Patents by Inventor Stuart Bland

Stuart Bland 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: 6412817
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Patent number: 6396649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel housing for an optical instrument such as a microscope. The housing is provided with a number of channel means which are positioned having regard to the optical axis of the instrument and adapted to accommodate a plurality of optical components so as to facilitate the alignment of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: AOTI Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Hammond, Nigel Stuart Bland
  • Patent number: 6286865
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Patent number: 6283506
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Publication number: 20010009330
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Publication number: 20010008338
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Publication number: 20010006290
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell
  • Patent number: 6234524
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle occupant safety restraint has an outer casing that contains a gas generant. An igniter has igniter material disposed within an igniter housing. A pair of electrodes are connected to the igniter material. A grounding path connector link electrically connects the igniter housing to a grounding path. The connector link may be formed by springs connecting the outer case to the grounding electrode and an interference fit connecting the igniter housing to the outer case. The link forms a low resistance path to short circuit undesirable static charges in the unit that would otherwise tend to cause unintentional activation of the pretensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Patrickson, Andrew Downie, Stuart Bland, Bryan Thirlwell