Patents by Inventor Jeffery Lafranier

Jeffery Lafranier 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).

  • Stored gas inflator with fill valve assembly
    Patent number: 7108281
    Abstract: An inflator (12) includes structure (40, 50, 82) defining a chamber (130). First and second passages (92 and 116) extend through the structure (40, 50, 82). A burst disk (120) closes the first passage (116). A valve housing (142) is received in the second passage (92) and defines a fill passage (154). A fluid (186) is stored under pressure in the chamber (130). An igniter (70) is actuatable for opening the burst disk (120) for enabling the fluid (186) to flow out of the chamber (130) through the first passage (116). A valve member (144) enables flow of the fluid (186) through the fill passage (154) of the valve housing (142) into the chamber (130) and prevents flow out of the chamber (130) through the fill passage (154).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Butler, Jeffery A. Lafranier, Christopher J. Ruf, James S. Dahl
  • Stored gas inflator with fill valve assembly
    Publication number: 20050040633
    Abstract: An inflator (12) includes structure (40, 50, 82) defining a chamber (130). First and second passages (92 and 116) extend through the structure (40, 50, 82). A burst disk (120) closes the first passage (116). A valve housing (142) is received in the second passage (92) and defines a fill passage (154). A fluid (186) is stored under pressure in the chamber (130). An igniter (70) is actuatable for opening the burst disk (120) for enabling the fluid (186) to flow out of the chamber (130) through the first passage (116). A valve member (144) enables flow of the fluid (186) through the fill passage (154) of the valve housing (142) into the chamber (130) and prevents flow out of the chamber (130) through the fill passage (154).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: William Butler, Jeffery Lafranier, Christopher Ruf, James Dahl