Patents Assigned to Inova GmbH
  • Patent number: 8220832
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag system comprising an airbag module, which has an opening mechanism for the airbag tear seam of a seat cover for the airbag accommodated underneath the cover in a non-visible manner, wherein the opening mechanism is configured such that the deploying force of the airbag tears a hole or holes into the tear seam, which bring(s) about a slight opening of the seam according to the physics of a ‘run,’ wherein a strip, or plurality of strips, or strip ends sewn into the airbag tear seam of the seat cover in more than one locations is/are torn from the seam driven by the deploying force of the airbag. The invention further relates to a vehicle seat comprising such an airbag system, and to a deployment method for such an airbag system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inova GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Helmut Müller
  • Publication number: 20120038131
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (18) with a tear strip (13) for specific opening of a seat cover (20) under which the airbag module (18) is to be mounted, wherein a plurality of tear strips (13) is provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a seat with one such airbag module and also to a manufacturing apparatus and to an assembly method for one such airbag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: INOVA GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Müller, Ursula Müller
  • Patent number: 7712772
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thorax airbag device without housing which is mounted between a guide yoke and a tearing thread. The invention also relates to a seat which is provided with a thorax airbag device without housing which is mounted by a guide yoke and a tearing thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Müller
  • Patent number: 7530593
    Abstract: The invention creates an airbag device, wherein a driver's airbag is provided, at least substantially “stationary” relative to a steering wheel movement, and which has a shape that at least partially covers an adjacent A column of a vehicle in the inflated state or has a butterfly-like shape, which is correctly correlated with the driver by the embodiment of the driver's airbag stationary in any steering wheel position. Furthermore, the invention creates an operating method for such an airbag device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Inova GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Müller
  • Patent number: 7503583
    Abstract: An airbag system including an airbag and gas generating device provided with deployment control devices that enable the airbag to be at least partially deployed before it is inflated with gas from the gas generating device, and to a method of deploying the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Inova GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Müller
  • Publication number: 20070108743
    Abstract: The invention creates an airbag device, wherein a driver's airbag is provided, at least substantially “stationary” relative to a steering wheel movement, and which has a shape that at least partially covers an adjacent A column of a vehicle in the inflated state or has a butterfly-like shape, which is correctly correlated with the driver by the embodiment of the driver's airbag stationary in any steering wheel position. Furthermore, the invention creates an operating method for such an airbag device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: INOVA GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Publication number: 20050017485
    Abstract: An airbag system including an airbag and gas generating device provided with deployment control devices that enable the air bag to be at least partially deployed before it is inflated with gas from the gas generating device, and to a method of operating such an airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: INOVA GMBH
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 6349963
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an airbag device for a motor vehicle with at least one cover flap, behind which is a gas generator with which a gas bag can be inflated, and also moving drive devices that can be actuated by and are connected to each cover flap, where the latter is moved before or during triggering of the gas generator within the airbag device or within a part of the motor vehicle containing the airbag device. Furthermore, it is provided that the drive devices contain at least one piston running within a channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwioldungen
    Inventor: Olaf Müller
  • Patent number: 6328335
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air bag system which has multi-stage gas generating devices, with a primary stage for the partial inflating of an air bag and at least one subsequent stage which can be electrically and/or electronically triggered only as a function of an unhindered expansion of the air bag because of the inflating by a preceding stage, at least one electric switch being provided which can be switched as a function of the undisturbed expansion of the air bag because of the inflating by the preceding stage and is connected for the electric and/or electronic triggering of the subsequent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Inova GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Mueller
  • Patent number: 6299203
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air bag arrangement in vehicle, having a gas bag which, as the result of a triggering by a sensor, can be inflated with gas by a gas generator and, during the inflating, can be advanced into an interior of the vehicle, the gas generator having at least two driving stages with propellant charges which can be ignited in a time-related succession and of which the first propellant charge is ignited by a triggering by a sensor and the second propellant charge being ignited facultatively when the gas bag moves beyond a defined advancing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Müller
  • Patent number: 6299197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air bag system having an air bag and a covering which contains at least one tearing thread in an outlet area of the air bag for opening the covering. The tearing thread is a thread of a woven fabric and/or of a seam of the covering in the outlet area of the air bag. Tearing devices are provided which, in the outlet area of the air bag from the covering, are applied to the at least one tearing thread and are coupled to the air bag system. When the air bag system is triggered, the tearing devices weaken or open up the covering before or during inflation of the air bag by severing the at least one tearing thread. Furthermore, the invention relates to an interior vehicle covering which is suitable as a covering of the air bag system, a seat equipped with such a covering and air bag system, and a triggering process of an air bag system situated under a covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Mueller
  • Patent number: 6244656
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has a seat part and a backrest part, as well as protection devices which contain a backrest adjusting device which can be released in the event of a rear impact and which, after its release, controls the backrest part such that the latter counteracts an occupant's sliding-up along the backrest part as the result of the rear impact. In addition, an operating process for a motor vehicle seat with a seat part and a backrest part is provided. In the event of a rear impact, the backrest part is controlled into a protective position so that it counteracts an occupant's sliding-up along the backrest part as the result of the rear impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Inova GmbH Technische Entwicklung
    Inventor: Olaf Mueller
  • Patent number: 6089605
    Abstract: A drive device includes a piston guided linearly in at least one pressure tube. The drive for the piston includes a plurality of pyrotechnic drive cartridges ignitable in succession, and is especially useful for tightening a seat belt in a motor vehicle. The linear movement of the piston, urged as a result of an initial ignition, triggers subsequent ignitions for driving the piston. The drive cartridges are ignited in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 6082817
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat is disclosed having a backrest on which a headrest is adjustably arranged. In this case, a headrest, which can be adjusted into a protective or safety position, and an energy accumulator are provided which can be activated in the event of a crash and operates a driving device which is designed for adjusting the headrest into the protective or safety position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 6029993
    Abstract: A side air bag system has at least one inflatable air bag, a supporting strap which can be tensioned in the area of the inflated air bag, as well as operating devices for tensioning the supporting strap and inflating the air bag into their protective positions. The supporting strap is coupled with the air bag such that the tensioning supporting strap pushes the air bag out of its folded position into its protective position. An operating process for a side air bag system has at least one inflatable air bag, a supporting strap which can be tensioned in the area of the inflated air bag and operating devices for inflating the air bag and tensioning the supporting strap into their final protective positions, in which case the unfolding of the air bag from a folded condition into an at least essentially unfolded condition is at least supported by the tensioning of the supporting strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Inova GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Mueller
  • Patent number: 5988735
    Abstract: An inner lining for a motor vehicle with a finished ceiling made of a self-supporting form piece attachable to the edge of the motor vehicle structure includes at least one air-bag which is premounted on the self-supporting form piece before the ceiling is installed in the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 5899488
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air bag arrangement in a vehicle, having a gas bag device which can be inflated with a propellant by a gas generator 4 as the result of the triggering by a sensor and which, during the inflating, can be advanced into the occupant compartment of the vehicle, a covering device 10 being provided which is driven by a component 5; 5' of the air bag arrangement set in motion after the triggering by a sensor and which opens up an outlet opening 7 for a gas bag 8 and which moves essentially inside an outer contour 15 of the air bag arrangement or of a vehicle part containing the air bag arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: INOVA GmbH Technische Entwicklungen
    Inventor: Olaf Muller