Patents Assigned to TK Holdings, Inc.
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Patent number: 9611185Abstract: A linear actuator contains a housing having a first end and a second end. A hollow piston is positioned within the housing to slidably engage with an inner wall of the housing. A sealed gas chamber is formed within the hollow piston and contains stored gas for driving the piston upon activation of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Jeremy M. Henck
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Patent number: 9592788Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising an airbag cushion constructed and arranged to provide an occupant with at least one of head, shoulder, or torso coverage, wherein the airbag cushion comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and wherein the lower chamber is constructed and arranged to overlap at least a portion of a center console in a vehicle when the airbag cushion is in a deployed condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Richard Wiik, Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 9586555Abstract: A method for cushioning a pedestrian during contact with a moving vehicle. The method includes steps providing an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact, providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position, and moving the pedestrian interface to the deployed position when the vehicle is in motion and prior to contact between the pedestrian and the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Vidyakant C. Revankar, Larry M. Wilmot
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Patent number: 9580012Abstract: Disclosed and described herein is a vehicle object notification system comprising a steering interface that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, each of the light-emitting elements arranged in an elongated pattern along a respective portion of the steering interface, wherein a first light emitting element is configured to illuminate based on a detection of an object relative to a first portion of a vehicle and a second light emitting element is configured to illuminate based on a detection of an object relative to a second portion of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Jason Lisseman, Len Cech, Paul Smith
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Patent number: 9566937Abstract: An airbag includes an inflation side and a vehicle occupant contact side opposite the inflation side, and a divider. The divider has a first portion attached to the inflation side and to the vehicle occupant contact side and a second portion attached to the inflation side and to the vehicle occupant contact side, such that the first and second portions tend to converge from the inflation side toward the occupant contact side.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Christopher L. Anderson
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Patent number: 9566882Abstract: An airbag module mounted to an interior side of a bottom portion of a seat frame. The module includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to deploy to a position directly inboard of an interior side of the seat bottom. A portion of the airbag extends above the seat bottom when the airbag is inflated.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: TK HOLDINGS INC.Inventors: Russell Joseph Mihm, Richard Andrew Wiik
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Patent number: 9556078Abstract: A gas generator is provided, the gas generator having a propellant cushion that prevents movement of propellant tablets or grains by providing a bias thereagainst. Furthermore, the cushion is formed from an auto-igniting material thereby functioning not only as a cushion, but also as an enhanced auto-ignition charge.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Deborah L. Hordos
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Patent number: 9550464Abstract: An active leg engagement system for a vehicle includes a selectively deployable leg-engaging member containing an airbag or expandable energy absorber for protecting a pedestrian from collision with the vehicle. An alternative embodiment may include an expandable energy absorber within or behind a vehicle bumper.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Vidyakant C. Revankar, Larry M. Wilmot, Jay Z. Zhao, Ning Zhang
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Patent number: 9550471Abstract: A gas generator is provided that contains a housing containing a base and a cap fixed to the base; a divider separating the housing into a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber, wherein the divider prevents sympathetic actuation of the second combustion chamber when the first combustion chamber is actuated; and an inner wall within the housing, the divider slidably engaged with the inner wall upon actuation of the first and second combustion chambers. Accordingly, a valve assembly of the present invention generally contains a movable divider that substantially seals an enclosure thereby defining a secondary combustion chamber within the gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Eduardo L. Quioc
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Patent number: 9545894Abstract: An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. A first valve assembly is operatively coupled to the divider for controlling the gas flow between the first chamber and the second chamber. A second valve assembly is fixed within the first chamber and fluidly communicates with an exterior of the airbag. The second valve assembly is operably dependent on the first valve assembly, thereby dynamically controlling the inflation profile of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Christopher L. Anderson
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Patent number: 9545895Abstract: A hood lifting mechanism includes a housing and a piston assembly movably mounted in the housing. The piston assembly has a groove formed therealong. A retainer is coupled to the housing so as to form a cavity therebetween. A locking member is positioned in the cavity so as to be engageable by the groove, for preventing motion of the piston assembly with respect to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Larry M. Wilmot, Rachid Hammoud, Joshua D. Van Hooser, Steven R. Rehak, Jeremy M. Henck
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Patent number: 9533687Abstract: Various implementations relate to an operator monitoring system (OMS). Certain implementations include an OMS coupled to a rotatable portion of a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle. For example, the OMS may include an imaging unit, such as a camera, that is coupled to a central hub portion of the steering wheel assembly. The imaging unit has a field of view directed toward one or more occupants in the vehicle and is configured to capture an image signal corresponding to an imaging area in the field of view. The imaging area can be configured to encapsulate an expected position of one or more vehicle occupants. The OMS also includes one or more processing units in electrical communication with the imaging unit that receives and processes the image signal from the imaging unit to determine an occupant state and, in some implementations, provide feedback based on the determined occupant state.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Jason Carl Lisseman, Len Cech, Valerie Gardner
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Publication number: 20160375854Abstract: An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior, at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag, and a divider dividing the airbag interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The divider is deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber. A vent cover is coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Christopher L. Anderson
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Patent number: 9527477Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle having a seat belt mounted to a vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, a tongue which can slide is attached to the seat belt, and a buckle that receives and locks the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt restrains an occupant in the vehicle seat. A primary coil is included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in the attached state.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Len Steven Cech, Dennis Rumps, Gilbert Allan Todd
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Patent number: 9520061Abstract: A steering wheel system for a vehicle includes a display and a controller. The controller receives vehicle parameters from one or more vehicle sensors as well as geometric or navigability characteristics of the road. The controller generates a prediction of an effect of the vehicle parameters on the vehicle with respect to the geometric or navigability characteristics of the road. The controller sends a signal to the display based on the prediction. The display is configured to display a representation of the prediction based on the signal received from the controller.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Leonard Cech, Stephen Vachon
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Publication number: 20160355157Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle having a seat belt mounted to a vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, a tongue which can slide is attached to the seat belt, and a buckle that receives and locks the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt restrains an occupant in the vehicle seat. A primary coil is included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in the attached state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Len Steven CECH, Dennis RUMPS, Gilbert Allan TODD
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Patent number: 9511742Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner including a casing defining a pivot axis and having a locking member, a driving mechanism supported by the casing, a flexible connecting member, and a cam. The driving mechanism includes a movable member that moves relative to the casing during pretensioning. The flexible connecting member has a first end coupled to the movable member and a second end that is attachable to one of the anchor, the buckle and the webbing. The cam includes a locking surface having a cross-sectional shape that is an Archimedean spiral. The cam is rotatable about the pivot axis between a non-locking position, in which the connecting member is able to freely move between the cam and the locking member, and a locking position, in which the locking surface clamps the connecting member to the locking member to prevent any further movement of the connecting member relative to the locking member.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Garrett James Leckliter, Robert Frank Rogers
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Patent number: 9513707Abstract: A method for locking an input area associated with a force-based touch interface comprises detecting a first touch value associated with a first user interaction with a first area of a touch interface. The first touch value includes information indicative of a location of the first area of the touch interface. The method also comprises establishing a first virtual input area based on the location, wherein a boundary associated with first virtual input area is contained within a boundary defined by the touch interface. The method also comprises detecting a second touch value associated with a second user interaction with the touch interface, and determining that a location associated with the second touch value is within the first virtual input area. The method also involves generating a control signal for causing execution of a first function, based on the determination that the second touch value is within the first virtual input area.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Jason Lisseman, David Andrews
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Patent number: 9511732Abstract: An occupant classification system that includes a first sensing electrode located in a bottom of a vehicle seat and a second sensing electrode located in a back of the vehicle seat. The system includes a controller that is configured to control the supply of a first signal to the first electrode and a second signal to the second electrode. A measurement circuit is provided that is configured to measure a first property of the first signal and second property of the second signal. The controller is configured to classify an occupant using the first and second properties.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Blaine Jerry Dolcetti, Joseph Adam Schultz, Daniel Nicholas Tabar, Jeffrey Scott Bennett
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Patent number: 9505368Abstract: A fastener for mounting an airbag to a vehicle includes a first fastening element and a second fastening element. The first and second fastening elements are configured to be positioned on opposite sides of an airbag panel. The first fastening element includes a protrusion configured to be positioned within an opening located in the second fastening element. The fastener has a locked condition in which the first and second fastening elements are locked together. A wall of the second fastening element forming the opening includes a recess configured to receive the protrusion when the fastener is in the locked condition. The second fastening element is configured to be rotated relative to the first fastening element in order to change the condition of the fastener to locked.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey William Morrell, Gary A. Card, Kristin Stephani Harma, Thomas W. Messner