The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2002
Alex G. Meduvsky, Romeo, MI (US);
Matthew C. Frank, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Arnold J. Herberg, Davisburg, MI (US);
Joseph J. Zwolinski, Warren, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and an inflation fluid source ( ) for providing inflation fluid ( ) for inflating the protection device. The apparatus ( ) also includes an opening ( ) through which the inflation fluid ( ) flows from the inflation fluid source ( ). A member ( ) is movable to control flow of the inflation fluid ( ) through the opening ( ). A volume of a field responsive fluid ( ) resists movement of the member ( ). The field responsive fluid ( ) has a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus ( ) further includes means ( ) for varying the viscosity of the field responsive fluid ( ) to vary the resistance to movement of the member ( ).