Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 8960046
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle steering system, having a steering gear, a servomotor which is adapted to provide a steering assist force, a blocking ring which is assigned to a motor shaft of the servomotor, and a locking member which is adapted to engage in the blocking ring to block rotation of the motor shaft of the servomotor and thereby to lock the steering gear, further provision being made for an actuating member having the locking member adjustably mounted thereon, and the actuating member being adjustable by a drive motor between a blocking position and a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Engel
  • Patent number: 8955879
    Abstract: An airbag, especially a passenger airbag, comprises a rear injection orifice, a front wall (14) for the impact of the occupant as well as two opposed sidewalls (16, 18) and an upper wall and a lower wall. Each of the upper and lower walls is split and consists of side portions (50, 52) which are juxtaposed and are connected to each other along opposite margins (40, 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier, Nico Werner, Tomasz Pys
  • Patent number: 8950780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat belt buckle for a seat belt comprising a casing, a locking member for a plug-in latch and an unlocking device (26) for releasing the unlocking member. The unlocking device (26) includes at least two unlocking surfaces (56, 60) which are independent of each other, wherein a predetermined force has to be applied to both unlocking surfaces (56, 60) for operating the unlocking device (26). The unlocking device (26) includes at least one fastening element (30) constituting an engaging connection with the casing, wherein the engaging connection prevents a movement of the unlocking device (26) in an unlocking direction of the locking member and the fastening element (30) has to be moved in a direction perpendicular to the unlocking direction for releasing the engaging connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Peter Haas
  • Patent number: 8950781
    Abstract: A belt presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) which is pivotal in a state mounted on the vehicle, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). The arm (22) includes a finger (44) for seizing the strap (20) when the arm moves into the feeding position (A), and the finger (44) is pivoted at the arm (22) so that it can adopt a folded position in which it is located substantially in parallel to the arm (22) and an unfolded position in which the finger (44) is orientated substantially perpendicularly to a pivoting plane of the arm (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
  • Patent number: 8948973
    Abstract: A method comprising the steps: a manually applied driver steering moment is detected; a requested superposition moment is detected; the driver steering and superposition moments are combined to form an intermediate moment from which an assistance moment is generated by means of a predefined, non-linear amplification function; starting from detected values of the driver steering and superposition moments, a modified superposition moment compensating for friction in the electric steering system at least in part is determined such that the amount of the modified superposition moment is larger than the amount of the superposition moment at least for some pairs of variates comprised of driver steering and superposition moments; the assistance and modified superposition moments are combined to form a motor moment from which a corresponding input signal for a servo motor is established; the servo motor is controlled with the established input signal to provide the motor moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Dirk Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8939464
    Abstract: A seat back has a rigid seat back frame and a cover. A seat back center part extends substantially perpendicular to the sitting direction. Two seat back frame sides laterally delimit the seat back and are transformed into the seat back center part. An airbag module accommodated in the cover of one of the seat back frame sides is mounted to the seat back frame. In the area of the seat back frame side, the seat back frame has a contact surface adjacent to a spirally folded airbag and extending substantially obliquely forward away from the seat back center part. The contact surface includes an angle (?) of 10°???45° with the sitting direction. The airbag extends substantially obliquely forward away from the center part and is wound spirally inwardly in a sense of rotation directed away from the center part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Andreas Loos, Torsten Sassmannshausen
  • Publication number: 20140360802
    Abstract: A steering gear mechanism has a steering housing and a steering input shaft. The steering housing is sealed and has a receptacle through which the steering input shaft passes into the steering housing. The receptacle is sealed against the steering input shaft. A first opening is provided on the steering input shaft within the steering housing, and a second opening is provided outside of the steering housing. The first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Merker, Christian Wutzler
  • Patent number: 8899626
    Abstract: In an assembly comprising a belt height adjuster (104) and a belt feeder for feeding a belt webbing (110) the belt feeder includes an arm (112) which is adapted to be moved, especially pivoted from a home position into a feeding position by means of a drive. The arm (112) is arranged at the belt height adjuster (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Birk, Martin Seyffert
  • Publication number: 20140312573
    Abstract: A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Bernhardt, Andreas Maier, Ulrich Mette, Cengiz Erdogan
  • Publication number: 20140291975
    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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
  • Publication number: 20140291432
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt tensioner (10) for a seat belt system comprising a belt shaft housing (18) and a belt shaft (12) pivoted in the belt shaft housing (18) about an axis (A), wherein prior to activation of the belt tensioner (10) the belt shaft (12) is retained in a torsionally fixed manner relative to the belt shaft housing (18) in at least one direction of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Dominik Seitzer, Ruediger Karl
  • Publication number: 20140268844
    Abstract: In a belt buckle assembly (8) comprising a belt buckle casing (10) and comprising a lighting device (26) provided at the belt buckle casing (10) for marking the insertion aperture (22) for the plug-in tongue the lighting device (26) includes a lamp (28), especially an LED, as well as a light conductor (32) being positioned at the belt buckle casing (10) in the area of the insertion aperture (22) and tapered in wedge shape toward the lamp (28), the light conductor absorbing and distributing the light emitted by the lamp (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoedl
  • Patent number: 8814210
    Abstract: A belt presenter for a seat belt system comprising a belt strap and deflection fittings (16) includes an arm (102) having a belt strap guide (104) and a mounting portion (106) by which the arm (102) is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle lining (10). The arm (102) is manually movable about an axis of rotation (108) into a plurality of locking positions. The axis of rotation (109) about which the arm (102) can be rotated is arranged, in the vehicle-mounted state, to be offset from a mounting point (18) of deflection fittings (16) of the seat belt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Zauder, Peter Goehringer, Markus Kees, Juergen Petzi
  • Patent number: 8814074
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) comprising a frame, a belt reel, a first force limiting means (30) coupled to the belt reel and a second force limiting means (32), wherein the second force limiting means (32) can be locked and the first force limiting means (30) is arranged functionally in series with the second force limiting means (32), is characterized in that the second force limiting means (32) includes a deformation element (52) and at least one deforming member (26, 54) fixed to the frame, the deformation element (52) being adapted to be rotated relative to the deforming member (26, 54) when the second force limiting means (32) is activated, whereby the deformation element (52) is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Moedinger, Martin Roehrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Publication number: 20140232092
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag for vehicles, having a flat, two-dimensional shape when being in an uninflated, vented condition and a three-dimensional shape in an inflated condition, the gas bag having a main piece with opposite end portions, each of the end portions having an end contour, and two minor pieces which each have a connecting portion with a contour with corresponds to the end contour of the main piece, and which each have a filling portion, the two filling portions having similar shapes and similar dimensions. The invention also relates to a method of sewing this gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Yohann Le Norcy, Jean-Christophe Peyre, Ramon Ramos
  • Publication number: 20140212205
    Abstract: A joint housing of a ball joint comprises a sheet-metal part for accommodating a ball head, which is substantially rotationally symmetrical with respect to a joint axis and includes a circumferential wall portion, wherein the circumferential wall portion includes a housing opening at an axial end, through which a joint pin can extend, wherein the sheet-metal part is formed with two layers at this axial end of the circumferential wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Forthaus, Lothar Schaumann, Harald Walter
  • Patent number: 8777268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reversible belt tensioner (10) comprising a drive motor (12), a spindle (14) connected to the drive motor (12), a spindle nut (16) adapted to be displaced in axial direction (18) on the spindle (14), a catch (20) the one end of which is connected to the spindle nut (16) and a belt buckle (22) connected to the other end of the catch (20), wherein at least one of the following features prevents the spindle nut (16) from jamming during travel against block: a cylindrical guiding portion (50) inside the spindle nut (16) interacting with the outer geometry of the spindle (14); a freewheel mechanism (48) between the drive motor (12) and the spindle (14); a compression spring (70) between the belt buckle (22) and a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein, Nathalie Kramer, Martin Prokscha, Stefano Roehm
  • Patent number: 8770617
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag (12) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprising plural juxtaposed compartments (16) delimited outwardly by opposing external walls (18) and against each other by partitions (20), wherein the airbag (12), in the inflated condition, has a form overall bent and elongate in cross-section. In the bending area the external wall (18) includes a cut-out (22) that is closed by an inserted insert (24) tensioned in the deployed condition which in the longitudinal direction has a length (LE) different in the bending area from the opposing external wall portion (28) of the chamber (16) so as to produce the bending. The invention furthermore relates to a method of manufacturing an airbag of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Abele, Werner Freisler
  • Patent number: 8770884
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elastomeric joint, comprising a housing with a through-opening which extends axially along the longitudinal axis of the elastomeric joint, a pivot pin which extends through the through-opening of the housing, an elastomeric body which is fastened to the pivot pin and is arranged radially between the pivot pin and the housing, and with at least one supporting ring which is fastened to the elastomeric body on one end face of the through-opening, wherein a wire ring locks the supporting ring with respect to the housing, with the result that the pivot pin is held in the housing in an axially secured manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Cengiz Erdogan, Richard Partyka
  • Publication number: 20140183848
    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: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martina Rausch