Patents by Inventor Leif A. Thompson

Leif A. Thompson 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).

  • Gas generator for vehicle occupant restraint
    Patent number: 5382050
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint assembly (12) has an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (20), a housing (14), a gas generating material (16) within the housing, an igniter (18) for igniting the gas generating material, and gas flow channel (22) for directing the gas which is generated into the vehicle occupant restraint. The vehicle occupant restraint is preferably an air bag. The gas generating material (16) contains (a) an alkali metal azide, alkaline earth metal azide or aluminum azide and (b) a metal oxidant which is the gamma form of ferric oxide (Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3). The metal oxidant is present in the gas generating composition in an approximately stoichiometric amount with regard to the metal azide, or in an amount slightly in excess of stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Leif A. Thompson