Patents Assigned to Autoliv ASP, Inc.
  • Side airbag assembly
    Patent number: 10766448
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant buy providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder and pelvis, and the torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Autoliv ASP, Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Bryant S. Whitcomb, Craig Allen Markusic
  • Three-point seat belt with additional safety features
    Patent number: 10752202
    Abstract: A motor vehicle belt restraint system combining a three-point active seatbelt system with a two-point seatbelt system. The webbing of the three-point seatbelt is allowed to slide through a latch plate releasably attached to a seatbelt buckle. The webbing of the two-point belt system is affixed to the latch plate. When in use, the belt systems combine to provide two lap belt segments extending across the lower torso of a vehicle seat occupant with a single diagonal shoulder belt section. Additional embodiments incorporate the use of an anchor mechanism for the three-point belt system having additional capabilities including a webbing release and a load limiting function. Further embodiments provide different arrangements for the two lap belt sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: Bin Wang
  • CONNECTOR-INTEGRATED GROUNDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20200266589
    Abstract: A grounding system for an automotive protective system inflator is provided for protecting the inflator from inadvertent discharge and operation of the automotive protective system, such as, e.g., an airbag system. The grounding system can include an electrical connector configured to couple the inflator to an electrical harness of a vehicle. The electrical connector can include a ground path and a biased member coupled to a ground wire. The ground wire may be coupled to a ground path of the vehicle so as to draw an inadvertent electrical charge away from the inflator to the vehicle electrical harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Alan Storey, Scott Carl Gordon
  • MIXER
    Publication number: 20200254403
    Abstract: A mixer, particularly a dual planetary mixer, for mixing a liquid with a dry material in a mixing vessel has improved fluid introduction. The mixer includes a drive shaft rotatable about a main axis of rotation and at least a first mixing element rotatable about a first mixing element axis. The mixer further includes drive means for driving the first mixing element about the first mixing element axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft about the main axis of rotation and at least one injection nozzle for injecting a liquid. A fluid path extends between a liquid inlet and the at least one injection nozzle. The fluid path extends longitudinally through the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Clarke KINMONT, JR., Steven SCHWAB
  • Inflatable safety restraint system for surrounding a vehicle occupant
    Patent number: 10730470
    Abstract: An inflatable safety restraint system that is downwardly deployable from a roof of a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the vehicle. The inflatable safety restraint system includes at least one inflatable airbag and at least one joint closing the shape of the at least one inflatable airbag to circumscribe an internal cavity. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable airbag for inflating the at least one airbag. Upon deployment, the inflatable safety restraint system defines a closed shape for surrounding the occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: Changsoo Choi
  • Seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly
    Patent number: 10723310
    Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a passenger vehicle is provided. The pretensioning assembly includes a one-piece tread head pinion including a ring portion having a plurality of teeth and a pair of flanges on each side of the teeth. The tread head pinion is formed as a single piece and includes a shaft extending from a side and a bearing portion extending from a second side. A bending element mounting portion extends from the bearing portion. The one-piece tread head pinion is attached to a spindle via a torsion bar, and the spindle bears against the bearing portion when the spindle rotates relative to the tread head pinion. The one-piece tread head pinion may include a staking cavity extending into the bearing portion with a staking wall that is deformable toward a digressive bending element inserted into the staking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Richard William Koning, Jon E. Burrow, Christopher D. Hall, Ken Kohlndorfer
  • Vehicle seat with an adjustable headrest and integrated rear seat airbag
    Patent number: 10703319
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback, a headrest and an airbag unit. The seatback has a front side and a rear side. The headrest is connected to the seatback by at least one post and is adjustable relative to the seatback in a vertical direction. The airbag unit is carried by the seatback and includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is rearwardly deployable from the rear side of the seatback from a stored position proximate an upper end of the seatback. The at least one post is oriented relative to the airbag unit in a position selected from a group consisting of a first position in which the at least one post includes a lower end vertically above the airbag unit with a line along an elongated axis of the at least one post intersecting the airbag unit and a second position on which the at least one post is laterally spaced from the airbag unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Multi-chambered side airbag assemblies
    Patent number: 10703325
    Abstract: Multi-chambered side airbag assemblies are provided. The airbag assemblies can include a housing, an inflator, and a side inflatable cushion. The side inflatable cushion can include multiple chambers, for example, a first inflatable chamber coupled to the housing, a second inflatable chamber coupled to the first inflatable chamber, and a third inflatable chamber coupled to the second inflatable chamber. The side inflatable cushion can also include a connector coupling at least two of the inflatable chambers to each other. In a deployed state, at least a portion of the side airbag may protrude transverse to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle such that a portion of the side airbag is configured to receive a vehicle occupant moving from a vehicle occupant position during a vehicle impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Enhanced Slag Formation For Copper-Containing Gas Generants
    Publication number: 20200207681
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Ivan V. MENDENHALL, Bradley W. SMITH
  • Inflatable knee airbag assemblies
    Patent number: 10696266
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag assembly, such as a knee airbag assembly, including a support strap, wherein the support strap may be secured to an inflatable airbag cushion. The support strap may be configured to direct the deployment trajectory of the airbag cushion such that the airbag cushion is deployed rearwardly and upwardly within a vehicle. The inflatable airbag assembly may be configured to prevent injury to an occupant's hip, femur, knee, and/or lower leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Enders, Quin Soderquist
  • Initiator grounding clip
    Patent number: 10663269
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods for the electrical grounding of an initiator for a vehicle device, e.g. an inflator. Initiator assemblies are provided for inflators in electrical charge transmitting connection via a connector assembly to an electric ground. Initiator assemblies include integrally molded initiator having a molded base forming a connector socket. The molded base includes a grounding clip recess feature. A metallic electrical grounding clip is housed in the grounding clip recess feature. The grounding clip includes a base portion and an extending portion. The extending portion includes a first end proximate and in contact with the base portion and a second end distal from the base portion and with second end in electrical transferring contact with the vehicle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Scott C. Gordon, Alan R. Larsen
  • Mounting tab assemblies for securing an airbag to a vehicle
    Patent number: 10647285
    Abstract: Tabs for coupling or securing an airbag to a vehicle are provided. A tab may include a first panel and a second panel that meet at a foldable portion. First and second arms may extend away from a central portion of the first panel in substantially opposite directions. First and second recesses may extend inward from first and second lateral edges, respectively, of the second panel. The tab may be configured to be folded to form a bracket receiving member. The bracket receiving member may be configured to be disposed through an aperture of a bracket to secure the tab to the vehicle. Additionally, the first and second panels of the tab may be configured to be secured to an airbag to secure the airbag to the vehicle via the tab and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Glen Christiansen, Charles Paul Dinsdale
  • Inflatable safety restraint system for protecting a rear seat occupant
    Patent number: 10632956
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback and an airbag unit. The seatback has a front side and a rear side. The airbag unit includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag unit is carried by the seatback and includes a first portion and a second portion. In an inflated state free of outside forces, the airbag rearwardly extends from the rear side of the seatback such that the first portion includes a first impact surface defining a first impact plane and the second portion includes a second impact surface defining a second impact plane. The first impact plane is oriented generally vertical and the second impact plane oriented generally horizontal. At least one shape defining member may be provided for maintaining the generally horizontal orientation of the second impact plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Seat belt retractor assembly
    Patent number: 10625709
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor for use with a seat belt webbing includes a spindle, a tread head part, a torsion bar, a stop nut and an energy management element. The spindle is configured for winding the seat belt webbing around the spindle. The tread head part is configured for having a locked condition or a free condition. The torsion bar is engaged with the spindle and the tread head part and configured to deflect torsionally by allowing relative rotation between the spindle and the tread head part when the tread head part is in the locked condition. The stop nut is operatively coupled with the tread head part and the spindle and configured to move in axial direction. Furthermore, the energy management element placed between the stop nut and the tread head part is configured to be deformed by the axial movement of the stop nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, Jon E. Burrow
  • Airbag assemblies with anchored positional tether
    Patent number: 10618494
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag, such as a knee airbag, including a positional strap coupled at a first end to an interior surface of the occupant-facing panel. The positional tether extends from within an inflatable chamber of the inflatable airbag and past an exterior surface of the vehicle-facing panel to couple at a second end to an anchor point that is external to the airbag. The positional tether is to be drawn taut during deployment to exert a force on the occupant-facing panel and impact a configuration of the airbag in the deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Francom Anae, Michael Jay Daines
  • SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20200086825
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor for use with a seat belt webbing includes a spindle, a tread head part, a torsion bar, a stop nut and an energy management element. The spindle is configured for winding the seat belt webbing around the spindle. The tread head part is configured for having a locked condition or a free condition. The torsion bar is engaged with the spindle and the tread head part and configured to deflect torsionally by allowing relative rotation between the spindle and the tread head part when the tread head part is in the locked condition. The stop nut is operatively coupled with the tread head part and the spindle and configured to move in axial direction. Furthermore, the energy management element placed between the stop nut and the tread head part is configured to be deformed by the axial movement of the stop nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER D. HALL, JON E. BURROW
  • Overhead inflatable airbag assembly
    Patent number: 10583799
    Abstract: An overhead mountable inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. The disclosed airbag assembly may form a sideways V shape to be supported at the roof by an inflator, housing, or other mounting method, and at or near a lower (distal) end against a portion of an instrument panel or a rear portion of a forward occupant seat. The supported sideways V shape may support the occupant during ride down to provide protection of the occupant. The supported sideways V shape may also reduce the volume of inflation gas required to properly inflate the airbag assembly, and may reduce the overall packaged volume of the airbag assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Frank J. Herzenstiel
  • Debris resistant seatbelt buckle device
    Patent number: 10575597
    Abstract: A seatbelt buckle device includes a housing, a frame, a latching arrangement and a release button. The frame includes a bottom wall and first and second laterally spaced walls. The latching arrangement selectively retains a latch plate within the housing. The release button is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A proximal end, a distal end and first and second laterally spaced apart legs of the release button cooperate to define an opening into which a projecting portion distally from the proximal end. At least one shield member laterally extends from the projection portion toward the first and second laterally spaced apart legs. Each shield member includes an outboard side spaced from an adjacent leg of the first and second legs by a gap. Each gap slidingly receives one of the first and second laterally spaced walls of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathon Boughner, Jon E. Burrow
  • INFLATABLE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR SURROUNDING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT
    Publication number: 20200017059
    Abstract: An inflatable safety restraint system that is downwardly deployable from a roof of a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the vehicle. The inflatable safety restraint system includes at least one inflatable airbag and at least one joint closing the shape of the at least one inflatable airbag to circumscribe an internal cavity. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable airbag for inflating the at least one airbag. Upon deployment, the inflatable safety restraint system defines a closed shape for surrounding the occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: Changsoo CHOI
  • THREE-POINT SEAT BELT WITH ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES
    Publication number: 20200017063
    Abstract: A motor vehicle belt restraint system combining a three-point active seatbelt system with a two-point seatbelt system. The webbing of the three-point seatbelt is allowed to slide through a latch plate releasably attached to a seatbelt buckle. The webbing of the two-point belt system is affixed to the latch plate. When in use, the belt systems combine to provide two lap belt segments extending across the lower torso of a vehicle seat occupant with a single diagonal shoulder belt section. Additional embodiments incorporate the use of an anchor mechanism for the three-point belt system having additional capabilities including a webbing release and a load limiting function. Further embodiments provide different arrangements for the two lap belt sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: BIN WANG