Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 11066039
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator holder (14) for an airbag module (10) comprising a holder bottom part (20) in which an inflator receiving hole (18) is formed and comprising a holder sidewall part (22) which delimits, together with the holder bottom part (20), a receiving compartment (26) for an inflator (12) open on a discharge side (28) opposed to the holder bottom part (20). The inflator holder (14) includes a filter grid (24) for exhausting gas fastened on the inflator holder (14) which filter grid at least partially delimits the receiving compartment (26) on the discharge side (28). In addition, the invention relates to an airbag module (10) comprising an airbag (16), an inflator (12) and said inflator holder (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Issler, Simon Schmid, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 11066034
    Abstract: A head protection airbag module comprising a tubular inflator, a holder for the inflator and an airbag which is in fluid communication with the inflator and is folded to form a package, characterized by a guide element for the airbag which is arranged on the holder and includes a guide tongue extending into the airbag package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Heigl, Hans-Joachim Tietze, Robert Disam, Steffen Seidel, Michael Rieger
  • Patent number: 11066037
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator holder (14) for an airbag module (10) comprising a holder bottom part (20) in which an inflator receiving hole (18) is formed and comprising a holder sidewall part (22) which delimits, together with the holder bottom part (20), a receiving compartment (26) for an inflator (12) open on a discharge side (28) opposed to the holder bottom part (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Weiss, Sergey Hauer, Hans-Peter Bausch
  • Patent number: 11066035
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises a housing (12), a folded airbag (16) and a flexible fixation (14) which fixes the folded airbag (16) on the housing (12). There is provided a tensioning device (24) by which the fixation (14) can be brought from an initial state to a tensioned state. Moreover, a method of mounting an airbag module (10) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Elija
  • Patent number: 11046284
    Abstract: A force limiting device (10) for a seat belt comprises a fitting (14), a tension transfer means (36) and a deformation member (12) directly abutting on the fitting (14), wherein the fitting (14, 114) comprises a deflection unit (20, 120) in the form of a deflection pulley for the tension transfer means (36, 136).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Betz
  • Patent number: 11040684
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Simon Kramer, Marco Wahl, Silke Leger
  • Patent number: 11034321
    Abstract: An elongate airbag module (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a folded airbag (12) which is received in an envelope (14), wherein the envelope (14) includes a weakened zone through which the airbag (12) can deploy out of the envelope (14) upon activation of the airbag module (10), and wherein the envelope (14) comprises at least one elongate flexible fixing tab (16) having at least one opening (24b) by means of which the airbag module (10) can be fastened to a vehicle via a fastening clip (18) which in portions extends through the opening (24b). Portions of the fastening clip (18) are wrapped in the fixing tab (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Tatjana Schmid
  • Patent number: 11027695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame, a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter (14) which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12), characterized in that for coupling the load limiter (14) at least one load-transmitting bar (28) is used which is arranged at the belt reel (12) and is retained in a coupling position by a support ring (32), wherein the support ring (32) can be moved from a supporting position to a release position by means of an actor (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 11014531
    Abstract: A belt tensioner (10) for a seatbelt system comprises a tensioner tube (20) having an open outlet end and a force transmission element (22) which is guided in the tensioner tube (20) and which leaves the tensioner tube (20) via the open outlet end, a gas generator (18) providing compressed gas for displacing the force transmission element (22) within the tensioner tube (20) as well as a drive wheel (16) rotated by the force transmission element (22) leaving the tensioner tube (20). There is provided a guiding component (24) surrounding the drive wheel (16) into which guiding component the force transmission element (22) enters upon leaving the tensioner tube (20). At the guiding component (24) an energy-dissipating structure (50) is provided which the force transmission element (22) contacts when it has at least substantially completely left the tensioner tube (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Mödinger, Bruno Arbter, Steffen Seiffert
  • 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: 11007974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor (10) for automotive vehicles, comprising a housing frame (12) including two opposed side walls (14, 16) each having a wall opening (18, 20), a belt reel (22) being rotatable about a reel axis (A) and extending in the axial direction from a sensor-side reel end (24) through the wall openings (18, 20) of the housing frame (12) to an opposite spring-side reel end (26), as well as a housing cover (28) being tightly connected to the housing frame (12), wherein the housing cover (28) forms a radially elastic pivot bearing (30) for the spring-side reel end (26) and wherein the spring-side reel end (26) of the belt reel (22) is fixed in the radial direction in a guiding-free manner and, resp., without any further guideway on the housing cover (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Friedrich Littau, Jürgen Rink, Thomas Kielwein
  • Patent number: 10994692
    Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants comprises a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state and including upper and lower edges (146, 148) as well as two lateral edges (150). In the interior of the airbag, tension means (30) that withhold portions of the contact panel (26) in the inflated state are arranged at the contact panel (26) so that the contact panel has plural indentations. The contact panel (26) is composed of plural interconnected cut parts (42, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 10994685
    Abstract: A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (12) having a front side (14) including a deployment aperture (18) as well as an opposite rear side (16), an airbag (20) and an inflator (32) which provides filling gas for the deployment of the airbag (20). The airbag (20) is folded and in the folded state is retained by a flexible airbag wrapping (34) while forming an airbag package (24), wherein the airbag package (24) constitutes a pre-assembled unit and the flexible airbag wrapping (34) closes off the knee airbag module (10) at least in portions to the outside. There is provided a rigid outer housing part (42) which includes a first bearing zone (54) positioned in the area of the airbag package (24) against which the airbag (20) bears during deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Elija, Werner Freisler
  • Patent number: 10988102
    Abstract: A front airbag for vehicle occupants, comprising a front face (16) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state, a rear panel (14) facing the vehicle front end and a chamber defining the interior of the inflated airbag (10) is characterized in that, relating to the front face (16), a central sub-chamber starting from the front face (16) is provided which is defined by a central front panel (20) forming part of the front face (16) and a circumferential central side panel (22), wherein the circumferential side panel (22) protrudes into the envelope of the inflated airbag (10), and in that at least one outer chamber (30) laterally adjacent to the central sub-chamber (18) and surrounding the sub-chamber (18) at least partially on the outside is provided which includes an outer front panel (32) forming part of the front face (16) and a side panel (34) which is adjacent to the central side panel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Stegmeier, Axel Kamrath
  • Patent number: 10940827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame (10), a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter which comprises a corrugated disk (36), characterized in that the corrugated disk (36) is disposed between the belt reel (12) and a cover (38) which is laterally attached to the belt reel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Michael Sautter, Ralph Stegmaier, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 10919487
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (70) for releasing a load limiter (14) of a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt, comprising a case (72) which is adapted to be attached to a frame (10) of the belt retractor and includes a seat (82) in which a pyrotechnical actor (80) is arranged, characterized in that a retaining clip (90) for locking the actor (80) within the seat (82) is attached to the case (72). The invention further relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably supported in the frame, a load limiter (14) which is detachably connected to the belt reel (12) and an actuator (70) of the afore-mentioned type, characterized in that the retaining clip (90) bears on the frame (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20200406951
    Abstract: A locking device is presented for an adjustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating element and a damping device. The damping device has a first damping element and a second damping element, wherein the first damping element is attached to the actuating element and the second damping element is attached to a frame part, wherein the first and/or second damping element relative to the other damping element are rotatably mounted. The first and the second damping element each have a coupling section, wherein the coupling sections are engaged at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element, and wherein a relative rotation between the two damping elements is damped by deformation of the first and/or second damping element and/or by friction, at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lingemann, Marcus Zimpel
  • Patent number: 10821931
    Abstract: A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (14) in which an airbag (20) folded into an airbag package prior to its deployment as well as an inflator (16) generating filling gas for filling the airbag (20) are accommodated. In the outer housing (14) an exit opening (22) is formed through which the airbag (20) leaves the outer housing (14) during deployment. The airbag (20) is subdivided into plural chambers (28a-28f) arranged in series and being in fluid communication. The chamber closest to the inflator (28a) is separated from an adjacent chamber (28b) by a wall (32) which in the inflated airbag (20) extends substantially in the area of the exit opening (22) along the exit opening (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Elija, Werner Freisler
  • Patent number: 10751786
    Abstract: The invention describes a method of manufacturing a substantially plate-shaped frame member (10) of a belt retractor including locking teeth (18). A plate-shaped element (24) is provided, wherein said element is plastically reshaped in portions so that a portion (28) thickened into a main portion (12) of the plate-shaped element (24) is formed. Furthermore, locking teeth (18) are produced in the thickened portion (28) so that the locking teeth (18) have a larger thickness than the plate-shaped element (24) prior to reshaping. Moreover, a frame member (10) for a belt retractor is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Zolnai, Friedrich Littau, Erwin Fauser
  • Patent number: 10744973
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a frame, a belt reel which is rotatably supported within the frame, a shell (16), a sensor (18) for vehicle-sensitive locking which includes a sensor lever (20), and comprising an idler arm (22) contacting a sensor (18) and being adjustable between an initial position in which the sensor lever (20) is locked and an extracting position in which the sensor lever (20) is released. The idler arm (22) is coupled to a damping element (26) having speed-sensitive damping characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel