Patents by Inventor Heather Kramer

Heather Kramer 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).

  • Vented air bag
    Patent number: 8186713
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Heather Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez, Amit Sharma, John Bauer
  • Vehicle occupant protection apparatus with pocket and method of making same
    Publication number: 20070262572
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant (15 or 16) of a vehicle (17) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) and an inflation fluid source. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a stored, deflated position and an inflated position. The inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a first panel portion (501) for, when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) is inflated, protecting an adult size vehicle occupant (15). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a second panel portion (502) for, when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) is inflated, defining a downwardly open pocket (520) for receiving a portion of a child size vehicle occupant (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Kurt Fischer, Eric Eckelberg, Alberto Rodriguez, Heather Kramer, Amit Sharma
  • Vented air bag
    Publication number: 20060273562
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Kurt Fischer, Heather Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez, Amit Sharma, John Bauer