John P O'Loughlin

US Patent:

7163230, Jan 16, 2007

Filed:

Apr 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/840196

Inventors:

John P. O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
Halley O. Stevens - Mesa AZ, US
Kenneth K. Gudewich - Gilbert AZ, US
David G. Magoteaux - Mesa AZ, US

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 21/22

US Classification:

2807302, 280742

Abstract:

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () inflatable between the vehicle side structure () and a vehicle occupant. The device () defines an inflatable volume () that includes a forward portion () and a rearward portion (). An inflation fluid source () is in fluid communication with a fill tube () and provides helium inflation fluid for inflating the device (). The fill tube () includes outlet apertures () that direct the inflation fluid into the inflatable volume to inflate the device () initially to a first pressure and maintain the device inflated above a second pressure for a predetermined time. The inflation fluid directed into the inflatable volume () has a temperature and a pressure that are generally the same in the forward and rearward portions ( and ) during initial inflation of the device. The temperature is about equal to an ambient temperature in which the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated for at least 95% of the predetermined time.

US Patent:

7240917, Jul 10, 2007

Filed:

Sep 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/662852

Inventors:

Eric R. Mcfarland - Mesa AZ, US
Robert R. Debbs - Yale MI, US
Craig M. Fischer - Chandler AZ, US
John P. O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
Halley O. Stevens - Mesa AZ, US
Keven D. Thomas - Mesa AZ, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/30

US Classification:

280739, 2807432, 411 20

Abstract:

An actuatable fastener () includes a body () including a head () and a shank (). The body () includes an interior chamber () partially defined by a side wall () extending from the head () into the shank () and an end wall () positioned in the shank. A member () is disposed in the chamber (). An initiator () is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber () that act on the member () to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (). The member () strikes the end wall () creating a fracture () in the shank () separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder () of the shank. The combustion products moving the member () beyond the fracture () at least a predetermined distance () to move the portion of the shank () at least the predetermined distance from the remainder () of the shank.

US Patent:

7380820, Jun 3, 2008

Filed:

Jun 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/159809

Inventors:

John P. O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
Halley O. Stevens - Mesa AZ, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/26

US Classification:

280736

Abstract:

An inflator () for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes structure that defines a chamber () and inflation fluid stored in the chamber. The inflation fluid includes in mixture a fuel gas, an oxidizer gas, and an inert gas mixture. The inflator () also includes an actuator for initiating a combustion reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidizer gas. The inert gas mixture includes at least two different inert gases and has a composition selected to produce desired performance characteristics of the inflator ().

US Patent:

7461859, Dec 9, 2008

Filed:

May 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/805644

Inventors:

Eric R. McFarland - Mesa AZ, US
Robert R. Debbs - Yale MI, US
Craig M. Fischer - Chandler AZ, US
John P. O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
Halley O. Stevens - Mesa AZ, US
Keven D. Thomas - Mesa AZ, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/30

US Classification:

280739, 2807432, 411 20

Abstract:

An actuatable fastener () includes a body () including a head () and a shank (). The body () includes an interior chamber () partially defined by a side wall () extending from the head () into the shank () and an end wall () positioned in the shank. A member () is disposed in the chamber (). An initiator () is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber () that act on the member () to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (). The member () strikes the end wall () creating a fracture () in the shank () separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder () of the shank. The combustion products moving the member () beyond the fracture () at least a predetermined distance () to move the portion of the shank () at least the predetermined distance from the remainder () of the shank.

US Patent:

20020125692, Sep 12, 2002

Filed:

Mar 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/800564

Inventors:

Kenneth Brannon - Mesa AZ, US
Wael Elqadah - Gilbert AZ, US
Timothy Swann - Mesa AZ, US
John O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
James O'Docherty - Mesa AZ, US
Nathan Butters - Chandler AZ, US

Assignee:

TRW Inc

International Classification:

B60R021/22

US Classification:

280/730200, 280/736000

Abstract:

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that is inflatable away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The device () has a perimeter () defined by an upper edge () positioned adjacent the roof (), an opposite lower edge (), and front and rear edges (and ) spaced apart along the upper and lower edges. The device () includes overlying panels secured together along the perimeter () to define an inflatable volume () and is free from association with an inflatable tube. An inflator () provides inflation fluid for inflating the device (). A flexible elongated member () extends through the device () and is coiled around a portion () of the inflatable volume () of the device. The member () has a first end () and an opposite second end () fixed to the vehicle side structure (). The member () resists movement of the device () away from the vehicle side structure () when the device is inflated.

US Patent:

20070257476, Nov 8, 2007

Filed:

May 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/415685

Inventors:

Lloyd Green - Mesa AZ, US
William Butler - Mesa AZ, US
John O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ, US
Halley Stevens - Mesa AZ, US
Katherine Desimone - Gilbert AZ, US

International Classification:

B60R 21/26

US Classification:

280737000, 280740000, 280741000

Abstract:

An inflator () includes a chamber () for storing inflation () fluid under pressure. A first member () has an inner perimeter that defines an opening () for discharging the inflation fluid (). A rupturable closure member () extends across the opening () and blocks inflation fluid flow though the opening. A second member () supports a central portion () of the closure member () against the pressure of the inflation fluid () in the chamber (). Inflation fluid () flows through a passageway () defined by an outer perimeter of the second member () and the inner perimeter of the first member (). An initiator () ruptures the closure member (), forming petals () of the closure member that deflect into the passageway (). The petals () slide along an outer surface () of a portion () of the second member () while deflecting into the passageway (). The portion () of the second member () is configured not to inhibit movement of the petals () into full engagement with an inner surface () the first member ().

US Patent:

52040682, Apr 20, 1993

Filed:

May 1, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/694003

Inventors:

John P. O'Loughlin - Mesa AZ
Eldron L. Boehmer - Mesa AZ
Timothy A. Swann - Mesa AZ

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B01D 5334
B01D 5000
B60R 2126

US Classification:

422180

Abstract:

A filter filters the gas generated by an air bag inflator. The gas comprises an alkali metal oxide. The inflator comprises a non-woven metal fibrous mat and small particles of a silicon compound, reactive with the alkali metal oxide, adhered to strands of the mat.

US Patent:

61765155, Jan 23, 2001

Filed:

Oct 7, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/414257

Inventors:

John P. Wallner - Rochester Hills MI
James K. O'Docherty - Mesa AZ
John P. O'Loughlin - Gilbert AZ
Kenneth D. Brannon - Mesa AZ

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH
TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2122

US Classification:

2807302

Abstract:

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14) which is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device (14), when inflated, has an outer panel (47) positioned adjacent to the side structure (16) and an opposite inner panel (48). Apertures (70) are spaced in a row and extend through the device (14). First and second flexible elongated members (80 and 82) have respective first ends (84 and 94) and opposite second ends (86 and 96) connected to the side structure (16). The first and second flexible elongated members (80 and 82) extend through the apertures (70) and have respective first and second portions (102 and 110) which extend along respective first and second parts (104 and 112) of the outer panels (47) and then along respective first and second parts of the inner panels (48). When the vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflated, the first and second portions (102 and 110) move away from each other and tension the first and second flexible elongated members (80 and 82).