Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
  • Patent number: 6554317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag, an outer contour of the gas bag being defined by a gas bag wall which has a front wall for the impact of an occupant and an indentation starting from the front wall. The indentation is formed in that a center portion of the gas bag wall is prevented from freely moving during inflation and is restrained. The gas bag has a ring-shaped chamber to be filled with gas and extends around the indentation. Arranged in the indentation is at least one limiting strap which extends along the indentation and has an end pointing out of the indentation and, related to an inflated condition of the gas bag, is attached to the gas bag wall at least at the end pointing out of the indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20030075004
    Abstract: A steering wheel unit for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, comprises a connection hub which may be non-rotatably connected with a steering shaft of a steering device, a steering wheel rim which is non-rotatably connected with the connection hub by means of spokes, and a central piece which is mounted by means of a spacer element to the connection hub so as to be rotatable relative to the steering shaft and the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel unit further comprises a coupling device which arrests the central piece with respect to a rotational movement of the steering wheel rim. The spacer element has a first end which is non-rotatably connected with the central piece, and has a second other end which is rotatably mounted to the connection hub and constructed as a crash element. The crash element fails after a predetermined failure value of a force driving the central piece towards the connection hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kerner, Martin Kreuzer, Anke Nigrin
  • Publication number: 20030075905
    Abstract: An assembly unit comprises an airbag module, a vehicle part, in particular a steering wheel, and a removable latching connection for attaching the airbag module to the vehicle part. The latching device has a journal provided with a recess and a locking element that can be moved crosswise, preferably perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis of the journal. The locking element is radially displaced towards the longitudinal axis of the journal when it latches in place in the recess. In the locked position, the locking element is prestressed towards a release position so as to move out of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: John-Oliver Derrick, Volker Schuhmacher
  • Patent number: 6550803
    Abstract: A gas bag covering for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a plurality of tear lines of which all are oriented towards one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: John-Oliver Derrick
  • Publication number: 20030071385
    Abstract: A method of producing a vehicle steering wheel including a steering wheel rim comprises the following steps: A foaming mold with a top part and a bottom part is used; two different foam components, namely, a central carrier component as well as a soft component surrounding the latter, are injected into the bottom part which is not closed by the top part; the foaming mold is closed by closing the bottom part with the top part, and; the foaming mold is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Udo Bieber, Martin Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20030067150
    Abstract: An airbag for a restraint system in motor vehicles comprises a wall made of fabric. One surface of the fabric is subjected to a plasma treatment in order to increase the heat resistance of the fabric. There is also proposed a method of producing such airbag and a method of inflating it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20030066378
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel comprises a hub and several switches The switches are integrated in a common housing which is secured to the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dominik Schutz
  • Publication number: 20030067148
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device comprises a steering wheel. A sensor is disposed at the steering wheel, this sensor being adapted to detect in a contactless way data related to a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Markus Keutz
  • Patent number: 6540254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger gas bag protection device which comprises a gas bag which, in relation to an inflated state, has a rear wall and a front wall which includes a center section and onto which a passenger strikes in the case of an accident. The gas bag, from a viewpoint of the passenger, has a round outer contour with a specific width and height in the inflated state. The width of the outer contour distinctly exceeds the height. In the inflated state the front wall has a depression opening out to the outside in the manner of a slit. The slit runs in a direction of the width of the gas bag. A restraint means is provided and the depression is formed in that on inflation of the gas bag a center section of the front wall is prevented from moving by means of the restraint means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6536549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the steering angle of a steered wheel of a vehicle and a system to carry out this method. A control unit (9) controls an adjustment drive (5, 7) to alter the steering angle of the steered wheel, upon an alteration to a position of a steering member (13). The extent of the alteration to the steering angle is dependent on whether an obstacle for the vehicle is detected or not by means of a distance meter (17) coupled with the control unit (9). If an obstacle is detected at high speeds, then steering angle alterations are possible which would not be permitted by the control unit at normal driving operation. Thereby, in emergency situations the driver is to be given the possibility of being able to drive past the obstacle by a steering response characteristic which is more intense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6536801
    Abstract: A gas bag module has a gas bag with a gas bag wall. The gas bag wall has a front wall which faces an occupant to be restrained and has a center section, and a rear wall with an inflation opening to connect to a gas generator. A fastener fastens the center section to the module and prevents the center section from a free movement so that a depression is formed by the center section. A module covering has an annular, predetermined outlet opening which surrounds the fastening. The module covering has a holding section encircled by the outlet opening. An emblem adjoins the holding section. The emblem is fastened to the module by the fastener which fastens the center section of the wall to the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralph Frisch
  • Publication number: 20030054933
    Abstract: A method of folding a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises the following steps: first, the gas bag is unfolded between a base and an opposing surface. A spacing is provided between the base and the opposing surface, which corresponds to a height of a housing into which the gas bag is to be inserted after folding. Then, a folding funnel is provided which comprises one end having a large cross-section and one end having a small cross-section, the large cross-section being larger than or equal to a cross-section of the gas bag when unfolded between the base and the opposing surface, and the small cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the housing; beginning with its large cross-section. Finally, the folding funnel is placed over the unfolded gas bag and moved relative thereto such that the gas bag is pushed together on the base by the folding funnel to the small cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Bohn, Joachim Fellhauer
  • Publication number: 20030052480
    Abstract: A method of folding a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises the following steps: unfolding the gas bag between a base and a hold-down, a traction envelope extending around the gas bag and being passed through the hold-down at a first end, a first lead-through of the traction envelope through the hold-down being contoured so as to correspond to that required of the gas bag when folded; pulling out the traction envelope by means of the first end from a space between the base and the hold-down such that the gas bag is pushed together inside the traction envelope. There is further proposed a gas bag folded by such method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Bohn
  • Patent number: 6532716
    Abstract: A device for introducing an gas bag into a pot-shaped receiving container with an insertion opening for insertion of the gas bag and an installation opening at the bottom for the arrangement of an inflator is provided. The device comprises a tubular housing having a cross-section adapted to the insertion opening of the receiving container, and an axially reciprocating ram arranged in the housing and serving for introducing the gas bag into the receiving container. Further, a method for folding a gas bag is provided, wherein the gas bag is introduced into a tubular housing, wherein a body is introduced into the gas bag as a dummy for an inflator intended to be mounted later, and wherein the gas bag is folded around the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Weis
  • Patent number: 6530592
    Abstract: A gas bag module cover assembly, comprising a cover with a front side externally visible in an installed state of the cover and a rear side and comprising at least one emblem designed as a separate part and visible on the front side. The emblem is designed such that it can be mounted from the rear side, the cover having at least one opening through which a section of the emblem protrudes. The section is visible on the front side, and the emblem has a rear holding projection protruding laterally with respect to the opening and being attached to the cover. The invention further relates to a gas bag module equipped with such a module cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: John-Oliver Derrick, Ralph Heindl
  • Publication number: 20030042717
    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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Constantin Hauer
  • Publication number: 20030042715
    Abstract: An airbag module comprises a housing and an airbag that is arranged in the housing and, at least in sections, folded into a package. A deflection device is provided for the package. The deflection device, the housing and the package are coordinated with each other in such a way that the folded package emerges from the housing in a first direction and is then deflected by means of the deflection device by a predefined angle. There is also proposed a steering wheel including such an airbag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Keutz, Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6517100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag restraint device comprising a gas bag module having an outlet opening. The module has a gas generator and a gas bag, the latter including a front wall with a center section. This front wall, onto which an occupant who is to be restrained can strike in a case of restraint, has a depression. The depression is defined by the center section of the front wall being permanently fastened to the module and, on inflation of the gas bag, is prevented from a free movement. The restraint device further comprises a module covering closing said outlet opening. A holding part is provided surrounding the gas generator and fastened to the module, to which holding part the center section is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralph Frisch
  • Publication number: 20030025308
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Guido Hirzmann
  • Publication number: 20030024798
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel comprises a steering wheel body and at least one electric switch attached to the steering wheel body. The switch, for adaptation to the length of the fingers of a driver, is adjustably attached to the steering wheel body in such a way that it can be adjusted by the driver to assume various positions relative to the steering wheel body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer