Patents by Inventor Nathaniel P. Jordan

Nathaniel P. Jordan 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: 11254273
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a cushioning surface configured to be contacted by a user to cushion the user after inflation of the airbag. The airbag also includes at least one cushioning surface positioning vent coupled to the cushioning surface. The at least one cushioning surface positioning vent is actuatable to direct a flow of gas exiting an interior of the airbag so as to produce a reaction force which moves the cushioning surface in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica A. Riffe, Nathaniel P. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20200122666
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a cushioning surface configured to be contacted by a user to cushion the user after inflation of the airbag. The airbag also includes at least one cushioning surface positioning vent coupled to the cushioning surface. The at least one cushioning surface positioning vent is actuatable to direct a flow of gas exiting an interior of the airbag so as to produce a reaction force which moves the cushioning surface in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jessica A. Riffe, Nathaniel P. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8398148
    Abstract: A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, through the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or through any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Teramoto, Kazuhiro Fukazawa, David L. Minock, Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Patent number: 8235451
    Abstract: A method and system for deforming a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod deformation member. The drive rod deformation member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod deformation member impacts and deforms the drive rod. The deformation of the drive rod can correspond to a compression of the door and the door can be opened by actuating the door handle. However, the deformation of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker through compression of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel P. Jordan, Christopher M. Higgins, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Publication number: 20120192494
    Abstract: A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, through the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or through any other means of disengagement. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Teramoto, Kazuhiro Fukazawa, David L. Minock, Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Patent number: 8128151
    Abstract: A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Teramoto, Kazuhiro Fukazawa, David L. Minock, Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Patent number: 8079631
    Abstract: A method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod guiding member. The drive rod guiding member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod can be disengaged from the door handle or the latching system. The drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latching system. By guiding the drive rod away the door handle or the latching system, the drive rod guiding member can prevent the drive rod from re-engaging with the door handle or the latching system. This maintains the door in the closed position instead of the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Publication number: 20110115251
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for deforming a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. The present invention can include an automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod deformation member. The drive rod deformation member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod deformation member impacts and deforms the drive rod. The deformation of the drive rod can correspond to a compression of the door and the door can be opened by actuating the door handle. However, the deformation of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker through compression of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGNEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nathaniel P. Jordan, Christopher M. Higgins, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Publication number: 20110115252
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. The present invention includes an automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod guiding member. The drive rod guiding member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod can be disengaged from the door handle or the latching system. The drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latching system. By guiding the drive rod away the door handle or the latching system, the drive rod guiding member can prevent the drive rod from re-engaging with the door handle or the latching system. This maintains the door in the closed position instead of the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
  • Publication number: 20110062747
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. The present invention includes an automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or any other means. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Teramoto, Kazuhiro Fukazawa, David L. Minock, Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe