Patents Examined by Mitchell David M.
  • Patent number: 5226670
    Abstract: An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag comprises a source of gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, a housing for mounting to the vehicle, and means connecting the gas source to the housing. The housing has passages to enable aspiration of ambient air into the vehicle occupant restraint. An aspiration flap disposed within the housing has a first position closing the passages and a second position enabling flow of ambient air through the passages. The aspiration flap and the housing have interengaging portions for blocking movement of the aspiration flap out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Wright, John P. Wallner
  • Patent number: 4789177
    Abstract: A lateral guidance and support apparatus for a shoe fixed at its front end on a cross-country ski. The apparatus includes a rib attached to the ski which is adapted to engage a groove in the sole of the shoe having substantially the same cross-sectional configuration and area as the rib. The rib and the groove both include an anterior metatarsus support zone for supporting the metatarses of the foot and a posterior heel support zone for supporting the heel of the foot. The height of the rib and the depth of the groove are chosen such that in the anterior support zone of the metatarses the height of the rib is less than the depth of the groove. As a result, in this zone the sole is supported on the upper surface of the ski in two zones on either lateral side of the rib. In addition, the height of the rib and the depth of the groove are also chosen such that in the posterior heel support zone the height of the rib is greater than the depth of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Gerard Graillat