Patents by Inventor Mark Hatfield

Mark Hatfield 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: 11780399
    Abstract: An emblem assembly arranged in an airbag cover coupled with a vehicle structure such as a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes an electronic unit, a decorative unit, and a control device. The electronic unit is held by the airbag cover and has at least one light source. The decorative unit is arranged in the airbag cover and attached to the electronic unit such that the decorative unit covers at least a part of the electronic unit. The control device is electrically connected to the electronic unit and is adapted to control illumination of the decorative unit. Further, at least one light source of the electronic unit is adjusted by the control device arranged in the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20230029371
    Abstract: An emblem assembly arranged in an airbag cover coupled with a vehicle structure such as a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes an electronic unit, a decorative unit, and a control device. The electronic unit is held by the airbag cover and has at least one light source. The decorative unit is arranged in the airbag cover and attached to the electronic unit such that the decorative unit covers at least a part of the electronic unit. The control device is electrically connected to the electronic unit and is adapted to control illumination of the decorative unit. Further, at least one light source of the electronic unit is adjusted by the control device arranged in the vehicle structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: MARK HATFIELD
  • Patent number: 9333937
    Abstract: Airbag covers with stress relief features are disclosed. An airbag cover includes a cover face that opens during deployment and one or more sidewalls extending from the cover face to engage a housing of an airbag assembly. One or more tear seams formed in the airbag cover are rupturable upon expansion of the airbag to form the cover face as a hinged door that opens. Excess force can cause a tear seam to propagate through a stop, creating a risk that a portion of the airbag cover will separate from itself or the housing. Stress relief features are disposed in a sidewall to dissipate excess deployment energy and limit undesired breakage of the airbag cover or continued tearing of the tear seam beyond a tear seam stop. The stress relief features disclosed include tear seams and slits oriented transverse to front cover tear seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hock, Mark Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20140265263
    Abstract: An airbag cushion assembly can include a mounting assembly and an airbag cushion. The mounting assembly includes a plate which may be coupled to the airbag cushion, and which may also include a fastener which is used to attach the assembly to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Balaskandan Shankar, Mark Hatfield
  • Patent number: 8091918
    Abstract: Mounting assemblies can be used to attach an inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle structure. Mounting assemblies can include a mounting member, a connecting member, and an optional wrapper. The connecting member is attached to the mounting member and the airbag via stitching, which can be categorized according to the primary direction of stress that may be placed on the stitching during airbag deployment. Stitching in shear is stronger than otherwise identical stitching in peel; however, a preferred method of packaging a curtain airbag results in a b-rolled airbag that can not be attached to the connecting member with shear stitching alone. Peel stitching alone may not be strong enough to retain an occupant within the vehicle during a rollover event. As such, a combination of a folded connecting member, shear stitching, and peel stitching allows a b-roll airbag to meet occupant ejection mitigation requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Abe Mitchell, Mark Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20110175333
    Abstract: Mounting assemblies can be used to attach an inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle structure. Mounting assemblies can include a mounting member, a connecting member, and an optional wrapper. The connecting member is attached to the mounting member and the airbag via stitching, which can be categorized according to the primary direction of stress that may be placed on the stitching during airbag deployment. Stitching in shear is stronger than otherwise identical stitching in peel; however, a preferred method of packaging a curtain airbag results in a b-rolled airbag that can not be attached to the connecting member with shear stitching alone. Peel stitching alone may not be strong enough to retain an occupant within the vehicle during a rollover event. As such, a combination of a folded connecting member, shear stitching, and peel stitching allows a b-roll airbag to meet occupant ejection mitigation requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Abe Mitchell, Mark Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20090058051
    Abstract: In order to provide a curtain airbag that is of light weight, that is less expensive and easy to manufacture and that protects securely body parts from coming into a position outside the car, the invention refers to a curtain airbag which comprises a first section having two side walls enclosing a first gas chamber, a second section having two side walls enclosing a second gas chamber, a tube made of a flexible material extending between the first and the second section and connecting the first gas chamber with the second gas chamber and a non-inflatable intermediate section connecting the first and the second section and being connected to the first section by a first seam, to the second section by a second seam, and to the tube by a third seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Hatfield, Ian Taylor, Alan Bradburn