Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Leonard

Timothy J. Leonard 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: 6085171
    Abstract: A system for processing an order to change communication service includes a client that receives order data and an authorization image associated with a customer that desires to change communication service. The system also includes a server coupled to the client using a communication network. The server receives the order data and the authorization image from the client, generates a service request using the order data, and initiates communication of the service request to a communication service provider of the customer to change communication service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Excel Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5709402
    Abstract: A module housing and a module cover for use as part of an airbag module. The module housing has a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and each sidewall includes an outwardly bent portion. A first apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the first sidewall to a distal edge, and a second apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the second sidewall to a distal edge. The first apron defines two spaced-apart slots and the second apron defines two spaced-apart slots. The module cover includes a lid, positioned over the module housing. A first and a second attachment finger each have a first segment extending downwardly from the lid to a transverse section. The transverse sections extend through, respectively, the two slots defined by the first apron. Second segments extend downwardly from the transverse sections to hooks caught on the distal edge of the first apron securing the first and the second attachment fingers to the first sidewall of the module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5630613
    Abstract: An integral deployment door in a panel of an airbag assembly which covers and conceals an airbag module. The molded panel having a front surface layer, a foam core, and a rear surface substrate has notches therein in alignment with the proposed tear region or sides of the deployment door. Tabs are provided which extend upwardly into the foam core along the sides of said deployment door and in alignment with the notches. The notches and tab construction weaken the tear region and concentrates the stresses along the sides of the deployment door to reduce the force required to open the deployment door and to reduce the fragmentation of the foam core due to the separation of the door from the rest of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignees: Morton International, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy J. Leonard, Joseph L. Ralston, Donald J. Bolieau, Mark Rogers, Daniel W. Anderson, Axel W. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5626357
    Abstract: An essentially unitary airbag cover assembly is provided for concealing an airbag module. The cover has a vehicle panel with a front surface, a foam core and panel substrate with a dropped lip or shelf on a distal end thereof. A deployment door incorporated in the panel is hinged to the panel along one side thereof with at least one of the remaining sides of the door resting in the panel on the dropped lip or shelf of the panel substrate. The deployment door and panel are substantially the same thickness, and the shelf is dropped such that when the deployment door is positioned on the dropped shelf in the panel substrate, the door and panel are on the same level and there is no need for a connection between the panel and deployment door aside from the hinged side of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignees: Morton International, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy J. Leonard, Joseph L. Ralston, Donald J. Bolieau, Mark Rogers, Daniel W. Anderson, Axel W. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5588669
    Abstract: An air bag cover attachment includes a housing formed by extrusion. The housing includes a section for receiving a gas generator, and a pair of spaced parallel side walls which define a storage area for the uninflated cushion. The free ends of the side walls include flanges which are notched to form a series of mounting tabs. The cover includes a depending skirt having slots which mate with the tabs. The strength of the extruded tabs permits the tabs and slots, with no other fastener, to secure the cover to the housing. The slots are oversized to permit the cover to float with respect to the housing. The cover also includes a set of placement tabs extending from the skirt. The placement tabs secure the cover to the dashboard in the proper position. The oversized slots and separate placement tabs ensure that the decorative cover is mounted on the dashboard in the proper position by absorbing tolerance buildup in the housing and housing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Leonard, Kurt E. Kottke
  • Patent number: 5533749
    Abstract: A deployment door positioned in a panel of a vehicle is opened by an airbag module located rearwardly of the deployment door. Apparatus is provided for detaching the door at a tear region from the remaining area of the panel, thereby providing a doorway outlet through the panel for the passage of an inflating airbag. A tear structure has a distal end in the form of an outwardly rounded bump cutter positioned and extending outwardly toward the tear region and a front surface of the panel, thereby reducing the distance of travel of the cutter through the foam in the panel to the tear region which reduces the force required to tear the foam. The outwardly rounded bump of the tear structure in one embodiment may be in the form of a closed loop. The deployment door may be completely contained within and surrounded by the panel before opening or may have one edge bordering on the edge of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Leonard, Daniel W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5466000
    Abstract: In a vehicle airbag installation in which a deployment door in a panel becomes detached along a tearable region of the panel for creating an outlet in the panel through which an inflating airbag deploys, apparatus for detaching the deployment door at such a tear region includes a cutter/ripper which is flat-lying in an inactive position. During deployment of the airbag a cutting part of the cutter/ripper is pushed forwardly for swinging into an upright active position for detaching the deployment door. This forward swinging involves a hinge-like bending or folding of an intermediate region of the cutter/ripper causing two simultaneous components of motion. In a first motion, the cutting part is moving away from the outlet being created thereby compressing and inhibiting fragmentation of nearby core foam in the panel. In a second motion the cutting part extends forwardly into a confining position for retaining core foam between front and rear surface layers of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Leonard, Daniel W. Anderson