Kirk H Rasmussen
Engineers in Clearfield, UT

5290059, Mar 1, 1994

Apr 28, 1993

8/053285

Bradley W. Smith - South Ogden UT
Gary V. Adams - Brigham City UT
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2126

280728A

An air bag module using a tubular inflator uses a different housing, retaining ring, cushion and inflator bracket than are currently used, with the appearance and function of the module not being changed but only the internal components. The inflator is placed in a slotted section of the module housing with the diffuser thereof protruding from the center through a hole in a raised portion of the module housing slotted section, which hole is sized closely to the size of the diffuser. The diffuser extends directly into the module at a 90. degree. angle to the plane surface of the housing. The retaining ring has raised portions in the center thereof to match the raised portion of the module housing, has holes in the raised portions, and has tabs which extend through holes in the cushion and the module housing. The module housing has tabs on the raised portion thereof which extend through holes in the cushion and retaining ring. The cushion uses a rectangular mounting so that the cushion can match the radius of the module housing in the raised portion which goes over the tubular inflator.

8454052, Jun 4, 2013

Jan 17, 2012

13/352031

Larry D. Rose - South Weber UT, US
Robert E. Lewis - West Haven UT, US
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT, US

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B60R 21/26

280736

A closure structure for the relief aperture of an airbag cushion inflator includes a closure core having outer and inner surfaces that is disposable into the relief aperture from the exterior of the inflator to fill the relief aperture. A sealing flange continuously secured to the periphery of the outer surface of the closure core abuts the outer surface of the inflator. A temperature-sensitive venting window formed in the closure core precludes the passage of pressurized inflation gas during a predetermined first ambient temperature condition and opens to emit pressurized inflation gas during a second hotter ambient temperature condition. The venting window includes a venting passageway extending between the inner and the outer surfaces the closure core sealingly traversed by a relatively thin venting membrane made of a temperature-sensitive material exhibiting less structural robustness at the second ambient temperature condition than at the first ambient temperature condition.

5470102, Nov 28, 1995

Oct 13, 1994

8/322818

Bradley W. Smith - South Ogden UT
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT
John E. Allard - North Ogden UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2116

2807282

An air bag module uses a tubular inflator that is mounted off center in the module with the diffuser lying in the plane of the bottom of the module housing. The housing and inflator retaining bracket combine to make a pocket which changes the direction of some of the gas produced by the inflator and allows all of the gas to flow up into the inflatable cushion. A different housing, retaining ring, cushion and inflator retaining bracket are used in the assemblage of the module than are employed in air bag modules of current production. The appearance and function of the module, however, is not changed to a purchaser of the automotive vehicle in which the module is installed, only the internal components of the module are changed.

6044557, Apr 4, 2000

Aug 19, 1997

8/914647

Bradley W. Smith - Ogden UT
Kirk H. Rasmussen - West Point UT
Brian T. Snyder - Hooper UT

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B23P 1304

298972

A driver side inflator base for a vehicle safety system which is stamped from a thin sheet of aluminum. The base includes a central axis, a plurality of stamped concentric rings extending upwardly from a bottom of the base and spaced from the central axis. An interface attachment flange is provided for mounting the inflator, and a squib pocket extending about the central axis of the base is capable of holding a squib of the gas inflator. The concentric rings, attachment flange and squib pocket are all formed during the stamping of the base; thus, excessive machining is not required. Only minor machining is necessary to complete the base. The base of the present invention is designed to reduce the overall inflator cost, while maintaining the processing capability and quality of current bases.

5425548, Jun 20, 1995

Oct 14, 1993

8/136355

Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2116

2807282

An air bag module uses a toroidal inflator which is clamped in the center of the module. The toroidal inflator used in the module does not have a flange for the attachment thereof to the module housing. The inflator is clamped in the module between the housing and a retaining bracket so that an inflator flange is not needed. The appearance and function of the module are not changed. Only the internal components of the module are changed.

5779268, Jul 14, 1998

Jun 6, 1995

8/468225

Bradley W. Smith - Ogden UT
Kirk H. Rasmussen - West Point UT
Brian T. Snyder - Hooper UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2128

280741

A driver side inflator housing for a vehicle safety system which includes a base which is stamped from a thin sheet of aluminum The base includes a central axis, a plurality of stamped concentric rings extending upwardly from a bottom of the base and spaced from the central axis. An interface attachment flange is provided for mounting the inflator, and a squib pocket extending about the central axis of the base is capable of holding the squib of the gas generating inflator. The concentric rings, attachment flange and squib pocket are all formed during the stamping of the base; thus excessive machining is not required. Only minor machining is necessary to complete the base. The base of the present invention is designed to reduce the overall inflator cost, while maintaining the processing capability and quality of current bases.

5588676, Dec 31, 1996

Mar 14, 1996

8/615898

Randall J. Clark - Pleasant View UT
Bradley W. Smith - Ogden UT
Kirk H. Rasmussen - West Point UT
Leland B. Kort - Lakewood CO

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2128

280741

A hybrid inflator comprises a housing formed of welded-together metal stampings defining a toroidal gas chamber surrounding a center tie and storing pressurized gas therein. The center tie has a generally cylindrical sidewall and an outlet wall at an upper end thereof defines a rupturably sealed outlet orifice. An inverted stamped metal cup is matingly received in the center tie. The lip of the cup is welded to the lower end of the center tie, and the cup sidewall is circumferentially grooved for separating a sliding piston portion under pressure. A squib support wall and squib closes the lower end of the center tie and inverted cup to define a combustion chamber containing a pyrotechnic gas generant which, upon ignition, causes the inverted cup to separate at the groove and drive the sliding piston upwardly to an open position uncovering inlet openings from the combustion chamber to the gas storage chamber. Hot gasses from the combustion chamber flow into the gas storage chamber and the outlet orifice rupturably opens permitting stored gas and combustion products to exit the inflator. The sliding piston and center tie are tapered to control movement of the piston by friction and deformation, together with lanced limit stop tabs.

2003014, Aug 7, 2003

Feb 6, 2002

10/068545

Steven Kenney - Pleasant View UT, US
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT, US
Kim Dahl - Clinton UT, US

B60R021/26

280/736000

A vehicular inflatable restraint system inflator device, particularly a passenger inflator device is provided which includes a housing having a disk form and defining a first chamber. The first chamber in a static state contains a quantity of a first gas generant material ignitable to produce first combustion products including a first inflation gas. The housing has at least two rows of spaced apart gas exit ports adapted to permit passage of the first inflation gas from the inflator device into an associated inflatable airbag cushion. The first chamber also contains at least one inflation gas-permeable treatment element disposed adjacent the spaced apart gas exit ports, wherein passage of gas through the treatment element results in treatment thereof. The first chamber further contains a second chamber which, in a static state, has an enclosed volume containing a quantity of a second gas generant material ignitable to produce second combustion products. The second chamber has a lid closure adapted to permit fluid communication of the second combustion products with the contents of the first chamber. The inflator device also includes a first initiator device operatively associated with the first chamber and a second initiator device operatively associated with the second chamber.

5501484, Mar 26, 1996

Mar 20, 1995

8/379412

Davin G. Saderholm - Salt Lake City UT
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT
Brian M. Shaklik - Bountiful UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2120

2807282

This invention relates to a clamping structure for assembling an automotive air bag to an automotive air bag inflator. The clamping structure includes an annular retainer ring and module housing. Integral "L" shaped tabs or studs descending from the annular retainer are designed to pass through radial slots in the air bag and module housing. The tab or stud is formed to have an "L" shape with the short leg of the "L" having a slight angle. Then as the retainer is rotated into place, the short leg of the "L" shaped tab or stud will be forced into contact with the housing and clamp the assembly together.

8505963, Aug 13, 2013

Feb 24, 2012

13/404285

Robert Lewis - West Haven UT, US
Isaac Lewis Hoffman - Kaysville UT, US
Larry D. Rose - South Weber UT, US
Matthew Alan Cox - Centerville UT, US
Kirk Rasmussen - West Point UT, US

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

B60R 21/20

2807282, 280741

Inflatable airbag assemblies having a strap and clamp system to securely hold an inflator relative to a housing. The strap may be attached to an airbag cushion to restrict the movement of the strap or strap may not be attached to the airbag cushion and may move freely while positioned within openings in the housing.