Patents by Inventor Lindford R.T. Smith

Lindford R.T. Smith 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).

  • Vehicle pillar release assemblies and related methods
    Patent number: 11167715
    Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Oral Ballam, Brian Laird, Yutaka Hirata, Lindford R. T. Smith
  • VEHICLE PILLAR RELEASE ASSEMBLIES AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20210213905
    Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: David Oral Ballam, Brian Laird, Yutaka Hirata, Lindford R.T. Smith