Patents by Inventor Anton Fischer

Anton Fischer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6325409
    Abstract: A connecting line is intended to connect a gas bag for a gas bag-type occupant protection system with a gas generator. The connecting line includes a gas exit section intended to be arranged within a gas bag and having outer surface area. The gas exit section is provided with at least one gas exit port. The gas exit port has at least one gas guidance surface area which extends from the outer surface area of the gas exit section into the interior of the gas exit section of the said connecting line with a predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Publication number: 20010038199
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a gas supply means which has an outer housing with at least two outlet openings. The restraint system further comprises at least two inflatable elements to which different outlet openings are associated and which are filled in parallel via the associated outlet openings. The outlet openings are designed such that during inflation of the elements gas flow rates through the individual outlet openings to the inflatable elements are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6308984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas generator comprises an outer housing which has a fastening section, and outflow openings in the outer housing. The outflow openings are distributed on the periphery of the outer housing in a region of the fastening section such that thrust neutrality occurs during an outflow of a gas generated by the gas generator. The gas generator further comprises a gas directing part, the fastening section being constructed for arresting the gas-directing part to the outer housing. The outer housing has indentations in the fastening section, and the outflow openings are provided in the indentations. Further, the invention relates to a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Publication number: 20010017459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable gas bag, a gas-carrying distributor pipe projecting into the gas bag and a piston housed displaceably in the distributor pipe. The restraint system further comprises a power transmission means which connects the piston and the gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning the gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag. A deflection member for the power transmission means is provided in the distributor pipe. The power transmission means is constructed as a traction means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6273457
    Abstract: A side gas bag restraint system for protecting an occupant (9) in a vehicle has a seat with a back rest (21) and a side window (S). The system includes a gas bag (1) having a large area and covering at least a part of the side window (S) of the vehicle. The gas bag (1) has a non-inflatable section (37), at least one inflatable restraint chamber (23) that has an inflated state. The restraint chamber (23) is provided in front of and above the associated back rest (21) of the vehicle to restrain a head of the occupant (9). The gas bag (1) further has inflatable tensioning chambers (27, 29, 31). The restraint chamber (23) is connected with the tensioning chambers (27, 29, 31) that are connected in series with regard to gas flow and are arranged in succession along a lower edge (25) of the gas bag (1). The tensioning chambers (27, 29, 31) have constrictions (37) between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Publication number: 20010011813
    Abstract: A gas bag restraint system for an occupant of a vehicle comprises a tube-shaped gas bag with a longitudinal axis, which endeavours to extend in a straight line in an inflated state of the gas bag and which has an outer wall. The system further comprises at least one tensioning means arranged on the outer wall, by which tensioning means the gas bag is fastened to the vehicle. The tensioning means is designed with a large area and is arranged at such points of the outer wall and on the vehicle that the longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped gas bag extends in a curved shape in its inflated state. The tensioning means is tensioned by the curved gas bag and forms an additional restraining surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: ANTON FISCHER
  • Patent number: 6238438
    Abstract: A gas bag module, in particular for head protection in case of a side impact, has an elongated mounting housing (10) having two opposing side walls (12, 14) running spaced apart from each other and a cross-piece (16) connecting the side walls (12, 14), and has a gas bag (20) accommodated in folded state in the mounting housing (10). Further provided is at least one spacer spaced apart from the cross-piece (16), which spacer extends between the side walls (12, 14) and connects them with each other such that a moving apart of the side walls (12, 14) is at least largely avoided when the mounting housing (10) is open and the gas bag (20) unfolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Fischer, Martin Seitz, Gitta Wisslicen
  • Patent number: 6217060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system of a vehicle, in particular for inflating a gas bag. The device comprises a gas generator which contains a pyrotechnic propellant material and is provided for developing a first gas. The device further comprises a compressed gas container arranged so as to be separate from the gas generator and containing a second gas which is under pressure. The gas generator and the compressed gas container are activated in a case of restraint and introduce the first and second gases, respectively, into the vehicle occupant restraint system. The invention further relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a head/side gas bag and the device for inflating the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Mangold, Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6209907
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing a gas bag in its folded position. The device comprises a one-piece hollow body, which has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile, a first and a second side wall, a connecting web and a flap section formed on the first side wall. A clip connection is provided by means of which the flap section can be connected with the second side wall having a bracket. Two longitudinal slits are incorporated in the flap section and an elastically flexible closure hook is provided which is separated from the flap section by the two longitudinal slits. The closure hook has a thickened free end which when the body is closed engages behind the bracket formed on the second side wall. Further, the invention relates to a side gas bag module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6186536
    Abstract: An inflatable protective cushion to cover side panes of a vehicle in the event of a side impact has a front end and a front anchor point in an area of an A-column and a rear anchor point in an area of a C-column of the vehicle. The protective cushion further has a gas distribution tube substantially extending between the A and C-columns. The gas distribution tube is connected to a gas generator. The gas distribution tube has an end with a piston slidably accommodated therein. A piston rod is connected to said piston and protrudes from the end of the gas distribution tube. One of the anchor points is provided on a free end of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6152484
    Abstract: A gas generator including a housing, at least one pipeline connected to the housing and directing generated gas to an airbag, a coupling piece which connects the housing with the pipeline, and at least one elastic seal. The seal is arranged between the coupling piece and the housing and also between the coupling piece and the pipeline. The seal has projections penetrating into recesses in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Fischer, Martin Seitz
  • Patent number: 6086090
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel has an integrated gas bag module comprising an inflator, a folded gas bag and a cover connected to each other by a metallic housing body, and a mounting plate featuring at least one electrically insulated horn contact. The mounting plate is spring supported on said steering wheel body and carries said gas bag module whilst being an integral component of said housing body and thus a component of said gas bag module. To simplify the configuration and the fitting of a vehicle steering wheel having an integrated gas bag module, a plurality of seats for one coil spring each are arranged on said steering wheel body opposite the outer rim portion of said mounting plate, the latter being spring supported by said coil springs on said steering wheel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restaint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 6039340
    Abstract: A gas bag cover of pliant material which is attachable to a vehicle by a fastener, includes at least one molded, protruding fastener web having at least one recess in which the fastener engages, and a reinforcement part encasing the recess at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5975560
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a gas bag module to a vehicle part, more particularly to a steering wheel hub, is provided, in which the vehicle part comprises at least one protruding mounting part having one end split into two webs. The gas bag module has a housing comprising at least one pre-mounted bolt screwed into a side of one of the housing and a part connected thereto. The bolt has a shank engaging between the webs during mounting of the gas bag module on the vehicle part. The bolt has a bolt head and is supported on the mounting part by the bold head in subsequent tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5931497
    Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraining system is inflatable from a folded to an inflated state in case of an accident. The gas bag includes a gas bag wall which is defined by several fabric layers being superposed in the inflated state. The gas bag has at least one discharge opening with a cross section. The fabric layers have openings which overlap each other to define the discharge opening and can be displaced relative to each other dependent on the internal gas bag pressure to vary the cross section of the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5928591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a gas bag of an occupant restraining system in vehicles which is provided with an emblem, obtainable by direct printing of a predetermined surface of the cover made of plastic with one or more printing inks and/or by stamping an embossing foil on the predetermined surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Blumenschein, Anton Fischer, Bernd Nusshor
  • Patent number: 5906389
    Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an inflator, a gas bag and at least two fastener bolts. Each of the fastener bolts comprises a fastening projection protruding from the gas bag module for fastening the gas bag module to a vehicle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5899487
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a gas bag cover on a part of a vehicle is provided, which comprises an attachment rib on the gas bag cover and an interlocking snap connection adapted to act on the attachment rib. The interlocking snap connection includes a locking element which is movably mounted on the vehicle part and is acted on by a spring element adapted to displace the locking element from an initial position into a locking position. The interlocking snap connection further comprises a detent mechanism which prevents the spring element from displacing the locking element when the latter is in its initial position. The detent mechanism is adapted to release the locking element during mounting the gas bag cover at the vehicle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5882032
    Abstract: An attachment device for securing a gas bag module to a vehicle part is provided. The gas bag module has a housing with at least one receiving opening in the housing. The attached device includes at least one nut which is received in the receiving opening. The nut is fixed to the housing so as to be non-rotatable but substantially linearly displaceable with respect to the housing so that a guide for the housing is formed. The gas bag module further includes at least one bolt screwed into the nut for attaching the gas bag module to the vehicle part. The bolt, in cooperation with the nut and the opening, serves for connecting the gas bag module to the vehicle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 5794970
    Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle steering wheel is provided, which comprises a gas bag, a gas bag cover and a switching foil located in the gas bag cover. The switching foil is mounted in the gas bag cover in such a way that it is detachable and replaceable without the gas bag cover having to be dismantled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer