Patents by Inventor Sheldon R. Fifield, Jr.

Sheldon R. Fifield, Jr. 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).

  • Gas generator for seat belt pretensioner
    Patent number: 6454306
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator (80) having terminal pins (100). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container (130) contains a propellant (82) ignitable by the initiator (80) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (130) is secured to the initiator (80) by crimping. The apparatus (10) also comprises a member (86) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container (130) and the terminal pins (100) of the initiator (80) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: TRW Inc., TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Clare R. Cunningham, Keith R. Ball, Bryan W. Shirk, Sheldon R. Fifield, Jr., Vincent J. Mramor, Brian R. Pitstick, Eric C. Erike