Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive Safety System GmbH & Co. KG
  • Publication number: 20020153712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a covering cap which is visible from the exterior in an installed state and covers an outlet opening for a gas bag. The module further comprises at least one display integrated in the covering cap and a lighting for the display provided on a rear face of the covering cap. The covering cap has a front wall visible from the exterior with a section covering the outlet opening, the section being connected in one piece with a display section lying over the lighting. In the display section, the covering is constructed so as to be transparent or translucent. The display section is made of a first material component of the covering cap and the covering cap includes a second material component which has a carrier layer in the form of a cup. The base of the cup forms the section closing the outlet opening and the peripheral wall of which laterally delimits an accommodation space for the gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20020153711
    Abstract: An airbag module for occupant restraint systems in vehicles has a pot-like housing part (10) made of sheet metal to the base (14) of which a gas generator is attached and to the circumferential wall (16) of which, extending upwards from the base (14), an airbag (26) and a covering cap (12) made of plastic are attached. The covering cap (12) has a supporting wall (17) that is in contact with the outside of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10). The supporting wall (17) is provided with cutouts (20). On the free edge of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10) facing away from the base (14), there are arranged hook-shaped metal tabs (18) which pass through the cutouts (20) of the supporting wall (17) of the covering cap (12) and which are bent on their outside in the direction toward the base (14) of the housing part (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Matthias Helmstetter, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20020153708
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module, comprising a pot-shaped module housing that has a front wall that can be opened and a circumferential wall projecting from a rear side. The airbag module further comprises a baseplate that is attached to the circumferential wall by at least one snap-action hook that is able to latch into an opening. An unlatching protection is provided that reduces a cross-section of the opening after a latching procedure in such a way that unlatching is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6464253
    Abstract: A vehicular restraint system comprises an inflatable gas bag defining an internal volume and a gas generator with a pyrotechnic propellant charge for generating gas upon inflation of the gas bag. The propellant charge is made up of a mass of a pyrotechnic material. The mass of the pyrotechnic material may include a binding agent conglomerating the mass into a rigid shaped body, such body having a surface exposed to the internal volume of the gas bag, or the mass is filled into a flexible envelope, which envelope has a surface exposed to the internal volume of the gas bag. Preferably, the mass has a ductile texture, enabling it to be kneaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6464252
    Abstract: An impact protection device for arrangement in a steering wheel of a truck vehicle is provided. The steering wheel has a rim that is located in a plane inclined at an angle of less than 45° to a horizontal plane. The device has an inflatable gas bag mounted in a folded condition and an inflator activatable as a function of vehicle deceleration. The gas bag, in an inflated condition, has the shape of a mushroom with an annular outer edge portion engaging about and behind said steering wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6464248
    Abstract: A gas bag cover for a vehicle occupant restraint system has an inner side facing a gas bag to be covered and a wall thickness. The gas bag cover comprises at least one burst line being grooved into the cover from the inner side up to a predefined remaining wall thickness. The burst line comprises an initial point at which the remaining wall thickness has its minimum. The gas bag cover further comprises reinforcement ribs formed on the inner side of the cover, extending along a line which is tangent to the initial point of the burst line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: John-Oliver Derrick
  • Publication number: 20020140210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module of several components, which comprise a least a carrier element, a gas generator and a gas bag. At least one elastic element is provided and at least one of the components is mounted in the gas bag module so as to be neutralized with regard to vibration by means of the at least one elastic element consisting of silicone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mark Lovell, Thorsten Nottebaum
  • Publication number: 20020140212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas generator and an elastic bearing element by means of which the gas generator is mounted so as to be neutralized with regard to vibrations in the gas bag module. The bearing element is electrically conductive and forms a part of an electrical earth lead for the gas generator. The invention further relates to a steering wheel comprising a gas bag module equipped with a gas generator. The gas bag module is mounted on the steering wheel so as to be neutralized with regard to vibrations by means of an elastic bearing element. The elastic bearing element is electrically conductive and forms a part of an earth lead of the gas generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Constantin Hauer
  • Publication number: 20020135163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering device comprising a steering wheel which has a gas bag module with a gas bag and a covering cap on a front side. The covering cap closes an outlet opening for the gas bag up to its unfolding. At least one of a display- and operating device is arrange in the covering cap. The outlet opening runs around at least one of the display- and operating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: John-Oliver Derrick
  • Publication number: 20020135160
    Abstract: In a method of joining components of a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, at least one component of the gas bag module, preferably the gas bag, is stowed in an envelope. Thereafter, a partial vacuum is produced inside the envelope and the envelope is closed in gas-tight fashion. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system consists of at least two components. At least one component is enclosed in gas-tight fashion in an envelope provided with a partial vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6454486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the detachable fastening of a steering wheel on a steering shaft having an axis. The steering wheel has a hub provided with a through-bore arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the steering shaft and the through-bore intersects a groove arranged in the steering shaft. The device comprises a fastening member arranged in the through-bore. The fastening member has a bolt with a head and a shaft provided at least partially with an external thread and has a nut able to be screwed onto the shaft of the bolt. The nut is able to engage into the groove and the through-bore has two oppositely directed radial support surfaces arranged between the bolt head and the nut. One support surface is arranged on the bolt head side and the other support surface is arranged on the nut side. A spring element is provided which engages one of the bolt and the nut and exerts a force onto one of the bolt and the nut. The force aims for an increase of a distance between the bolt head and the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6454295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a covering cap for a gas bag module of a vehicle occupant restraint device. The covering cap comprises at least one plastic layer and is provided at least in places with a heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Achim Hehl
  • Publication number: 20020124683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shock-absorbed vehicle steering wheel which comprises a hub with a steering wheel mounting and a handling region for a driver. The handling region is, in particular, a steering wheel rim. A vibration damper is provided in a path of the flux of force between the steering wheel mounting and the handling region. The vibration damper has damping characteristics which are adjustable via one of an electrical and magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20020125704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising an accommodation housing for a gas bag, a gas generator and a cup-shaped diffusor which surrounds the gas generator and delimits an accommodation space for the gas bag. The diffusor has a radial flange by which it is fastened directly to the accommodation housing and which forms a ring-shaped base closing the accommodation housing. The diffusor projects into an interior of the accommodation housing and forms a gas generator space which is open from a base side of the diffusor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Heindl
  • Publication number: 20020125084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for damping vibrations in a steering wheel. The device comprises a damping means and an attenuation mass connected with the damping means. An electrical control unit is provided which is coupled with the damping means. The control unit is able to alter mechanical vibration characteristics of the device such that different vibration frequencies can be damped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20020124682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel comprising a skeleton embedded in a foam casing and a covering cap having an edge. The covering cap, for actuation of a horn, is mounted so as to be displaceable in an axial direction, the foam casing of the skeleton adjoining the edge of the covering cap. Guides for the covering cap are provided in a region of the edge of the covering cap. The guides are arranged such and elastically mounted such that upon laterally pressing down the covering cap for actuating the horn, the guides are tilted allowed by a yielding of the foam casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Dominik Schutz
  • Publication number: 20020125698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel comprising a steering wheel body and a gas bag module provided with two or more guide pins. The gas bag module, for actuation of a horn, is displaceably mounted in an axial direction by means of the guide pins. The steering wheel further comprises at least one multifunctional switch unit for the remote actuation of specific vehicle functions. The at least one multifunctional switch unit is mounted on the guide pins of the gas bag module so as to be movable in the axial direction independently of the gas bag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dominik Schutz
  • Publication number: 20020121769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag which has a gas bag wall with a front wall section. The module further comprises a cover which has a given annular section which closes an annular outlet opening for the gas bag and has a stationary central portion which is surrounded by the annular section. A section of the gas bag wall other than the front section has an outflow opening which in a folded state of the gas bag is arranged beneath the central portion in such a manner that on outlet of the gas bag, the central portion arrives via the outflow opening into an interior of the gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6443030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel including a steering wheel hub which has an axial direction and a steering wheel rim which has an inner and an outer face and is provided with a foam casing. The steering wheel further includes at least one spoke connecting the steering wheel hub with the steering wheel rim, and an insert which is visible from the exterior on at least one of the inner face facing the steering wheel hub and the outer face facing away therefrom. The insert is a surrounding ring which has first segment sections on a periphery of the steering wheel rim and which are visible from the exterior. The insert further has second segment sections alternating with the first sections. The second sections are not visible from the exterior and are embedded in the foam casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrik Schuler
  • Patent number: 6437265
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement to be secured to a base part of a vehicle. The arrangement comprises first and second parts to be secured to the base part in sequence and adjacent and aligned to each other, and a device for aligning the first and second parts to each other. The first part is to be secured to the base part before the second part. The device has at least one protuberance on the first part extending toward the second part. The protuberance features an alignment bevel configured relative to the second part such that it is contacted by the second part during assembling of the first and second parts to the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer