Patents by Inventor Eric Baumbach

Eric Baumbach 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: 20070222189
    Abstract: An airbag module has an airbag with an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the inflation chamber is deployed generally along a first axis and the second portion of the inflation chamber is generally deployed along a second axis. The first axis is transverse to the second axis. The first portion of the inflation chamber is defined by a front panel and a back panel. The second portion of the inflation chamber is attached to the back panel. An inflator is in communication with the airbag. A tether is provided in the first portion of the inflation chamber. The tether has three portions. The first portion of the tether extends across the first inflation chamber and is secured to the airbag at a first panel location and a first back panel location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Baumbach, Robert Arwood
  • Patent number: 7216892
    Abstract: An air bag module has an air bag housing with an opening for deploying the air bag. The opening is provided with the cover. A connector attaches the cover to the air bag housing. The connector has an aperture and a protrusion for engaging the aperture. The aperture is located on one of the air bag housing and the cover while the protrusion is located on the other of the air bag housing and the cover. The protrusion has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion extends from a surface of one of the air bag housing and the cover while the second portion extends transversely from the first portion and the third portion extends transversely from the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Baumbach, Joseph Hillaker, Ravinder Mann
  • Patent number: 7048298
    Abstract: A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arwood, Eric Baumbach, Robert Block, John Cooper, Kaustubh Bedekar, Pat Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7029024
    Abstract: An air bag module has an air bag, an air bag inflator and an air bag housing. The air bag has flaps that extend through slots in the air bag housing. The flaps are folded onto hooks on the exterior of the air bag housing. The slots extend around a mouth of the air bag housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20060038385
    Abstract: An air bag module has an air bag housing with an opening for deploying the air bag. The opening is provided with the cover. A connector attaches the cover to the air bag housing. The connector has an aperture and a protrusion for engaging the aperture. The aperture is located on one of the air bag housing and the cover while the protrusion is located on the other of the air bag housing and the cover. The protrusion has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion extends from a surface of one of the air bag housing and the cover while the second portion extends transversely from the first portion and the third portion extends transversely from the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Eric Baumbach, Joseph Hillaker, Ravinder Mann
  • Publication number: 20050194768
    Abstract: An air bag module (20, 20a) comprising: an inflator (300), a first support member (200-200a), a second support member (250, 250a-250d) and a cover (30) for enclosing an air bag (100); the cover includes a plurality of resilient tabs (48), the tabs are situated in a predetermined pattern about a cavity (38) which receives the air bag (100), a formation having a thickened tip is formed on a distal end of each tab, the thickened tip is configured as lock feature (50) which prevents the cover from disengaging from the first and second support members, each tab and associated lock feature is movable from a rest position to a deflected position upon contact with one of the plates; the first and second support members are locatable about each tab and configured to cooperatively define an effective narrow opening which is of smaller dimension than the thick tip, thereby preventing movement of the thick tip through the first and second support members and hence the disengagement of the cover from the first and second
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Charles Bonam, Brian Ford, Eric Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20050062261
    Abstract: An air bag module has an air bag, an air bag inflator and an air bag housing. The air bag has flaps that extend through slots in the air bag housing. The flaps are folded onto hooks on the exterior of the air bag housing. The slots extend around a mouth of the air bag housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventor: Eric Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20050062264
    Abstract: A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Arwood, Eric Baumbach, Robert Block, John Cooper, Kaustubh Bedekar, Pat Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20050006884
    Abstract: An occupant safety restraint system comprising: a first occupant protection system having at least one seat belt movable about the occupant: a second occupant protection system comprising a deployable knee bolster to protect at least a portion of the lower extremities of the occupant and a switch mechanism or sensor for deactivating the second occupant protection system based upon the operational state of the first occupant protection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Cooper, Kaustubh Bedekar, Gerald McHale, Robert Arwood, Eric Baumbach, Robert Block
  • Patent number: 6619015
    Abstract: An airbag folding apparatus includes a folding tube, a folder support apparatus, and a plunger mechanism. The folding of an airbag utilizing the folding apparatus comprises the following steps. A vehicle airbag is attached to the plunger mechanism and the airbag is lowered into the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is introduced into the folding tube after the airbag is completely inside the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is forcibly lowered into the folding tube causing the airbag to be compressed or folded. The plunger mechanism remains exterior to the airbag throughout the folding process. The plunger mechanism is then detached and a fold retention sheet is wrapped around the folded airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Arwood, Eric Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20020078664
    Abstract: An airbag folding apparatus includes a folding tube, a folder support apparatus, and a plunger mechanism. The folding of an airbag utilizing the folding apparatus comprises the following steps. A vehicle airbag is attached to the plunger mechanism and the airbag is lowered into the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is introduced into the folding tube after the airbag is completely inside the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is forcibly lowered into the folding tube causing the airbag to be compressed or folded. The plunger mechanism remains exterior to the airbag throughout the folding process. The plunger mechanism is then detached and a fold retention sheet is wrapped around the folded airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Robert L. Arwood, Eric Baumbach