Deployment Door Patents (Class 280/728.3)
  • Patent number: 10899304
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag cover having a first panel portion. The first panel portion has first lower edge and a plurality of clips formed at the first lower edge. The clips each have a thickness greater than the first panel portion. A case has a plurality of openings configured to receive the clips of the airbag cover. The openings in the case may each be an elongated slot including a wide portion and a contiguous narrow portion that is narrower than the thickness of the clip. Each slot is configured such that the clip can be inserted through the wide portion and then slid to the narrow portion to retain the airbag cover to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Rhodes, Sara Anne Schumer, Peter L. Vigeant, Bradley S. Honermann
  • Patent number: 10870406
    Abstract: A vehicle air bag apparatus includes an air bag disposed anterior to an occupant seat, a peripheral wall portion that surrounds the air bag from outside, and a lid upper wall portion that closes an upper surface opening in the peripheral wall portion, the air bag being inflated and deployed outward through the upper surface opening. The vehicle air bag apparatus includes a rib, disposed in a rear-side corner portion that assumes a portion at which an upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion is connected with the lid upper wall portion. The rib connects the upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion with the lid upper wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuroe, Kohei Oshima
  • Patent number: 10870745
    Abstract: A composition comprising (A) from 40 wt % to 75 wt % of a propylene component including at least one propylene based polymer having a propylene content of at least 50.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the propylene based polymer, and a melt flow rate from 1.0 g/10 min to 100.0 g/10 min (ASTM D-1238 at 230° C., 2.16 kg); (B) from 1 wt % to 40 wt % of an olefin block copolymer; and (C) from 1 wt % to 20 wt % of an ethylene component including at least one ethylene based polymer having an ethylene content of at least 50.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the ethylene based polymer, and a melt index from 0.1 g/10 min to 50.0 g/10 min (ASTM D-1238 at 190° C., 2.16 kg).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Olaf Henschke, Krischan Jeltsch
  • Patent number: 10864872
    Abstract: An occupant airbag system for use in a vehicle with a retractable steering wheel includes a first airbag assembly located in the retractable steering wheel. The first airbag assembly is configured to deploy a first airbag cushion between an occupant and a rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes a second airbag assembly configured to deploy a second airbag cushion between the occupant and the rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes an airbag control module configured to suppress deployment of the first airbag cushion and to enable deployment of the second airbag cushion when the retractable steering wheel is in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark M. Sheldon, Carolyn M. Mavis
  • Patent number: 10850682
    Abstract: An interior member for a vehicle includes: a base material formed of a resin; a front surface portion configured to constitute a portion of a design surface in a vehicle cabin and cover a surface of the base material that is on the design surface side; and a conductive portion integrally provided with the base material in a state where a portion of the conductive portion that is opposite to the design surface is in close contact with the base material and a portion of the conductive portion that is on the design surface side faces the front surface portion such that power is supplied to an electrical component installed in the vehicle through the conductive portion, the conductive portion being formed of a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Madoka Doi
  • Patent number: 10829073
    Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a seal between a substrate and an airbag chute and around an opening in the substrate through which the airbag chute is installed. The seal prevents a foam layer from extending into the opening when the foam layer is being molded. The seal is attached to the airbag chute prior to assembly with the substrate and is made from a material that is more flexible than the airbag chute material. The seal can be attached to the airbag chute in a two-shot molding process and spaced from the perimeter of the airbag chute along its back side. During molding of the foam layer, foam expansion pressure acts to improve the function of the seal as a foam barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Farmer, Peter Vitale
  • Patent number: 10814819
    Abstract: Airbag covers having emblems and related methods. In some implementations, a fastening member comprising an elongated axis may be inserted through an opening formed within an airbag cover. The fastening member may comprise a cross-sectional shape that is substantially smaller in area along at least a portion of the fastening member than a cross-sectional shape of the opening adjacent to the fastening member such that open space is left between the fastening member and a portion of the airbag cover defining the opening. The fastening member may then be reshaped such that the cross-sectional shape of the fastening member within the opening changes to decrease the open space and secure the emblem to the airbag cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 10787143
    Abstract: An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the base. The assembly includes an airbag guide supported by the base. The assembly includes a linchpin securing the airbag guide to the base. The linchpin includes a first marking and one of the base or the airbag guide includes a second marking, the first marking and the second marking align to collectively be a readable indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Timothy Owen Hamlin
  • Patent number: 10773674
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back including a movable portion that supports an occupant and moves in a vehicle width direction with respect to a main body frame due to a load in a seat width direction, a hard resin material that is provided at a left and right pair of side portions of the seat back and is capable of crushing deformation at a time of a vehicle side impact, and a seat cover that covers a surface of the hard resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Hioda
  • Patent number: 10730561
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a curtain airbag device includes: a first pillar extending along a vehicle upper-lower direction; a second pillar disposed on a vehicle rear side at a predetermined interval with respect to the first pillar, and extending along the vehicle upper-lower direction; a transparent member interposed between the first pillar and the second pillar; a front pillar garnish covering the first pillar and the second pillar and having a lower end portion protruding along at least one of a vehicle front-rear direction and a vehicle width direction; and a curtain airbag device configured to include a curtain airbag, configured to be inflation-deployed in a curtain shape in a vehicle cabin side portion, and having a front end portion fixed at a position in the first pillar or the second pillar corresponding to the lower end portion of the front pillar garnish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamichi Komura, Osamu Fukawatase
  • Patent number: 10723306
    Abstract: A curtain airbag device mounting structure includes: a first pillar forming a part of a front pillar and extends substantially along a vehicle height direction; a second pillar forming another part of the front pillar, the second pillar being disposed on a rear side of a vehicle relative to the first pillar at a predetermined distance from the first pillar and extending substantially along the vehicle height direction; a transparent member bridged between the first pillar and the second pillar; and a curtain airbag device including a curtain airbag stored along a roof side rail and the second pillar, the curtain airbag being configured to inflate and deploy in a curtain-like fashion over a side portion of a cabin of the vehicle in case of a collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamichi Komura, Osamu Fukawatase
  • Patent number: 10717342
    Abstract: A heating apparatus has a heater body and a heater case. The heater body has a heat generator and emits heat supplied from the heat generator. The heat generator generates the heat when being energized. The heater case houses the heater body and is arranged on a side of an air-bag device for a vehicle adjacent to a vehicle compartment. The heater case is attached to an interior member located in the vehicle compartment or is a part of the interior member. The heater case has an expansion permissive portion that permits the air-bag device to expand into the vehicle compartment. The heat generator includes a portion located at a position corresponding to the expansion permissive portion. The heater body has a low strength portion that has a low strength as compared to the portion of the heat generator and that is located outside the expansion permissive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sagou, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki, Hideaki Kako
  • Patent number: 10717450
    Abstract: The purpose of this plan is to reduce the damages in intercity train crash cases to the passengers. Berth sleeper airbags are designed to protect the passenger's head and body while the passenger is asleep in the berth sleeper, which inflates in the event of a rollover accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Saeid Sirous
  • Patent number: 10703318
    Abstract: An instrument panel includes a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, a covering, a foam layer between the outer surface and the covering, and a chute elongated to an end. The end is attached to the inner surface. The end includes a protrusion elongated along a perimeter of the end and extending through the substrate into the foam layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Patnala, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi, Alan Perelli
  • Patent number: 10696262
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an airbag housing and an airbag assembly. There is provided an airbag assembly comprising: a bottom wall; and a side wall for forming a cavity accommodating an airbag cushion together with the bottom wall, wherein at least a portion of the side wall is formed in a double layer structure. There is also provided an airbag assembly having the airbag housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Xiaochao An, Peng Yuan, Binbin Peng
  • Patent number: 10682975
    Abstract: A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may provide an opening for airbag deployment and may comprise a substrate; a foam layer and a cover comprising a support layer coupled to a skin layer. The support layer may comprise at least one of polyurethane coating; two-component reactive aliphatic polyurethane; two-component reactive aromatic polyurethane; polyurea; acrylic elastomer; aromatic TPU; aliphatic TPU; TPO. The support layer may comprise a polyurethane coating. The polyurethane coating may be sprayed on the skin layer. The polyurethane coating may comprise a waterborne polyurethane. A thickness of the support layer may be generally less than a thickness of the skin layer. The trim component may comprise first and second features to facilitate deployment of the airbag through the opening. The support layer may limit fragmentation/separation of the skin layer during airbag deployment. The trim component may comprise an instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jingqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fanglin Zhang, Leilei Wang, Jie Sun, Yuwen Luo
  • Patent number: 10640070
    Abstract: An airbag assembly, which is capable of facilitating a deployment of a deployment part when a passenger seat airbag is deployed, and preventing a damage of a hinge part includes: a deployment part turned and opened when an airbag disposed inside a crash pad is deployed; a hinge part fixing the deployment part to the crash pad; and a plurality of hinge protection structures formed at one end of the hinge part in order to set a deployment direction of the airbag. Each of the plurality of hinge protection structures may include a load pass hole formed at the opposite surface of a surface facing the airbag, and distributes stress applied to the hinge part when the airbag is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hyun An, Seung Sik Han, Ik Jin Jung, Young Pyo Lee
  • Patent number: 10632931
    Abstract: A holder for an electronic device is mounted on a golf cart steering wheel. The holder preferably is rotatable relative to the golf cart steering wheel. The holder may include a weatherproof cover to protect the electronic device from the elements. The holder may also include a lock to releaseably secure the electronic device within the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen Tyrer
  • Patent number: 10625702
    Abstract: A device to attach to a housing of an airbag is disclosed herein. The device includes a flap connected to an opening of the housing, wherein the flap comprises a rigid structure; and a hinge to connect the flap with the housing. The rigid structure comprises a zone of weakness that ruptures in response to an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christophe Germain, Caroline Picaud, Gegory Spingler
  • Patent number: 10611331
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus may include: a first chamber connected to an inflator, and supporting the head of a passenger in case of a head-on collision of a vehicle; a second chamber connected to one side of the first chamber, and suppressing the head of the passenger from moving in a diagonal direction in case of an oblique collision of the vehicle; a communication tube formed on the first chamber to introduce gas of the first chamber into the second chamber, and having a tightening channel formed along the circumference thereof; and a valve tether including: a tether ring installed through the inside of the tightening channel; and a tether puller connected to the tether ring to pull the tether ring in one direction, and closing the communication tube by pulling the tether ring when the first chamber is completely deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rae Ick Jang, Jong Seob Lee, Ga Ram Jeong, Yoo Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 10569734
    Abstract: An airbag assembly is provided to include a chute channel disposed between an instrument panel skin and an airbag module. The chute channel includes a base; and a plurality of radial ribs disposed on a surface of the base, extending from a middle portion to an edge of the base and configured to transfer forces from the airbag deployment towards a tear seam on the instrument panel skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jude D'Souza, Tien Vo, Achuta Annedi
  • Patent number: 10569733
    Abstract: Interior panels for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel includes a substrate and a cover skin that overlies the substrate. The cover skin has a tear seam configured as a double wave pattern including a first score line wave pattern and a second score line wave pattern that are substantially in phase. The first and second score line wave patterns each have an amplitude of from about 1.3 to about 1.7 mm and a period of from about 8 to about 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Maxime Salandre, Brett Schnur
  • Patent number: 10501042
    Abstract: A radiant heater apparatus includes an interior panel, a heater main body, and a cover layer. The interior panel includes a deployment portion to be deployed into a cabin space due to a deployment of an airbag apparatus. The deployment portion has a breaking edge where a panel tear portion breaks when the airbag apparatus is deployed. The panel tear portion includes a centerline portion and a pair of sideline portions. The deployment portion includes the breaking edge that is formed along the centerline portion or the sideline portions. The deployment portion has a stress concentration portion that locally applies stress to the cover layer while at least a part of the breaking edge formed along the centerline portion is not in contact with the cover layer, when the deployment portion is deployed and comes into contact with the cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Kimitake Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10500995
    Abstract: An interior equipment including: a sewn portion where seam allowances of first and second covers are overlapped in a state where front surface thereof face each other; a regulating member which regulates a falling direction of a leg portion of a piping, wherein the regulating member is attached to a second cover side of the sewn portion and protrudes from an end of the sewn portion, and wherein, in a state of being pressed against a corner portion of a pad member, the regulating member falls toward the first cover together with the leg portion of the piping which is co-sewn to the sewn portion, and thereby a portion of the first cover which is folded back at a seam is arranged to be overlapped with the sewn portion on the corner portion in a state of being raised by a head portion of the piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Ohtsu
  • Patent number: 10457241
    Abstract: An airbag assembly for a vehicle that includes a housing, an airbag supported by the housing, a deflector pivotally coupled to the housing, and a lock between the deflector and the housing. The lock is moveable relative to the deflector and the housing from an unlocked position disengaged with at least one of the deflector and the housing to a locked position engaged with both the deflector and the housing. The deflector may allow the airbag to deploy, without deflecting the airbag in response to one type of sensed impact, e.g., a full-width frontal impact, and may deflect the airbag in response to another type of sensed impact, e.g., oblique frontal impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli
  • Patent number: 10421415
    Abstract: A door trim applique retention system includes a door trim applique having a body and a tether. The tether has a body attachment point and a tether retention feature. The door trim applique retention system also includes a door inner including a receiver. The retention feature is held in the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Vijaykumar Hegde, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • Patent number: 10407016
    Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may overlap and/or intersect with the second shape in a desired pattern to facilitate desired airbag deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Witt, Jr., David W. Schneider, Jan Pontus Söderström, Uriel Hernandez Padilla
  • Patent number: 10399533
    Abstract: A vehicular seat capable of reducing a tensile force, which acts on a sewing thread in a webbing sewn part, enables desired expanding operation of a side air bag in the case of emergency. The vehicular seat has an air bag body, provided in the side part of the seat back, which tear-opens the extending part of the trim cover by expansion, to expand from the seat back. A wrap-sewn part, with its terminal end wrap-folded, is provided at an end sewn to the trim cover. The wrap-sewn part has an overlap part where the webbing is overlapped, and a non-overlap part provided at an end of the overlap part in a direction along a sewing line of sewing to the trim cover. The wrap-sewn part is sewn over the overlap and the non-overlap part with respect to the trim cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukari Yoshikai, Seiichiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10391934
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a horn actuation signal. A load cell is placed inside a steering wheel, which changes its resistance when being stressed or deformed by a force transmitting part of the steering wheel. An actual voltage (Va) depending on the resistance of the load cell is measured and the horn actuation signal is generated based on the measurement of the actual voltage (Va). The actual voltage (Va) depends additionally to the resistance of the load cell and on an adjustable voltage (Vad) generated by an adjustable voltage generation unit. Additionally, the result of the measurement of the actual voltage (Va) is permanently compared to a defined value, and the adjustable voltage (Vad) is adjusted in response to the difference between the result of the measurement of the actual voltage (Va) and the defined value at least as long as no horn actuation signal is generated, such that closed circuit for controlling the actual voltage (Va) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Sylvain Leforestier, Paul Lebarbier
  • Patent number: 10384632
    Abstract: A composite material provided in the form of a sheet material includes at least one textile layer as a cover for an airbag. The cover is arranged to form at least one flap with a hinge which includes a hinge region. One side or both sides of the at least one textile layer includes a plastics coating. A melting point of the plastics coating is lower than a melting point of the at least one textile layer. The hinge region is arranged to form at least one single or double fold along the hinge so that the sheet material contacts itself once or twice. In a region of the at least one single or double fold, areas of the plastics coating are arranged to contact each other and, via a prior introduction of heat or a subsequent introduction of heat, are melted onto each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: K.L. KASCHIER-UND LAMINIER GMBH
    Inventors: Maik Hoeing, Albert Roring, Rembert Schulze Wehninck
  • Patent number: 10377336
    Abstract: An air bag chute assembly for an automotive instrument panel is injection molded to form an integral deployment chute, door, and attachment flange, The flange attaches to the instrument panel around an aperture in the instrument panel. The tubular chute extends interiorly from the flange to a lower end configured to receive an inflating air bag from an air bag module and defines a deployment path along a longitudinal axis. A door flap is disposed in an upper end of the chute rotatable from the flange to emerge through the aperture. The flap has an interior side impacted by the inflating air bag carrying a plurality of raised strengthening ribs. The flap has at least one closed-section hollow channel protruding from the interior side to a channel height extending beyond the strengthening ribs formed by gas-assist injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Li Lu, Hui Wang, Yi Yang Tay, Liying Qi, Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Kenneth J. Kwasnik
  • Patent number: 10369953
    Abstract: Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel for a motor vehicle includes a substrate. The substrate includes a substrate section and an insert. The insert is disposed in the substrate section such that a frangible tear seam is formed along an interface between the insert and the substrate section defining an integrated airbag deployment door in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Twork, Bradley P. Kusky
  • Patent number: 10336248
    Abstract: An illuminated engine cover assembly including an engine attachment system and an illuminated engine cover is disclosed. The illuminated engine cover assembly comprises an attachment element attached to the engine and an illuminated engine cover composed of polymerized foam. The illuminated engine cover has a recessed area and a receptacle for releasable attachment to the engine attachment element. An illuminated feature is attached to the cover's recessed area. A contact element is fitted within the receptacle. A flexible printed circuit for providing contact between the illuminated feature and the contact element of the receptacle is embedded within the engine cover. A support lattice is optionally embedded within the cover. The support lattice has ends and an intermediate portion to which the illuminated feature is attached. Grommets are attached to each end of the support lattice. The releasable attachment receptacles are formed in the grommets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Nola
  • Patent number: 10272867
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a mounting envelope (1) for receiving a curtain-airbag and for attaching the curtain-airbag to the interior of a vehicle, in particular to the roof frame of a vehicle. The mounting envelope (1) comprises a longitudinal tear-line (3) which is configured to break in the event of a curtain air-bag deployment and extends in a longitudinal direction (L) of the mounting envelope. The mounting envelope is characterized in that it covers at least a major part of a curtain-airbag and in that it comprises at least additional vertical tear-line (7), preferably extending in a direction (V) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Jose Santin Navarro, Maria del Mar Rodilla
  • Patent number: 10272600
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of producing a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle, including the steps of injection-molding a carrier having one or more airbag flaps delimited by a hinge area and by a predefined tear line, wherein a raised contour with a groove-shaped cross-section is created along a segment of the tear line, producing a foam layer between a skin and the injection-molded carrier, producing gaps in the raised contour by guiding a tool over the raised contour after the production of the foam layer, and removing a portion of the raised contour. The present disclosure also relates to a composite skin-foam-carrier component for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Speckbacher, Thomas Winterhoff
  • Patent number: 10232817
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a frame, a cover, and a seat side airbag assembly. The seat side airbag assembly includes a chute mounted to the frame and extending to the cover. An airbag is fixed to the chute, with the chute extending between the airbag and the cover. The chute is attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Veggian, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Patent number: 10227024
    Abstract: A seat cover, comprising: a cover main body that is formed by stitching together a plurality of covering pieces at a plurality of seam allowances, and that covers a padding material of a vehicle seat, with a portion of the plurality of seam allowances disposed at a back face side of the cover main body facing the padding material being turned over to lie along a surface of the padding material; and a low friction cloth that is attached to the back face side of the cover main body in a state straddling across the portion of the plurality of seam allowances, and that is interposed between the cover main body and the padding material, with a surface of the low friction cloth that contacts the portion of the plurality of seam allowances having a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the surface of the padding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kageyama, Takashi Ono
  • Patent number: 10196029
    Abstract: A cover element (10) for an airbag unit having a stationary section, a first flap (14), and a second flap (20), wherein the first flap (14) is connected to the stationary section by at least one first hinge (31), and the second flap (20) by at least one second hinge (32). The two flaps (14, 20) are connected to each other by a tear connection (35). The first flap (14) has an outer area (16) and an emblem area (18), which protrude at least partially from the outer area (16) and extend into the second flap (20). In order that the emblem area (18) is not in the way of the expanding airbag even if the emblem area (18) is relatively large, the emblem area (18) is connected to the outer area (16) of the first flap (14) by a third hinge (33), so that the emblem area (18) can swing against the outer area (16) when the first flap (14) is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Anders Einarsson, Johan Fritzen, Jonas Svantesson, Mikael Dahlgren, Stefan Andersson, Carl-Fredrik Anulf
  • Patent number: 10150234
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interior lining part, includes producing a skin; placing the skin in a foaming mold with a support layer; foaming an intermediate layer; cutting out an area of the skin producing a cutout area of the skin; placing a piece of adhesive tape or film in the cutout area, the piece of adhesive tape or film being placed in between the skin and the intermediate foam layer; and placing an insert in the cut out area of the skin. A method for manufacturing an interior lining part, includes producing a skin by rotational molding; placing a piece of adhesive tape or film in the cutout area, the piece of adhesive tape or film being placed in between the skin and the intermediate foam layer; placing the skin in a foaming mold with a support layer; foaming an intermediate layer; cutting out an area of the skin producing a cutout area of the skin; and placing an insert in the cut out area of the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: REYDEL AUTOMOTIVE B.V.
    Inventors: Denis Dutouquet, Jacques Fevrier, Olivier Hochart
  • Patent number: 10144384
    Abstract: A cover for an airbag device includes: a cover body including an opposed part covering an airbag housed underneath, and a tear line provided on the cover body and splitting when the airbag is inflated; and a covering material covering the opposed part of the cover body. The covering material includes: a fragile portion provided on a back surface of the covering material and at least partly overlapping with the tear line; and a stitched portion, at least part of the stitched portion being located at a position overlapping with the tear line and connected to the fragile portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ooka, Akihiko Yamami, Akito Urushibata, Yohei Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 10112568
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag module configured to be supported by an instrument panel of a vehicle. The airbag module includes a fabric housing having a top panel and one or more side panels extending from the top panel, and an airbag disposed within the fabric housing, the airbag movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position. In the undeployed position, the one or more side panels include a folded portion configured to extend in an unfolding action as the airbag is inflated and deployed, the unfolding action of the one or more side panels directing an expansion of the airbag in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: James Webber, Jonathan R Vanderbossche, Gregory A Nestico
  • Patent number: 10093267
    Abstract: A crash pad for a vehicle having an integrated airbag door and housing may include a main body including a crash pad core, and an airbag housing integrally formed at a center of the crash pad core defining a space for accommodation of an airbag cushion therein, and an airbag door integrally injection-molded with the main body selectively to open and close the space in the airbag housing, the molded airbag door disposed upright in a direction in which the molded airbag door may be discharged from a mold to open the airbag housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung Seok Kong
  • Patent number: 10093265
    Abstract: A knee protecting air bag system includes an air bag, folded to be housed in a housing portion on a lower side of a body side member in front of a seated occupant. The air bag includes thickness controlling tethers that are provided so as to connect an occupant side wall portion and a body side wall portion when the air bag inflates completely. The thickness controlling tethers include an upper tether and a lower tether that are provided to extend into a belt-like shape along a left-to-right direction in upper and lower positions in the lower inflating portion when the air bag inflates completely. An abutment portion is formed between a portion where the upper tether is connected to the body side wall portion and a portion where the lower tether is connected to the body side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ando
  • Patent number: 10081282
    Abstract: A seatback assembly includes an inner carrier module having an upper cross member. The upper cross member includes first and second mounting slots and first and second access apertures disposed therethrough. A seatback frame assembly includes an upper frame member with access apertures disposed therethrough. The inner carrier module is located to a front side of the seatback frame assembly when a locator member of the inner carrier module is received in a locating aperture of the seatback frame assembly. The access apertures of the inner carrier module are aligned with the access apertures of the seatback frame assembly when the two components are coupled together. Guide sleeves are received though the access apertures. A back panel module mounts to a rear side of the seatback frame assembly, wherein upper hook members of the back panel are partially received in the mounting slots of the inner carrier module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Christian J. Hosbach, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello, Rodney Charles Brinker
  • Patent number: 10081308
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an image based vehicle detection and measuring apparatus that employs an accelerated, structured, search method is described for quickly finding the extrema of a multivariable function. The input domain of the function is determined. The method exploits information as it becomes available, calculating a best possible value with the information available so far, and terminating further evaluation when the best possible value does not exceed the extreme value found so far. Ordering and best guess schemes are added to the best possible value idea to accelerate it further. The method is applied to speed up an image processing problem, an example of which is given, but has general application, for example, in fields such as vehicle detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Andreas U. Kuehnle, Jeffrey S. Lawson, Dilip Swaminathan, Cathy L. Boon, Chandra Sekhar Gatla, Hans M. Molin, Ken D. Au
  • Patent number: 10081327
    Abstract: An automobile airbag door includes a base member, a cover member, which is bonded to the surface of the base member, and a tear line, which is formed in the back side of the base member. The tear line is configured to be a starting point of tearing when the base member is pressed by an airbag being deployed and inflated. The cover member includes a three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer bonded to the surface of the base member and a covering bonded to the surface of the three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer. The three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer is made of a double-raschel knitted fabric. The base member includes at least one projection that is formed on the surface of the base member and arranged to be adjacent to the tear line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Toda, Chiharu Totani, Shunta Asakuma
  • Patent number: 10077019
    Abstract: The vehicle airbag device includes an airbag module, an airbag lid member, and a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member includes at least an attachment flange part having a fixing part such as a welding part and a module accommodation part. The attachment flange part is provided with a module fixing part, the module fixing part being protruded from an under surface of the attachment flange. The module fixing part is provided with, at a lower end thereof, a fragile part that is broken by a force smaller than a welding force (fixing force) of the welding part and a separation prevention part that keeps connecting a portion below the fragile part to the module fixing part when the fragile part is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10052987
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a base frame is provided at a back side of a cushion pad to support the cushion pad, and an outer covering is configured to cover a front side of the cushion pad and fixed to the base frame. The outer covering includes a first portion. A receptacle hole is provided at the front side of a cushion pad. An actuator is configured to move the first portion to a first position in which part of the first portion is located inside the receptacle hole, and to a second position farther away from the base frame than the first position. An elastic member is provided in the receptacle hole, connected to the part of the first portion, and configured to bias the first portion toward the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Samual T. Schacht, Elizabeth L. Chambers, Katsuhiro Kiya, Jeffrey J. Finni, Nicholas Domicone, Ashley E. Keach, Hideo Mitsui, Nathan A. Hartley
  • Patent number: 10046517
    Abstract: A resin member contains a thermoplastic resin and is bonded to another resin member by ultrasonic welding. The resin member includes projections that are projected from a surface of a bonding target section of the resin member and melted by application of contact pressure during the ultrasonic welding. The projections include projections having different projection heights from the surface of the bonding target section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsubasa Ono
  • Patent number: 10040227
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle interior trim part intended for covering an airbag. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a support having an opening; b) providing a chute channel defining a passage to guide deployment of the airbag and integral with a cover member; c) fastening the chute channel to the support by a continuous peripheral bead of adhesive extending along the periphery of the opening; d) bringing a mold element to face the support and chute channel so as to define a closed cavity; and e) injecting foam into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: Frédéric Lard