Patents by Inventor Peter F. Layer

Peter F. Layer 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).

  • Method and apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint
    Patent number: 5678852
    Abstract: A method of inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes the step of directing inflation fluid to flow into the restraint (12) to inflate the restraint (12) in a vehicle (11) between a vehicle seat (16) and a side portion of the vehicle (11), such as a vehicle door (18). The inflation fluid increases the internal fluid pressure of the restraint (12) toward a maximum internal fluid pressure as the inflation fluid flows into the restraint (12). The method further includes the step of constraining the restraint (12) to resist inflating the restraint (12) during at least a portion of the step of directing inflation fluid into the restraint (12). The step of constraining the restraint (12) causes the restraint (12) to reach a constrained volume at which the internal fluid pressure is approximately 70-100% of the maximum internal fluid pressure at approximately 6-8 milliseconds after the inflation fluid begins to flow into the restraint (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Louis R. Brown, Edward J. Burley, Peter F. Layer