Patents by Inventor Eric Laspesa

Eric Laspesa 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: 8813495
    Abstract: A triggered-stroke actuator with its piston being held stationary in an initial position prior to triggering. The piston (13) is installed in the body (12) facing propulsion means (15) and a locking arrangement (19) that includes a latch (30) and at least one flexible tongue (23) attached to the periphery of the piston and having a hook (25) engaged with an internal abutment, the latch being moved at the beginning of triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Herakles
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 8739678
    Abstract: The triggered stroke actuator comprises a cylinder (12) housing a movable assembly constituted by a piston (13), a rod (16) projecting from one end of the cylinder (12), and a slidable element (17) that is movable inside the cylinder (12). The actuator also includes means for propelling the piston (13) in response to a trigger command, and a return braking arrangement. The return braking arrangement is constituted by at least one ball (18) housed in an annular cavity (19) defined by the inside surface of the cylinder (12) and by the slidable element (17), a return spring (22) connecting the slidable element (17) to the piston (13), and a link element (23) connecting the ball (18) to the piston (13). The ball (18) is positioned by the link element (23) in a first segment (20) of the annular cavity (19) when the return spring (22) is relaxed, and in a second segment (21) of decreasing radial extent when the return spring (22) is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Herakles
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 8657056
    Abstract: Pyrotechnic actuator in particular for lifting the hood of an automobile in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The actuator comprises a return-braking arrangement (25) acting between the rod (17) and the body (13) of the actuator and having an inertial actuating threshold in order to brake the rod in return only if it is subjected to a force under a sufficient acceleration truly representative of a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Herakles
    Inventors: Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Evrard Borg
  • Patent number: 8393640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic gas generator (10) for a car airbag (12), the generator including a pyrotechnic charge and a pyrotechnic initiator (28) situated in a combustion chamber (14) and suitable for being actuated by a first detection system (30) for detecting an imminent collision state and/or by a second detection system (32) for detecting an actual collision state. The pyrotechnic gas generator of the invention further includes a gas flow passage (16, 18) between said combustion chamber (14) and said airbag (12), and at least one valve (34) suitable for being moved from a first position in which it defines a first flow section to a second position in which it defines a second flow section greater than said first flow section, or vice versa. In particular, the valve (34) is arranged in such a manner as to define a greater flow section when the pyrotechnic initiator (28) is actuated by the first detection system (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Herakles
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20120038139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic gas generator (10) for a car airbag (12), the generator including a pyrotechnic charge and a pyrotechnic initiator (28) situated in a combustion chamber (14) and suitable for being actuated by a first detection system (30) for detecting an imminent collision state and/or by a second detection system (32) for detecting an actual collision state. The pyrotechnic gas generator of the invention further includes a gas flow passage (16, 18) between said combustion chamber (14) and said airbag (12), and at least one valve (34) suitable for being moved from a first position in which it defines a first flow section to a second position in which it defines a second flow section greater than said first flow section, or vice versa. In particular, the valve (34) is arranged in such a manner as to define a greater flow section when the pyrotechnic initiator (28) is actuated by the first detection system (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SME
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20120011848
    Abstract: A triggered-stroke actuator with its piston being held stationary in an initial position prior to triggering. The piston (13) is installed in the body (12) facing propulsion means (15) and a locking arrangement (19) that includes a latch (30) and at least one flexible tongue (23) attached to the periphery of the piston and having a hook (25) engaged with an internal abutment, the latch being moved at the beginning of triggering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SNPE MATERIAUX ENERGETIQUES
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20120011847
    Abstract: A triggered-stroke actuator with a damped return stroke. According to the invention, the actuator houses a piston (15), and a gas generator (19) including a fast combustion pyrotechnic charge, and further houses a pyrotechnic charge (38) of combustion that is slower than the combustion of said gas generator (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SME
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20110314809
    Abstract: Pyrotechnic actuator in particular for lifting the hood of an automobile in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The actuator comprises a return-braking arrangement (25) acting between the rod (17) and the body (13) of the actuator and having an inertial actuating threshold in order to brake the rod in return only if it is subjected to a force under a sufficient acceleration truly representative of a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SNPE MATERIAUX ENERGETIQUES
    Inventors: Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Evrard Borg
  • Patent number: 7913795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for raising the bonnet of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The safety device includes a pyrotechnic actuator provided with a thrust piston secured to a mechanism for raising the bonnet and able to deploy the said mechanism which is itself secured to the said bonnet, and a blocking device intended to block the said actuator in a given position. The main characteristic of this device is that it is made up of a shock-absorbing device employed when a pedestrian hits the bonnet which has been raised, so that the assembly consisting of the bonnet, the raising mechanism and the piston can move under the effect of the impact while at the same time being retarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7896122
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the opening of the hood (1) of the engine compartment of a vehicle, connected to the vehicle body in a hinged manner for enabling it to partially open by rotating around the rear hinge toward the front of the vehicle from a position in which the hood (1) is latched to the vehicle body by means of at least one hook (18). This device comprises an impact detector mounted at the front of the vehicle and interacting with an actuator (19, 21) for controlling the unlatching of said hook (18) and comprises means for guiding the opening of the hood (1), these means for guiding the opening of the hood (1) comprising means for guiding the rear edge (1a) of the hood (1) in an essentially vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Renault SAS, SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Yvon Tetu
  • Publication number: 20110011256
    Abstract: The triggered stroke actuator comprises a cylinder (12) housing a movable assembly constituted by a piston (13), a rod (16) projecting from one end of the cylinder (12), and a slidable element (17) that is movable inside the cylinder (12). The actuator also includes means for propelling the piston (13) in response to a trigger command, and a return braking arrangement. The return braking arrangement is constituted by at least one ball (18) housed in an annular cavity (19) defined by the inside surface of the cylinder (12) and by the slidable element (17), a return spring (22) connecting the slidable element (17) to the piston (13), and a link element (23) connecting the ball (18) to the piston (13). The ball (18) is positioned by the link element (23) in a first segment (20) of the annular cavity (19) when the return spring (22) is relaxed, and in a second segment (21) of decreasing radial extent when the return spring (22) is compressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: SNPE MATERIAUX ENERGETIQUES
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7568341
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of pyrotechnic actuators including a piston and having the essential function of exerting thrust to move an object by causing the piston to emerge. The invention relates more particularly to a pyrotechnic gas generator (2), a combustion chamber (3), a piston (10) capable of moving in a slide chamber (4) under the effect of said gas, the two chambers (3, 4) being in communication with each other. The main characteristic of this actuator is that it comprises a shutter device (5) implemented after said actuator (1) has been triggered to interrupt the communication between said chambers (3, 4), said shutter device (5) being included in the slide chamber (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20090078487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for raising the bonnet of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The safety device includes a pyrotechnic actuator provided with a thrust piston secured to a mechanism for raising the bonnet and able to deploy the said mechanism which is itself secured to the said bonnet, and a blocking device intended to block the said actuator in a given position. The main characteristic of this device is that it is made up of a shock-absorbing device employed when a pedestrian hits the bonnet which has been raised, so that the assembly consisting of the bonnet, the raising mechanism and the piston can move under the effect of the impact while at the same time being retarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7475752
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of the devices used in the field of automotive safety to protect a pedestrian in the event of a frontal impact between the said pedestrian and a motor vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to a safety device (1, 101, 201) for raising the bonnet (11, 111, 211) of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision with a pedestrian, comprising a pyrotechnic actuator (2, 102, 202, 302) provided with a thrust piston (17, 117) secured to a mechanism for raising the bonnet (11, 111, 211) and able to deploy the said mechanism which is itself secured to the said bonnet (11, 111, 211), and a blocking device intended to block the said actuator (2, 102, 202, 302) in a given position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7475542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a constant force pyrotechnic actuator comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator, a body, a piston capable of moving in the said body under the effect of the gases emitted by the generator, and a pressure regulator member situated inside the piston, the said piston having a front face traversed by a duct making it possible to place in communication the space separating the gas generator and the said piston, and an inner space in which the regulator member is housed. Within said actuator, the piston is extended by a hollow push rod terminating in an enlarged head, the said head having gas discharge ducts, and the inner space of the said rod is in communication with the inner space of the piston in which the regulator member is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: SNPE Materiaux Energeriques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Publication number: 20080189015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the opening of the hood (1) of the engine compartment of a vehicle, connected to the vehicle body in a hinged manner for enabling it to partially open by rotating around the rear hinge toward the front of the vehicle from a position in which the hood (1) is latched to the vehicle body by means of at least one hook (18). This device comprises an impact detector mounted at the front of the vehicle and interacting with an actuator (19, 21) for controlling the unlatching of said hook (18) and comprises means for guiding the opening of the hood (1), these means for guiding the opening of the hood (1) comprising means for guiding the rear edge (1a) of the hood (1) in an essentially vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Renault SAS
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Yvon Tetu
  • Publication number: 20080047269
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of pyrotechnic actuators including a piston and having the essential function of exerting thrust to move an object by causing the piston to emerge. The invention relates more particularly to a pyrotechnic gas generator (2), a combustion chamber (3), a piston (10) capable of moving in a slide chamber (4) under the effect of said gas, the two chambers (3, 4) being in communication with each other. The main characteristic of this actuator is that it comprises a shutter device (5) implemented after said actuator (1) has been triggered to interrupt the communication between said chambers (3, 4), said shutter device (5) being included in the slide chamber (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SNPE MATERIAUX ENERGETIQUES
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7322598
    Abstract: Set of equipment (1) for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable structure (2), a support (4) for the inflatable structure, elements for (6) inflating the structure in a direction of inflation (D) in order to deploy it, a plate (8) for spreading the load when an occupant of the vehicle impacts on the deployed inflatable structure, and elements for guiding the structure as it deploys so that, in the deployed configuration, the structure extends along a median directrix line (L) distinct from its direction of inflation (D). The guide elements include the side wall (12) of the structure which, in the deployed configuration, is substantially taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Faurecia Industries, SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Etienne Galmiche, Eric Laspesa, Laurent D'Emmanuelle
  • Patent number: 7296504
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of pyrotechnic actuators comprising a piston, the basic function of which is to exert a thrust so as to displace an object by shooting out the piston. More particularly, the invention relates to a pyrotechnic actuator (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) comprising a pyrotechnic-gas generator (7), a combustion chamber (3) and a piston (9) which can move in a slide chamber (5) under the effect of the said gases. The principal characteristic of this actuator is that it comprises a shut-off device (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) used after the triggering of the said actuator (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) in order, on the one hand, to close the slide chamber (5) and, on the other hand, to secure the depressurization of the combustion chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Evrard Borg, Laurent D'Emmanuelle, Eric Laspesa, Jean-Paul Nadeau
  • Patent number: 7172215
    Abstract: This set of equipment for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable structure, an element acting as a support for the inflatable structure, an element forming a load-spreading plate and at least one frangible member for fixing the load-spreading plate to the support. The set includes a sheath, an open first end which is fixed to the support and an open second end which is fixed to the load-spreading plate to form the inflatable structure. The frangible member includes a thin web, a peripheral region which is fixed to a first element, either the load-spreading plate or the support, and a central region which is fixed to the other of these elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Faurecia Industries, SNPE Materiaux Energetiques
    Inventors: Etienne Galmiche, David Negre, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Eric Laspesa