Patents Assigned to Autoflug GmbH
  • Patent number: 5008989
    Abstract: In a belt buckle for safety belts, particularly in motor vehicles, for receiving and locking an insertable tongue having a housing and, arranged therein, an insertion path for the insertable tongue, with the path containing a spring-loaded ejector, and having a locking element which is pivotably mounted in the buckle and, in the locked position, engages in the tongue recess and is secured in the locked position via a securing member movably mounted in the buckle, and having a slidable actuator for releasing the locking element, which is guided in the housing transversely with respect to the plane of movement of the locking element and which, to protect it from shock, cooperates with a counterweight guided in the housing, the intention is to simplify the construction of the buckle for the purpose of shock prevention and reduce the mass of the parts which cooperate in the event of acceleration of the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Peter Wedler, Peter Eckmann
  • Patent number: 4979694
    Abstract: A tensioning mechanism for a safety belt reel-in mechanism, including a cable drive that is activatable in the event of a crash and includes a cable pulley that is adapted to be positively coupled with the belt reeling-in shaft of the reel-in mechanism via a locking member that is disposed on the cable pulley and is radially shiftable for meshing with coupling teeth provided on a toothed ring of the belt reeling-in shaft. To assure a more reliable tooth engagement in every phase of the tensioning movement, the cable pulley is provided with a support arrangement that is adapted to rest against the tooth ring of the belt reel-in mechanism and that extends into a plane formed by the locking member and the coupling teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Michael Grabinski, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4958566
    Abstract: A braking mechanism for a rotating flying object. The braking mechanism includes a planar fabric sheet having a central attachment base portion that can be secured to the flying object. The fabric sheet is adapted to be stored in a folded-up readiness state in the flying object, and, when released and unfolded, is adapted to form a braking surface that encircles the flying object. The braking mechanism further includes a plurality of reinforcing strips that each extend radially between the central attachment base portion and an outer rim of the braking mechanism and are distributed about the periphery of the latter. Each reinforcing strip extends from the central attachment base portion to the rim and back again to at least partially form two layers and to form loop-like pockets at the rim, with centrifugal weights being disposed in these pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Siebrand, Bruno Sturzenbecher
  • Patent number: 4933818
    Abstract: An illuminated safety belt buckle, especially for a motor vehicle, having a buckle housing and a key to actuate a securing device that is disposed in the housing. When an associated buckle tongue is inserted into the insertion slot formed in the housing, the securing device interlocks with the tongue. To provide illumination for the key and the insertion slot, a single light source is disposed in the buckle housing beyond these functional components. A light-conducting path of light-conducting material couples the light source with the key and the insertion slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventor: Peter Eckmann
  • Patent number: 4928130
    Abstract: In a staggered arrangement of individual elements that are made of conductive material and are spaced from one another, and which serve to improve the reflectivity of objects which are to be detected by radar with a search frequency band, there exists the problem that due to the insufficient dimensioning of the spacing of the individual elements, and the thus caused passage of radar beams or the only point-like reflection, an insufficient reflectivity of the object is provided. To resolve this problem, the individual elements are spaced from one another starting at one half of the wavelength corresponding to the lower cutoff frequency of the selected frequency band, and increasing, pursuant to a geometric progression, to one half of the wavelength corresponding to the upper cutoff frequency of the frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Pfabe, Hubert Nohren
  • Patent number: 4813111
    Abstract: A central belt lock for safety belts, especially such belts for pilots and other aviators or for parachute jumpers, for the rapid and at the same time releasable connection of several belts which come together at a central point. To avoid the problem of having to carry out, during fastening or release of the belt, operations which impair the reliability of the lock, the rotary lock member is provided with a linearly displaceable device which is operated by finger pressure. This device is provided with at least one transfer element for temporarily releasing an arresting mechanism for the connection members. The linearly displaceable device is spring loaded counter to the direction which it is pressed, and when it returns to its starting position it moves the arresting mechanism back into the arresting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Nohren
  • Patent number: 4802634
    Abstract: A self-locking belt reel-in mechanism, especially for the safety belts of motor vehicles. The mechanism includes a belt-winding spindle that is mounted in a housing and is loaded by a rewinding spring. The spindle includes a spindle core and a spindle body, at each end of which are disposed two locking members that operate radially between an inner position and an outer position, are adapted to be surrounded by stops on the housing, and bring about a symmetrical quadruple locking. The locking members are coupled by connecting rods that are parallel to the central axis of the spindle, are disposed within the cross-sectional area of the spindle, and rotate with the latter. When self-locking is initiated via a system that is sensitive to movement of the belt and/or vehicle, the locking members mesh with the housing stops. The connecting rods have ends on which are integrally connected the locking members, which enclose the spindle core symmetrically relative to the respective connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventor: Kalus P. Singer
  • Patent number: 4767161
    Abstract: A safety belt arrangement, especially one having a lap belt as a constituent of the belt system. One end of the lap belt is connected to a part that is secured to the vehicle, and the other end of the lap belt is provided with a belt buckle part. An anchoring member is provided as a carrier for the other belt buckle part, with the ends of the lap belt, as well as the anchoring member, being connected with a tensioning mechanism that operates in opposite directions. This tensioning mechanism is disposed between the anchoring elements that act as guide elements for the lap belt portion and for the anchoring member, which includes a cable section. The tensioning mechanism is secured to the one end of the lap belt and to the anchoring member via connections that are freely movable in the direction toward the guide elements, and are also movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Gerhard Sedlmayr, Jurgen Grassmuck
  • Patent number: 4666413
    Abstract: The life-saving appliance (1) is arranged in a covering (5), which is evacuated. So that the covering (5) cannot be damaged, it is enclosed in a hard foam casing (6). Through openings (7, 8) the life-saving appliance (1) can be released from the casing with the help of a pull member (4), or the vacuum in the covering (5) can be tested by touching the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Gotthold Klein, Henning Peters
  • Patent number: 4635884
    Abstract: A rotating parachute which makes it possible to transmit the energy of rotation to a load which is connected to the parachute. The inventive rotating parachute has a canopy which is connected via shroud lines to a load-carrier. The shroud lines are offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of the parachute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Nohren
  • Patent number: 4629142
    Abstract: A safety belt winding device has a housing with a housing bracket in which the housing can be fitted in different angular positions centrically symmetrical to the housing axis. A transmission member, which passes out of the end face of the housing centrically symmetrically to the housing axis and with centrically symmetrical mobility is intended to receive a switching movement from an actuating member in order to actuate the locking device of the safety belt winding device. The actuating member is provided in an actuating bracket which is in turn connectable to the housing of the safety belt winding device by means of centrically symmetrical connecting means. By this means the directions of belt extension and the directions in which the actuating bracket is attached become independent mutually and of the direction of the surface to which the safety belt winding device is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Nohren, Helmut Knofe, Klaus Struck
  • Patent number: 4627639
    Abstract: A safety belt system, especially for motor vehicles. The system includes a three-point safety belt, a self-locking belt reel-in mechanism mounted on a structural part of the vehicle, and a clamping mechanism for the belt strap of the safety belt. The clamping mechanism has at least one movable clamping jaw, and is movably disposed and guided on the structural part. A drive mechanism is provided for effecting movement of the clamping mechanism. To better adapt the geometrical path of the safety belt system to the body proportions of a strapped-in occupant, to thereby more reliably prevent endangering forward movement of the body of the occupant, the clamping mechanism is disposed, along with its drive, in the structural part of the vehicle in such a way that they are vertically adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Sedlmayr, Herbert Just
  • Patent number: 4619418
    Abstract: A self-locking belt reel-in mechanism for safety belts, especially of motor vehicles, including a housing and a belt reeling-in shaft mounted therein so that it cannot be displaced axially, but can be displaced radially under the effect of locking forces. The shaft can be arrested at both ends in toothings secured to the housing. The mechanism is accommodated in relatively narrow structural parts of the vehicle, such as the B-columns; thus, overall size is no problem. Furthermore, the load is to act uniformly upon the shaft in the event of high-load (a crash). In contrast, for normal operation it is only necessary to arrest one end of the shaft. One of the arresting arrangements is in the form of a locking member disposed in a recessed portion in the associated end of the belt reeling-in shaft. The depth of the recessed portion is such that the locking member is flush relative to the plane of the associated opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Butenop
  • Patent number: 4618110
    Abstract: In the quick-release lock for a parachute, a measuring device (1, 2) is used for continuously measuring the distance of the parachutist from the surface on which he intends to land. In this arrangement, the measured distance values are repeatedly compared with predetermined values in a comparing device (3, 4, 7) during the descent. Only if the measured values agree with the predetermined values during the last section of the descent during, which the comparisons are carried out, is the parachute automatically released from the load, for example a person, when the distance 0 is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Just, Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 4618108
    Abstract: A safety belt reel-in mechanism having a tensioning arrangement. A piston is provided which is acted upon by pressure medium, and which is disposed at a distance relative to the belt reeling-in shaft of the belt reel-in mechanism, and can by connected with this shaft via a cable drive when the tensioning arrangement is triggered. The problem of heretofore known devices was that after the tensioning arrangement was triggered and the tensioning process was terminated, the belt reeling-in shaft was locked into position via the tensioning arrangement, and hence could no longer function as intended. To eliminate the resulting drawback that, after the tensioning arrangement is triggered, the belt reel-in mechanism no longer has a self-locking action, the present invention proposes disposing a spring-loaded locking member on the cable pulley which receives the drive cable. The locking member is adapted to engage appropriate elements on the belt reeling-in shaft to operatively connect this shaft and the cable pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Butenop, Doris Kroger
  • Patent number: 4616850
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the height of the upper attachment or guide fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, particularly in motor vehicles. The apparatus has an arrangement for the preferably automatic adaptation of the height position of the attachment or guide fitting to the seated position of the person to be strapped in. A device provided in addition to the fitting senses the position of the belt strap with respect to a parameter of its operative connection to the person strapped in, and triggers a reaction to the situation ascertained. The problem exists that the height adjusting apparatus directly follows all movements of the person strapped in because of the direct coupling of condition detection and signal output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 4615540
    Abstract: A safety belt system, especially for vehicles. The system has a three-point safety belt, a self-locking belt winding mechanism which is mounted on a structural part of the vehicle, and a clamping mechanism for the belt. The clamping mechanism is disposed on the structural part of the vehicle, and has at least one movable clamping jaw. The problem with a basic safety belt system of this type is that in particular the slack in the belt at the body of the strapped-in person, together with the belt elongation which additionally results due to the stretching of the belt, lead, upon activation of the clamping effect, to a forward shifting of the body, thus endangering the person who is strapped in. This problem is inventively solved by movably guiding the clamping mechanism on the structural part of the vehicle, and by providing a drive or control mechanism for the movement of the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Sedlmayr, Herbert Just
  • Patent number: 4612667
    Abstract: An emergency transmitter provided with separate devices for the transmission of a first frequency and a second frequency. The transmitter is contained within a floatable housing. The transmission devices are connected via a switch to a battery. The transmission devices are comprised of a common quartz or crystal oscillator connected with frequency multipliers which are connected to drive stages and to high frequency final stages. The latter are connected to a transmission antenna which extends from the housing. Also provided is a signal generator for modulating the transmitted frequencies. A fixed-cycle control device is associated with the first and second transmission devices and alternately sets the two transmission devices into operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 4610058
    Abstract: A central lock for safety belts. With such a lock, especially in aircraft and sports cars, where the lock has an external bead behind which the connection members can catch, which in the process can freely align themselves in the respective belt-pulling direction, and where the lock also has control elements for fastening the connection members, for holding them securely in place, and for releasing them, with these control elements being operatively coupled with a manually operable rotary member which is disposed over a stud in conjunction with which the various movements in the lock occur, there exists the problem of an expedient arrangement of the many necessary components while at the same time avoiding two great a structural height. To reduce the overall structural size, and to provide as few components as possible, a retention and release element is disposed around the stud, with this element having a part which extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Stemmildt, Hubert Nohren
  • Patent number: 4592524
    Abstract: A device for the separation of a load from a belt assembly connected to it, especially of a parachute, which on impact with the earth compresses an impact component which is arranged on the impact side of the load and is released by the motion of impact. In order to achieve a safe separation which is free of delay, it will directly deal with the relative movement of the impact component or a mechanically connected part by the operation of the force of impact. The impact component can be developed as a landing shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Nohren, Bruno Sturzenbecher