Patents by Inventor Russell J. Mihm

Russell J. Mihm 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: 11433792
    Abstract: A method of activating a head restraint system in a vehicle for an occupant is provided. The method comprises providing a vehicle seat having a seat belt and a head restraint in the vehicle and detecting the occupant in the vehicle. The method further comprises actuating the seat head restraint of the vehicle seat to an in-use position if the seat belt is buckled. The method further includes providing an actuation signal to an electronic control module of the vehicle if the seat head restraint is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada, Niki K. Meyers
  • Patent number: 11235691
    Abstract: A rear-center head restraint system for an automobile vehicle includes a rear seatback of an automobile vehicle. A head restraint assembly is mounted on the rear seatback and is moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. The head restraint assembly includes a forward head restraint portion displaced from the stowed position in an upward direction and in a forward direction with respect to the rear seatback. A rear head restraint portion is positioned rearward of the forward head restraint portion and is displaced in the upward direction as the forward head restraint portion displaces away from the stowed position. At least one headrest post is fixedly positioned within the rear seat back. A release mechanism connected to the at least one headrest post is operated to release the head restraint assembly from the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
  • Patent number: 11148570
    Abstract: A rear-center head restraint system of an automobile vehicle includes a rear seatback of the automobile vehicle. A head restraint assembly is rotatably mounted to the rear seatback and is moved between a stowed position and an in-use position. The head restraint assembly includes a rear head restraint body defining an L-shape and includes a forward-facing surface moved toward a head of an occupant at the in-use position. At least a first link and a second link are rotatably connected to the seatback. The first link and the second link are also rotatably connected to the rear head restraint body. A release system rotates the head restraint assembly selectively between the stowed position and the in-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
  • Patent number: 11022531
    Abstract: A seat belt test apparatus for testing a safety restraint system for a vehicle comprises a first, a second, and a third test stand, an impactor apparatus, and a resistor apparatus. The first, a second, and a third test stand are selectively fixed to a test bench. The first, second and third test stands each comprises a pulley disposed proximate a top end of each of the first, second, and third test stand. The first test stand further comprises a first pretensioner mount. The third test stand further comprises a second pretensioner mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Jiri Kral
  • Publication number: 20210155135
    Abstract: A rear-center head restraint system of an automobile vehicle includes a rear seatback of the automobile vehicle. A head restraint assembly is rotatably mounted to the rear seatback and is moved between a stowed position and an in-use position. The head restraint assembly includes a rear head restraint body defining an L-shape and includes a forward-facing surface moved toward a head of an occupant at the in-use position. At least a first link and a second link are rotatably connected to the seatback. The first link and the second link are also rotatably connected to the rear head restraint body. A release system rotates the head restraint assembly selectively between the stowed position and the in-use position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
  • Publication number: 20210155134
    Abstract: A rear-center head restraint system for an automobile vehicle includes a rear seatback of an automobile vehicle. A head restraint assembly is mounted on the rear seatback and is moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. The head restraint assembly includes a forward head restraint portion displaced from the stowed position in an upward direction and in a forward direction with respect to the rear seatback. A rear head restraint portion is positioned rearward of the forward head restraint portion and is displaced in the upward direction as the forward head restraint portion displaces away from the stowed position. At least one headrest post is fixedly positioned within the rear seat back. A release mechanism connected to the at least one headrest post is operated to release the head restraint assembly from the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
  • Publication number: 20210086674
    Abstract: A method of activating a head restraint system in a vehicle for an occupant is provided. The method comprises providing a vehicle seat having a seat belt and a head restraint in the vehicle and detecting the occupant in the vehicle. The method further comprises actuating the seat head restraint of the vehicle seat to an in-use position if the seat belt is buckled. The method further includes providing an actuation signal to an electronic control module of the vehicle if the seat head restraint is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada, Niki K. Meyers
  • Publication number: 20200141848
    Abstract: A seat belt test apparatus for testing a safety restraint system for a vehicle comprises a first, a second, and a third test stand, an impactor apparatus, and a resistor apparatus. The first, a second, and a third test stand are selectively fixed to a test bench. The first, second and third test stands each comprises a pulley disposed proximate a top end of each of the first, second, and third test stand. The first test stand further comprises a first pretensioner mount. The third test stand further comprises a second pretensioner mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Jiri Kral
  • Patent number: 10300880
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion; an inflator coupled to the airbag cushion and configured to selectively provide air to inflate and deploy the airbag cushion from a stowed state into a deployed state; an airbag magnetic element coupled to the airbag cushion; and a magnetic guide element arranged at a distance to the airbag magnetic element when the airbag cushion is in the stowed state. Upon deployment of the airbag cushion, the airbag magnetic element and the magnetic guide element magnetically interact with one another to at least one of guide the airbag cushion in a predetermined direction or maintain the airbag cushion in a predetermined deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Russell J. Mihm
  • Publication number: 20180334130
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion; an inflator coupled to the airbag cushion and configured to selectively provide air to inflate and deploy the airbag cushion from a stowed state into a deployed state; an airbag magnetic element coupled to the airbag cushion; and a magnetic guide element arranged at a distance to the airbag magnetic element when the airbag cushion is in the stowed state. Upon deployment of the airbag cushion, the airbag magnetic element and the magnetic guide element magnetically interact with one another to at least one of guide the airbag cushion in a predetermined direction or maintain the airbag cushion in a predetermined deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: RUSSELL J. MIHM
  • Patent number: 8540278
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to provide inflation gas to inflate the airbag cushion, a diffuser provided between the inflator and the airbag cushion and a deflector provided between the inflator and the diffuser. The diffuser forces the inflation gas to change flow direction at least one time before the inflation gas exits into the airbag cushion. The deflector deflects particulates emitted from the inflator into a predetermined portion of the diffuser to inhibit particulates from entering into the airbag cushion. The predetermined portion of the diffuser may be an upper corner of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer W. Chavez, Vera Ljajcaj, Russell J. Mihm
  • Publication number: 20120313359
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to provide inflation gas to inflate the airbag cushion, a diffuser provided between the inflator and the airbag cushion and a deflector provided between the inflator and the diffuser. The diffuser forces the inflation gas to change flow direction at least one time before the inflation gas exits into the airbag cushion. The deflector deflects particulates emitted from the inflator into a predetermined portion of the diffuser to inhibit particulates from entering into the airbag cushion. The predetermined portion of the diffuser may be an upper corner of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Spencer W. Chavez, Vera Ljajcaj, Russell J. Mihm