Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
  • Patent number: 6695344
    Abstract: An airbag module comprises an airbag and a front cover which is made of plastic. The front cover has a middle part and, surrounding the middle part, a predefined outlet opening for the airbag. In the closed state of said cover, the opening is surrounded by a ring-shaped part of the cover. The ring-shaped part is removed to free the outlet opening when the airbag is unfolded. The middle part is attached to the module in such a way that, when the airbag unfolds, the middle part is prevented from moving freely. The module further comprises a reinforcement ring which is embedded in the middle part and runs adjacent and along an inner edge of the ring-shaped part of the cover and attaches the middle part to the module, preventing it from moving freely when the airbag unfolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Constantin Hauer
  • Patent number: 6688638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel for a vehicle having a horn, said steering wheel having a longitudinal axis and comprising a gas bag module, a steering wheel skeleton, a gas bag module, at least one detent connection for connecting the gas bag module with the steering wheel skeleton. The gas bag module is displaceably mounted to the skeleton to allow a displacement of the gas bag module in the direction of the longitudinal axis to actuate the horn. The detent connection has first and second electrical contact surfaces, which come into contact with each other by displacement of the gas bag module to actuate the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dominik Schütz
  • Patent number: 6682682
    Abstract: The steering wheel for motor vehicles has a hub, a steering wheel rim and a plurality of spokes connecting the steering wheel rim with the hub. The hub comprises a hub core for fastening to a steering shaft and a base body which surrounds the hub core and is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material. The spokes are integrally and continuously molded with the base body of the hub from a fiber-reinforced plastic material. The steering wheel rim is integrally and continuously molded with the spokes from a fiber-reinforced plastic material. In this arrangement, the base body together with the spokes and the steering wheel rim forms a self-supporting shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Drefahl
  • Patent number: 6682092
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel, including comprising a skeleton, a gas bag module which is axially movably coupled with the skeleton in such a way that by pressing against the gas bag module a contact is closed for actuating a horn, and a resilient return element for the gas bag module. The gas bag module includes a gas bag with an opening edge defining an inflation opening as well as includes a flange clamping the opening edge on an inside of the gas bag for fastening the gas bag. Bearing pins are provided which directly engage the flange and which are attached to one of the skeleton and a part stationarily mounted directly to the skeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominik Schütz, John-Oliver Derrick
  • Patent number: 6672613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel including a longitudinal axis, a steering wheel hub, a holding member, and at least one latching connection. The steering wheel further includes a gas bag module which is connected via the at least one latching connection with the holding member and which is displaceably mounted in a direction of the longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn. The latching connection includes a one-piece spring element and a recess, which spring element snaps into the recess and connects the gas bag module and the holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection. In addition, the spring element moves the gas bag module back into a basic position on actuation of a horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrik Schuler
  • Patent number: 6668683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel with a steering wheel rim, the steering wheel comprising a skeleton, and a skeleton covering which is visible from the exterior and has recesses. The skeleton covering is provided in a region of the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel further comprises at least one decorative segment which supplements a part of the skeleton covering and has detent noses which engage into the recesses in the skeleton covering. The decorative segment is a half shell having an essentially clip-shaped form in cross-section and has free edges which are provided with the detent noses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jupp Fleckenstein
  • Publication number: 20030228456
    Abstract: A leather covering piece for a vehicle interior lining comprises a leather piece and an intermediate layer connected with the leather piece. A hardenable mass is applied onto the intermediate layer or the leather piece. The hardened mass gives the leather covering piece such an inherent rigidity that it maintains a curved shape and can be inserted into an injection mold. The stacking of prefabricated leather covering pieces is also possible. The shape of the leather covering piece already corresponds to that of the finished product, in particular of the vehicle interior lining for which it is used. The leather covering piece is back-molded in order to obtain a stable carrier piece which gives the entire interior lining more stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Achim Hehl
  • Patent number: 6659498
    Abstract: A steering wheel comprises a steering wheel body, an airbag module movably mounted on the steering wheel body and at least one guide that is connected to the airbag module as well as to the steering wheel body, the airbag module being adapted to be moved over a displacement path relative to the steering wheel body for purposes of actuating a horn. The guide has at least two carriers that are arranged transversely to the direction of the displacement path and parallel to each other as well as offset in the direction of the displacement path. Further, the guide has a first end that is connected to the airbag module and a second end that is connected to the steering wheel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Guido Hirzmann
  • Patent number: 6655714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag restraint device including a gas bag module which has a gas bag wall. The gas bag wall has a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint and has a depression defined by a ring-shaped gas bag wall portion. The depression is generated in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from movement when the gas bag is inflated. A holder is provided at the ring-shaped gas bag wall portion that keep parts of the ring-shaped gas bag wall portion, which get in contact with each other when the gas bag is inflated, in contact with each other in a fully inflated condition of the gas bag, and at least partly close the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Fellhauer, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6644145
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes a hub, a steering wheel rim, at least one spoke connecting the hub and the steering wheel rim, and at least one decorative element. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke have a skeleton and a sheathing surrounding the skeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gökay Albayrak, Michael Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6637770
    Abstract: A gas bag module for installation in a vehicle steering wheel comprises a carrier, a gas generator mounted to the carrier, and a multi-function conductor film. The multi-function conductor film is disposed on a rear side of the gas generator and on a rear side of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Matthias Helmstetter
  • Patent number: 6637289
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes a steering wheel rim, a hub and at least one spoke connecting the steering wheel rim and the hub. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke includes a skeleton, a sheathing surrounding the skeleton as well as a shell arranged around the sheathing, and at least one decorative element. At least one latching element is provided by means of which the decorative element is directly attached to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Michael Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20030192397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering wheel comprising a steering wheel rim, a hub and at least one spoke connecting the steering wheel rim and the hub. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke comprises a skeleton, a sheathing surrounding the skeleton as well as a shell arranged around the sheathing, and at least one decorative element. At least one latching element is provided by means of which the decorative element is directly attached to the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Michael Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6622591
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes a hub, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke connecting the hub and the steering wheel rim. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke has a skeleton and a sheathing surrounding the skeleton. The steering wheel further includes at least one decorative element and at least one clamp element at which the decorative element is latched. The clamp element at least partly encompasses the sheathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gökay Albayrak, Michael Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6616180
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dominik Schütz
  • Patent number: 6595549
    Abstract: A gas bag module comprises a gas bag which has a front wall for the impact of an occupant. The gas bag is formed by a gas bag wall of several fabric parts. At least one of the fabric parts forms the front wall having an opening from which, in an inflated state of the gas bag, a depression originates, which is formed in that a center section of the gas bag wall on inflation is prevented from a free movement and is held back. The gas bag has around the depression an annular chamber which is to be filled. The opening is constructed in a slit shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Stefan Bohn, Joachim Fellhauer
  • Patent number: 6588794
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cover cap for a gas bag restraint module, which cover cap tears open for deployment of a gas bag, contains the step of treating the cap at least region-wise physically and/or chemically such that its material in a treated region has a lower strength than in an untreated state. The treated region is a predetermined tear-open region for allowing the gas bag to unfold. A cover cap made of plastic for a gas bag restraint module has a predetermined tear region. The cap has a higher brittleness at said tear region than in a remainder of said cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: John-Oliver Derrick, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6588798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber. The gas bag further comprises an indentation running from the front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward the rear wall section. The indentation is formed in that a part of the gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of the module on unfolding of the gas bag. The gas bag, in a region of a mouth of the indentation, has a bubble-like inflatable extension in flow connection with the at least one chamber of the gas bag, which extension closes the indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Bohn, Joachim Fellhauer
  • Patent number: 6585073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for steering a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least one steering means to be actuated by a driver, the means being coupled electrically with at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle. The device further comprises a seat for the driver, the seat including a seat part which forms a seat area, and a backrest part. The steering means are coupled with the seat part and are longitudinally displaceable together with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6581964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag which has, with respect to its inflated sate, a front wall including a middle portion. The middle portion features a depression in an inflated state of the gas bag, by a restraining means being provided which engages the middle portion and at least partly prevents the same from moving in a direction out of the gas bag module. The restraining means is formed such that it is able to release the middle portion after an initial restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Axel Braunschädel