Patents Assigned to Autoliv ASP, Inc.
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Patent number: 8764057Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Dee Jamison, Christina Morris
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Publication number: 20140167333Abstract: Methods of forming a curable pre-impregnated composite precursor material with radiation (e.g., actinic or electron-beam) curable resin composition systems are provided, as are the curable pre-impregnated composite precursor materials themselves. The resin systems have reversible temperature-viscosity control, which are advantageously used to form curable pre-impregnated composite precursor materials (pre-preg) that can be cured to form a composite article. The uncured resin composition comprises: (a) an acrylate or a methacrylate monomer; (b) an oligomer species selected from the group consisting of: polyethers, polyesters, epoxies, and combinations thereof; and (c) a photoinitiator. The uncured resin has a first viscosity at 21° C. (70° F.) of ?about 200,000 centipoise (cP) and a second viscosity of ?about 5,000 cP at 65° C. (149° F.) or above.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Jordan, Bradley W. Smith, Geoffrey A. Russell
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Publication number: 20140158807Abstract: A seatbelt retractor inertial locking system for motor vehicle belt restraint systems. The inertial locking system incorporates features to reduce the influence of contaminants from causing unwanted locking of the associated retractor. The feature is in part provided by the positioning of a point contact between a ball mass and a locking lever. The inertia actuator forms the inertial ball mass nest surface which has a vented construction which permits the escape of contaminants and further contributes to reducing noise generated by contact between the ball mass and the nest surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bryan M. Wanwambeke, James S. Bourn, Megan E. Mahorney, David Prentkowski
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Patent number: 8746732Abstract: An airbag assembly can include an inflator that may exert forces on an airbag housing during deployment of an airbag from the housing. The airbag assembly can include a load distributing plate to distribute or delocalize the forces. In some arrangements, the load distributing plate can be attached to the inflator.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael Kutchey, David W. Schneider, John F. Witt, Jr., Jamie R. Fritz
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Patent number: 8746734Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag, or airbag assembly, can include a plurality of inflatable cushion segments that are able to selectively fluidly communicate with an inflation gas delivery channel. The inflatable curtain airbag, or airbag assembly, can further include a valving panel that has a separate valving portion associated with each inflatable cushion segment. Each valving portion can allow fluid communication between the inflatable cushion segment and the inflation gas delivery channel when in an open configuration and can prevent fluid communication between the inflatable cushion segment and the inflation gas delivery channel when in a closed configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bradley W. Smith, Francois Peremarty
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Publication number: 20140148056Abstract: A duplex harness assembly for a motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system. The system design incorporates a connector housing for connection via a cable with a restraint system controller. The connector housing having an integrated circuit provides a duplex restraint system control. The duplex control is provided by incorporating one or more electronic elements such as diodes mounted to the circuit. One or more electronic device attachments are remotely mounted from the connector housing via pairs of conductive wires.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bradley W. Smith, Ted J. Bertacini, Canice P. Boran
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Publication number: 20140145725Abstract: A method of measuring squib loop resistance including non-linear elements in a restraint control module is disclosed by the present invention. The squib loop resistance is comprised of both linear and non-linear elements. The non-linear elements are linearized into resistive components about the bias points used to make the squib loop resistance measurement. The calculation of the linear squib loop resistance is provided by comparing the complete squib loop resistance and the linearized value of the non-linear elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: David Eiswerth, Vincent Colarossi, Stuart Andrew Koch
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Patent number: 8727060Abstract: A window breaker is provided that may include a housing, a pyrotechnic device and a piston. The housing may include a slot and a cavity having a first end and a second end. The slot may extend through a wall of the housing and into the cavity. The pyrotechnic device may be fixedly attached to the housing and at least partially disposed in the cavity. The piston may be disposed in the cavity between the pyrotechnic device and the first end. The piston may be movable away from the pyrotechnic device within the cavity from an undeployed position to a deployed position in response to actuation of the pyrotechnic device.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Chris Erickson, Bradley W. Smith
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Patent number: 8720941Abstract: A bending cushion airbag can include a base portion and at least one pair of fluidly connected and substantially coplanar lobes. The fluidly connected lobes may be folded with respect to the base portion and sewn, or otherwise joined together, such that upon deployment/inflation, the lobes are prevented from returning to the coplanar state. In an inflated/deployed state, the lobes are configured to extend inboard from the base portion and at an angle (curved) relative to the base portion. For example, the inflated lobes may extend substantially perpendicular to the base portion, so as to form a bending cushion or pocket region near the junction of the base portion and the pair of lobes.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Lasse David Svensson
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Patent number: 8714595Abstract: Seat belt systems and inflatable airbags can be used to mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck. The seat belt systems provide for moderating the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event. Airbags are also provided with a sloped impact face. Additionally, airbags are also provided with a relatively flat top portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Paul Edward Heasman, Bin Wang, Patrick Dee Jamison, Jeffrey D. Williams
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Patent number: 8708365Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a side curtain airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle is provided. The side curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable cushion configured to be installed between a roof rail and an upper vehicle trim of the vehicle. The inflatable cushion is deployable from an uninflated state to an inflated state by gas from a gas generator. The inflatable cushion includes a side protection panel having an upper perimeter portion and one or more sub chambers. The sub chambers inflate downward from the upper perimeter portion. An upward deploying chamber is in fluid communication with the side protection panel and inflates upward between the roof rail and the upper vehicle trim.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Brian Fulmer, Alex S. Damman, Rebecca Ann DeAguiar
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Patent number: 8702125Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be an inflator module assembly. The inflator module assembly can include a module housing having a plurality of gas discharge openings; an inflator housed within the housing, the inflator, upon actuation, emitting gas from one lateral side or end thereof, and a gas treatment assembly mounted within the housing external the side or end of the inflator from which gas is emitted. The gas treatment assembly can include a first strainer element nestled within a second strainer element. The first and second strainer elements each have a side wall including a plurality of gas passage apertures, with at least either 1) the gas passage apertures of the first strainer element offset relative to the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element or 2) the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element offset relative to the module housing gas discharge openings.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bradley W. Smith, David W. Parkinson
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Patent number: 8678440Abstract: A dual spool retractor device for seat belts in a motor vehicle including a frame, two spools rotatably mounted to the frame, and a pretensioning system providing pretensioning rotation for both the spools. The spools are pretensioning through the activation of a micro-gas generator. The gas generator can provide gas to a single or a pair of gas cylinders. One or more flexible numbers such as a metal band or cable is used which is coupled to one or both spools via a pulley. Activation of the gas generator forces a piston to move in a manner which exerts tension on the flexible member(s) thereby unwinding the flexible member from the spool pulley and providing pretensioning rotation of the respective belt spool.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Autoliv Asp, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Kohlndorfer, Chris Koprowicz, Jon E. Burrow, Chad E. Moore, Bin Wang
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Patent number: 8671967Abstract: A relief valve is provided and may include a housing having a first inlet port and a second inlet port. An initiator may be disposed within the housing and an engagement member may be slideably disposed within the housing and may be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position under force of the initiator. The engagement member may include a first bore aligned with the first inlet port in the extended position and a second bore aligned with the second inlet port in the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Brent Parks, Matthew A. Cox, Bradley W. Smith
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Patent number: 8672347Abstract: A restraint system for a seat is provided and may include a first portion formed from a first material and having a first end fixed for movement with the seat and a second end movable relative to the seat. A second portion may be integral with or attached to the first portion, may be formed from the first material, and may be operable between a pre-deployed state and an inflated state.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: David W. Schneider, Patrick Patercsak
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Patent number: 8662532Abstract: An inflator including an initiator and a bulkhead molded around the initiator. The inflator includes a housing formed of two overlapping housing portions mechanically coupled together around a portion of the bulkhead. One of the housing portions includes cut tabs that are crimped into cut receivers of the other housing portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Brent Parks, Matthew A. Cox, Bradley W. Smith
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Patent number: 8661985Abstract: Low-profile igniter assemblies adapted for use with low-profile inflators as well as conventionally sized inflators are disclosed. Such igniter assemblies can comprise an adaptor, an ignition portion and a plurality of conductors coupled to the ignition portion and extending in a first direction from the ignition portion to an opening of the adapter. A connector is adapted to be slid into the opening in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction associated with the extension of the conductors from the ignition portion to the opening of the adapter. Igniter assemblies can be coupled with a body of an inflatable airbag system inflator, which inflator body may enclose a quantity of gas generant. Methods of making inflators adapted for use with inflatable airbag cushion systems are also included.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Mark Hubbard, Jeff Kida
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Patent number: 8658922Abstract: An electrical switch for a vehicle steering wheel assembly is provided. The electrical switch includes a pressure actuated cable having a compressible semi-conductive material between a plurality of conductors therein. The electrical switch further includes a mechanical actuator configured to compress the pressure actuated cable such that an electrical path is formed through the plurality of conductors to activate a component of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Richard Shellabarger, Conrad Dumbrique, Kenneth Pijaszek, Donald Paxton
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Patent number: 8657333Abstract: The disclosure provides an inflator device for a passive restraint device, like an airbag. In certain aspects, a fuel-rich gas generant grain is located in actuating proximity to an initiator device. The grain has at least one flow channel through which a shock wave generated by the initiator device passes. The shock wave opens a burst disc between the inflator housing and downstream airbag to permit gases to flow into the airbag. A chamber storing pressurized gas (having at least one oxidant, e.g., O2) is also disposed within the inflator. Upon initiator actuation, the oxidant can react with combustion products of the initiator and the fuel-rich gas generant and flow into the airbag for rapid inflation. Methods of inflating airbags and improving airbag deployment reliability are provided. Such inflators are particularly suitable for large volume (greater than 60 liter) airbags.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Anthony M. Young, Gary K. Lund, Kenneth J. Clark, Brett Hussey
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Publication number: 20140052341Abstract: A sensor assembly for a motor vehicle adapted for sensing impacts including pedestrian impacts. The sensor assembly integrates functions of pressure based sensors used in one embodiment with a compressible tube extending laterally across the front surface of the vehicle and the outboard front boundary areas of the front end of the vehicle. Both acceleration and pressure based sensors are mounted into an integrated sensor housing which is mounted in a desired position at the vehicle front fascia front boundary areas. The system optimizes pressure based sensing while providing acceleration based sensing at the lateral boundary areas where supporting structure does not enable pressure based sensing. The invention further including sensor arrangements including discrete pressure and acceleration sensors deployed for detecting pedestrian impacts at the center and front boundary areas of the vehicle front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, Inc.Inventors: William M. Leach, Sylvia Pietzsch, Mustafa Cuma Celik, Herbert Höfelsauer, Joshua Forwerck
