Patents by Inventor Gary Andrew Card

Gary Andrew Card 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: 11643040
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Publication number: 20220032870
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for supportably deploying an occupant restraint airbag. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes an occupant restraint airbag configured to be deployable between an occupant of a vehicle and a forward structure of a vehicle interior. The occupant restraint airbag presents an occupant surface to engage at least a portion of a body of the occupant and a back surface on an opposing side of the occupant restraint airbag responsive to inflation thereof. A reaction surface airbag is deployable between the occupant restraint airbag and an interior surface of the vehicle. The reaction surface airbag presents a first surface configured to engage the back surface of the occupant restraint airbag and a second surface to engage the interior surface responsive to inflation of the reaction surface airbag. The reaction surface airbag resists movement of the occupant restraint airbag toward the interior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Card, Jared Andrew Odle
  • Publication number: 20210245695
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Patent number: 11021125
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Patent number: 10814899
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Publication number: 20200001911
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Rivian Automotive, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew CARD
  • Publication number: 20190381966
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Rivian Automotive, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew CARD
  • Patent number: 8002311
    Abstract: An airbag system including an airbag having a first section and a second section coupled to the first section. The airbag further includes an inlet coupled to an inflatable portion. The first section is configured to inflate between a trim member and a vehicle frame; and the second section is configured to inflate into a vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Card, John Paul Ruterbusch
  • Publication number: 20080116670
    Abstract: An airbag system including an airbag having a first section and a second section coupled to the first section. The airbag further includes an inlet coupled to an inflatable portion. The first section is configured to inflate between a trim member and a vehicle frame; and the second section is configured to inflate into a vehicle cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Card, John Paul Ruterbusch
  • Patent number: 7223224
    Abstract: A part of a distal end portion of an airbag is tucked into an interior thereof. A plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds are formed in first and second halves of the airbag, and the folded distal and proximal portions of the airbag are each folded substantially transverse to the longitudinal folds so as to form two compact fold bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Card, Jaime Fermin Perez
  • Publication number: 20040147385
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of folding an airbag, wherein the airbag is folded compactly to fit into a receptacle such as an airbag housing. The method includes the step of inwardly tucking an end portion of the airbag, thereby forming upper and lower portions of the airbag bounding the tucked end region. The method further includes the steps of longitudinally folding first and second halves of the airbag, and folding the airbag a plurality of times transversely to form two compact fold bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Card, Jaime Fermin Perez