Patents by Inventor James Karlow
James Karlow 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).
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Patent number: 8231140Abstract: An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
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Publication number: 20110121548Abstract: An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2011Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
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Patent number: 7878539Abstract: An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
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Publication number: 20080217892Abstract: An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
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Patent number: 7396044Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag and a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that includes a first member and a second member. The second member at least partially overlaps the first member and is held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member. The system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, Jerome Bosch, James Karlow, Amy L. Klinkenberger
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Patent number: 7377548Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag formed with at least one fabric panel and an inflator. The fabric panel includes at least one loop along a perimeter of the fabric panel. The inflator is a dual stage inflator configured to generate inflation gas during a first inflation stage and a second inflation stage to inflate the airbag. The airbag also includes a tether configured to help control the shape of the airbag when the airbag is inflating, the tether being positioned through the opening or loop when the airbag is in an uninflated state. The tether is severed by heat and/or pressure from inflation gases during the second stage inflation.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, James Karlow, Amy L. Klinkenberger, John K. Williamson
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Publication number: 20080106075Abstract: An airbag module includes an airbag, an inflator for inflating the airbag, a mounting plate, and a non-rigid tension element. The tension element comprises at least one fabric layer. The tension element is attached to the mounting plate to restrict lateral movement of the airbag during deployment. The airbag module may also include a fabric casing with a bowl section and a draw section. The fabric casing includes a casing opening and a tether drawstring. The tension element may be attached to the fabric casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventors: James Karlow, Barney Bauer
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Publication number: 20070284863Abstract: An airbag module integrates the components required for gas generation, thereby eliminating the need for a separate inflation component. The airbag module can comprise a cover with a pocket, a gas generant container, an inflatable cushion an upper and lower retainer housing, and an inflation gas generation system in fluid communication with the cushion. The airbag module does not comprise a discrete inflator that is functional outside the assembled airbag module. The gas generant container houses a package of solid gas generating compound. The energetic materials of the propellant do not become functional as a gas generation source until the cover is secured to the lower retainer housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventors: William Bostick, James Karlow, Dave McCormick, Barney Bauer, Henk Helleman, Simin Zeng, Daqing Zhang, Hideki Mizuno
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Publication number: 20070108750Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2006Publication date: May 17, 2007Inventors: Barney Bauer, Moe Boumarafi, Jerome Bosch, Jonathan Clarke, Nate Dennis, James Karlow, Amy Klinkenberger, Vivekananadhan Maripudi, Michael Scavnicky, Jamie Perez Aguilar, Stephanie McFadden, Paul Baker, Paul Maertens, John Ruterbusch, Ray Roberts, Joseph Ehrke
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Publication number: 20070007757Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag and a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that includes a first member and a second member. The second member at least partially overlaps the first member and is held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member. The system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2005Publication date: January 11, 2007Inventors: Barney Bauer, Jerome Bosch, James Karlow, Amy Klinkenberger
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Publication number: 20060290113Abstract: Systems and methods of vehicle protection increase the amount of safety provided for the occupants of the vehicle. The disclosed systems and methods are particularly useful in the event of a rollover or roof deformation. In one aspect, a vehicle airbag system includes an inflatable airbag positioned on an interior surface of a vehicle, the vehicle including a roof surface and one or more side surfaces. The airbag, when deployed, is adapted to from a cushion between the roof surface and occupants of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2005Publication date: December 28, 2006Inventors: Albert Bernat, James Karlow
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Publication number: 20060249943Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag formed with at least one fabric panel and an inflator. The fabric panel includes at least one loop along a perimeter of the fabric panel. The inflator is a dual stage inflator configured to generate inflation gas during a first inflation stage and a second inflation stage to inflate the airbag. The airbag also includes a tether configured to help control the shape of the airbag when the airbag is inflating, the tether being positioned through the opening or loop when the airbag is in an uninflated state. The tether is severed by heat and/or pressure from inflation gases during the second stage inflation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2005Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Barney Bauer, James Karlow, Amy Klinkenberger, John Williamson