Patents by Inventor Bernardo V. Vergara

Bernardo V. Vergara 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).

  • Publication number: 20100109295
    Abstract: A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: David M. McCormick, Robert M. Hardenburg, Bernardo V. Vergara
  • Patent number: 7654565
    Abstract: A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. McCormick, Robert M. Hardenburg, Bernardo V. Vergara