Patents by Inventor Gwendoyln C. Hatten

Gwendoyln C. Hatten 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).

  • Inflatable curtain with tensioning device
    Patent number: 6308982
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14). The vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable in a first direction into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. When inflated, the vehicle occupant protection device (14) extends fore and aft in the vehicle (12) along the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). An inflator (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. A mechanism (50) causes the vehicle occupant protection device (14) when inflated to be tensioned in the first direction along the fore and aft extent of the vehicle occupant protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Wallner, Paul F. Altamore, Gwendoyln C. Hatten