Patents by Inventor Simon A. M. Frith

Simon A. M. Frith 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).

  • Weld-less driver-side inflator
    Patent number: 6964430
    Abstract: An inflator (10) is provided for supplying gas to a vehicle airbag from the combustion of pyrotechnic materials. The inflator (10) has a two-piece inflator body (12) held together by crimping the body components, rather than welding. An igniter assembly (18) is positioned in a bore (22) in an upper piece (14) of the inflator body and is held in place with a press-fit interface and an adhesive seal. The upper piece (14) of the inflator body is rounded, increasing its strength, and fits partially into the lower piece (16). A booster tube is unnecessary, making the inflator lighter in weight and increasing available volume for propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Blackburn, Paul C. Edwards, II, Simon A. M. Frith
  • Inflator
    Patent number: 6749219
    Abstract: A gas generator or inflator 10 preferably contains a housing 12 formed from welding a cap 14 and a base 16 in nested and coaxial relationship. Welding a first wall 15 of the cap 14 with an adjoining and substantially coextensive second wall 17 of the base 16 forms a structural girth. An annulus 36 is preferably formed centrally within the cap 14 thereby providing a seat for an igniter mount 22. An igniter mount 22 is fixed within the annulus 36, and houses an igniter 18 fixed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory
    Inventors: Paul C. Edwards, II, Simon A. M. Frith, Jeffery S. Blackburn
  • Weld-less driver-side inflator
    Publication number: 20030214126
    Abstract: An inflator (10) is provided for supplying gas to a vehicle airbag from the combustion of pyrotechnic materials. The inflator (10) has a two-piece inflator body (12) held together by crimping the body components, rather than welding. An igniter assembly (18) is positioned in a bore (22) in an upper piece (14) of the inflator body and is held in place with a press-fit interface and an adhesive seal. The upper piece (14) of the inflator body is rounded, increasing its strength, and fits partially into the lower piece (16). A booster tube is unnecessary, making the inflator lighter in weight and increasing available volume for propellant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Blackburn, Paul C. Edwards, Simon A. M. Frith
  • Inflator
    Publication number: 20030047925
    Abstract: A gas generator or inflator 10 preferably contains a housing 12 formed from welding a cap 14 and a base 16 in nested and coaxial relationship. Welding a first wall 15 of the cap 14 with an adjoining and substantially coextensive second wall 17 of the base 16 forms a structural girth. An annulus 36 is preferably formed centrally within the cap 14 thereby providing a seat for an igniter mount 22. An igniter mount 22 is fixed within the annulus 36, and houses an igniter 18 fixed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Paul C. Edwards, Simon A. M. Frith, Jeffery S. Blackburn