Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 9358949
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a seat belt system includes a belt shaft housing, a belt shaft pivoted about an axis in the belt shaft housing, a rope reel tightly connected to the belt shaft. A tensioner drive includes a tensioner tube, a deformable plastic element guided to be longitudinally movable in the tensioner tube, a drive pinion and a pull rope which is partly wound onto the rope reel. The plastic element is adapted to engage in the drive pinion and to drive the drive pinion in the tensioning direction. During rotation of the drive pinion the pull rope is wound onto a rope drum of the drive pinion, on the one hand, and is unwound from the rope reel, on the other hand, while the belt shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Dominik Seitzer, Ruediger Karl
  • Patent number: 9341204
    Abstract: A fastening clip (10) for mounting a component part (28), especially an airbag or an airbag module, on a support (30) includes a head portion (12), a clip body (14) and retaining elements (16) laterally projecting from the clip body (14) which are elastically deflectable. The clip body (14) defines an interior and includes windows (20) through which the retaining elements (16) protrude outwardly from the interior. An assembly having such fastening clip (10) furthermore includes a support (30) having a mounting aperture (34) matching with the dimensions of the clip body (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 9340182
    Abstract: A belt retractor (5) for a vehicle seat belt includes a frame (10) made of plastic material and two side legs (16) between which a belt reel (22) equally made of plastic material is arranged. The belt reel (22) is provided with a flange (26) at each of its end faces and a retaining pin (32) to which the seat belt (7) is fastened is accommodated in the belt reel (22). The retaining pin (32) extends into the flanges (26) of the belt reel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 9327680
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) comprises a frame (12), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably mounted in the frame (12), and a blocking pawl (22) which is provided at the belt reel (14) and is capable of engaging with a blocking teeth system (20). The blocking teeth system (20) is provided at a blocking ring (18) which is mounted at the frame (14) in a rotationally limited manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gentner, Thomas Moedinger, Oliver Gross, Juergen Rink
  • Patent number: 9318986
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a power steering system having at least three windings is described, wherein a control unit applies a current to the windings of the electric motor to generate a total torque having a value which is ascertained by the control unit from a set-point torque for steering assistance and a set-point torque for damping. A damping set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for damping and a steering assist set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for steering assistance. A monitoring circuit monitors the function of the windings of the electric motor. In the event of a malfunction of any of the windings, the monitoring circuit outputs an error signal, upon which the set-point torque for steering assistance is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Eden, Keiwan Kashi, Timothy Sworn, Chris Mantjios
  • Patent number: 9283929
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt, includes a frame (12) provided with a plurality of blocking teeth (22), a belt reel (14) being rotatably supported in the frame (12) and a blocking tooth system (24) adapted to be engaged with the blocking teeth (22). A control lever (28) pivoted on the frame (12) and accommodates the belt reel (14). A sensor (34) actuates when a predetermined vehicle deceleration is exceeded. A control tooth system (26) with which the sensor (34) is adapted to interact is provided at the belt reel (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Rink, Boris Siebeck, Demal Sehic, Thomas Kielwein, Markus Dauber, Christian Mucke, Julius Adomeit
  • Patent number: 9283919
    Abstract: Elongate woven pulling means (10) for an airbag module comprises plural longitudinal portions (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) that have different warp densities. An airbag module for a vehicle safety system comprises an airbag, pulling means (10) coupled to the airbag and an activation unit coupled to the pulling means for releasing the pulling means upon actuation of the activation unit. The pulling means (10) is an elongate woven pulling means having different warp densities which is fastened to the airbag by a first end portion (12) of low warp density, preferably by stitching, and is coupled to the activation unit by a longitudinal portion (16) of high warp density. A method of manufacturing such pulling means (10) comprises the steps of: weaving a longitudinal portion (12; 20) on a loom of low warp density; and weaving a further longitudinal portion (16; 14, 18) on the loom having high or increasing warp density in the same working step. For weaving an adjustable reed having different widths is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martina Rausch
  • Patent number: 9283922
    Abstract: An airbag (20) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a first fabric layer (10) and an opposed second fabric layer (12) each being formed of a composite fabric of wefts and warps and delimiting a chamber (14) adapted to be filled with gas. Plural weaving threads (16) are provided which exit the composite fabric of a fabric layer (10, 12) in the direction of the other fabric layer (12, 10) and are freely floating in the chamber (14) before they enter into the composite fabric of the other fabric layer (12, 10). The weaving threads (16) are movable in their longitudinal direction relative to the inlet and outlet points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 9266446
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt includes a rotatably supported belt reel (12) from which webbing can be unwound, a force limiting means which in a force limiting phase permits controlled webbing extension in the webbing extension direction when the belt reel (12) is blocked and a particular force threshold is exceeded, and a change-over device for carrying out a change-over operation before and/or during the force limiting phase in which it is changed from a first force level to a second force level. The change-over device includes a control means adapted to trigger or inhibit the change-over operation at least in response to the recognition of an installed child safety seat (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Stegmeier
  • Publication number: 20160047456
    Abstract: A belt pulley for a gear mechanism, in particular for a steering gear, having a cylindrical body having an outer surface on which a toothing made of a plastic material is provided, and a fastening flange which is provided with fastening openings, is characterized in that the toothing is configured integrally with the cylindrical body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Kolloch, Eduard Span, Rico Andersch, Thomas Roggow
  • Patent number: 9241544
    Abstract: A belt buckle assembly, especially for a seat belt system in a motor vehicle, includes a belt buckle (10) and a plug-in tongue (12) lockable in the belt buckle (10) by means of a locking mechanism. A component of the locking mechanism of the belt buckle (10) interacting with the plug-in tongue (12) inside the belt buckle (10) and/or the plug-in tongue (12) has/have design features at a locking portion (16) interacting with the locking mechanism of the belt buckle (10) inside the belt buckle (10). The design features enable the plug-in tongue (12) to be locked in the belt buckle (10) only at one of at least two possible orientations of the plug-in tongue (12) in the belt buckle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Achim Ebert
  • Publication number: 20160016528
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (10) for being arranged on an instrument panel (5) comprising a fastening portion (22) provided for being arranged on the instrument panel (5), an inflator (16), an airbag (12), a receiving portion (26) for the airbag (12) extending from the inflator (16) to the fastening portion (22) and a retaining portion (24) which is accessible from outside of the receiving portion (26) and serves for retaining the inflator (16). The invention also relates to a subassembly comprising an instrument panel (5) and an airbag module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the fastening portion (22) of the airbag module (10) being connected to the instrument panel (5) and a retainer (28) formed separately from the airbag module (10) being provided which is connected to the retaining portion (24) of the airbag module (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Schmid
  • Patent number: 9238447
    Abstract: A belt buckle feeder for a vehicle seat belt system includes a spindle drive and a belt buckle (12) mounted on a spindle (14) of the spindle drive, the belt buckle being movable in height via a spindle nut (26) located on the spindle (14). A safety mechanism comprising at least one locking element (44) is provided which is configured so that the locking element (44) enters into force fit and/or form fit with the spindle (14), when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, and introduces force acting on the belt buckle (12) in the extending direction (R) of the spindle (14) into a mounting point fixed to the vehicle white bypassing the spindle drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Hoika, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Publication number: 20160007690
    Abstract: A belt buckle for a seat belt system comprises a support member (12) inducting a belt buckle mechanism, first and second shells (18, 18) which together encompass the support member (12) and an annular cover member (14) surrounding an end face of the support member (12). Along the periphery of the annular cover member (14) at feast a first structure (24) is formed and in the area of a rim (28) of the first and second shells (16, 18) directed to the annular cover member (14) a respective second structure (26) is formed. The first and second structures (24, 26) are engaged with each other and fix the first and second shells (16,18) to the annular cover member (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Andrea Schuech
  • Patent number: 9216714
    Abstract: A belt presenter system for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) mounted on a vehicle pillar, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). An end portion (40) of the arm (22) is connected to a fixed arm portion (36) via a hinge (42) so that the end portion (40) is bendable about a pivot axis relative to the fixed arm portion (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
  • Publication number: 20150360712
    Abstract: A clamping device for a longitudinally adjustable and/or height-adjustable steering column of a vehicle, having a device part and an actuating part which is movable relative to the device part between a release position, in which the steering column is longitudinally adjustable and/or height-adjustable, and a fixing position, in which the steering column is neither longitudinally adjustable nor height-adjustable, a damping unit being provided for damping a relative movement between the device part and the actuating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Baumeister, Kai Grebe, Magnus Loyen
  • Patent number: 9193329
    Abstract: A positioning device (12), especially for a vehicle seat belt feeder, comprises a flexible load-bearing element (16) and a molded part (18) comprising a plurality of molded elements (20) each of which annularly surrounds the elastic load-bearing element (16) and includes axial bearing surfaces. The axial bearing surfaces of the molded elements (20) include a surface structure which is configured so that two neighboring molded elements (20) loaded against each other contact each other with their axial bearing surfaces, are in positive engagement and are orientated in the radial direction at a defined position relative to each other, A belt buckle device (10) comprises an afore-described positioning device (12) as well as a belt buckle (14) that is fastened to the load-bearing element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein
  • Patent number: 9193328
    Abstract: A device for anchoring a belt buckle (10) comprises a fitting (12) including a first end portion (20) and a second end portion (22) as well as a central portion (18) provided between the two end portions (20, 22). The central portion (18) has an opening for fastening the fitting (12) in a way affixed to the vehicle by means of a screw (16). The device further comprises a connecting strap (14) connected on the one hand to the belt buckle (10) and on the other hand to the fitting (12). According to the invention, the connecting strap (14) extends along the first end portion (20) and the central portion (18) of the fitting (12) and is threaded via a loop (30) into an eyelet (24) of the second end portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Detlev Schmid
  • Patent number: 9180832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag (10) for vehicles, having in an inflated state a lower cushion portion (22) and an upper cushion portion (20) adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant (16), and a dividing portion (24) between the cushion portions (20, 22) which is formed by wall portions of the gas bag (10) extending into the interior of the gas bag (10) in a direction away from the cushion portions (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GMBH
    Inventors: Yohann Le Norcy, Jean-Christophe Peyre, Ramon Ramos
  • Patent number: 9174608
    Abstract: A belt retractor including a force limiter comprises a belt reel which is rotatably supported in a frame as well as a blocking unit counteracting a rotation of the belt reel and a force limiter between the belt reel and the blocking unit which permits a limited torsion of the belt reel against the blocking unit under load. The force limiter includes a damping element consisting of a cross-linked polymer which is sheared under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Nizam Bedak, Joachim Biller, Michael Folter, Helmut Schuster, Susanne Schuster