Patents by Inventor Lothar Zink

Lothar Zink 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: 11007967
    Abstract: A front airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant (12), especially a passenger airbag, comprises a contact panel (22) facing the vehicle occupant (12) in the inflated state, wherein in the interior of the airbag at the contact panel (22) first tensile means (32) are arranged which in portions retain the contact panel (22) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and are disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms a side bulge on at least one of its two lateral edges and forms plural central bulges between the lateral edges which central bulges are smaller in cross-section than the at least one side bulge. At least a second tensile means (38) is disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms an upper bulge (36) which substantially extends in the transverse vehicle direction (y) and, with respect to a vertical vehicle axis (z), is disposed above the central bulges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Lothar Zink, Bernd Issler
  • Patent number: 10632957
    Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, includes a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant (12). Inside the airbag plural tethers (38) and/or partitions (38) are arranged which in portions withhold the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and form at least one lateral bead (34) and plural central beads (36) which in cross-section are smaller than the lateral beads (34). Furthermore, an airbag module is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Bausch, Lothar Zink, Jochen Weiss
  • Publication number: 20200039460
    Abstract: A front airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant (12), especially a passenger airbag, comprises a contact panel (22) facing the vehicle occupant (12) in the inflated state, wherein in the interior of the airbag at the contact panel (22) first tensile means (32) are arranged which in portions retain the contact panel (22) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and are disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms a side bulge on at least one of its two lateral edges and forms plural central bulges between the lateral edges which central bulges are smaller in cross-section than the at least one side bulge. At least a second tensile means (38) is disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms an upper bulge (36) which substantially extends in the transverse vehicle direction (y) and, with respect to a vertical vehicle axis (z), is disposed above the central bulges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Lothar Zink, Bernd Issler
  • Publication number: 20180126946
    Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, includes a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant (12). Inside the airbag plural tensile means (38) are arranged which in portions withhold the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and form at least one lateral bead (34) and plural central beads (36) which in cross-section are smaller than the lateral beads (34). Furthermore, an airbag module is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Bausch, Lothar Zink, Jochen Weiss
  • Patent number: 6575494
    Abstract: An active head restraint for an automotive seat which includes a base component, a headrest support, and a gas bag module. The base component is connected to the seat. The headrest support is detachably connected to the base component. The gas module is integrated between the base component and the headrest support in such a manner that in a restraining event detected by sensors, the headrest support component is released from the base component by inflating a gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander Heilig, Lothar Zink, Andreas Loos, Alfred Scholl, John Bleau, Juergen Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 6520522
    Abstract: A side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag which in an inflated state at least partially covers at least one side window of a vehicle. At least one emergency opening device is provided on the gas bag, by means of which the gas bag can be vented. The invention further relates to a side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag and a tensioning band by means of which the gas bag is fastened to the vehicle. A separation device is provided by which the fastening, via the tensioning band, of the gas bag to the vehicle can be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Rothweiler, Lothar Zink
  • Patent number: 6474733
    Abstract: A headrest in a vehicle seat includes an inflatable protective cushion in which the contact surface area is increased and caused to approach the head without needing to provide burst seams in the upholstery or in the cover or to make use of an elastic covering material. The protective cushion is arranged between the headrest frame member and the upholstery. The cover or the upholstery is joined at its outer circumference by jointing means to the headrest frame member. The jointing means maintain the cover, or the upholstery, tensioned in the non-activated condition of the protective cushion and permit a limited displacement of the outer circumference of the cover, or upholstery, from the headrest frame member in the activated condition of the protective cushion. The upholstery may thus be brought by the protective cushion nearer to the head and the contact surface area may be enlarged without destroying the cover or upholstery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Heilig, Lothar Zink
  • Publication number: 20010017458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag which in an inflated state at least partially covers at least one side window of a vehicle. At least one emergency opening device is provided on the gas bag, by means of which the gas bag can be vented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Steffen Rothweiler, Lothar Zink