Patents by Inventor Alex G. Meduvsky
Alex G. Meduvsky has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7377546Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10d) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (300) and a support member (316). A vent opening (350) extends through the support member (316). A vent member (360) is associated with the vent opening (350). The vent member (360) initially closes the vent opening (350). Inflation fluid moves the vent member (360) relative to the support member (316) for enabling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (350). A tether (386) extends between the inflatable occupant protection device (300) and the vent member (360). The tether (386) is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (300) away from the support member (316) by more than a predetermined distance for moving the vent member (360) relative to the support member (316) for reducing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (350).Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, William P. Braun, Alex G. Meduvsky, John P. Wallner, Joseph J. Zwolinski
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Patent number: 7364192Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (12) and a support member (40) having a vent opening (50) through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus (10) also includes a mechanism (58) for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device (12) tends to move the mechanism (58) for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The mechanism (58) is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (12) beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The apparatus (10) further includes a locking member (96) for blocking the mechanism (58) from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50) after the inflatable occupant protection device (12) has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: William P. Braun, Kurt F. Fischer, Charles E. Steffens, Jr., Alex G. Meduvsky, John N. Clark, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Matthew C. Frank
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Patent number: 7201399Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) includes first and second lap belts (32 and 34) for collectively extending across a lap of the occupant (22). First and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) extend over the shoulders of the occupant (22). A buckle assembly (58) interconnects the lap belts (32 and 34) and the shoulder belts (36 and 38). The occupant restraint system (30) also includes first and second buckle-lowering belts (94 and 96) attached to the buckle assembly (58) for creating a downwardly acting biasing force on the buckle assembly (58) so as to move the buckle assembly (58) downwardly relative to the seat (10) and towards the lap of the occupant (22).Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Matthew C. Frank, Alex G. Meduvsky
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Patent number: 6846015Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, Matthew C. Frank, Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski
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Patent number: 6817629Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38). A buckle assembly (90) is provided for interconnecting the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). At least one lap belt retractor (50) is operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and is electrically actuatable, in response to receiving a first electrical locking signal, for locking the at least one lap belt retractor (50) to prevent withdrawal of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). An occupant actuatable mechanism (160) is operatively connected to the at least one lap belt retractor (50) and is responsive to actuation by the vehicle occupant for providing the first electrical locking signal to the at least one lap belt retractor (50).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Alex G. Meduvsky
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Patent number: 6789820Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflation fluid source (50) for providing inflation fluid (152) for inflating the protection device. The apparatus (10) also includes an opening (170) through which the inflation fluid (152) flows from the inflation fluid source (50). A member (190) is movable to control flow of the inflation fluid (152) through the opening (170). A volume of a field responsive fluid (230) resists movement of the member (190). The field responsive fluid (230) has a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus (10) further includes means (232) for varying the viscosity of the field responsive fluid (230) to vary the resistance to movement of the member (190).Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, Matthew C. Frank, Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski
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Publication number: 20040079575Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38). A buckle assembly (90) is provided for interconnecting the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). At least one lap belt retractor (50) is operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and is electrically actuatable, in response to receiving a first electrical locking signal, for locking the at least one lap belt retractor (50) to prevent withdrawal of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). An occupant actuatable mechanism (160) is operatively connected to the at least one lap belt retractor (50) and is responsive to actuation by the vehicle occupant for providing the first electrical locking signal to the at least one lap belt retractor (50).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Alex G. Meduvsky
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Publication number: 20040046377Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Applicant: TRW Vehicle safety systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, Matthew C. Frank, Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski
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Publication number: 20040000777Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflation fluid source (50) for providing inflation fluid (152) for inflating the protection device. The apparatus (10) also includes an opening (170) through which the inflation fluid (152) flows from the inflation fluid source (50). A member (190) is movable to control flow of the inflation fluid (152) through the opening (170). A volume of a field responsive fluid (230) resists movement of the member (190). The field responsive fluid (230) has a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus (10) further includes means (232) for varying the viscosity of the field responsive fluid (230) to vary the resistance to movement of the member (190).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, Matthew C. Frank, Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski
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Patent number: 5893583Abstract: An apparatus includes a pressure vessel with a closure structure (14) including a part (62) consisting of a single, continuous body of homogeneous metal material. The part (62) has a plurality of fluid outlet openings (22), a fluid outlet conduit (88) communicating with the outlet openings (22), and a pocket (100) separate from the outlet conduit (88). The pocket (100) has a closed inner end (116) defined by a thin wall portion (120) of the part (62). An initiator (40) is received in the pocket (100), and is actuatable to rupture the thin wall portion (120) of the part (62). In a preferred embodiment, a retainer structure (102) holds the initiator (40) in the pocket (100). The retainer structure (102) and the part (62) have adjoining, unthreaded surfaces (160, 108) engaging each other in an interference fit which is tight enough to hold the retainer structure (102) and the initiator (40) in the pocket (100) when the initiator (40) is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Jack L. Blumenthal, William C. Forbes, Alex G. Meduvsky, Tracy S. Sparks
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Patent number: 5531475Abstract: An inflator (14) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a body (60) of ignitable gas generating material, an igniter (260) for igniting the body (60) of gas generating material, and a housing (50) having a tubular wall (52) surrounding the body (60) of gas generating material. The tubular wall (52) has a longitudinal central axis (40), a plurality of outlet openings (100) through which gas flows radially outward, and an open end portion (232) with the contour of a dome centered on the axis (40). The inflator (14) further includes a circular end cap (56) which is located coaxially within the tubular wall (52). The end cap (56) supports the igniter (260) on the axis (40), and has a peripheral surface portion (216) with the contour of a dome centered on the axis (40). The open end portion (232) of the tubular wall (52) closely overlies the peripheral surface portion (216) of the end cap (56).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1994Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, George W. Goetz, Edward Q. Glac, Steven W. Maurer, David L. Geyer, Dennis J. Fiore, Heidi M. Westlake, William E. Gest
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Patent number: 5529334Abstract: An inflator (14) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes ignitable gas generating material, an igniter (260) for igniting the gas generating material, and a housing (50) having a tubular wall (52) surrounding the gas generating material. The housing (50) further has an end wall (54) defining a closed end of the housing (50). The housing (50) contains a tubular structure (62) including a cylindrical filter (70) for the gas. The tubular structure (62) extends coaxially within the tubular wall (52) and has an axially inner end portion (180) adjacent to the end wall (54). A sealing structure engages the tubular structure (62) to block gas from bypassing the filter (70) by flowing around the inner end portion (180) of the tubular structure (62). The sealing structure includes a pair of opposed sealing surfaces (94, 150) which extend circumferentially around the axis (40) and which face radially toward each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, George W. Goetz
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Patent number: 5507520Abstract: An inflator (14) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a body (60) of ignitable gas generating material, an igniter (260) for igniting the body (60) of gas generating material, and a housing (50) having a tubular wall (52) surrounding the body (60) of gas generating material. The tubular wall (52) has a longitudinal central axis (40), a plurality of outlet openings (100) through which gas flows radially outward from the housing (50), and an end wall (54) defining a closed end of the housing (50). The inflator (14) further includes a circular spacer (140) located coaxially within the tubular wall (52) adjacent to the end wall (54). The spacer (140) has a plurality of radially projecting spacer lobes (172) at locations that are spaced from each other circumferentially around the spacer (140). An annular elastomeric seal (142) extends circumferentially around the spacer (140) across and between the spacer lobes ( 172).Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1994Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Alex G. Meduvsky, Dennis J. Fiore
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Patent number: 5380039Abstract: An air bag inflator (10) includes a housing (12) open at one end. Inflator parts including gas generating material (70) are disposed in the housing (12). A retainer assembly (138) in the housing has a first part (170) expanded outwardly into interlocking engagement with a part (30) of the housing wall (14) adjacent the opening (24). This blocks movement of the retainer assembly (138) relative to the housing (12) toward the open end (24) of the housing (12). An end cap (90) is screwed into the open end (24) of the housing (12) after the retainer (140) is positioned in and interlocked with the housing (12). The retainer (140) is disposed intermediate the end cap (90) and the gas generating material (70). Because retainer (140) is disposed between the gas generating material (70) and a body of auto ignition material (122) in the end cap (90), a nozzle ( 150) is formed in the retainer (140) to direct auto ignition combustion products toward the gas generating material (70).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Jerome W. Emery, Alex G. Meduvsky, Thomas L. Ruhlman, Thomas Osentoski
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Patent number: 5264797Abstract: A device for detecting contaminants on a surface of a conductive test sample includes first and second probes for engaging contaminants on a test sample surface. The first and second probes are connectable to a device for measuring voltage drop and are dimensioned and configured for measuring voltage drop across contaminants on the test sample surface at a predetermined contact force. The predetermined contact force is selected to prevent the first and second probes from piercing the contaminants. The device also includes a device for biasing the probes against the contaminants on the test sample surface with the predetermined contact force. The device for biasing the probes against the contaminants on the test sample surface include a moveable probe arm and a counterweight on the moveable probe arm which permits the predetermined contact force between the first and second probes to be selected. The moveable probe arm is adapted for both horizontal and vertical movement.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1991Date of Patent: November 23, 1993Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Jonathan Dahlstrom, Alex G. Meduvsky