William P Braun

US Patent:

6439598, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Oct 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695092

Inventors:

William P. Braun - Romeo MI
John P. Wallner - Rochester Hills MI
Michael B. Kutchey - Rochester Hills MI
Thomas Osentoski - Marysville MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2120

US Classification:

2807282, 2807302

Abstract:

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) also comprises a housing ( ) for mounting in the vehicle. The housing ( ) includes a chamber ( ) receiving the inflatable device in the deflated condition. The housing ( ) includes a first housing part ( ) having a locking rib ( ), and a second housing part ( ) having a locking groove ( ) and an opening ( ) into the locking groove. The locking rib ( ) is movable in a first direction ( ) through the opening ( ) into the locking groove ( ) for releasably closing the housing ( ) with the inflatable device ( ) inside the chamber. The first housing part ( ) has a tool receiving portion ( ) adjacent the locking rib ( ). The tool receiving portion ( ) has a tool receiving surface ( ) extending transverse to the first direction ( ) for receiving an assembly tool ( ).

US Patent:

6474681, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Feb 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/779002

Inventors:

Thomas L. Peer - Marysville MI
William P. Braun - Romeo MI
Thomas Osentoski - Marysville MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2122

US Classification:

2807302, 2807432

Abstract:

An apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable in a first direction away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An elongated member ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ) and has a first end ( ), an opposite second end ( ) and a length measured between the first and second ends. An element ( ) is connected to the protection device ( ) and at least partially encircles the elongated member ( ). The element ( ) is slidable along the elongated member ( ) in the first direction when the protection device ( ) is inflated. The element ( ) includes at least one portion ( ) that engages the elongated member ( ) and blocks the element from sliding along the elongated member in a direction opposite the first direction.

US Patent:

6637769, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Oct 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/267460

Inventors:

Thomas L. Peer - Marysville MI
William P. Braun - Romeo MI
Thomas Osentoski - Marysville MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2122

US Classification:

2807302, 2807432

Abstract:

An apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable in a first direction away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An elongated member ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ) and has a first end ( ), an opposite second end ( ) and a length measured between the first and second ends. An element ( ) is connected to the protection device ( ) and at least partially encircles the elongated member ( ). The element ( ) is slidable along the elongated member ( ) in the first direction when the protection device ( ) is inflated. The element ( ) includes at least one portion ( ) that engages the elongated member ( ) and blocks the element from sliding along the elongated member in a direction opposite the first direction.

US Patent:

6736423, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jul 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/195799

Inventors:

Stepan S. Simonian - Torrance CA
William P. Braun - Romeo MI
A. Dale Parker - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

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

International Classification:

F16F 1510

US Classification:

280731, 74574, 310 51, 464180

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus ( ) for damping vibration of a vehicle part ( ) includes at least one container ( ) having a chamber ( ) defined by at least one interior wall ( ). The container ( ) is associated with the vehicle part ( ). A plurality of particles ( ) is disposed in the chamber ( ). The particles ( ), when at rest, occupy a first portion ( ) of the chamber ( ) and define an unoccupied second portion ( ) of the chamber. The particles ( ) move back and forth between the first and second portions ( and ) of the chamber ( ) in response to vibration of the vehicle part ( ) and collide with each other and with the interior wall ( ) defining the chamber to damp the vibration of the vehicle part.

US Patent:

6793241, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/136104

Inventors:

John P. Wallner - Rochester Hills MI
William P. Braun - Romeo MI
George E. Lancaster - Washington MI

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2122

US Classification:

2807302, 2807301, 2807282, 280741, 411182, 403 24, 403234, 403256, 403110, 403 5, 296190, 296189, 24 305, 24455

Abstract:

A modular headliner assembly ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) adapted to inflate away from a roof ( ) of a vehicle ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The modular headliner assembly ( ) also includes a headliner ( ) for covering an interior portion ( ) of the roof ( ) and at least one support device ( ) for supporting the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and the headliner in the vehicle ( ). The support device ( ) includes a bracket ( ) having a portion ( ) connectable to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ), fastener ( ) for connecting the headliner ( ) to the bracket, and a fastener ( ) for connecting the bracket to the vehicle ( ).

US Patent:

7066489, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Jun 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/465322

Inventors:

Kwen Hsu - Rochester Hills MI, US
William P. Braun - Romeo MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/239

US Classification:

280739, 2807302

Abstract:

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable curtain (). The inflatable curtain () is inflatable away from the roof () between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain has an inflatable volume (). An inflation fluid source () is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the inflatable volume () to inflate the inflatable curtain (). A fill tube () delivers the inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source () to the inflatable curtain (). The apparatus () includes an actuatable apparatus () for providing an opening () in at least one of the fill tube () and the inflatable curtain () for directing the inflation fluid from the inflatable volume () to deflate the inflatable curtain (). The actuatable apparatus () is actuatable in response to actuation of the inflation fluid source ().

US Patent:

7083192, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Jun 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/601981

Inventors:

Kurt F. Fischer - Oxford MI, US
William P. Braun - Romeo MI, US
Bruce R. Hill - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Neal H. Delventhal - Lake Orion MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/28

US Classification:

280739, 2807432

Abstract:

An apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () and a vent opening () for directing flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device. A vent member () is movable between an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening and a closed condition at least partially blocking flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening. A tether (), when tensioned, moves the vent member () from the open condition to the closed condition. A latch () has a latched condition for maintaining the vent member () in the closed condition and an unlatched condition for enabling the vent member to move away from the closed condition. A controller () is operative to actuate the latch (). selectively to the latched condition and the unlatched condition based on at least one sensed occupant condition.

US Patent:

7364192, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Aug 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/917581

Inventors:

William P. Braun - Romeo MI, US
Kurt F. Fischer - Leonard MI, US
Alex G. Meduvsky - Romeo MI, US
John N. Clark - Riley MI, US
Joseph J. Zwolinski - Sterling Heights MI, US
Matthew C. Frank - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Washington MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/276

US Classification:

280739, 280742, 2807432

Abstract:

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () and a support member () having a vent opening () through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus () also includes a mechanism () for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device () tends to move the mechanism () for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The mechanism () is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device () beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The apparatus () further includes a locking member () for blocking the mechanism () from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening () after the inflatable occupant protection device () has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.