Mark E Winters

US Patent:

6626455, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804965

Inventors:

James Lloyd Webber - Shelby Township MI
Jeffrey Alan Shepherd - Troy OH
Mark Thomas Winters - Troy OH
Laura Adelle Hawthorn - Tipp City OH

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807282, 2807283, 280732

Abstract:

This present invention provides a deformable air bag module for use in an instrument panel or door panel of a vehicle. The air bag module has a deformable housing with an inflator and an air bag cushion being disposed within the deformable housing. The module housing has a neck portion defining an opening formed at a first side, wherein the first side is coupled to the instrument panel. The instrument panel includes first and second instrument panel sections and the module housing is disposed about the first and second instrument panel sections so that deployment of the air bag cushion causes deformation of the module housing resulting in the first and second instrument panel sections separating and deployment of the air bag cushion therebetween. When a tear seam is used to define the first and second instrument panel sections, the present invention permits the tear seam to be formed thicker in size and more durable.

US Patent:

7543848, Jun 9, 2009

Filed:

Nov 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/266539

Inventors:

James L. Webber - Shelby Township MI, US
Mark T. Winters - Troy OH, US
Laura A. Hawthorn - Tipp City OH, US
Ryan T. Pinsenschaum - Dayton OH, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/015
B60R 21/276

US Classification:

280735, 280739, 2807432

Abstract:

A system for controlling an inflation output in an inflatable cushion of an air bag module, comprising: a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module; a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching the predetermined distance from the air bag module; and a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving the suppression signal and an activation signal, wherein the activation signal corresponds to an event that requires inflation of inflatable cushion in absence of the suppression signal and the sensing and diagnostic module is configured to determine whether the inflation output is to be provided to the inflatable cushion.