Patents by Inventor William Francis McLeod

William Francis McLeod 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).

  • Opening device for a cold gas inflator
    Patent number: 6764097
    Abstract: A cold gas inflator has a pressure vessel made of first and second cylindrical members that are joined by friction welding, the friction welding producing curls that serve to preclude an orifice plate from sliding into the second cylindrical member. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of an automobile accident, an opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture a burst disk. The stored gas flows from the cold gas inflator in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Eugene Kelley, William Francis McLeod, II, Anthony J. Curtis, Michael Felix Mulville
  • Opening device for a cold gas inflator
    Patent number: 6629703
    Abstract: A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of a automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows into the diffuser and then exits the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Horton, Kimberly Ritter, William Francis McLeod, II, Michael Eugene Kelley, Michael K. Dennis, Richard Mead Townsend
  • Opening device for a cold gas inflator
    Publication number: 20030111832
    Abstract: A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of an automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows from the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Eugene Kelley, William Francis McLeod, Anthony J. Curtis, Michael Felix Mulville
  • Opening device for a cold gas inflator
    Publication number: 20030111831
    Abstract: A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of a automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows into the diffuser and then exits the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Horton, Kimberly Ritter, William Francis McLeod, Michael Eugene Kelley, Michael K. Dennis, Richard Mead Townsend