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).
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Patent number: 11433792Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada, Niki K. Meyers
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Patent number: 11235691Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
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Patent number: 11148570Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
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Patent number: 11022531Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Russell J. Mihm, Jiri Kral
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Publication number: 20210155135Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
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Publication number: 20210155134Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada
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Publication number: 20210086674Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Venkata Narasimha R. Cherukuvada, Niki K. Meyers
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Publication number: 20200141848Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Russell J. Mihm, Jiri Kral
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Patent number: 10300880Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Russell J. Mihm
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Publication number: 20180334130Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2017Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: RUSSELL J. MIHM
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Patent number: 8540278Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Spencer W. Chavez, Vera Ljajcaj, Russell J. Mihm
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Publication number: 20120313359Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Spencer W. Chavez, Vera Ljajcaj, Russell J. Mihm