Patents by Inventor Gerd Zischka
Gerd Zischka 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).
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Patent number: 11919471Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AGInventors: Marco Wahl, Gerd Zischka
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Patent number: 11858447Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) comprises a seat (14), at least one airbag integrated in the seat (14) and an airbag control device. The seat (14) is adjustable at least between a first seating position and a second seating position, the seat (14) in the second seating position having an orientation (A) that is rotated vis-à-vis the first seating position about an angle of rotation (?) from 170° to 190°. The airbag has a first inflated state and a second inflated state in which the airbag has an external geometry different from the one in the first inflated state. Accordingly, the airbag control device is arranged so that, in the case of need, the airbag adopts the first inflated state when the seat (14) is in the first seating position, and the airbag adopts the second inflated state when the seat (14) is in the second seating position. Further, a vehicle (10) comprising such an occupant restraint system (30) is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBHInventor: Gerd Zischka
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Publication number: 20230365096Abstract: In a vehicle occupant protection system, a gas generator assembly (12) comprises at least one separate support (24) mountable to the vehicle and at least two gas generators (16, 18) which are tightly mounted on the support (24). A control unit (22) determines the times of activation of the at least two gas generators (16, 18) simultaneously or time-delayed in order to be able to activate one of the gas generators (16, 18) already in advance of a possibly imminent crash situation so that the airbag (14) is filled in such a way that it starts an interaction with an associated vehicle occupant which moves the vehicle occupant by a predetermined distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Dominique ACKER, Gerd ZISCHKA, Marco WAHL, Tillmann HERWIG, Markus FEIL
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Patent number: 11780396Abstract: An airbag control device for controlling the volume of an airbag (10) of a restraining means, comprising an inflator (14) for inflating the airbag (10) and an electrically controllable decoupling device (22) for tension means via which the geometry of the airbag (10) can be varied, is characterized in that the inflator (14) and the decoupling device (22) are fluid-communicated and the decoupling device (22) includes at least one outlet opening (36) the cross-section of which is variable by an electrically controllable actuator (46) and through which gas can escape from the inflator (14) to the atmosphere. Moreover, the invention describes an airbag unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AGInventor: Gerd Zischka
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Patent number: 11554745Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (14) and an elongate inflator (12) having at least one laterally projecting fastening bolt (36), wherein the airbag (14) comprises a cushion portion (24) and an insertion portion (26) for receiving the inflator (12) in an inserting direction (R), wherein the insertion portion (26) is arranged, with the airbag (14) being not inflated and flatly spread, on a side of the cushion portion (24) and includes one boundary (30) close to the cushion portion (24) and one boundary (32) remote from the cushion portion (24). The flatly spread airbag (14) has a front peripheral portion (20) and an opposed rear peripheral portion (22). The insertion portion (26) is wider than a diameter (d) of the inflator (12) and has at least one hole (38) for the fastening bolt (36) of the inflator (12) to pass through. The insertion portion (26) is angled toward the insertion opening (28) on the side remote from the cushion portion (24) opposed to the adjacent rear peripheral portion (22).Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AGInventors: Gerd Zischka, Marco Wahl
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Publication number: 20220332269Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) comprises a seat (14), at least one airbag integrated in the seat (14) and an airbag control device. The seat (14) is adjustable at least between a first seating position and a second seating position, the seat (14) in the second seating position having an orientation (A) that is rotated vis-à-vis the first seating position about an angle of rotation (?) from 170° to 190°. The airbag has a first inflated state and a second inflated state in which the airbag has an external geometry different from the one in the first inflated state. Accordingly, the airbag control device is arranged so that, in the case of need, the airbag adopts the first inflated state when the seat (14) is in the first seating position, and the airbag adopts the second inflated state when the seat (14) is in the second seating position. Further, a vehicle (10) comprising such an occupant restraint system (30) is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2020Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventor: Gerd ZISCHKA
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Publication number: 20220227328Abstract: An airbag venting device (10) for controlling an internal pressure of an airbag (12) of a vehicle occupant safety system (5) comprises a housing (24) which includes a first flow orifice (18) facing away from the airbag (12) and a second flow orifice (20) facing the airbag (12), wherein the housing (24) has an axial total length (26), the first flow orifice (18) has a first axial opening length (34) and the second flow orifice (20) has a second axial opening length (34). Moreover, the airbag venting device (10) includes an adjustable closure element (22) assigned to the housing (24) which, in a closing position, closes and, in an open position, releases at least one of the two flow orifices (18, 20), and an actuator device (30) provided at a front end (28) of the housing (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Gerd ZISCHKA, Jürgen SCHERR, Rolf RUCKDESCHEL
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Publication number: 20220169200Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Marco WAHL, Gerd ZISCHKA
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Publication number: 20220161753Abstract: A side airbag module (24) for a restraint device has a side airbag (26), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag (26), wherein the side airbag (26) includes at least a first chamber (32) and at least a second chamber (34) provided above the first chamber (32) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, and wherein, in a first activated state of the side airbag module (24), a first pressure (p1) prevails in the first chamber (32) and, in a second activated state, a second pressure (p2) prevails in the first chamber (32) and in the second chamber (34), the first pressure (p1) being higher than the second pressure (p2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Marco WAHL, Gerd ZISCHKA, Karel JIRICKA, Christian WEISS
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Publication number: 20220001825Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (14) and an elongate inflator (12) having at least one laterally projecting fastening bolt (36), wherein the airbag (14) comprises a cushion portion (24) and an insertion portion (26) for receiving the inflator (12) in an inserting direction (R), wherein the insertion portion (26) is arranged, with the airbag (14) being not inflated and flatly spread, on a side of the cushion portion (24) and includes one boundary (30) close to the cushion portion (24) and one boundary (32) remote from the cushion portion (24). The flatly spread airbag (14) has a front peripheral portion (20) and an opposed rear peripheral portion (22). The insertion portion (26) is wider than a diameter (d) of the inflator (12) and has at least one hole (38) for the fastening bolt (36) of the inflator (12) to pass through. The insertion portion (26) is angled toward the insertion opening (28) on the side remote from the cushion portion (24) opposed to the adjacent rear peripheral portion (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Gerd ZISCHKA, Marco WAHL
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Publication number: 20210300285Abstract: An airbag control device for controlling the volume of an airbag (10) of a restraining means, comprising an inflator (14) for inflating the airbag (10) and an electrically controllable decoupling device (22) for tension means via which the geometry of the airbag (10) can be varied, is characterized in that the inflator (14) and the decoupling device (22) are fluid-communicated and the decoupling device (22) includes at least one outlet opening (36) the cross-section of which is variable by an electrically controllable actuator (46) and through which gas can escape from the inflator (14) to the atmosphere. Moreover, the invention describes an airbag unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2019Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventor: Gerd ZISCHKA
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Patent number: 11124148Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and/or an adjacent vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Gerd Zischka, Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
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Publication number: 20190047507Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and, resp., vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
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Patent number: 9061652Abstract: In a diffusor (14) for an inflator (10) of an airbag module including an outer wall (16) that encloses the inflator (10) at least in a discharge area (12) in the circumferential direction, wherein the outer wall (16) has a gap edge (18) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) and is bent open along said gap edge (18) upon activation of the inflator (10) and a discharge direction for the gas is defined, it is provided that gas deflecting elements (24, 26) which influence the discharge direction of the gas discharged from the inflator (10) in the bent-open state of the diffusor (14) are provided at the outer wall (16).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Dominique Acker, Gerd Zischka, Stojan Bogdanovic, Andreas Loos, Jurgen Scherr
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Publication number: 20140062072Abstract: In a diffusor (14) for an inflator (10) of an airbag module including an outer wall (16) that encloses the inflator (10) at least in a discharge area (12) in the circumferential direction, wherein the outer wall (16) has a gap edge (18) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) and is bent open along said gap edge (18) upon activation of the inflator (10) and a discharge direction for the gas is defined, it is provided that gas deflecting elements (24, 26) which influence the discharge direction of the gas discharged from the inflator (10) in the bent-open state of the diffusor (14) are provided at the outer wall (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventors: Dominique Acker, Gerd Zischka, Stojan Bogdanovic, Andreas Loos, Jurgen Scherr
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Patent number: 8123249Abstract: A gas generator has an elongated outer housing, the wall of the outer housing surrounding at least one gas carrying inner chamber. An axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing, which is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow, is constructed as a fastening section and has at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventor: Gerd Zischka
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Patent number: 8091921Abstract: A gas generator has an outer housing with a gas outlet section having an outer wall. The gas outlet section has a first and a second outflow area. Each outflow area has a net thrust outflow direction. The net thrust outflow direction of the first outflow area has a first component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator and the net thrust outflow direction of the second outflow area has a second component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator. The first component is oriented opposite to the second component. The gas generator is arranged in an airbag module in a way that gas from the first and second outflow areas is guided into different inflatable sections of a gas bag.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Juergen Heigl, Gerd Zischka
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Publication number: 20090121465Abstract: A gas generator has an elongated outer housing, the wall of the outer housing surrounding at least one gas carrying inner chamber. An axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing, which is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow, is constructed as a fastening section and has at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventor: Gerd Zischka
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Publication number: 20080054610Abstract: A gas generator has an outer housing with a gas outlet section having an outer wall. The gas outlet section has a first and a second outflow area. Each outflow area has a net thrust outflow direction. The net thrust outflow direction of the first outflow area has a first component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator and the net thrust outflow direction of the second outflow area has a second component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator. The first component is oriented opposite to the second component. The gas generator is arranged in an airbag module in a way that gas from the first and second outflow areas is guided into different inflatable sections of a gas bag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Gerd Zischka
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Publication number: 20080007035Abstract: In an airbag module having an airbag with at least one wall, and a gas guiding element which is rigid at least in sections and is made of plastic, the gas guiding element has a gas guiding portion in which several inside lying gas guiding channels are defined so as to lie side by side, which conduct gas from a gas generator in axially opposite directions to a first and a second opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventors: Dominique Acker, Andreas Loos, Gerd Zischka