David B Schenck

US Patent:

7121577, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Mar 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/391817

Inventors:

David P. Schenck - Miamisburg OH, US
Ryan T. Pinsenschaum - Vandalia OH, US
Mark T. Winters - Troy OH, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/205
B60R 21/215

US Classification:

2807283, 280732

Abstract:

A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from the door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

US Patent:

54092566, Apr 25, 1995

Filed:

Jan 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/177565

Inventors:

John E. Gordon - Brookville OH
Robert E. Huffman - Tipp City OH
David P. Schenck - Miamisburg OH
John P. Sparkman - Dayton OH
Steven W. Stukenborg - Centerville OH
Robert E. Bowser - Brighton MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation

International Classification:

B60R 2120

US Classification:

280728A

Abstract:

A driver-side air bag module is mounted to a steering wheel assembly mounting bracket having three mounting apertures. The module comprises a cover, an inflator and a base plate, which are assembled without using fasteners. The base plate has a plurality of arcuately-spaced mounting apertures and mounts three studs. The cover includes a plurality of mating flexible tangs having locking shoulders. The inflator has a peripheral mounting flange which includes three arcuately-spaced locking blades and a plurality of locking tabs projecting from its surface. The base plate has three mating openings each having an adjacent locking abutment. The studs are first staked to the base plate. The cover is assembled by inserting the tangs through the base plate mounting apertures so that the shoulders snap over to engage the base plate. The inflator locking blades are pushed through the base plate mating openings and twisted to pass them over the locking abutments. This traps the base plate between the blades and the mounting flange and abuts the locking tabs with the cover tangs, preventing their removal.

US Patent:

58397566, Nov 24, 1998

Filed:

Feb 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/794726

Inventors:

David Patrick Schenck - Miamisburg OH
Brian Joseph Thompson - Fairborn OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807431

Abstract:

An inflatable restraint system includes an inflator for generating inflator gas and a bladder inflatable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The bladder includes a forward panel, a rearward panel, and a pair of opposing end panels extending between and interconnecting the forward and rearward panels. Preferably, the bladder is made of a metal material. Also preferably, the system includes an instrument panel having a lower portion and the bladder is positioned beneath the lower portion of the instrument panel to serve as a knee bolster when inflated for protection of the occupant.

US Patent:

57094012, Jan 20, 1998

Filed:

Oct 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/548763

Inventors:

David Patrick Schenck - Miamisburg OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

An air bag module has a base structure including a plurality of hook portions. The module further includes an inflator for discharging inflator gas, and the inflator is coupled to the base structure. The module also includes an air bag made of flexible fabric air bag material. The flexible fabric air bag material of the air bag includes a plurality of air bag apertures therethrough. The hook portions of the base structure extend through the air bag apertures such that the air bag is captured on the hook portions. Upon air bag deployment, the air bag is securely anchored to the base structure by engagement of the air bag with the hook portions of the base structure. Preferably, the air bag includes a mouth portion having an air bag opening therein through which inflator gas is received. Preferably, the air bag apertures are located on the mouth portion of the air bag and the air bag opening is sized larger than the base structure so that the base structure is positioned substantially within the air bag opening.

US Patent:

60768541, Jun 20, 2000

Filed:

Dec 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/212447

Inventors:

David Patrick Schenck - Miamisburg OH
Graham Thornton Spencer - Troy OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807432

Abstract:

In one embodiment, an air bag assembly comprises an air bag and a primary inflator for inflating the air bag. The air bag has a full inflated volume and a lesser partial inflated volume which is achieved by anchoring a plurality of tethers with a heat-sensitive link to reduce the inflated volume of the air bag to the partial inflated volume. A secondary inflator is selectively operable to release the tethers and coact with the primary inflator to inflate the air bag to the full inflated volume. Actuation of only the primary inflator inflates the air bag to only partial volume as constrained by the tethers. Actuation of the secondary inflator melts the link to release the tethers and inflate the air bag to full volume. In another embodiment, the secondary inflator is replaced by a tether control which includes an actuator that is selectively operable to release the tethers. The air bag includes a vent which is normally open so that operation of only the inflator will inflate the air bag to only partial volume as constrained by the tethers, while operation of the actuator releases the tethers and closes the vent and enable the inflator to inflate the air bag to full inflated volume.

US Patent:

53540930, Oct 11, 1994

Filed:

Apr 5, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/041594

Inventors:

David P. Schenck - Miamisburg OH
Robert E. Huffman - Tipp City OH
Jeffrey A. Shepherd - Fairborn OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

280728A

Abstract:

Two embodiments of an air bag module and method of assembly are disclosed. One air bag module includes a flat support plate and a cover confining an air bag. The cover confines the air bag and has a plurality of resilient latch hooks spaced about its periphery which snap over the edges of the support plate and engage adjacent latch surfaces. A locking plate has a locking tab located adjacent each latch hook when assembled to the support plate to prevent deflection of the latch hooks and maintain the latch hooks in engagement with the latch surfaces. The inflator is later secured to the support plate by rivets which also secure the air bag and locking plate to the support plate. Another air bag module includes an air bag, an inflator, an open rectangular retainer mounting the air bag, and an open top and bottom container receiving the retainer and mounting the inflator, and a cover. A plurality of resilient latch hooks on the cover snap over the walls of the retainer and into indentations formed on the periphery of the bottom of the retainer. The retainer is inserted into the top of the container and the camming flanges guide the latch hooks into engagement with the walls of the container which confine the latch hooks against deflection, thus securing the cover against separation.

US Patent:

49909380, Feb 5, 1991

Filed:

Dec 4, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/445825

Inventors:

John M. Brandon - Beavercreek OH
Richard J. Ratermann - Centerville OH
Michael A. Walters - Kettering OH
David P. Schenck - Miamisburg OH

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2175
B41J 205

US Classification:

346140R

Abstract:

An improved nest device construction for use with insertable ink jet print/cartridges having detent portions accurately located vis a vis their orifice array. The construction includes a U-shaped member, having a handle and arms spaced to receive a print/cartridge, which is mounted on a printer carriage for rotation between insert and retain positions. The arms have interior pinch surfaces for slidably engaging an inserted print/cartridge during rotation of said member and a bottom lip edge that extends inwardly to initially support a print/cartridge in an insert position. A spring is located between the arms of the member to contact the bottom rear surface of an inserted print/cartridge and tilt its front face into engagement with a positioning knife edge.