Patents by Inventor Franck Lebaudy

Franck Lebaudy 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: 7438314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator device used in automobile safety to inflate an airbag. This device is characterized in that it comprises at least one gas source for inflating the airbag and at least one gas outlet orifice, called the first orifice, for gas to flow into the airbag, characterized in that it includes means for making the gas pass through other gas outlet orifices, called second orifices, which are distributed over the device so that it is given a neutral-thrust configuration when it is initiated, although not in service, the device also including means for closing off these second orifices when the device is in service, so that when the device is initiated, the gas passes via the first outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Livbag S.N.C.
    Inventors: Daniel Duvacquier, Christian Perotto, Franck Lebaudy, Xavier Abaziou
  • Publication number: 20050179240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator device used in automobile safety to inflate an airbag. This device is characterized in that it comprises at least one gas source for inflating the airbag and at least one gas outlet orifice, called the first orifice, for gas to flow into the airbag, characterized in that it includes means for making the gas pass through other gas outlet orifices, called second orifices, which are distributed over the device so that it is given a neutral-thrust configuration when it is initiated, although not in service, the device also including means for closing off these second orifices when the device is in service, so that when the device is initiated, the gas passes via the first outlet orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: LIVEBAG S.N.C.
    Inventors: Daniel Duvacquier, Christian Perotto, Franck Lebaudy, Xavier Abaziou
  • Patent number: 6874813
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid gas generator (1), used for motor vehicle safety to inflate an airbag, comprising a body (2) containing an ignition device (16) and a reservoir (3) connected to the body and containing a pressurized gas (31), together with initially closed-off discharge orifices (10). The body possesses a first pyrotechnic charge (14) capable of generating a quantity of gas which, coupled to the volume of gas (31) contained in the reservoir, allows the airbag to be inflated in a time period of less than 50 milliseconds, and a second pyrotechnic charge (13) capable of generating, after combustion of the first pyrotechnic charge, a quantity of gas sufficient to keep the airbag inflated for a time period of several seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Christian Perotto, Franck Lebaudy, Bernard Martin, François A Rigault
  • Patent number: 6808202
    Abstract: A hybrid gas generator unit (1) may be used to inflate at least one side airbag. The hybrid gas generator contains a pyrotechnic gas generator (2) produced using a body (5), which contains an igniter (5) and which is provided with first and second ends (6, 7), and a flexible element (8), which contains a pyrotechnic charge (10) and which is attached to the second end of the body; and a pressurized gas (4) reservoir (3) attached to the pyrotechnic gas generator at the first end of the body. In the hybrid gas generator, the igniter is capable during operation of initiating the combustion of the pyrotechnic charge contained in the flexible element and of causing the pressurized gas contained in the reservoir to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, François Peremarty, Christian Perotto
  • Patent number: 6779811
    Abstract: A hybrid gas generator unit (1) used to inflate at least one side airbag, comprises a flexible element (9) containing a pyrotechnic charge (10) and possessing an upstream end (13) and a downstream end; a reservoir (18) of pressurized gas (19), the reservoir having an upstream end and a downstream end (30), and an electropyrotechnic igniter (3) housed in a body (2) near the upstream end (13) of the flexible element and the downstream end (30) of the reservoir. The igniter may be capable during operation of initiating the combustion of the pyrotechnic charge contained in the flexible element and of causing the pressurized gas contained in the reservoir to be released. The gas generator unit may be designed so that, after combustion of the pyrotechnic charge (10), the pressurized gas (19) escapes firstly from the reservoir (18) in order to pass through the body (2) and then sets off in the opposite direction to pass through the flexible element (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Francois Peremarty, Christian Perotto
  • Patent number: 6571712
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electropyrotechnic igniter which contains two ignition heads each having a body containing a resisitive heating element and a pyrotechnic ignition composition. The two ignition heads also include a means of dialogue and of triggering coded information and a means of storing electrical energy. The igniter also includes external connection means intended to be connected electrically to an electronic control unit. The igniter is intended to be used in motor vehicle safety, particular to constitute the ignition device of a gas generator associated with an airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Livbag S.N.C.
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20030075904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid gas generator unit (1) used to inflate at least one side airbag, characterized in that is comprises:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: LIVBAG SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Francois Peremarty, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20030075909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid gas generator unit (1) used to inflate at least one side airbag, characterized in that it comprises:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: LIVBAG SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Francois Peremarty, Christian Perotto
  • Patent number: 6543801
    Abstract: A safety device housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety has an impervious inflatable metal bag fixed to a support, a pyrotechnic charge, and an ignition device intended to be connected to a source of electrical current. The bag includes a first metal sheet which has a central orifice, an intermediate fixing zone attached to the support and a peripheral fixing zone and a solid domed second metal sheet which has a peripheral fixing zone. The two metal sheets are fixed together at their peripheral fixing zones. The pyrotechnic charge is contained in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20030047924
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid gas generator (1), used for motor vehicle safety to inflate an airbag, comprising, on the one hand, a body (2) containing an ignition device (16) and, on the other hand, a reservoir (3) connected to the body and containing a pressurized gas (31), together with initially closed-off discharge orifices (10), characterized in that the body possesses:
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: LIVBAG SNC
    Inventors: Christian Perotto, Franck Lebaudy, Bernard Martin, Francois A. Rigault
  • Patent number: 6505852
    Abstract: A safety device housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety has an impervious inflatable metal bag fixed to a support, a pyrotechnic charge, and an ignition device intended to be connected to a source of electrical current. The bag includes a first metal sheet which has a central orifice, an intermediate fixing zone attached to the support and a peripheral fixing zone and a solid domed second metal sheet which has a peripheral fixing zone. The two metal sheets are fixed together at their peripheral fixing zones. The pyrotechnic charge is contained in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20020180185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety device (1) housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20020180189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety device (1) housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Patent number: 6460873
    Abstract: A safety device housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety has an impervious inflatable metal bag fixed to a support, a pyrotechnic charge, and an ignition device intended to be connected to a source of electrical current. The bag includes a first metal sheet which has a central orifice, an intermediate fixing zone attached to the support and a peripheral fixing zone and a solid domed second metal sheet which has a peripheral fixing zone. The two metal sheets are fixed together at their peripheral fixing zones. The pyrotechnic charge is contained in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Publication number: 20020020320
    Abstract: The electropyrotechnic igniter (1) contains two ignition heads (2, 3), each of which has a body containing a resistive heating element (20) and a pyrotechnic ignition composition (16). These two ignition heads also comprise a means (49) of dialogue and of triggering coded information and a means (46) of storing electrical energy. The igniter comprises external connection means (54 to 56) intended to be connected electrically to an electronic control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto
  • Patent number: 6231079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of hybrid gas generators intended to inflate an airbag to protect the occupants of a motor vehicle. The generator (1) according to the invention consists of a metal tube (2) containing an internal partition (26) having a central orifice (27) closed by a diaphragm (28). This partition divides the generator into a reservoir chamber (29) containing the pressurized gases and a combustion and mixing chamber (46) containing a pyrotechnic device (4) extended by a support piece (30) containing a piston-pillar (31) which rests against the diaphragm (28). The stroke of the piston is limited by fins and the base of the piston acts as a deflector, preventing hot gases from entering the reservoir chamber (29) during operation, so that this chamber can contain a greater amount of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Christian Perotto, Christophe Haegeman, Franck Lebaudy
  • Patent number: 6186541
    Abstract: An air bag arrangement is provided, and includes a gas generator to which is connected an air bag. The gas generator has a combustion chamber for composite propellant, and walls of the combustion chamber are provided with discharge openings. A first filter unit is disposed in the gas generator housing and a second filter unit is disposed beyond the housing and surrounds the same at a distance to form a cooling and pressure-reduction zone for a gas stream coming from the first filter unit. The second filter unit separates out gaseous and/or liquid impurities resulting in a gas stream during combustion of the composite propellant in the combustion chamber. By reducing the temperature level of the gas stream and its pressure level to within the range of atmospheric pressure, the second filter unit effects a phase change of the gaseous and/or liquid impurities, whereby liquid and/or solid impurities are filtered out in the second filter unit. The gas stream then enters the air bag from the second filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Ruge, Manfred Veigl, Markus Schels, David Stow, Franck Lebaudy
  • Patent number: 6068291
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic gas generator (1) for airbags comprising housing (2) which has a side wall (3) closed at its two ends. A traverse plate (6) divides the housing (2) into an upstream part (9) and a downstream part (10). The upstream part (9) contains a tube (16) which seperates, in a gas-tight manner, two combustion chambers (17, 18), each one provided with a pyrotechnic charge (19, 20). An electrical ignition device (5) consists of an initiator with two heads (21, 22) may be incorporated in a switching bridge having four switches linked to a circuit with diodes. Thus, it is possible either to initiate only a single head (21, 22) as required, or to initiate both heads in a programmed time-staggered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Livbag SNC
    Inventors: Franck Lebaudy, Christian Perotto