. Smith
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Publication number: 20140260517Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for compensation of inertial sensors. In one implementation a modified moving average is applied to provide dynamic offset compensation for an inertial sensor output that is calculated when a vehicle is in motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Jon D. Demerly
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Publication number: 20140265270Abstract: An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. The airbag assembly may have a forward tether that provides longitudinal tension on the inflatable curtain airbag. The forward tether may be secured to the A-pillar of the vehicle and to a divider between the first and second protection zones so that deformation of the A-pillar may relieve the tension to allow the second protection zone to pivot inboard to provide protection from injuries that may be sustained in a small overlap or oblique collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: Xiaohong Wang
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Publication number: 20140265264Abstract: An inflatable airbag assembly can include an inflatable curtain airbag and an inflator. In some arrangements, the inflatable curtain airbag may include an inflator housing region where the inflator may be at least partially disposed. In some arrangements, the inflatable airbag assembly may also include a mounting assembly that includes a coupling member tethered to a mounting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Eugene Low, Kurt Lawrence Gammill
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Publication number: 20140263808Abstract: A system for pretensioning a seatbelt includes a minispool and a drive rod. The drive rod includes a spiral portion that, when driven along a longitudinal axis, causes the minispool to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The spiral portion of the drive rod engages the minispool, which includes corresponding structure that tracks the spiral portion. The minispool is restricted from longitudinal travel such that tracking the spiral portion causes the minispool to rotate and the drive rod passes through the minispool. In another form, the minispool can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, with the translation of the drive rod causing the minispool to translate in the same direction of the drive rod. The minispool can include teeth that engage a bracket, such that the translation of the minispool causes the minispool to rotate as it translates.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bin WANG, Jon Burrow, Robert Verhoven, Tim Cahill, Robert J. Desmarais, Bradley W. Smith
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Publication number: 20140266239Abstract: A seatbelt restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle housing having a printed circuit board, a slider, and an ejector. The printed circuit board includes a circuit where the output signal can be altered in response to translation of the ejector and the slider. A predetermined voltage can be applied to the circuit and the output signal can be detected in the circuit to determine the position of the ejector and the slider based on the detected altered output signal. In the event of a fault in the system, the resultant output signal of the circuit will be different than the expected output signal of the buckled and unbuckled states.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Joseph DEWEY, Thomas James Herbert, Jan Pontus Söderström
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Publication number: 20140265290Abstract: A guide that can be included as part of a pretensioner for a motor vehicle belt restraint system. The pretensioner includes a frame having walls that define an interior compartment. Located within the interior compartment is a piston assembly having a gas generator in communication with a piston. The gas generator creates an expanding gas that causes movement of the piston and applies tension to a seatbelt of the belt restraint system. The guide includes an opening through which the seatbelt passes and that causes the seatbelt to form a reduced width configuration upon exiting the guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Ver Hoven, Timothy J. Cahill, Jon E. Burrow, Matthias Bäker
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Publication number: 20140265276Abstract: Air bag cushion inflators can include a body including a base member coupled to a diffuser member, the diffuser member including a sidewall with exit ports and a ceiling. A combustion chamber may be positioned within the body and includes a cap with an opening formed therein. A filter element may be positioned in fluid communication with the opening in the combustion chamber cap, and located between the combustion chamber cap and the diffuser member ceiling. The filter element includes at least one barrier and a plurality of apertures positioned to cause inflation gas from the combustion chamber to travel from the opening in the combustion chamber cap to the exit port along a tortuous path including at least one debris pocket and at least one impact region. Methods of forming a filter, and disposing the filter in an inflator body. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: Christopher Fischer
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Publication number: 20140265289Abstract: The seatbelt pretensioner, which is designed for reducing slack in seatbelt webbing upon deployment in response to a triggering event, comprises an igniter that generates gas in response to the triggering event, an elongate body defining a chamber for receiving and the confining gas generated by the igniter, a piston movable within the elongate body by the gas generated, a slack-reducing assembly that responds to movement of the piston and is connected to at least a portion of seatbelt webbing, movement of the piston causes the slack-reducing assembly to move the seat belt webbing reducing slack in the seatbelt webbing; and a controlled pressure release that enables gas to escape from the elongate body after deployment, relieving gas pressure within the pretensioner.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jon E. Burrow, Bin Wang, Kurt W. Schulz
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Patent number: 8827308Abstract: An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag. The inflator may have a first chamber containing a first gas source and a second chamber containing a second gas source. A filter module may be positioned to filter and redirect gas flows from the first and second gas sources. The filter module may be constructed by securing a baffle within an interior cavity of a filter medium having a generally tubular shape, prior to installation of the filter module the inflator. The baffle may be supported directly by the material of the filter module, by a bracket, or by a support structure formed of wire thicker than that of the filter medium. The baffle may maintain isolation between the first and second chambers, or may help gas from the first gas source initiate gas provision from the second gas source.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Lewis, Kirk H. Rasmussen, Matthew A. Cox
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Publication number: 20140246844Abstract: A side airbag module assembly for a vehicle seat back rest features a molded plastic cover (22) with a Class A surface constituting the outside of the cover visible after installation in the backrest (60). An airbag holder portion (24) made of plastic is molded onto the cover (22). The airbag holder portion (24) is formed as a fastening bracket (34). An airbag (15) including a gas generator (14) is prepackaged in a soft pack (12) with fasteners (20) protruding from the soft pack (12). The fasteners (20) and the fastening bracket (34) are configured to attach the soft pack (12) to the airbag holder portion (24). Upon deployment of the airbag, the fastening bracket (34) will bend and thereby open the cover (22), which allows the airbag (15) to inflate in a forward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Charles Richards, Louis Mueller
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Patent number: 8820779Abstract: An inflatable airbag assembly can include an inflatable curtain airbag and an inflator. In some arrangements, the inflatable curtain airbag may include an inflator housing region where the inflator may be at least partially disposed. In some arrangements, the inflatable airbag assembly may also include a mounting assembly that includes a coupling member tethered to a mounting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Eugene Low, Kurt Lawrence Gammill
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Publication number: 20140237776Abstract: A fixing buckle assembly for use as part of a motor vehicle seatbelt restraint system of a type having webbing for positioning on an occupant and a lap pretensioner for pretensioning the seatbelt restraint system. The buckle assembly includes a tongue, preferably affixed to a pyrotechnic lap pretensioner (PLP). The buckle assembly includes a buckle plate featuring an aperture for connection to a loop of the webbing. A cover assembly encases the internal components of the buckle assembly and is formed of two cover halves which are preferably injection molded and snap together in a clam-shell construction. Each of the cover halves have sections which circumscribe a tongue passageway such that after they are assembled and the tongue is inserted in the buckle assembly, the cover halves become interlocked together. At the opposite end of the buckle assembly, the cover halves each include a section extending from the aperture which is retained from separation by being enclosed by the webbing loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2011Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Jonas Sterner, Peter Lundgren, David Prentkowski
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Patent number: 8815029Abstract: Compositions and methods relating to gas generants used in inflatable restraint systems. The gas generant grains formed via spray drying techniques of the present disclosure provide superior performance, including high burn rates and high gas yields. Further, processing of the gas generant grain products can be streamlined. Such gas generants include by way of non-limiting example, guanidine nitrate, basic copper nitrate, and a secondary oxidizer, such as potassium perchlorate.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Gary K. Lund, Roger Bradford
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Patent number: 8814211Abstract: A pretensioner for a motor vehicle belt restraint system mounted to a structure of the vehicle. The pretensioner is connected to a belt restraint component that is also connected to the belt restraint system. The pretensioner includes a conduit made of tubing and having first and second ends. At least a portion of the conduit defines an elongated piston bore with a piston slideably positioned therein. A cable is attached to the piston and extends through the conduit for connection to the belt restraint component. A micro-gas generator is also located within the conduit and positioned generally opposite of the piston. Upon activation of the micro-gas generator, a gas is generated in the piston bore and drives the piston such that the piston exerts tension on the cable and thereby on the belt restrain component.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Lawrence M. Refior
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Patent number: 8808476Abstract: Compositions and methods relate to gas generants used in inflatable restraint systems. The gas generant grains include a fuel mixture having at least one fuel and at least one oxidizer, which have a burn rate that is susceptible to pressure sensitivity during combustion. The gas generant composition further includes a plurality of pressure sensitivity modifying glass fiber particles distributed therein to lessen the pressure sensitivity and/or to increase combustion stability of the gas generant. Such gas generants can be formed via spray drying techniques.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Autoliv Asp, Inc.Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Gary K. Lund
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Publication number: 20140225354Abstract: An airbag can include a panel that defines at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The airbag can also include a slit vent that is at least partially defined by the panel. One or more seams can encompass the slit vent and can permit the slit vent to naturally be in a closed orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Williams, Kent Potter
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Patent number: 8803037Abstract: A steering wheel is provided and may include an armature having a rim and a coating at least partially surrounding the rim. A pair of electrodes may be respectively disposed within a pair of grooves formed in the coating. A polymer paint may be disposed on the coating and may include a plurality of carbon filaments that receive voltage from at least one of the pair of electrodes to selectively generate heat.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Donald James Paxton, Richard Lawrence Matsu, David Robert Palm, Jr.
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Publication number: 20140197620Abstract: A driver airbag can be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle. The airbag can include a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber that can be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber. The airbag can further include a one-way valve that controls inflation gas movement relative to at least the first inflatable chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Patrick Dee Jamison, Christina Morris
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Patent number: 8777262Abstract: An airbag assembly can include a stabilizer strap attached to an airbag, and the stabilizer strap can cooperate with a housing to prevent undesired rotation or skewing of the airbag during deployment. A portion of the stabilizer strap can be positioned at an exterior of the housing and can remain at the exterior of the housing throughout deployment of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Mark L. Enders