Patents by Inventor Brian Fulmer
Brian Fulmer 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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Publication number: 20170050605Abstract: An inflator bracket for a side curtain vehicle airbag assembly of a type for mounting along a roof rail of a motor vehicle interior and mounting an inflator for generating inflation gas for a side curtain airbag. The inflator bracket in the form of a formed sheet metal component providing a carrier section adapted to engage and support the inflator and extending to form a base section and forming at least one mounting tab having a hole therethrough for enabling a threaded fastener to fasten the bracket to the roof rail. A shelf formed by the bracket positioned between the mounting tab and the carrier section and extending generally perpendicular to the base section provides clearance for the fastening of the threaded fastener without interference with the curtain airbag. The bracket is provided in the form of an integrated structure incorporating the carrier section, the base section, the mounting tab, and the shelf.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Abe Mitchell, Brian Fulmer, Rick Hallows
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Patent number: 9573550Abstract: An inflator bracket for a side curtain vehicle airbag assembly of a type for mounting along a roof rail of a motor vehicle interior and mounting an inflator for generating inflation gas for a side curtain airbag. The inflator bracket in the form of a formed sheet metal component providing a carrier section adapted to engage and support the inflator and extending to form a base section and forming at least one mounting tab having a hole therethrough for enabling a threaded fastener to fasten the bracket to the roof rail. A shelf formed by the bracket positioned between the mounting tab and the carrier section and extending generally perpendicular to the base section provides clearance for the fastening of the threaded fastener without interference with the curtain airbag. The bracket is provided in the form of an integrated structure incorporating the carrier section, the base section, the mounting tab, and the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Abe Mitchell, Brian Fulmer, Rick Hallows
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Patent number: 9205800Abstract: An airbag, or inflatable curtain airbag assembly, can include one or more chambers and vents. The vents can be in fluid communication with one or more of the chambers. The vents can be configured to delay passage of inflation gas from an interior of the airbag into an interior chamber or to an exterior of the airbag upon deployment of the airbag. The vents can also be configured to transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration when an internal pressure of the airbag reaches a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, John D. Kemp, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Brian Fulmer, Abraham Mitchell
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Publication number: 20140375034Abstract: An airbag, or inflatable curtain airbag assembly, can include one or more chambers and vents. The vents can be in fluid communication with one or more of the chambers. The vents can be configured to delay passage of inflation gas from an interior of the airbag into an interior chamber or to an exterior of the airbag upon deployment of the airbag. The vents can also be configured to transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration when an internal pressure of the airbag reaches a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, John D. Kemp, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Brian Fulmer, Abraham Mitchell
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Patent number: 8851508Abstract: An airbag, or inflatable curtain airbag assembly, can include one or more chambers and vents. The vents can be in fluid communication with one or more of the chambers. The vents can be configured to delay passage of inflation gas from an interior of the airbag into an interior chamber or to an exterior of the airbag upon deployment of the airbag. The vents can also be configured to transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration when an internal pressure of the airbag reaches a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, John D. Kemp, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Brian Fulmer, Abraham Mitchell
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Publication number: 20140265275Abstract: An airbag, or inflatable curtain airbag assembly, can include one or more chambers and vents. The vents can be in fluid communication with one or more of the chambers. The vents can be configured to delay passage of inflation gas from an interior of the airbag into an interior chamber or to an exterior of the airbag upon deployment of the airbag. The vents can also be configured to transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration when an internal pressure of the airbag reaches a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, John D. Kemp, Charles Paul Dinsdale, JR., Brian Fulmer, Abraham Mitchell
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Patent number: 8708365Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a side curtain airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle is provided. The side curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable cushion configured to be installed between a roof rail and an upper vehicle trim of the vehicle. The inflatable cushion is deployable from an uninflated state to an inflated state by gas from a gas generator. The inflatable cushion includes a side protection panel having an upper perimeter portion and one or more sub chambers. The sub chambers inflate downward from the upper perimeter portion. An upward deploying chamber is in fluid communication with the side protection panel and inflates upward between the roof rail and the upper vehicle trim.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Brian Fulmer, Alex S. Damman, Rebecca Ann DeAguiar
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Publication number: 20110187086Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a side curtain airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle is provided. The side curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable cushion configured to be installed between a roof rail and an upper vehicle trim of the vehicle. The inflatable cushion is deployable from an uninflated state to an inflated state by gas from a gas generator. The inflatable cushion includes a side protection panel having an upper perimeter portion and one or more sub chambers. The sub chambers inflate downward from the upper perimeter portion. An upward deploying chamber is in fluid communication with the side protection panel and inflates upward between the roof rail and the upper vehicle trim.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: AUTOLIV ASP, INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Brian Fulmer, Alex S. Damman, Rebecca Ann DeAguiar
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Patent number: 7261682Abstract: Folding methods and patterns for folding an inflatable curtain airbag cushion for use in vehicles are provided. The folding patterns and methods of the invention assist in preventing failure of inflatable curtain airbag cushions by reducing the stress placed on specific regions of the longitudinal fill chambers of the cushions. These methods result in proper airbag deployment with reduced rates of cushion failure, thus providing reliable protection to vehicle occupants.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Jesse R. Crookston, Brian Fulmer, Olivier Bastien
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Publication number: 20070164544Abstract: A bracket suitable for guiding the direction of deployment of an inflatable element in a vehicle is provided. The bracket includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface includes a plurality of spaced slits. The plurality of spaced slits enables the bracket to undergo at least one physical change when impacted.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Brian Fulmer, Linford Smith
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Publication number: 20050110256Abstract: Folding methods and patterns for folding an inflatable curtain airbag cushion for use in vehicles are provided. The folding patterns and methods of the invention assist in preventing failure of inflatable curtain airbag cushions by reducing the stress placed on specific regions of the longitudinal fill chambers of the cushions. These methods result in proper airbag deployment with reduced rates of cushion failure, thus providing reliable protection to vehicle occupants.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: May 26, 2005Inventors: Jesse Crookston, Brian Fulmer, Olivier Bastien
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Publication number: 20050057023Abstract: An airbag assembly that includes an inflatable curtain and a stiffening member is disclosed. The stiffening member is attached at or near the top end of the curtain. Such attachment may be accomplished via a variety of methods including fasteners, mounting brackets, sewing, inserting the stiffening member into a pocket in the curtain, or by passing one or more of the curtain's attachment tabs through slits located on the stiffening member. The stiffening member is designed to extend along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the inflatable curtain. In one embodiment, the stiffening member is constructed to resist twisting of the inflatable curtain along a portion of the longitudinal length. In an alternative embodiment, the stiffening member is constructed such that when the inflatable curtain is twisted, the stiffening member deforms the inflatable curtain such that the curtain cannot be installed onto a vehicle interior without first correcting the deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2003Publication date: March 17, 2005Inventors: Thomas Burton, Brian Fulmer, Travis Hess