Paul M Slaats

US Patent:

8235418, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/379061

Inventors:

Paul MariaAntonius Slaats - Berkley MI, US
Jim Karlow - Commerce Township MI, US
Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton - Rochester MI, US
Moe Boumarafi - Oakland Township MI, US

Assignee:

TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/213
B60R 21/216

US Classification:

2807432, 2807302

Abstract:

An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable rear curtain airbag configured to deploy adjacent a rear window positioned between rear pillars in the vehicle, a housing for the rear curtain airbag, and an inflator to inflate the rear curtain airbag. The housing, rear curtain airbag, and inflator are mounted to a roof of the vehicle. The rear curtain airbag is configured to deploy to prevent ejection of an occupant out of the rear window and to prevent objects intruding through the rear window from contacting an occupant.

US Patent:

8333406, Dec 18, 2012

Filed:

Oct 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/899505

Inventors:

Paul M. Slaats - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60R 21/263

US Classification:

280736, 280741, 280742, 2807302

Abstract:

The present invention can include an automobile having a multi-stage inflation system. The multi-stage inflation system can include an engine control unit, a multi-stage inflation unit, a curtain airbag, a curtain airbag pressure indicator, and/or a rollover side impact detection unit. The rollover side impact detection unit can detect when a side impact or a rollover occurs to the automobile. When the rollover or the side impact is detected, the engine control unit can instruct the multi-stage inflation unit to deploy and inflate the curtain airbag in multiple stages. The multi-stage inflation unit can include a pyrotechnic inflation unit with multiple compartments. At each of the stages, a different one of the multiple compartments can be activated to substantially inflate the curtain airbag. The multi-stage inflation unit can also optionally include a cold gas inflation unit to supplement the pyrotechnic inflation unit.

US Patent:

8408636, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Nov 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/296701

Inventors:

Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kanichi Saito - Ann Arbor MI, US
Paxton Steven Williams - Milan MI, US
Joseph Charles Walusek - Ann Arbor MI, US
Sagar Vilas Kulkarni - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Corporation - Toyota
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B62D 21/15

US Classification:

29618708, 280784, 293102, 293120, 293143

Abstract:

A motor vehicle includes a first side member having first lower and upper darts. The motor vehicle also includes a second side member parallel with and spaced apart from the first side member, the second side member having second lower and upper darts. The upper darts are positioned between the lower darts and end portions of the respective first or second side members. The motor vehicle further includes first and second bumper brackets coupled to the end portion of the respective first or second side members, a bumper reinforcement member coupled to the first and second bumper brackets, and a counter rotation bracket coupled to the bumper reinforcement member and extending upwards from the bumper reinforcement member. The lower darts and the upper darts form a preferential buckling zone of the first and the second side members.

US Patent:

20090184499, Jul 23, 2009

Filed:

Jan 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/010103

Inventors:

Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats - Ann Arbor MI, US
Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton - Rochester MI, US
Mark Andrew Steinbach - Clawson MI, US
Richard Wiik - FortGratiot MI, US

International Classification:

B60R 21/213

US Classification:

2807302

Abstract:

An airbag is provided. The airbag is configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle and includes a first section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, a second section coupled to the first section and configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator, tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle and chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag, wherein the chambers stabilize the airbag during deployment.

US Patent:

20160082917, Mar 24, 2016

Filed:

Sep 22, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/492126

Inventors:

- Franklin TN, US
PAUL SLAATS - ANN ARBOR MI, US

International Classification:

B60R 21/232

Abstract:

A vehicle comprises a body structure defining a window opening, a curtain airbag for the window opening, and a magnetic retention assembly for retaining the curtain airbag to the body structure upon its deployment. The curtain airbag is sized to overlap some of the body structure upon its deployment. The magnetic retention assembly has a first retaining portion positioned at a portion of the body structure overlapped by the curtain airbag, and a second retaining portion positioned at the curtain airbag. The second retaining portion is magnetically attractable to the first retaining portion.