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).

  • Patent number: 8231140
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
  • Publication number: 20110121548
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
  • Patent number: 7878539
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
  • Publication number: 20080217892
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Vivekananda Maripudi, Jaime Fermin Perez, Benjamin Aguilar, James Karlow, Nicole Wiggins, John Pilchowski, William B. Cox
  • Patent number: 7396044
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, Jerome Bosch, James Karlow, Amy L. Klinkenberger
  • Patent number: 7377548
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, James Karlow, Amy L. Klinkenberger, John K. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20080106075
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: James Karlow, Barney Bauer
  • Publication number: 20070284863
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: William Bostick, James Karlow, Dave McCormick, Barney Bauer, Henk Helleman, Simin Zeng, Daqing Zhang, Hideki Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20070108750
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20070007757
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Barney Bauer, Jerome Bosch, James Karlow, Amy Klinkenberger
  • Publication number: 20060290113
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Albert Bernat, James Karlow
  • Publication number: 20060249943
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Barney Bauer, James Karlow, Amy Klinkenberger, John Williamson