Patents by Inventor Sarah Verner

Sarah Verner 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: 9254786
    Abstract: A vehicle horn control assembly comprises a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly has a sensor array that includes a plurality of sensor zones, with each of the sensor zones being configured to output a respective pressure signal in response to a respective amount of force applied thereto. The controller is configured to determine, based on the respective pressure signals output over a period of time, a touching characteristic representing a manner in which a user touches the sensor assembly to activate a vehicle horn. The controller is further configured to set a respective pressure threshold for each of the sensor zones above which the controller activates the vehicle horn based on the touching characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Sarah Verner
  • Patent number: 9156334
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side wall, a vehicle impact sensor, a window covering assembly and a control mechanism. The window covering assembly is coupled to the side wall and has a plurality of window covering members extending along a window opening in the side wall from a first side of the window opening to a second side of the window opening opposite the first side. Each of the plurality of window covering members is configured to pivot between a window exposing orientation and a window covering orientation. The control mechanism is connected to the vehicle impact sensor and operably coupled to the plurality of window covering members to rapidly move the plurality of window covering members to the window covering orientation in response to detection of a vehicle impact event by the vehicle impact sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Robins, Sarah Verner
  • Patent number: 9150187
    Abstract: A curtain airbag for providing multiple coverage areas over a window opening includes a shared panel and first and second auxiliary panels. The shared panel is sized to span the height of a window opening upon the curtain airbag's deployment, and has an upper periphery, an opposing lower periphery and a central portion between the upper periphery and the lower periphery. The first auxiliary panel is connected to the shared panel at least along its upper periphery and along its central portion to define a first inflatable chamber configured for inflation to at least partially provide a first coverage area. The second auxiliary panel is connected to the shared panel at least along its lower periphery and along one of its central portion or its upper periphery to define a second inflatable chamber configured for inflation to at least partially provide a second coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ari Schiftan, Sarah Verner
  • Patent number: 8973941
    Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel includes a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The main portion includes a grip assist handle. The first side portion extends along a first side of the main portion. The second side portion extends along a second side of the main portion. The first side portion includes a hinged attachment section configured to attach to a first region of a vehicle body structure. The second side portion includes an attachment section configured to releasably attach to a second region of the A-pillar structure. The first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sarah Verner
  • Publication number: 20140312600
    Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel includes a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The main portion includes a grip assist handle. The first side portion extends along a first side of the main portion. The second side portion extends along a second side of the main portion. The first side portion includes a hinged attachment section configured to attach to a first region of a vehicle body structure. The second side portion includes an attachment section configured to releasably attach to a second region of the A-pillar structure. The first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Sarah VERNER
  • Publication number: 20140125124
    Abstract: A vehicle horn control assembly comprises a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly has a sensor array that includes a plurality of sensor zones, with each of the sensor zones being configured to output a respective pressure signal in response to a respective amount of force applied thereto. The controller is configured to determine, based on the respective pressure signals output over a period of time, a touching characteristic representing a manner in which a user touches the sensor assembly to activate a vehicle horn. The controller is further configured to set a respective pressure threshold for each of the sensor zones above which the controller activates the vehicle horn based on the touching characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Sarah Verner