Patents by Inventor Marcus John Scott Ward
Marcus John Scott Ward 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).
-
Patent number: 10363899Abstract: An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag assembly comprises an airbag and a deployable ramp configured to unfurl with the airbag when the airbag is deployed. The deployable ramp is configured to transition from a stowed configuration, in which the deployable ramp is stowed with the airbag before deployment, into a ramped configuration when deployed. The deployable ramp comprises a movable element configured to move in response to the deployment of the airbag from a first position in the stowed configuration, to a second position in the ramped configuration. The movable element is arranged such that a thickness of the deployable ramp increases when the movable element is in the second position and the deployable ramp is positioned and shaped in the ramped configuration to assist the airbag in riding over a component of the vehicle as the airbag is deployed.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle, Michal Jan Swiniarski, Afrin Zohura
-
Publication number: 20190184929Abstract: A side-curtain airbag for motor vehicles has cushion that, when inflated, is positioned in spaced alignment with a side window. At least one spacer is located at a distal end of the cushion and is in fluid communication therewith. The spacer contacts a portion of the vehicle structure adjacent to the window and positions the cushion in the desired spaced relationship with the side window. The disclosed airbag provides greater resistance to impact and thereby reduces the distance of travel of the head of a motor vehicle occupant beyond the side window glass during a side impact collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott WARD, Barry GRINDLE, Michal Jan SWINIARSKI
-
Publication number: 20170203710Abstract: An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag assembly comprises an airbag and a deployable ramp configured to unfurl with the airbag when the airbag is deployed. The deployable ramp is configured to transition from a stowed configuration, in which the deployable ramp is stowed with the airbag before deployment, into a ramped configuration when deployed. The deployable ramp comprises a movable element configured to move in response to the deployment of the airbag from a first position in the stowed configuration, to a second position in the ramped configuration. The movable element is arranged such that a thickness of the deployable ramp increases when the movable element is in the second position and the deployable ramp is positioned and shaped in the ramped configuration to assist the airbag in riding over a component of the vehicle as the airbag is deployed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott WARD, Barry GRINDLE, Michal Jan SWINIARSKI, Afrin ZOHURA
-
Patent number: 9637081Abstract: A curtain airbag for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion and a protective sheet having an attachment edge attached to the airbag and a free-length extending from the attachment edge. The cushion formed into a folded condition from which it is deployable in a deployment direction, and the free-length of the sheet is positioned adjacent to the deployment direction of the cushion. The airbag is installed in the vehicle to deploy adjacent to a daylight opening of the vehicle. Deployment of the cushion during inflation causes the protective sheet to be drawn along with the cushion in the deployment direction so that the sheet overlays the outboard-facing side of the cushion (between the cushion and the daylight opening) and thereby provides a degree of protection against damage to the cushion that may be caused by, for example, broken window glass.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sean Timothy Ryan, Joseph Edward Abramczyk, Abdelmonaam Sassi, Michal Jan Swiniarski, Barry Grindle, Jeffrey Charles Paddock, Marcus John Scott Ward, Jay Blackson, Joseph Giaimo
-
Publication number: 20160009246Abstract: A curtain airbag for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion and a protective sheet having an attachment edge attached to the airbag and a free-length extending from the attachment edge. The cushion formed into a folded condition from which it is deployable in a deployment direction, and the free-length of the sheet is positioned adjacent to the deployment direction of the cushion. The airbag is installed in the vehicle to deploy adjacent to a daylight opening of the vehicle. Deployment of the cushion during inflation causes the protective sheet to be drawn along with the cushion in the deployment direction so that the sheet overlays the outboard-facing side of the cushion (between the cushion and the daylight opening) and thereby provides a degree of protection against damage to the cushion that may be caused by, for example, broken window glass.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Sean Timothy Ryan, Joseph Edward Abramczyk, Abdelmonaam Sassi, Michal Jan Swiniarski, Barry Grindle, Jeffrey Charles Paddock, Marcus John Scott Ward, Jay Blackson, Joseph Giaimo
-
Patent number: 9156429Abstract: A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle has an airbag with a receiving portion shaped to clamp onto or around a portion of a seat of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed to assist in securing the airbag in place. The receiving portion is formed by supplementary material adjacent to a seam between inner and outer panels of the airbag, the supplementary material forming a clamping pocket which grips an outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag. Alternatively, the receiving portion is formed by first and second overlapping portions of the airbag which overlap one another when the airbag is deflated, the overlapping portions forming a clamping pocket configured to grip the outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle, Ian Derbyshire, Michal Jan Swiniarski
-
Publication number: 20150158451Abstract: A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle has an airbag with a receiving portion shaped to clamp onto or around a portion of a seat of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed to assist in securing the airbag in place. The receiving portion is formed by supplementary material adjacent to a seam between inner and outer panels of the airbag, the supplementary material forming a clamping pocket which grips an outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag. Alternatively, the receiving portion is formed by first and second overlapping portions of the airbag which overlap one another when the airbag is deflated, the overlapping portions forming a clamping pocket configured to grip the outboard portion of the seat upon inflation of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Marcus John Scott WARD, Barry GRINDLE, Ian DERBYSHIRE, Michal Jan SWINIARSKI
-
Patent number: 8672345Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle
-
Publication number: 20130249199Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle
-
Patent number: 8459691Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle
-
Patent number: 8459695Abstract: A curtain airbag assembly is provided having a number of airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d arranged in a side by side relationship. Lower ends of the airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are linked to the adjacent airbag by an airbag tether connector assembly 10. Each of the tether connector assemblies includes first and second connectors 20, 30 that engage with one another and snap together to fasten together two tethers 26, 36. In the event that the first and second connectors 20, 30 are not correctly coupled together an indication of this fact is providing in one of a number of manners thereby reducing the risk that a vehicle 5 fitted with such a curtain airbag assembly can enter service with one or more tethers 26, 36 not connected.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Charles Spencer, Marcus John Scott Ward
-
Publication number: 20120025501Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Marcus John Scott Ward, Barry Grindle
-
Patent number: 8065931Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
-
Patent number: 8056436Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
-
Publication number: 20110271787Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
-
Publication number: 20110248484Abstract: Installation system for fastening a side curtain airbag to a motor vehicle comprising an airbag with a hollow filling portion which may be inflated by a gas generator and a fastening edge. The installation system has a laterally open fastening profile with a continuous groove which may correspond to the length of the airbag. The fastening profile is arranged on the vehicle and defines a slit-like opening. A thickened guide extends along the fastening edge and is configured to be inserted into the fastening profile. The thickened guide is received in the groove and has a cross section that is at least partially larger than the slit-like opening of the fastening profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Timothy Scott, Raf Haidar, Markus Koelsch, Marcus John Scott Ward
-
Publication number: 20110062694Abstract: A curtain airbag assembly is provided having a number of airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d arranged in a side by side relationship. Lower ends of the airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are linked to the adjacent airbag by an airbag tether connector assembly 10. Each of the tether connector assemblies includes first and second connectors 20, 30 that engage with one another and snap together to fasten together two tethers 26, 36. In the event that the first and second connectors 20, 30 are not correctly coupled together an indication of this fact is providing in one of a number of manners thereby reducing the risk that a vehicle 5 fitted with such a curtain airbag assembly can enter service with one or more tethers 26, 36 not connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Charles Spencer, Marcus John Scott Ward
-
Publication number: 20090031843Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
-
Patent number: 6045154Abstract: A vehicle airbag assembly (1, 101)including an airbag door (3,103) arranged to be opened on airbag deployment, and which is tethered to a fixed anchor point (5,105) by a tether assembly (11,111), the tether assembly(11,111) comprising a substantially flexible strap member extending between the fixed anchor point (5,105) and the airbag door (3,103) such that its longitudinal axis (13,113) extends substantially perpendicular to an edge of the airbag door, each of the airbag door (3,103) and the anchor point (5,105) defining a mounting area to which an end of the tether is secured, the tether assembly (11,111) arranged such that a first one of the mounting areas (7,107) comprises an elongate unitary zone arranged along a single longitudinal axis(19,119), and the second one of the mounting areas (9,109) comprises at least two zones whose respective longitudinal axes are non-collinear whereby the tether assembly(11,111) absorbs energy as the airbag door is deployed and controls its movement.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David Noel Walton, Marcus John Scott Ward