Patents by Inventor Brian M. Lighthall

Brian M. Lighthall 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: 7063350
    Abstract: An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Steimke, Brian M. Lighthall