Patents by Inventor John A. Sollars, Jr.
John A. Sollars, Jr. 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: 8118324Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) is provided. The bag includes a face portion and a rear portion formed from first and second fabric layers (30, 32). The bag further includes a number of straight line woven in joints (16) defining flow barrier elements (14). The flow barrier elements (14) serve to contain the inflation gases and to restrict inflation of the cushion.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2003Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090197027Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 2.5 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 7 seconds.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Shulong Li, John A. Sollars, JR.
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Patent number: 7543609Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 7517570Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 2.5 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 7 seconds.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Shulong Li, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080302438Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventor: John A. Sollars, JR.
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Patent number: 7409970Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 7296328Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment apparatus and process for increasing the air permeability of a textile web, and the airbag fabrics made by such process.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Patrick A. Petri, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 7069961Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6830261Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) is provided. The bag includes a face portion and a rear portion formed from first and second fabric layers (30, 32). The bag further includes a number of straight line woven in joints (16) defining flow barrier elements (14). The flow barrier elements (14) serve to contain the inflation gases and to restrict inflation of the cushion.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6701971Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 3.0 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 7 seconds.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Mililken & CompanyInventors: John A. Sollars, Jr., Shulong Li
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Patent number: 6698458Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: John A. Sollars, Jr., Shulong Li
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Patent number: 6688642Abstract: An airbag system for seatbelts including a housing and an elongated one-piece tubular inflatable structure disposed within the housing, where the housing and inflatable structure include a seatbelt passageway so that a seatbelt may pass therethrough unhindered and unaffected during normal seatbelt use, while the inflatable structure remains in an uninflated state. In a collision event, an inflator causes the inflatable structure to unfold, or preferably unroll, and extend from the housing along the seatbelt, so that the inflatable structure surrounds the seatbelt over an extended length thereof to provide a cushion between the seatbelt and an occupant. Such an arrangement may be easily applied to existing seatbelt systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6595244Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having at least one area of two layers and at least one attachment point or “seam” where a single layer of fabric is formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed through the utilization of basket weave patterns. The single fabric layers provide a relatively a effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6451715Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 3.0 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Shulong Li, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6429155Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Shulong Li, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 6220309Abstract: An all-woven inflatable fabric having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers are constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by a narrow double fabric layer can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 5921287Abstract: A stable permeability fabric and inflatable restraint cushion formed therefrom. The air permeability of the fabric is initially low and does not substantially increase when the fabric is subjected to biaxial loading in both the warp and the fill directions. This permeability profile permits the restraint cushion formed from the fabric to maintain stable permeability characteristics during deployment.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventors: Derek L. Bowen, Charles L. Bower, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 5704402Abstract: The woven structure for an air bag is designed to have an air permeability which does not increase by more than about fifty percent when the fabric is subjected to substantially equivalent tension forces in both the warp and fill. This is accomplished by a multiple warp harness arrangement using combinations of twill and basket weave pattern components. This weave construction does not only avoid substantial increases in permeability over a range of biaxial tensions but also may result in a permeability decrease when subjected to tensions which approximate those applicable during actual air bag deployment.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1996Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventors: Derek L. Bowen, Charles L. Bower, John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: 5482318Abstract: An inflatable cushion restraint is provided. The inflatable cushion restraint comprises a body portion, a web portion, and entrance for admitting an inflating medium. The body portion and the web portion are preferably joined about their perimeters by a single seam following the introduction of pleats from the perimeter of the body portion to locations in the interior thereof so as to provide material for billowing expansion during inflation. A process for forming the inflatable cushion restraint is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1993Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.
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Patent number: D573352Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2003Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventor: John A. Sollars, Jr.