T K Holdings, Inc.

Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC

Dura Operating, LLC

Jeremy Henck

Larry M Wilmot

Rachid Hammoud

Deborah L Hordos

David M McCormick

Joshua D Van Hooser

Brian Edward Steakley

Steven Rehak

Steven R Rehak

Sachidanand Prasad

Pareed Kumar Jakkamsetti

Various implementations include a self-coupling initiator including one or more integrated features that allow the initiator to be installed within a housing tube without a forming or fastening operation. The integrated features are able to be coupled to a drop protection cap. The drop protection cap extends around at least a portion of a head portion of the initiator and abuts the structure of the outer housing so that force imparted on the drop protection cap from a drop test is transferred to a direct compression load on the cap and housing, instead of the force being transferred to the initiator. In addition, the initiator may include one or more clip features that allow the initiator to clip into the housing. In such embodiments, the drop protection cap may also prevent the clips from being disengaged with the housing.

Actuator assemblies and methods of assembling the same

Various implementations include a battery disconnect device that includes a breaker, a housing, and a bus bar. The breaker has a pivot portion and an actuation portion, and the actuation portion has an actuation face. The pivot portion has an axis of rotation about which the breaker is pivotable. The housing defines a chamber, and the chamber is in fluid communication with a gas generator via an inlet defined by an inlet wall of the housing. The breaker is disposed within the chamber in a first position in which the actuation face is adjacent the inlet and inlet wall and combustion gas from the gas generator pushes on the actuation face to cause the breaker to pivot about the axis of rotation of the pivot portion to a second position, which causes the breaker to break the bus bar.

Battery disconnect device

A hood lifting assembly according to various implementations includes a re-latching feature that allows two slidably coupled plates to be reset, or locked, relative to each other by moving a head of a pin into a keyhole opening of a keyhole slot defined in one of the plates. In an initial position, the head of the pin is spaced apart from the keyhole opening, allowing the pin to move along the keyhole slot from the initial position to a deployed position and then to a reset position. In other implementations, a hood lifting assembly includes an energy absorbing feature. One exemplary energy absorbing feature includes a plate defining an elongated slot that has a narrowed width portion through which a pin travels during movement from the initial position to the deployed position.

Hood lifting assembly

A hood lifting mechanism according to various implementations includes a housing and a piston. A distal end of the piston is urged away from a distal end of the housing to lift a hood upwardly away from a vehicle body in response to the vehicle hitting a pedestrian. To prevent the piston from rattling or moving within the housing while in a stored position, a portion of the piston and a portion of the housing form an interference fit in the stored position. A gas generator in fluid communication with a proximal end of the housing provides sufficient force to overcome the interference fit and urge the distal end of the piston out of the housing.

Linear actuator

A linear actuator contains a housing having a first end and a second end. A hollow piston is positioned within the housing to slidably engage with an inner wall of the housing. A sealed gas chamber is formed within the hollow piston and contains stored gas for driving the piston upon activation of the actuator.

Pressurized actuator

A linear actuator includes a housing and a piston slidably mounted within the housing. The piston has a first portion forming a sliding fit between the piston and the housing, a second portion spaced apart from both the housing and the first portion, and a groove formed between the first and second portions.

A pyrotechnic device contains a housing having a first end and a second end. A structural component or piston is contained within the housing. A polymer is infused into and/or about the structural component thereby accommodating the immediate ignition of the same by a known initiator/igniter in a known manner, the initiator also contained within the housing.

Silicone propelled pedestrian hood lifter and seatbelt pre-tensioner

A parking brake control assembly having a brake actuator includes an engagement member, a retention member, a release actuator, and a biasing member. In a first position of brake actuator, the retention member is arranged to engage the engagement member upon movement of the brake actuator from a first position to a second position to hold the brake actuator in the second position. Movement of the brake actuator from the first to the second position causes the release actuator to move relative to the retention member such that the biasing member provides a force on the retention member tending to disengage the retention member from the engagement member so that upon movement of the brake actuator to return the brake actuator from the second position to the first position, the retention member disengages from the engagement member enabling the brake actuator to be returned to the first position.

Park brake control assembly

A novel actuator contains a housing having a first end, a second end, and an inner wall. A piston rod assembly is contained within the housing, wherein the assembly contains a piston rod, a first end cap fixed at one end of the piston rod, and a second end cap fixed at an opposing end of the piston rod. An energy management device is constrained about an outer diameter of the first end cap, wherein upon actuation of the actuator, the energy management device may under predetermined conditions be deformed upon movement of said piston rod.

Pyrotechnic actuator

A gas-powered actuator is provided. The actuator includes a housing and a piston movably positioned within the housing. A cavity is formed in the piston. The housing includes an opening formed therein. The opening is structured to permit insertion of a piston rod into the opening, then into the piston cavity.

Vehicle hood lifter with detachable piston rod

A gas generating system includes a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber. The secondary chamber includes a shell and a cap secured to the shell such that the cap is movable in a first direction responsive to a pressure differential wherein a pressure within the shell is greater than a pressure exterior of the shell. At least one gas flow passage is bounded by the shell and by a cavity extending along an exterior of the cap.

Secondary chamber combustion control mechanism

A hood lifting mechanism includes a housing and a piston assembly movably mounted in the housing. The piston assembly has a groove formed therealong. A retainer is coupled to the housing so as to form a cavity therebetween. A locking member is positioned in the cavity so as to be engageable by the groove, for preventing motion of the piston assembly with respect to the housing.

Locking mechanism for pedestrian hood lifters

A hood lifting mechanism includes a housing and a piston rod movably mounted in the housing so as to be extendible from the housing in a first direction. A retainer is secured to an exterior of the housing so as to define a cavity between the housing and the retainer. A locking member is positioned in the cavity and structured to contact the piston rod so as to impede motion of the piston rod in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Growing community of inventors

White Lake, MI, United States of America

Jeremy Henck