Patents by Inventor Merle Ricks

Merle Ricks 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).

  • Publication number: 20060061068
    Abstract: A vibration damper gasket is provided for a vibration damper gasket mounting an airbag inflator within an airbag module such that the airbag inflator may serve as a vibration damper for the vehicle. The vibration damper gaskets include a mounting ring sized and designed to fit about the edge of an airbag inflator flange. The mounting ring generally includes upper and lower retention arms and an adapter groove positioned between the retention arms for receiving the edge of the airbag inflator flange. The mounting ring also has a compression column provided on an outside surface of the mounting ring to allow the gasket to be compression-mounted within a vehicle. The vibration damper gaskets of the invention additionally include at least one inflator ground extending along an inside surface of the mounting ring from at least an upper contact surface of the upper retention arm continuously across the adapter groove to a lower contact surface of the lower retention arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Krista Nash, Alan Ward, Mark Bunker, Jeff Morley, Merle Ricks
  • Patent number: 5593177
    Abstract: An airbag module electric component attachment includes protruding studs existing on the airbag module and typically fastening the inflator, housing, cushion and cushion retainer together, and stud reception openings provided in the electric component in which the studs are secured when the electric component is pressed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventor: Merle Ricks