Patents by Inventor Terry Alan Wheelwright

Terry Alan Wheelwright 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: 11608020
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an airbag module may comprise an airbag cover configured to be positioned within a vehicle seat and comprising an opening. The opening may be configured to receive a structural element of the vehicle seat therethrough, such as an armrest mount. The module may further comprise an airbag cushion positioned within the airbag cover and configured to deploy from the airbag cover such that forces from deployment of the airbag cushion are directed applied to the structural element, in some cases directing these forces to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20230062306
    Abstract: Airbag modules coupled with vehicle seat structural elements, such as armrests. In some embodiments, an airbag module may comprise an airbag cover configured to be positioned within a vehicle seat and comprising an opening. The opening may be configured to receive a structural element of the vehicle seat therethrough, such as an armrest mount. The module may further comprise an airbag cushion positioned within the airbag cover and configured to deploy from the airbag cover such that forces from deployment of the airbag cushion are directed applied to the structural element, in some cases directing these forces to the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 11577681
    Abstract: Far-side inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed to be installed to deploy adjacent an occupant during a far-side collision event or a far-side oblique collision event, and may retain the occupant at the occupant's vehicle occupant position to protect the occupant from collision with structures within the vehicle, as well as from collisions with other occupants of the vehicle. The far-side inflatable airbag assemblies of the present disclosure may be particularly beneficial when installed between vehicle occupant positions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Derek John Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11572030
    Abstract: An inflator assembly arranged in an airbag system for use in a vehicle includes an elongated inflator with at least one mounting stud for mounting the inflator assembly in the vehicle and a gas deflector having a back plate and a front cover with at least one opening to diffuse gas generated from the inflator. The front cover is slid on the back plate along a longitudinal axis of the inflator such that the front cover is slidably engaged with the back plate to enclose a portion of the inflator. Further, the front cover and the back plate are securely engaged with each other by a crimp process to prevent opening or deforming of the gas deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: David Walker Parkinson, Matt Cox, Louis A. Mueller, Nathaniel Lee Gerlach, Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20220176904
    Abstract: Far-side inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed to be installed to deploy adjacent an occupant during a far-side collision event or a far-side oblique collision event, and may retain the occupant at the occupant's vehicle occupant position to protect the occupant from collision with structures within the vehicle, as well as from collisions with other occupants of the vehicle. The far-side inflatable airbag assemblies of the present disclosure may be particularly beneficial when installed between vehicle occupant positions of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Derek John Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11267426
    Abstract: Far-side inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed to be installed to deploy adjacent an occupant during a far-side collision event or a far-side oblique collision event, and may retain the occupant at the occupant's vehicle occupant position to protect the occupant from collision with structures within the vehicle, as well as from collisions with other occupants of the vehicle. The far-side inflatable airbag assemblies of the present disclosure may be particularly beneficial when installed between vehicle occupant positions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Derek John Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11143508
    Abstract: A navigational device includes a microprocessor, a target marking system, a digital tilt sensor, and a digital compass to determine mapping coordinates of a remote point from an observation point. A user first visually targets the remote point using the target marking system. The digital tilt sensor then determines an angle of inclination to the remote point from the observation point. The digital compass then determines a bearing angle to the remote point from the observation point. The GPS module then determines the GPS coordinates of the observation point. Lastly, the microprocessor determines mapping coordinates of the remote point based upon the angle of inclination data, the angle of bearing data, and the GPS coordinates of the observation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventors: Abraham Joseph Mitchell, Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 11046280
    Abstract: Lateral airbag cushions for preventing or inhibiting inboard occupant excursion. Some embodiments may comprise an inflatable cushion configured to deploy adjacent to a vehicle seat laterally of a vehicle occupant and a tether coupled with the inflatable cushion. The tether may be configured to be coupled to the vehicle seat at opposite ends and may be configured to, upon deployment, form the inflatable cushion into a pocket or other lateral engagement structure adjacent to the vehicle occupant to engage a shoulder and/or arm region of the vehicle occupant to prevent or at least inhibit inboard/lateral excursion during an impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Christine Elizabeth Devey, Derek John Wiscombe, Andrew Lawrence Holliday
  • Publication number: 20210024031
    Abstract: Lateral airbag cushions for preventing or inhibiting inboard occupant excursion. Some embodiments may comprise an inflatable cushion configured to deploy adjacent to a vehicle seat laterally of a vehicle occupant and a tether coupled with the inflatable cushion. The tether may be configured to be coupled to the vehicle seat at opposite ends and may be configured to, upon deployment, form the inflatable cushion into a pocket or other lateral engagement structure adjacent to the vehicle occupant to engage a shoulder and/or arm region of the vehicle occupant to prevent or at least inhibit inboard/lateral excursion during an impact event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Christine Elizabeth Devey, Derek John Wiscombe, Andrew Lawrence Holliday
  • Patent number: 10843654
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant by providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder, pelvis, and torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Andy Lawrence Holliday, Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20200339060
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant by providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder, pelvis, and torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Andy Lawrence Holliday, Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 10766448
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant buy providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder and pelvis, and the torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Autoliv ASP, Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Bryant S. Whitcomb, Craig Allen Markusic
  • Publication number: 20200208976
    Abstract: A navigational device includes a microprocessor, a target marking system, a digital tilt sensor, and a digital compass to determine mapping coordinates of a remote point from an observation point. A user first visually targets the remote point using the target marking system. The digital tilt sensor then determines an angle of inclination to the remote point from the observation point. The digital compass then determines a bearing angle to the remote point from the observation point. The GPS module then determines the GPS coordinates of the observation point. Lastly, the microprocessor determines mapping coordinates of the remote point based upon the angle of inclination data, the angle of bearing data, and the GPS coordinates of the observation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Abraham Joseph Mitchell, Terry Alan Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20190366970
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant buy providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder and pelvis, and the torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicants: Autoliv ASP, Inc., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Bryant S. Whitcomb, Craig Allen Markusic
  • Patent number: 10384634
    Abstract: Side airbag cushions, side airbag assemblies and related methods for stowing a side airbag cushion in a cover to provide, upon deployment, improved timing of pelvis coverage for an associated vehicle passenger are provided. The side airbag cushion desirably includes a first rolled portion and a second accordion folded portion and, wherein, upon deployment, the accordion folded portion provides improved timing allowing for better pelvis coverage for the associated vehicle passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holiday, Christine Elizabeth Devey
  • Patent number: 10336283
    Abstract: Airbag cushions and airbag cushion assemblies comprising mitts or bends for mitigating injuries during oblique impacts. In some embodiments, the cushions may be configured to deploy so as to extend adjacent to an occupant in a vehicle laterally of the occupant and form a mitt configured to receive the occupant's head and/or thorax during an oblique impact event. The airbag cushion may comprise a first portion configured to, upon deployment, extend laterally of the occupant towards a front portion of the vehicle and a second portion configured to, upon deployment, extend at an angle relative to the first portion so as to form the mitt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Dean Rickenbach, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Derek John Wiscombe, Christine Elizabeth Devey, Andrew Lawrence Holliday
  • Publication number: 20190168704
    Abstract: Side airbag cushions, side airbag assemblies and related methods for stowing a side airbag cushion in a cover to provide, upon deployment, improved timing of pelvis coverage for an associated vehicle passenger are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holiday, Christine Elizabeth Devey
  • Publication number: 20180326938
    Abstract: Airbag cushions and airbag cushion assemblies comprising mitts or bends for mitigating injuries during oblique impacts. In some embodiments, the cushions may be configured to deploy so as to extend adjacent to an occupant in a vehicle laterally of the occupant and form a mitt configured to receive the occupant's head and/or thorax during an oblique impact event. The airbag cushion may comprise a first portion configured to, upon deployment, extend laterally of the occupant towards a front portion of the vehicle and a second portion configured to, upon deployment, extend at an angle relative to the first portion so as to form the mitt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Roger Dean Rickenbach, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Derek John Wiscombe, Christine Elizabeth Devey, Andrew Lawrence Holliday
  • Patent number: 9108589
    Abstract: An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion and a protective flap. In some arrangements, the protective flap is positioned over at least a portion of an inflatable region of the airbag cushion to prevent the inflatable region of the airbag cushion from being pinched due to securement of the airbag cushion to a mounting member via which the airbag assembly can be secured to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Don Parker, Andy Holliday, Megan Donehue
  • Publication number: 20150123382
    Abstract: An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion and a protective flap. In some arrangements, the protective flap is positioned over at least a portion of an inflatable region of the airbag cushion to prevent the inflatable region of the airbag cushion from being pinched due to securement of the airbag cushion to a mounting member via which the airbag assembly can be secured to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Don Parker, Andy Holliday, Megan Donehue