Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Zelinski

Lawrence J. Zelinski 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).

  • Air bag module with tethered door
    Patent number: 6325415
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) for mounting on a portion (12, 20) of a vehicle (14) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (32). The apparatus (10) includes an actuatable inflator (52) for inflating the protection device (32), and a support (54, 124) for supporting the inflator and the protection device (32) on the vehicle portion. The apparatus (10) also includes a deployment door (70) having a first condition covering the protection device (32) when the protection device is in the deflated condition. The door (70) is movable from the first condition to a second condition in response to inflation of the protection device (32). A flexible tether (90) is secured to the vehicle portion (12, 20) and to the protection device (32) and to the deployment door (70). The flexible tether (90) remains secured to the vehicle portion (12, 20) to limit movement of the deployment door (70) away from the vehicle portion in response to inflation of the protection device (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Zelinski, Laurence H. Keeler