Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Cassatta

Stephen J. Cassatta 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: 11021128
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis S. Campbell, Mukesh Amin
  • Patent number: 10604104
    Abstract: A deployable containment system of a vehicle includes a pair of guide channels that surround an opening facing one of a forward direction of travel of the vehicle and a backward direction of travel of the vehicle. Each of the guide channels has a first end and a second end. A housing is mounted to the first ends of the guide channels. A shield is configured to: deploy from the housing; travel along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels; and cover at least a portion of the opening, An actuator is configured to, in response to being triggered, deploy the shield from the housing and move the shield along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Mukesh Amin
  • Publication number: 20190359162
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis S. Campbell, Mukesh Amin
  • Publication number: 20190299919
    Abstract: A deployable containment system of a vehicle includes a pair of guide channels that surround an opening facing one of a forward direction of travel of the vehicle and a backward direction of travel of the vehicle. Each of the guide channels has a first end and a second end. A housing is mounted to the first ends of the guide channels. A shield is configured to: deploy from the housing; travel along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels; and cover at least a portion of the opening, An actuator is configured to, in response to being triggered, deploy the shield from the housing and move the shield along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. RAIKAR, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Mukesh Amin
  • Patent number: 10427637
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis S. Campbell, Mukesh Amin
  • Publication number: 20190143928
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis S. Campbell, Mukesh Amin
  • Patent number: 10077020
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system of a vehicle includes a roof rail airbag that is located at a roof rail of the vehicle and above a door of the vehicle and that is configured to deploy in an outboard direction. A deployment device, when triggered, deploys the roof rail airbag. An actuator, when triggered, actuates a deployable reaction surface (i) from a first state where the deployable reaction surface is stowed behind interior door trim and does not block any part of a window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface (ii) to a second state where the deployable reaction surface blocks at least a portion of the window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Mukesh Amin, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis Shaun Campbell, Sandy Dean Mabery
  • Publication number: 20180186328
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system of a vehicle includes a roof rail airbag that is located at a roof rail of the vehicle and above a door of the vehicle and that is configured to deploy in an outboard direction. A deployment device, when triggered, deploys the roof rail airbag. An actuator, when triggered, actuates a deployable reaction surface (i) from a first state where the deployable reaction surface is stowed behind interior door trim and does not block any part of a window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface (ii) to a second state where the deployable reaction surface blocks at least a portion of the window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Sadanand N. RAIKAR, Mukesh AMIN, Jeffrey J. SCHULTZ, Stephen J. CASSATTA, Louis Shaun CAMPBELL, Sandy Dean MABERY
  • Patent number: 8707757
    Abstract: A test apparatus collects performance data for a seat belt system having components providing operating stages of pre-tensioning, locking, and load limiting of the seat belt. A bench plate mounts the components of the seat belt system and includes first and second pulleys spaced apart on the bench plate and having the seat belt extending horizontally therebetween. At least one load sensor senses the load experienced by the seat belt. A resistor engages the seat belt between the first and second pulleys and pulls downwardly to introduce slack in the seat belt. An impactor mass is suspended above the seat belt and is released to free-fall onto the seat belt and impose a load on the seat belt simulating the load of a seated occupant being imposed on the seat belt. A control module energizes the pre-tensioning stage and a plotter records force versus time performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jiri Kral, Stephen J Cassatta, Mark A. Morra, Theresa M. Kondel
  • Publication number: 20130233050
    Abstract: A test apparatus collects performance data for a seat belt system having components providing operating stages of pre-tensioning, locking, and load limiting of the seat belt. A bench plate mounts the components of the seat belt system and includes first and second pulleys spaced apart on the bench plate and having the seat belt extending horizontally therebetween. At least one load sensor senses the load experienced by the seat belt. A resistor engages the seat belt between the first and second pulleys and pulls downwardly to introduce slack in the seat belt. An impactor mass is suspended above the seat belt and is released to free-fall onto the seat belt and impose a load on the seat belt simulating the load of a seated occupant being imposed on the seat belt. A control module energizes the pre-tensioning stage and a plotter records force versus time performance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jiri Kral, Stephen J. Cassatta, Mark A. Morra, Theresa M. Kondel