Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Daniel David Carlson

Thomas E Blake, Iii

Brenda Schworer

David Call

John J Strzempko

Gregory Mamelson

Jason Ray Pranger

Anthony L Rivas

J Michael Andrews

Timothy M Barnes

A pressure relief assembly includes a housing defining an air passage chamber having at least one airflow opening. A flap is secured within the air passage chamber. The flap is configured to move into an open position to expose the airflow opening(s) to relieve air pressure. A cushion is secured to the housing underneath the flap. The cushion is configured to cushion motion of the flap. A first attachment securely couples the flap to the housing. A second attachment securely couples the cushion to the housing. The first attachment is separate and distinct from the second attachment.

Flap-cushioning pressure relief assembly

A pressure relief assembly includes a housing defining an air passage chamber having at least one opening, and a flap secured within the air passage chamber. The flap is configured to move into an open position to expose the opening(s) to relieve air pressure. At least one liquid diverter extends from the housing. The liquid diverter(s) is configured to direct moisture away from the flap.

Liquid-diverting pressure relief assembly

A pressure relief assembly () is configured to be secured to a portion of a vehicle. The pressure relief assembly () includes a pressure relief device () and a liquid-diverting cover () including at least one liquid diversion vane () that defines at least one air outlet (). The liquid diversion vane(s) () is configured to block liquid from passing into an interior cabin of the vehicle. The air outlet(s) () allows airflow from within the vehicle to pass out of the interior cabin of the vehicle.

Pressure relief assembly having a liquid-diverting cover

A pressure relief assembly includes a pressure relief device including a housing that defines at least one air passage chamber, and at least one flap secured within the air passage chamber(s). The pressure relief device is configured to securely couple to a component. A cover is secured to the pressure relief device. At least one impact-absorbing bumper is disposed between the pressure relief device and the cover. The impact-absorbing bumper(s) is configured to dampen impact energy and undesirable noise.

Impact-absorbing pressure relief assembly having cover

A pressure relief assembly includes a housing defining an air passage chamber having at least one opening, and a membrane flap secured within the air passage chamber. The membrane flap is configured to move into an open position to expose the opening(s) to relieve air pressure. A plurality of flap-retaining clips securely couple the membrane flap to the housing. Each of the plurality of the flap-retaining clips includes a main body. A housing-connecting tab extends from a first end of the main body. The housing-connecting tab is retained within a retaining channel formed in the housing. Opposed flap-retention wings laterally extend from opposite sides of the main body. A portion of the membrane flap is trapped between the opposed flap-retention wings and the housing to securely couple the membrane flap to the housing.

Flap-retaining clip for a pressure relief assembly

An apparatus for moderating the environment of a driver assist camera comprises (a) a housing in which the driver assist camera is mountable and (b) a bracket configured and dimensioned to receive and retain the housing. The bracket when installed in a vehicle is attached to a window of the vehicle. A thermally conductive body is movably mounted on the bracket. The housing when being received in the bracket contacts and moves the thermally conductive body relative to the bracket so as to press the thermally conductive body against the window and permit heat from the housing to be conducted to the window, thereby moderating the environment of the driver assist camera when mounted in the housing.

Moderation of a driver assist camera enhancement via a vehicle windshield

An apparatus for securing a camera housing () having a central axis () to a windshield () includes a bracket (). The bracket () has a central axis () and extends from a first end () to a second end (). A plurality of centering members () on the first end () of the bracket () is configured to engage the camera housing () to align the central axis () with the central axis (). A plurality of locking members () on the second end () of the bracket () is configured to form a snap-fit connection with the camera housing () to fasten the bracket () to the camera housing (). The locking members () are positioned on opposite sides of the central axis () of the bracket () with at least one locking member () extending at an angle less than 90&#xb0; to the central axis ().

Camera bracket

Camera housing

An apparatus for use in venting a compartment in a vehicle includes a housing which at least partially defines an air flow passage. A valve element moves from a closed condition to an open condition to enable air to flow through the air flow passage. The valve element has an inner surface facing the air flow passage when the valve element is in the closed condition. The valve element has an outer surface opposite the inner surface facing away from the air flow passage when the valve element is in the closed condition. A spring wire deflects as the valve element moves from the closed condition toward the open condition and is effective to urge the valve element toward the closed condition. The spring wire extends in a straight line from the housing to the inner surface of the valve element when the valve element is in the closed condition.

Pressure relief valve

An apparatus includes a vent valve movable between a closed condition blocking air flow through a vent opening and an open condition enabling air flow through the vent opening. A door position sensor assembly is operable from a first condition to a second condition in response to movement of a vehicle door from a closed position to an open position and is operable from the second condition to the first condition in response to movement of the vehicle door from the open position to the closed position. An actuator assembly operates the vent valve from the closed condition to the open condition upon operation of the door position sensor assembly from the first condition to the second condition and releases the vent valve for movement from the open condition to the closed condition upon operation of the door position sensor assembly from the second condition to the first condition.

Vehicle vent valve assembly

A pressure relief valve including a housing that mounts in an aperture in a panel. The housing has a side wall defining an air flow passage. The side wall has a first side wall section at least partially defining the air flow passage. The first side wall section extends at an angle to the panel when the housing is mounted in the aperture in the panel. The first side wall section has an opening extending through the first side wall section. A valve element extends from the first side wall section. The valve element has a closed condition preventing air flow through the opening in the first side wall section and an open condition permitting air flow through the opening in the first side wall section. A louver assembly may be mounted in the aperture in the panel. The louver assembly has at least one louver that directs foreign matter and sound away from the valve element when the valve element is in the closed condition.

Pressure relief valve for a vehicle

An insert () for an opening in a base () includes a housing () having a peripheral side wall () defining an interior space (). The peripheral side wall () includes at least one latch member () having a latching position. The latch member () engages the base () to secure the housing () in the opening when the latch member () is in the latching position. The housing () is inserted into the opening in a first direction (A) to engage the latch member () with the base (). At least one indicator () shows when the at least one latch member () is in the latching position. The indicator () is visible in the first direction (A) when the insert () is in the opening in the base ().

Insert for an opening

A pressure relief valve () for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment () of a vehicle () includes a base () having a peripheral portion (). A central opening () extends through the peripheral portion (). The pressure relief valve () also includes a plurality of flaps () for closing the central opening () of the base (). Each flap () has an outer end () connected with the peripheral portion () of the base () and an inner end () that is movable relative to the peripheral portion () and the other flaps () for enabling airflow through the central opening (). Each flap () has opposite surfaces (and) against which air pressure acts. Differential air pressure acts on the opposite surfaces (and) causing the flap () to move to enable airflow through the central opening ().

Vehicle pressure relief valve having peripherally secured flaps and method of manufacturing the same

A pressure relief valve () for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment () of a vehicle () includes a base () having a central portion () and a peripheral portion (). A plurality of openings () extends through the base () and a plurality of flaps () closes the openings (). Each flap () is associated with at least one opening (). An inner end () of each flap () connects with the central portion () of the base (). An outer end () of each flap () is movable relative to the central portion () of the base () and the other flaps for enabling airflow through the at least one associated opening (). The pressure relief valve () further includes a connector () on the base () that is configured for securing the pressure relief valve () to the vehicle ().

Vehicle pressure relief valve having centrally secured flaps and method of manufacturing the same

A pressure relief valve () includes a housing () defining an air flow passage (). A flap () overlies the air flow passage (). At least a portion () of the flap () is movable, in response to an air pressure differential acting on opposite portions of the flap, between an open condition venting air from one side () of the valve () to a closed condition blocking flow of air from a second side () of the valve. The flap () has a plurality of mounting openings (). The housing () has a plurality of generally T-shaped mounting posts () projecting from the housing. A snap connection is provided between the flap () and the mounting posts () to secure the flap to the housing () with the mounting posts extending through the openings (). The mounting posts () are the only structure holding the flap () on the housing ().

Growing community of inventors

Fenton, MI, United States of America

Daniel David Carlson