Patents by Inventor Alexandra E. Smith

Alexandra E. Smith 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).

  • Patent number: 11865996
    Abstract: A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag. The airbag has a stored condition within the vehicle seat and is inflatable to deploy laterally in the cabin to a deployed condition in front of the occupant. The airbag is configured to utilize the vehicle seat as a reaction surface for restraining the movement of the airbag in response to occupant penetration into the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Angelo J. Adler, Alexandra E. Smith, Daniel R. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 11535185
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a roof (32) and a cabin (40) with a seat (50) for the occupant (60) includes an airbag (120) having a stored condition within the roof (32) and being inflatable to a deployed condition extending into the cabin (40) aligned with the seat (50). A tether (140) includes a first end (142) connected to the airbag (120) and a second end (144) connected to the vehicle (20). Tear stitching (170) interconnects overlying portions (152, 154) of the tether (140). The tear stitching (170) is rupturable in response to occupant (60) penetration into the deployed airbag (120) to permit the interconnected overlying portions (151, 154) to move relative to one another such that the tether (140) lengthens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Smith, Douglas M. Gould
  • Patent number: 11351949
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a seat (50) for the occupant (60) includes a primary airbag (70) having a stored condition within a roof (32) and being inflatable to a deployed condition aligned with the seat (50). A support airbag (76) has a stored condition within the roof (32) and is inflatable to a deployed condition engaging the primary airbag (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Smith, Werner Freisler, Douglas M. Gould, Tobias Klenk, Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar
  • Patent number: 11345300
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a roof (32) and a cabin (40) including a seat (50) for the occupant (60) has an airbag (70). The airbag (70) has a stored condition within the roof (32) and is inflatable to a deployed condition extending into the cabin (40) and aligned with the seat (50). The airbag (70) includes a first portion (94) defining a first chamber (100) and a second portion (104) defining a second chamber (110). The first portion (94) is connected to the vehicle (20) and includes a vent (106). The first portion (94), in response to occupant (60) penetration with the second portion (104), vents inflation fluid from the vent (106) and elongates to enable folding of the airbag (70) away from the occupant (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210114547
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a roof (32) and a cabin (40) with a seat (50) for the occupant (60) includes an airbag (120) having a stored condition within the roof (32) and being inflatable to deployed condition extending into the cabin (40) aligned with the seat (50). A tether (140) includes a first end (142) connected to the airbag (120) and a second end (144) connected to the vehicle (20). Tear stitching (170) interconnects overlying portions (152, 154) of the tether (140). The tear stitching (170) is rupturable in response to occupant (60) penetration into the deployed airbag (120) to permit the interconnected overlying portions (151, 154) to move relative to one another such that the tether (140) lengthens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Smith, Douglas M Gould