Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Trw Limited

Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Topside Research, LLC

Internet Machines Corp.

Forestay Research, LLC

John P Wallner

William P Braun

Todd Khacherian

Shaun Clem

Darrin Patek

Michael P Pionk

Chris Reed

Thomas Osentoski

Richard E Shellabarger

Jimmy Pu

Robert I Phillion

Mark T Lecznar

Anthony J Komerska

Kurt F Fischer

Ernst M Faigle

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Ahmad K Al-Amin

John P O'Loughlin

Bruce R Hill

Ayad G Nayef

Bob L McFalls

Joseph John Zwolinski

Alex G Meduvsky

Scott A Kelley

Michael J White, Jr

Andrew J Smydra

Craig M Fischer

Al A Saberan

Wael S Elqadah

Steven W Maurer

James R Hocking

Charles S Pillsbury, Iv

Jeffrey C Synor

Rodger M Cherry

George J Levosinski

Xingyuan Sun

James K O'Docherty

Paul F Altamore

Al S Emambakhsh

Kenneth D Brannon

William R Buchanan

Ken B Taggart

Theodore J Bachelder

Thomas J Klena, Ii

Michael B Kutchey

Kurt Kastelic

Robert F McGee

Edward F Elmer

Matthew J McCann

George E Lancaster

Eric W Wright

Bonnie L Maier

Ronald R Modlin

David Gunther, Sr

James M McGowan

John E Stepnick

James T Puckett

Michael W Jagenow

Edward J Corrion

Clarence R Husband

Timothy P Edwards

Gwendoyln C Hatten

Michael Akins

A restraint system () for protecting at least one aircraft occupant, the aircraft including a cabin having at least one seat () facing a longitudinal center line of the aircraft, the restraint system including a first airbag () inflatable from a stored position to an inflated position, the airbag when inflated being adjacent the seated occupant and located on a side of the occupant facing the front of the aircraft, the airbag reducing occupant movement toward the front of the aircraft and cushioning the occupant from any impact, the system also includes a mechanism () to lessen movement of the lower legs of the occupant.

Safety restraint protection for aircraft occupants seated facing the side of the aircraft

A head restraint () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle seat () includes a base frame () connected to the vehicle seat. A cushion carrier () is supported on the base frame () by a track assembly () that facilitates movement of the cushion carrier () relative to the base frame () along a deployment axis () from a non-deployed condition to a deployed condition. The track assembly () includes a fixed track member () that forms a portion of the base frame (). The fixed track member () includes spaced axially extending beam portions () with opposing surfaces () that define a channel () between the beam portions (). The track assembly () also includes a sliding track member () that forms a portion of the cushion carrier (). The sliding track member () includes a sliding frame () positioned in the channel () and having portions () positioned in sliding contact with portions () on the opposing surfaces () defining the channel ().

Active head restraint for a vehicle seat

Variable length switch fabric for switching variable length data packets between input and output transmission paths in a communication network. In one embodiment of the invention, apparatus is provided for switching variable length data packets between input and output transmission paths in a communication network. The apparatus includes a plurality of input ports coupled to receive the plurality of variable length data packets from the input transmission paths and a plurality of output ports coupled to transmit the plurality of variable length data packets on the output transmission paths. The apparatus also includes a variable length switch fabric coupled to the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports, the variable length switch fabric operates to switch the plurality of variable length data packets from selected input ports to selected output ports in an unsegmented form.

Data switch and switch fabric

A high data rate switch is disclosed. The switch may include fiber optic channels where a plurality of switching elements necessarily operate at a significantly lower data rate providing routing of variable or fixed size data packets from a plurality of source ports to a plurality of destination ports via a single serial link. This is may be provided by storing the high rate data temporarily in memory in each of the source ports and then downloading it at a lower rate in a complete data packet to a designated switching element, almost immediately distributing the next data packet that has been received by the source port to a next switching element. The switching element configuration provides automatic redundancy and a minimum amount of frame overhead while sustaining throughput at the high data rate.

Parallel channel architecture

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () and a support member (). A vent opening () extends through the support member (). A vent member () is associated with the vent opening (). The vent member () initially closes the vent opening (). Inflation fluid moves the vent member () relative to the support member () for enabling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). A tether () extends between the inflatable occupant protection device () and the vent member (). The tether () is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device () away from the support member () by more than a predetermined distance for moving the vent member () relative to the support member () for reducing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening ().

Air bag module with vent controlled by tether

Variable length switch fabric

Switching apparatus for high speed channels using multiple parallel lower speed channels while maintaining data rate

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () into a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus () also includes a housing () for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure () adjacent the vehicle roof (). The housing () includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece () of the vehicle (). The apparatus () also includes at least one grab handle () and at least one connector () that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), the housing () and the grab handle. The connector () connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), housing () and grab handle () to the vehicle ().

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

A modular headliner assembly ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) adapted to inflate away from a roof ( ) of a vehicle ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The modular headliner assembly ( ) also includes a headliner ( ) for covering an interior portion ( ) of the roof ( ) and at least one support device ( ) for supporting the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and the headliner in the vehicle ( ). The support device ( ) includes a bracket ( ) having a portion ( ) connectable to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ), fastener ( ) for connecting the headliner ( ) to the bracket, and a fastener ( ) for connecting the bracket to the vehicle ( ).

Modular headliner and inflatable curtain assembly

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) also comprises a housing ( ) for mounting in the vehicle. The housing ( ) includes a chamber ( ) receiving the inflatable device in the deflated condition. The housing ( ) includes a first housing part ( ) having a locking rib ( ), and a second housing part ( ) having a locking groove ( ) and an opening ( ) into the locking groove. The locking rib ( ) is movable in a first direction ( ) through the opening ( ) into the locking groove ( ) for releasably closing the housing ( ) with the inflatable device ( ) inside the chamber. The first housing part ( ) has a tool receiving portion ( ) adjacent the locking rib ( ). The tool receiving portion ( ) has a tool receiving surface ( ) extending transverse to the first direction ( ) for receiving an assembly tool ( ). The assembly tool ( ) applies force to move the locking rib ( ) in the first direction ( ) through the opening ( ) into the locking groove ( ).

Housing for inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable away from a vehicle roof ( ) between a vehicle side structure ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) further comprises an anchoring device ( ) that comprises a track ( ) and an element ( ) that is slidable along the track. The track ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ) and has a wall ( ) comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface ( ). The element ( ) is connected to the device ( ) and has a surface ( ) that is in continuous engagement with the surface ( ) of the wall ( ). The device ( ) applies a first force to the element ( ) which causes the element to slide in a first direction along the track ( ). The element ( ) is urged to slide along the track ( ) in a second direction, opposite the first direction, when a second force is applied to the element. The surface ( ) of the element ( ) engages the surface ( ) of the wall ( ) to block the element from sliding in the second direction.

Inflatable curtain with anchor device

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (,). The vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflatable in a first direction into a position between the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) and a vehicle occupant. When inflated, the vehicle occupant protection device (,) extends fore and aft in the vehicle (,) along the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,). An inflator (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. A mechanism (,) causes the vehicle occupant protection device (,) when inflated to be tensioned in the first direction along the fore and aft extent of the vehicle occupant protection device.

Inflatable curtain with tensioning device

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (,) into a position between the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). A plurality of arc-shaped connections (,) define a plurality of arc-shaped chambers (,) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. Each of the arc-shaped chambers (,) includes an arc-shaped upper side wall defined by one of the arc-shaped connections (,) and an arc-shaped lower side wall defined by another of the arc-shaped connections. The arc-shaped chambers (,) are positioned vertically adjacent to each other such that the lower side wall of one of the arc-shaped chambers forms the upper side wall of an adjacent arc-shaped chamber.

Inflatable side curtain

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (,) into a position between the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) comprises a pair of overlying panels (,) having overlapping portions that are secured together at points of connection (,). First and second points of connection (,) are spaced vertically apart from each other and positioned along a first straight line (,) that extends between the first and second points of connection. Third and fourth points of connection (,) are spaced horizontally apart from each other and positioned along a second straight line (,) that extends between the third and fourth points of connection. The second straight line (,) extends transverse to the first straight line (,).

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) that has a side structure (,) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (,) which is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device (,), when inflated, has an outer panel (,) positioned adjacent to the side structure (,) and an opposite inner panel (,). Apertures (,) are spaced in a row and extend through the device (,). First and second flexible elongated members (,and,) have respective first ends (,and,) and opposite second ends (,and,) connected to the side structure (,). The first and second flexible elongated members (,and,) extend through the apertures (,) and have respective first and second portions (,and,) which extend along respective first and second parts (,and,) of the outer panels (,) and then along respective first and second parts of the inner panels (,). When the vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflated, the first and second portions (,and,) move away from each other and tension the first and second flexible elongated members (,and,).

Inflatable curtain with positioning device

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

John P Wallner