Thomas E 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:

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.

US Patent:

20060243574, Nov 2, 2006

Filed:

Apr 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/116747

Inventors:

Thomas Blake - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

H01H 13/00

US Classification:

200296000

Abstract:

An improved actuator () and bezel () are assembled in a mold (). The actuator () is linearly movable relative to the bezel (). A guide surface (or -) on the actuator () is formed by being molded against a guide surface (or -) on the actuator (). The bezel () is molded of a first plastic material in a mold (). While the bezel () is still in the mold (), the actuator () is molded in an opening in the bezel and is formed of a different plastic material than the bezel.

US Patent:

61291862, Oct 10, 2000

Filed:

Apr 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/054581

Inventors:

Thomas E. Blake - South Lyon MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F16F 1100

US Classification:

188381

Abstract:

A rotational dampening apparatus 10 includes a cup-shaped housing member 12 and, mounted for rotational movement in the cup-shaped housing member, a rotor member 14 and a dampening member 16, the dampening member being held compressed between the rotor member and the cup-shaped housing member. The cup-shaped housing member includes a substantially planar annular end wall 32 and a cylindrical side wall 34 extending from the end wall. The rotor member and the cylindrical side wall respectively define cooperating first and second circular connection areas 38, 36 for snap-lock connecting the rotor member 14 to the housing member 12. The first and second circular connecting area form a bearing surface upon which the rotor member rotates. A first dampening interface A is created between a set of ribs 60 disposed on the end wall of the housing member and the bottom face surface 52 of the dampening member. A second dampening interface B is created between a set of ribs 64 disposed on the bottom face surface of the rotor member and the top face surface 50 of dampening member.