Thomas Richard Blake

US Patent:

20020130494, Sep 19, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804918

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US
Gary Gordon - Novi MI, US
Steve Zofchak - Flint MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Inc.

International Classification:

B60R021/16

US Classification:

280/730200, 280/741000

Abstract:

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () having a side structure () and a roof () comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () into a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and the vehicle occupant. A fill tube () has a portion located in the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The apparatus () also includes at least one support device () that has a portion () that clamps around a portion of the fill tube (). The apparatus () further includes a grab handle () that has at least one portion () adapted to interconnect with the support device (). A fastener () is extendable through the support device () to connect the grab handle (), support device (), fill tube () and inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () to the vehicle ().

US Patent:

20040012173, Jan 22, 2004

Filed:

Jun 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/606257

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US
Gary Gordon - Novi MI, US
Steve Zofchak - Flint MI, US

Assignee:

TRE Automative U.S. LLC

International Classification:

B60R021/22

US Classification:

280/730200

Abstract:

An apparatus () includes a modular headliner assembly () for a vehicle () having a side structure () and a roof (). The headliner assembly () includes a headliner (), an inflatable curtain (), a fill tube (), and a support device () that clamps around the fill tube to connect the tube and the curtain to the support device. A grab handle () has a portion extendable through the headliner () and into the support device () to connect the grab handle and the support device to the headliner. The apparatus () also includes a first connector () for connecting the support device () to the vehicle () to initially connect the headliner assembly () to the vehicle. The apparatus () further includes a second connector () extendable through the support device () and the grab handle () to fixedly connect the headliner assembly () to the vehicle.

US Patent:

20050081921, Apr 21, 2005

Filed:

Oct 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/686212

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US
David Call - Sterling MA, US
Brenda Schworer - Barre MA, US
Daniel Carlson - Fenton MI, US

International Classification:

F16K015/16

US Classification:

137512150

Abstract:

A pressure relief valve () for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment () of a vehicle () includes a base () having a peripheral portion (). A central opening () extends through the peripheral portion (). The pressure relief valve () also includes a plurality of flaps () for closing the central opening () of the base (). Each flap () has an outer end () connected with the peripheral portion () of the base () and an inner end () that is movable relative to the peripheral portion () and the other flaps () for enabling airflow through the central opening (). Each flap () has opposite surfaces (and ) against which air pressure acts. Differential air pressure acts on the opposite surfaces (and ) causing the flap () to move to enable airflow through the central opening ().

US Patent:

20050225094, Oct 13, 2005

Filed:

Apr 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/819877

Inventors:

Jeffery Lewis - Rochester MI, US
Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

E05C007/00

US Classification:

292019000

Abstract:

A cabinet catch () consists of an integrally molded plastic clip () and bracket () for mounting to a portion of a cabinet structure. The clip () is manufactured from a first plastic material. The clip () is rotatable relative to the bracket () about an axis of rotation (). The bracket () is formed from a second plastic material different from the first material. The first and second plastic materials are dissimilar to each other so they do not bond to each other. A method of manufacturing the cabinet catch () includes the steps of injection molding the clip () with a first plastic material and then injection molding the bracket () with a second plastic material different from the first plastic material so that the clip and the bracket () are integrally molded.

US Patent:

20050227607, Oct 13, 2005

Filed:

Apr 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/818254

Inventors:

Jordan Stevenson - Walled Lake MI, US
Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

B60H001/24

US Classification:

454164000

Abstract:

A pressure relief valve () includes a housing () with a peripheral side wall defining at least one central airflow passage and at least one flap valve element (). The housing () and the flap valve element () have a molded connection for enabling rotation of the flap valve element relative to the housing between a closed condition overlying the at least one central airflow passage () to prevent airflow from atmosphere () into the passenger compartment () and an open condition permitting airflow out of the passenger compartment of the vehicle to atmosphere. The at least one flap valve element () moves from the closed condition to the open condition in response to differential pressure between the passenger compartment () and atmosphere (). A method of manufacturing the pressure relief valve () includes the steps of molding a housing () with a first plastic material; molding a valve element () with a second plastic material different from the first plastic material and forming a connection between the valve element and the housing simultaneous with the molding of a latter one of the valve element and the housing.

US Patent:

20050264051, Dec 1, 2005

Filed:

May 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/853903

Inventors:

Jennifer Lawall - Waterford MI, US
Thomas Blake - Clinton township MI, US

International Classification:

B60N002/42
B60R021/00
A47C015/00

US Classification:

297216120

Abstract:

A seat assembly includes a seat and a headrest connected to the seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the seat. The seat assembly also includes a biasing element biasing the headrest toward the second position. A releasable headrest restraining mechanism restrains the headrest in the first position when the seat is unoccupied and releases the headrest to permit movement of the headrest via the biasing element to the second position when the seat is occupied. A method of moving the headrest is also provided.

US Patent:

20060033344, Feb 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/909827

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

E05C 1/12

US Classification:

292173000

Abstract:

A releasable latch has a latched condition latching two parts together of an unlatched condition releasing one part for movement relative to another part. The releasable latch () comprises a base (), a catch (), a handle () and a spring (). The base () is fixed to one of the parts and the catch () is supported by the base () and movable relative to the base to latch and unlatch the parts. The spring () biases the catch () to a position latching the parts together. A method of making the latch () includes the steps of molding a base () of the latch () of a first plastic material, molding a handle () to the base () to form an assembled unit of a second plastic material, molding a catch () to the molded base () and handle () to form a molded assembly in a mold of said handle (), base () and catch (), of a third plastic material.

US Patent:

20060043662, Mar 2, 2006

Filed:

Aug 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914878

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

B25B 5/06

US Classification:

269249000

Abstract:

A clamp () comprises a plastic molded threaded screw portion () and a molded U-shaped plastic clamp portion (). The U-shaped plastic clamp portion () has two legs () projecting from a base (). One of the two legs () has molded plastic threads () which engage plastic threads () of the plastic threaded screw portion (). The plastic molded screw portion () has a swivel portion () which swivels relative to the plastic molded screw portion. A method of making an injection molded plastic clamp () comprises molding a first plastic clamp portion () in a mold, molding a second U-shaped plastic clamp portion () to the first clamp portion in a mold containing the first clamp portion to form an assembled injection molded plastic clamp.