Patents by Inventor Kurt Shanks

Kurt Shanks 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).

  • Steering column system for vehicle occupant safety
    Patent number: 10144382
    Abstract: A steering column system of a vehicle includes: a rotatable, hollow steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is surrounded by the steering shaft and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The airbag contained in the DAB module is formed to have a substantially circular center chamber and a pair of side extension chambers, one of the side extension chambers disposed on a right side of the center chamber, and the other of the side extension chambers disposed on a left side of the center chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Shanks, Barry Phillips, David Gotwals
  • Enhanced steering system utilizing fixed dab for occupant protection in frontal impacts with laterial loading
    Patent number: 10029642
    Abstract: A steering column system includes: a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David Gotwals, Kurt Shanks, Barry Phillips
  • ENHANCED STEERING SYSTEM UTILIZING FIXED DAB FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN FRONTAL IMPACTS WITH LATERIAL LOADING
    Publication number: 20170267201
    Abstract: A steering column system includes: a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: David Gotwals, Kurt Shanks, Barry Phillips
  • STEERING COLUMN SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAFETY
    Publication number: 20170166155
    Abstract: A steering column system of a vehicle includes: a rotatable, hollow steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is surrounded by the steering shaft and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The airbag contained in the DAB module is formed to have a substantially circular center chamber and a pair of side extension chambers, one of the side extension chambers disposed on a right side of the center chamber, and the other of the side extension chambers disposed on a left side of the center chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt Shanks, Barry Phillips, David Gotwals