Patents by Inventor Peter L. Vigeant
Peter L. Vigeant 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).
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Patent number: 10899304Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag cover having a first panel portion. The first panel portion has first lower edge and a plurality of clips formed at the first lower edge. The clips each have a thickness greater than the first panel portion. A case has a plurality of openings configured to receive the clips of the airbag cover. The openings in the case may each be an elongated slot including a wide portion and a contiguous narrow portion that is narrower than the thickness of the clip. Each slot is configured such that the clip can be inserted through the wide portion and then slid to the narrow portion to retain the airbag cover to the case.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael Thomas Rhodes, Sara Anne Schumer, Peter L. Vigeant, Bradley S. Honermann
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Publication number: 20190351861Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag cover having a first panel portion. The first panel portion has first lower edge and a plurality of clips formed at the first lower edge. The clips each have a thickness greater than the first panel portion. A case has a plurality of openings configured to receive the clips of the airbag cover. The openings in the case may each be an elongated slot including a wide portion and a contiguous narrow portion that is narrower than the thickness of the clip. Each slot is configured such that the clip can be inserted through the wide portion and then slid to the narrow portion to retain the airbag cover to the case.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2018Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Michael Thomas Rhodes, Sara Anne Schumer, Peter L. Vigeant, Bradley S. Honermann
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Publication number: 20140062067Abstract: An example airbag cover includes an airbag cover having a front portion spaced from separation lines. The separation lines are configured to separate during expansion of an airbag. Another example airbag cover includes a front portion having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface. A plurality of separation ribs extending away from the inwardly facing surface, the separation ribs include separation lines spaced from the inwardly facing surface. At least one hinge extends away from the inwardly facing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Adam P. Hardin, Peter L. Vigeant, Lionel K. Cureau, Tood Huber
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Patent number: 8661936Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes an armature having spokes over which a spoke ends of a steering wheel are molded. A back cover connects to the armature and the steering wheel. A trim plate snap-fits directly to the spoke ends of the steering wheel and to the back cover, without connecting directly to the armature. Because the trim plates are directly connected to the same two components with which the trim plates must provide proper fit and finish, proper fit and finish is ensured.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, Michael A. Schorle, Michael J. Olesko
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Patent number: 8651524Abstract: An example trajectory control envelope includes a trajectory control envelope configured to receive an airbag and to control deployment of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Adam Hardin, Peter L. Vigeant
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Patent number: 8641082Abstract: An exemplary airbag case includes a floor that is configured to receive an airbag module, a wall extending away from the floor, and a plurality of reinforcement features each extending without interruption from the floor to the wall.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, Adam D. Hardin, April Hamilton, Lionel K. Cureau
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Publication number: 20140008899Abstract: An exemplary airbag case includes a floor that is configured to receive an airbag module, a wall extending away from the floor, and a plurality of reinforcement features each extending without interruption from the floor to the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, Adam D. Hardin, April Hamilton, Lionel K. Cureau
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Publication number: 20130140799Abstract: An example trajectory control envelope includes a trajectory control envelope configured to receive an airbag and to control deployment of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Inventors: Adam Hardin, Peter L. Vigeant
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Patent number: 8454050Abstract: An example airbag housing assembly includes a base and an end cap. The end cap is positioned at a lateral end of the base. The end cap is configured to be fastened directly to a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Michael A. Schorle, Peter L. Vigeant, Bryan H. Stover
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Patent number: 8434785Abstract: An example airbag arrangement includes an example airbag moveable between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. The airbag includes a contact face. A tether has a first end connected to the contact face and a second end anchoring the tether. The tether holds the contact face of the airbag in a substantially vertical position.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer
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Patent number: 8419056Abstract: An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Publication number: 20120274054Abstract: An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8251398Abstract: An exemplary airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct having an duct opening for venting gas. The duct has a first position and a second position. The duct is configured to direct less gas out of the airbag when in the second position than when in the first position. A tether kinks about the duct to move the duct from the first position to the second position. The inflating causes the tether to kink about the duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8172263Abstract: An example airbag arrangement includes an airbag moveable between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. The airbag includes a contact face. A tether has a first tether end connected adjacent an upper portion of the contact face and a second tether end anchoring the tether. The tether holds the contact face in a substantially vertical position.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Tanja Kryzaniwskyj
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Publication number: 20120032429Abstract: An exemplary airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct having an duct opening for venting gas. The duct has a first position and a second position. The duct is configured to direct less gas out of the airbag when in the second position than when in the first position. A tether kinks about the duct to move the duct from the first position to the second position. The inflating causes the tether to kink about the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8061734Abstract: An example airbag assembly includes an airbag having an airbag opening and a duct adjacent the airbag opening. A tether is configured to move the duct between a first position and a second position. The duct communicates a first flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the first position. The duct communicates a second flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the second position. The first flow is greater than the second flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8029017Abstract: An example airbag inflator manifold assembly includes a cap portion establishing a plurality of apertures that are operative to communicate flow from an inflator to an airbag interior. A baffle portion redirects at least some of the flow from the plurality of apertures. A mounting face extends radially from the cap portion and is securable to a flange extending radially from the inflator to hold the cap portion and the baffle portion relative to the inflator.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Michael A. Schorle, Peter L. Vigeant, David L. Geyer
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Publication number: 20110227318Abstract: An example airbag housing assembly includes a base and an end cap. The end cap is positioned at a lateral end of the base. The end cap is configured to be fastened directly to a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Michael A. Schorle, Peter L. Vigeant, Bryan H. Stover
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Publication number: 20110121549Abstract: An example airbag assembly includes an airbag having an airbag opening and a duct adjacent the airbag opening. A tether is configured to move the duct between a first position and a second position. The duct communicates a first flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the first position. The duct communicates a second flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the second position. The first flow is greater than the second flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 7946620Abstract: An airbag includes end panels sewn onto opposite ends of the airbag. The end panels include side tabs and a center tab. The side tabs hook onto a retainer. The center tab is sewn to the airbag adjacent the opening in the retainer to pull the airbag against the concave inner surface of the retainer, thereby eliminating bunching and folding of airbag material at the interface of the retainer and inflator.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Peter L. Vigeant, David Laird Geyer, Robert Andrew Parks