Patents Assigned to Autoliv ASP, Inc.
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Patent number: 10583799Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: David W. Schneider, Frank J. Herzenstiel
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Patent number: 10575597Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jonathon Boughner, Jon E. Burrow
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Publication number: 20200017063Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: BIN WANG
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Publication number: 20200017059Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: Changsoo CHOI
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Patent number: 10512310Abstract: A noise dampening tongue assembly for use as part of a seat belt restraining system includes a base plate, a cover material, and a soft touch material. The base plate has a surface with a lower portion for engagement with a clamping member and an upper portion with a slot through which a belt webbing extends. The lower portion defines a bottom perimeter for the tongue assembly. The cover material contacts the base plate, such that it defines at least a portion of a top perimeter, a front-side, and a back-side of the tongue assembly. The soft touch material contacts the surface of the cover material, such that the soft touch material defines at least a portion of a right perimeter and left perimeter of the tongue assembly and extends horizontally across the surface of the cover material to connect the soft touch material located at right and left perimeters.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Robert E. Ver Hoven, David B. Figlioli, David Funnell
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Publication number: 20190366970Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicants: 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
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Patent number: 10493948Abstract: An inflatable restraint system inflator device having a housing defining an elongated chamber and containing an initial supply of stored inflation gas. An initiator is disposed proximate the first axial end of the housing and an operable closure is disposed proximate the second axial end of the housing. A slidable gas generator assembly is disposed within the chamber between the initiator and the closure and includes a supply of gas generant material reactable upon initiation to produce additional inflation gas. Upon actuation, the initiator and the slidable gas generator assembly cooperate to create a pressure wave to open the closure and to permit release of inflation gas. The slidable gas generator assembly slides within the elongated chamber and gas material reacts to form additional inflation gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Gregory J. Lang, Bradley W. Smith
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Publication number: 20190360787Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Scott C. GORDON, Alan R. LARSEN
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Patent number: 10457243Abstract: Airbag assemblies are disclosed that include inflatable knee airbags. The knee airbags can include panel(s) forming a main chamber that provides a primary cushioning protection zone to a lower leg of a vehicle occupant. The knee airbags can further include an external chamber panel coupled to a rearward surface of an occupant-facing panel, external to the main inflatable chamber, to form an external chamber facing the occupant. Vent(s) through the occupant-facing panel can communicate inflation gas from the main chamber to the external chamber to fill a space between the vehicle and the lower leg of the occupant, and to control timing of inflation of the external chamber to cause it to inflate on lateral sides of the lower leg of the occupant to thereby limit lateral movement of the lower leg relative to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignees: Autoliv ASP, Inc., Honda Motor Co. Ltd.Inventors: Matthew Lee Munsee, Travis Brent Hess, Gavin Francom Anae, Eric M. Heitkamp
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Patent number: 10457239Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system can include an inflatable airbag cushion that can expand and deploy out of a first housing, and an inflatable support member that can expand and deploy out of a second housing. The inflatable support member can contact and urge a portion of the inflatable airbag cushion in a car-rearward direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: David W. Schneider
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Patent number: 10427639Abstract: Airbag assemblies and venting assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and a venting assembly including a vent, one or more shear tethers, and a peel tether. The shear tether(s) are configured to be drawn to a taut state by expansion of the airbag cushion to configure the vent in a first venting state. The shear tether(s) are releasably coupled to the peel tether. The releasable coupling is configured to keep the shear tether(s) releasably coupled to the peel tether. The peel tether is configured to transition from a slack state to a taut state as the airbag cushion continues to expand. When drawn taut, the peel tether produces a peel force transverse to the shear force. The peel force causes the releasable coupling to release and the peel tether to uncouple from the shear tether(s), to transition the vent to a second state.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey D. Williams
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Patent number: 10427638Abstract: Airbag assemblies are disclosed that can reduce rotational velocity of an occupant's head during a collision event and thereby mitigate traumatic brain injury/head injury to an occupant. An airbag includes a pair of lobes or protrusions to deploy and extend from the rear face of the airbag on either side of the occupant's head to limit rotation of the head. A pair of vertical tethers within an interior of the airbag configure the lobes and contour the rear face to form one or more low fabric tension zones or bubbles. The lobes maintain high fabric tension, similar to a pressurization of a main inflatable chamber of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Changsoo Choi
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Patent number: 10414370Abstract: An airbag includes a first panel and a second panel. A first wing is formed with one of the first panel and the second panel, the first wing being coupled to the other of the first panel and the second panel. At least a second wing is formed with one of the first panel and the second panel, the second wing being coupled to the other of the first panel and the second panel. The airbag includes a first depth that extends from the first panel to the second panel proximate the first wing and the second wing when the airbag is in the deployed position and at least a second depth extending from the first panel to the second panel proximate the first base, wherein the second depth is less than the first depth.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: David Schneider, Christina Morris, James Jacobson
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Patent number: 10407016Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may overlap and/or intersect with the second shape in a desired pattern to facilitate desired airbag deployment.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: John F. Witt, Jr., David W. Schneider, Jan Pontus Söderström, Uriel Hernandez Padilla
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Publication number: 20190263346Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: David W. SCHNEIDER
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Publication number: 20190268514Abstract: A lens assembly includes a lens housing, a flexible washer, and a lens module. The flexible washer and the lens module are disposed within a tubular sidewall of the lens housing. The washer is disposed axially between a mating surface of the lens module and a base surface of the lens housing. The lens housing and lens module include corresponding threads, and rotation of the lens module along the threads of the lens housing adjusts the axial position and focus of the lens module. The washer is the only component axially between the lens module and the lens housing and directly contacts the base surface and the mating surface. When compressed, the washer exerts an axial force on the lens module and lens housing, such that the friction on the threads is increased and the lens module is held in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: FRANK PAUL LEONELLI, JR.
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Patent number: 10384634Abstract: Side airbag cushions, side airbag assemblies and related methods for stowing a side airbag cushion in a cover to provide, upon deployment, improved timing of pelvis coverage for an associated vehicle passenger are provided. The side airbag cushion desirably includes a first rolled portion and a second accordion folded portion and, wherein, upon deployment, the accordion folded portion provides improved timing allowing for better pelvis coverage for the associated vehicle passenger.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holiday, Christine Elizabeth Devey
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Patent number: 10369963Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a passenger vehicle is provided. The pretensioning assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The driving element includes a polymer rod. A stopper is coupled to an end portion of the polymer rod. In one example, a seal member is disposed between the gas generator and the stopper. In another example, the tube has an opening that is adjacent to an exit to facilitate venting gas from the gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Kenneth Herbert Kohlndorfer, Christopher D. Hall, Richard William Koning, Bin Wang
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Publication number: 20190232916Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Bin Wang, Richard William Koning, Jon E. Burrow, Christopher D. Hall, Ken Kohlndorfer
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Patent number: 10336283Abstract: Airbag cushions and airbag cushion assemblies comprising mitts or bends for mitigating injuries during oblique impacts. In some embodiments, the cushions may be configured to deploy so as to extend adjacent to an occupant in a vehicle laterally of the occupant and form a mitt configured to receive the occupant's head and/or thorax during an oblique impact event. The airbag cushion may comprise a first portion configured to, upon deployment, extend laterally of the occupant towards a front portion of the vehicle and a second portion configured to, upon deployment, extend at an angle relative to the first portion so as to form the mitt.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Roger Dean Rickenbach, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Derek John Wiscombe, Christine Elizabeth Devey, Andrew Lawrence Holliday
