David T Gorman

US Patent:

6626323, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Feb 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/080220

Inventors:

Ned T. Stetson - Lake Orion MI
Michael Marchio - Clarkston MI
Arthur Holland - Commerce Township MI
Daniel Alper - Baltimore MD
David Gorman - Warren MI
Jun Yang - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. - Rochester Hills MI

International Classification:

A61F 708

US Classification:

220577, 206 07, 420900

Abstract:

A hydrogen storage unit which uses hydrogen storage alloys to store hydrogen, and more particularly a heat transfer management/compartmentalization system for use in such system. The hydrogen storage alloy may be divided into compartments, separated by discs, further divided into sub-compartments by a flapper wheel. The discs and flapper wheel provide for optimal heat transfer throughout the system. The compartmentalization of the vessel may prevent compaction of the hydrogen storage alloys, which could lead to excessive strain on the vessel causing damage, deformation, or rupture of the vessel.

US Patent:

7089777, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Aug 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/920837

Inventors:

Brian Herman - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Schaefer - Bloomfield Township MI, US
Charles Freeburn - Hartland MI, US
David Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G01N 3/08
G01N 3/30

US Classification:

73 1207

Abstract:

A pneumatic testing apparatus is provided for accelerating a mass. The apparatus has a housing defining a reservoir and a cylinder having an opened proximate end and a closed distal end. The opened proximate end is positioned within the reservoir and a piston is positioned in the cylinder. The piston has a first side and a second side. A shaft connects to the first side of the piston, the shaft being positioned coaxially within the cylinder and extending through its closed distal end. An exhaust orifice is located at the closed distal end, wherein the mass is positioned on the portion of the shaft extending from the distal end of said cylinder and is accelerated as a gas at a first pressure located in the reservoir enters the open proximate end of the cylinder and urges against the second side of said piston, thereby causing the piston to accelerate toward the distal end of the cylinder and simultaneously accelerate the mass.

US Patent:

7669889, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Dec 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/335726

Inventors:

David J Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Scott D. Thomas - Novi MI, US
Nancy C. Evans - Clinton Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/16

US Classification:

2807302

Abstract:

An air bag chute directs the deployment of an air bag from an air bag housing mounted on a seat frame through a separable seam sewn between inboard and outboard seat cover panels. An air bag housing is box shaped with a base wall mounted on the seat frame and rear, front, and end walls extending from the base wall and a cover wall. An inboard chute panel and an outboard chute panel each have inner ends attached to the air bag housing and outer ends attached to the inboard and outboard seat cover panels adjacent to the separable seam. The attachment of the inner ends of the inboard and outboard chutes to the air bag housing is provided on the walls of the housing with the inner ends spaced from one another.

US Patent:

7699367, Apr 20, 2010

Filed:

Feb 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/024132

Inventors:

Darin Evans - Spring Lake MI, US
Jeffery T. Burke - Jackson MI, US
Kenneth R. Bastien - Brighton MI, US
Kevin E. Holdren - Tecumseh, CA
Daniel D. Ralston - Farmington Hills MI, US
David Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US

Assignee:

NetShape Energy Management, LLC - Novi MI

International Classification:

B60R 19/03

US Classification:

293120, 293102

Abstract:

An energy absorber includes a base flange and elongated crush boxes that to form a substantially continuously face surface on the energy absorber. Back straps are attached across a back of the crush boxes to prevent unacceptable spreading of the side walls of the crush boxes during an impact. The back straps can be integrally formed when the energy absorber is molded, and can include a living hinge at one end and a free end that can be bent over and snap attached during post-molding assembly without additional secondary operations. Alternatively, a separate wall-stabilizing thermoformed component is sandwiched between the energy absorber and beam.

US Patent:

7810837, Oct 12, 2010

Filed:

Feb 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/364872

Inventors:

Scott D. Thomas - Novi MI, US
David J. Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Steven E. Morris - Fair Haven MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/045

US Classification:

2807301

Abstract:

An inflatable restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is presented herein. The inflatable restraint system includes a bladder having forward and rearward panel portions. The bladder is attached to the vehicle instrument panel, and configured to transition from a non-expanded state, in which the rearward panel portion is substantially flush with respect to the instrument panel, to an expanded state, in which the rearward panel portion is extended into the passenger compartment distal from the instrument panel. An inflation device is operatively coupled to the bladder, and configured to selectively transition the bladder from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. One or more trajectory control arms are attached at one end to the bladder, and a second end to the vehicle. The trajectory control arms are configured to redirect the bladder along an upward, arcuate path when transitioning to the expanded state.

US Patent:

8016331, Sep 13, 2011

Filed:

Feb 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/369310

Inventors:

Daniel D. Ralston - Farmington Hills MI, US
Kevin E. Holdren - Tecumseh, CA
Kenneth R. Bastien - Howell MI, US
David Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Amit Kulkarni - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Shape Corp. - Grand Haven MI

International Classification:

B60R 19/04

US Classification:

293120, 293121

Abstract:

A vehicle bumper system includes an elongated reinforcement beam for mounting to a vehicle frame and an energy absorber abutting a front surface of the reinforcement beam. The energy absorber includes longitudinally-elongated hollow crush lobes configured to crush and absorb energy upon a vehicle crash, the crush lobes including interconnected top, bottom, side and front walls. At least one opposing pair of the walls, such as the top and bottom walls, are elongated parallel a length of the beam to define enlarged areas that are generally unsupported, but the one pair of walls further include a plurality of spaced external ribs extending perpendicular to the length for stabilizing the enlarged areas.

US Patent:

8371414, Feb 12, 2013

Filed:

Jan 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/985402

Inventors:

David J. Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Florian F. Dutke - Birmingham MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/00
B60R 22/28

US Classification:

180268, 280805, 297479

Abstract:

A system for electronically controlling seat belt load levels during an event includes a first and second compression member, and a seat belt webbing disposed between the first and second compression members. The first and second compression members may cooperate in a manner such that they may apply a selectively variable compression force to the seat belt webbing.

US Patent:

8585079, Nov 19, 2013

Filed:

Jul 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/181139

Inventors:

David J Gorman - Royal Oak MI, US
Scott D. Thomas - Novi MI, US
Christopher J. Kehrig - Sterling Heights MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/207

US Classification:

2807302, 2807282, 2972161

Abstract:

An airbag module is mounted on the outboard side of a vehicle seat bottom frame having a vertical wall. An airbag assembly includes a housing, an inflator within the housing, and an airbag folded within the housing. A molded plastic airbag cover includes a top wall having an airbag opening therein through which the airbag is inflatable, and a vertical depending wall adapted to overlie the vertical wall of the seat bottom frame in spaced relation therefrom to conceal the airbag assembly. The vertical depending wall has mounting elements extending therefrom into engagement with the vertical wall of the seat bottom frame for mounting the airbag cover on the vertical depending wall of the seat bottom frame. The housing has fastener elements mounting the housing on the airbag cover. And the airbag cover has fastener elements thereon for mounting the airbag cover on the seat bottom frame.