Patents by Inventor Doug Osterfeld

Doug Osterfeld 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: 11518334
    Abstract: Various implementations include a steering assembly including a hub assembly and airbag module. The hub assembly includes one or more hub assembly attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. The airbag module includes one or more airbag module attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more temporary fasteners, and each of the temporary fasteners is couplable to a portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more alignment portions structured to align each fastener opening in the hub assembly attachment tabs with a respective fastener opening in one of the airbag module attachment tabs when the temporary fasteners of the hub assembly or the airbag module are coupled to the portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventors: Justin Mills, Doug Osterfeld
  • Patent number: 11518335
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system including a yoke type steering wheel. An airbag module located in the steering wheel and including an inflator and an airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into two configurations. In the first configuration the airbag is fully inflated into a circular configuration and in the second configuration the airbag inflates into a u-shaped configuration. The u-shaped configuration is formed by a tether connected at a first end to the airbag and at a second end to a tether release device. The tether release device is configured to stay connected to the tether when the driver is determined to be in an out of position (OOP) condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Doug Osterfeld
  • Patent number: 11498481
    Abstract: A steering assembly and a system for actuating a vehicle horn uses a grounding signal transmitted from the steering assembly to an electronic control unit in communication with an electronically actuated horn. The steering assembly includes a base plate connected to a hub in the steering assembly. At least one horn grounding switch is coupled to the base plate and has a ground contact generating an output from the horn grounding switch. The ground contact is movable between a normally closed position connected to the vehicle electrical ground that corresponds to the off status of the vehicle horn and an open position disconnected from the vehicle electrical ground that corresponds to the on status of the vehicle horn. A biasing force directs the ground contact to a normally closed position in electrical communication with the vehicle electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventor: Doug Osterfeld
  • Publication number: 20210001797
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system including a yoke type steering wheel. An airbag module located in the steering wheel and including an inflator and an airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into two configurations. In the first configuration the airbag is fully inflated into a circular configuration and in the second configuration the airbag inflates into a u-shaped configuration. The u-shaped configuration is formed by a tether connected at a first end to the airbag and at a second end to a tether release device. The tether release device is configured to stay connected to the tether when the driver is determined to be in an out of position (OOP) condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventor: Doug OSTERFELD
  • Publication number: 20200398782
    Abstract: Various implementations include a steering assembly including a hub assembly and airbag module. The hub assembly includes one or more hub assembly attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. The airbag module includes one or more airbag module attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more temporary fasteners, and each of the temporary fasteners is couplable to a portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more alignment portions structured to align each fastener opening in the hub assembly attachment tabs with a respective fastener opening in one of the airbag module attachment tabs when the temporary fasteners of the hub assembly or the airbag module are coupled to the portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Mills, Doug Osterfeld
  • Publication number: 20200317123
    Abstract: A steering assembly and a system for actuating a vehicle horn uses a grounding signal transmitted from the steering assembly to an electronic control unit in communication with an electronically actuated horn. The steering assembly includes a base plate connected to a hub in the steering assembly. At least one horn grounding switch is coupled to the base plate and has a ground contact generating an output from the horn grounding switch. The ground contact is movable between a normally closed position connected to the vehicle electrical ground that corresponds to the off status of the vehicle horn and an open position disconnected from the vehicle electrical ground that corresponds to the on status of the vehicle horn. A biasing force directs the ground contact to a normally closed position in electrical communication with the vehicle electrical ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Doug Osterfeld