Daniel Lee Steimke
Engineers in Ogden, UT

5560645, Oct 1, 1996

Sep 15, 1995

8/529019

Trudy C. Lewis - Roy UT
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
Michael J. Daines - Brigham City UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2116

2807282

The strain of increased airbag snap is alleviated in a throat and mouth construction of the type employing rod pockets in opposed sides of a rectangular airbag mouth. This is achieved by forming the throat material by folding and sewing so that the layers of throat material increase by steps from the single layer adjacent the bag to multiple layers forming the rod pockets.

5564732, Oct 15, 1996

Apr 20, 1995

8/426071

John G. Bauer - Troy MI
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
James H. Repp - Monroe MI

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL
Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

B60R 2120, B60R 2122

2807283

An airbag module installed in a vehicle comprises a deployment door which comprises a face panel which covers the open top of a reaction canister and is positioned at an opening in the instrument panel of the vehicle and further comprises key and keyway connecting structure for securely holding the deployment door to the reaction canister before and during deployment of an airbag. This connecting structure allows limited movement of the deployment door in three directions with respect to the reaction canister and thus permits adjustment of the position of the face panel of the deployment door to obtain accurate fit and finish at the instrument panel. In preferred embodiments the invention further comprises structure for immovably fixing the position of the deployment door at the instrument panel after the deployment door has been adjusted. Reaction forces acting on the deployment door during deployment and inflation of the airbag are transmitted to the reaction canister through the adjustable connection that fastens the deployment door to the reaction canister, thereby avoiding transmission of damaging reaction forces to the instrument panel.

5752715, May 19, 1998

Feb 14, 1997

8/800774

Steven R. Pripps - North Ogden UT
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
Randy K. Jones - Stuttgart, DE

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2126

280740

A diffuser for uniformly diffusing inflation gas from an elongated inflator having inflation exhaust ports at only one end into an airbag cushion. The diffuser having a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second diffuser ends. A first end section extends from the first diffuser end, is positionable over the inflation exhaust ports of the inflator and defines at least one diffuser vent opening. An intermediate section extends from the first end section and defines a plurality of diffuser vent openings equal or progressively larger further from the first end section. A second end section extends from the intermediate section to the second diffuser end and defines a single diffuser vent opening. Each of the plurality of diffuser vent openings of the intermediate section is equal or larger than the at least one diffuser vent opening of the first end section and equal or smaller than the single diffuser vent opening of the second end section. All of the diffuser vent openings form a total diffuser vent area of the diffuser.

6161862, Dec 19, 2000

May 26, 1998

9/085254

Larry D. Rose - Layton UT
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B60R 2116

2807282

Featured for use in an inflatable restraint system installation is an airbag module assembly which reduces and/or minimizes the number of fasteners incorporated therein. The airbag module assembly utilizes the inflator as a structural tension member to axially compress an end closure to a reaction canister body part. The end closure and the body part have a snap-together form of joinder to prevent disengagement of the end closure from the body part upon deployment of the associated airbag cushion.

7063350, Jun 20, 2006

Sep 23, 2003

10/668917

Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT, US
Brian M. Lighthall - Kaysville UT, US

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B60R 21/207, B60R 21/233

280729, 2807302, 280740

An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.

6959943, Nov 1, 2005

Nov 18, 2002

10/298498

Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT, US

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B60R021/16

2807282

An airbag housing having elastically deflectable mounting tabs is disclosed. The mounting tabs allow for positionable attachment of an airbag module to a vehicle structural member. The mounting tabs may be defined by U-shaped slots in the airbag housing. The semi-flexible mounting tabs deflect during attachment of the airbag module to the steering wheel to provide good fit and finish between an associated decorative airbag cover and the steering wheel. The mounting tabs may also include attachment members to provide attachment location for coupling the airbag housing to the vehicle structural member.

5791684, Aug 11, 1998

Aug 1, 1996

8/691890

James H. Repp - Monroe MI
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
John G. Bauer - Troy MI

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL
Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

B60R 2116

280732

The reaction canister of a passenger-side motor vehicle airbag module is extruded with a groove in at least one side wall forming a thinned section running the length of the canister. This creates a weakened and bendable region which allows the side wall to buckle under an impact through the instrument panel of the vehicle. This buckling absorbs impact energy, avoiding or reducing injury to the occupant.

5524925, Jun 11, 1996

Aug 25, 1995

8/519865

Larry D. Rose - Layton UT
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
John C. Newkirk - Layton UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2130

280739

A valve is provided in an automotive airbag module housing to relieve any excessive pressure in the module housing as may occur during deployment of an airbag. The valve is formed entirely from material in the housing by punching out openings in the housing material. The invention is applicable to airbag inflating devices in which the inflator is enclosed entirely within the module housing and is particularly useful in passenger side airbag inflation devices.

5431433, Jul 11, 1995

May 2, 1994

8/236553

Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT
Paul M. Fanning - Ogden UT
Edward Friery - Coalville UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2120

2807283

A passenger-side airbag module assembly consisting of a reaction canister and deployment door is assembled into a motor vehicle's instrument panel. The breakaway deployment door of the airbag module fits flush with the surrounding instrument panel of the vehicle. The reaction canister containing the folded airbag is positioned behind the deployment door and rigidly mounted to the instrument panel sub-structure. The connection between the deployment door and the reaction canister comprises a pair of flexible tethers. Each tether has one edge secured to a different sidewall of the canister. The other edge of each tether engages a portion of the deployment door.

5615913, Apr 1, 1997

Feb 6, 1996

8/597598

Joseph D. Francis - Ogden UT
Daniel L. Steimke - Ogden UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2128

280740

The invention replaces the diffuser that is slid over a non-symmetrical gas output inflator, or diffuser as part of the module assembly, with concentric low cost and low mass rings that are pressed onto the gas outlet area of the inflator. The concentric rings straighten the gas flow coming out of the inflator and serve also to cool the gas flow at the source instead of downstream.