Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
  • Airbag module
    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
  • Vehicle steering wheel and safety system
    Publication number: 20040025624
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel comprises a steering wheel rim, at least one tube which is filled with fluid and arranged in the steering wheel rim, and a device for generating a pressure wave in the fluid. The device is designed and the tube is arranged such that the pressure wave generates a haptic signal, able to be perceived by the driver, on a surface of the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Gas bag protection device
    Publication number: 20040026911
    Abstract: A gas bag protection device comprises a gas bag which has an outer wall made of a first material. The outer wall has at least one outflow opening. A membrane made of an extensible, second material is provided which is fastened to the outer wall and covers the outflow opening in the not fully inflated state of the gas bag. The gas bag protection device further comprises a device provided outside the gas bag and serving for destroying the membrane. The gas bag and the device are arranged spaced so far apart from each other that the membrane meets the device only when a predetermined internal pressure of the gas bag has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Vehicle steering wheel
    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
  • Vehicle steering wheel
    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
  • Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle steering wheel
    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
  • Vehicle steering wheel
    Publication number: 20040011157
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel comprises a skeleton and a first detent element as part of a detent connection for a gas bag module which is able to be connected to the skeleton. At least one separate support component is arranged on the skeleton. The support component carries a detent pin as the first detent element which can engage into a second detent element arranged on the gas bag module and complementary to the detent pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Constantin Hauer, Alexander Limberger
  • Gas bag module
    Publication number: 20040004345
    Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a gas generator and a gas bag having a wall. The module further includes a diffusor which surrounds the gas generator and has a cup-shaped section. The cup-shaped section has a filter section consisting of at least one fiber, through which filter section gas flows out from the gas generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Kayser
  • Vehicle steering wheel
    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
  • Vehicle steering wheel
    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
  • Gas bag
    Publication number: 20030234528
    Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system has a covering forming a main chamber of the gas bag, with a passage opening, and an inner bag with an inflow opening and at least one ventilation opening. An edge of the inflow opening of the inner bag is connected with an edge of the passage opening and the gas bag has in a region of the connection of covering and inner bag a constriction for the inner bag. In a folded state of the gas bag, the inner bag is turned in into an interior of the covering and is able to emerge from the covering through the passage opening during an inflation of the gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Bohn, Joachim Fellhauer
  • Leather covering piece for a vehicle interior lining, a vehicle interior lining and a method for the production of a leather covering piece and of a vehicle interior lining
    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
  • Steering wheel with movable airbag module
    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
  • Assembly, in particular a vehicle steering wheel covering assembly
    Publication number: 20030221513
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a component with a through bore for a tool and a shield to cover the through bore is provided. The shield has a fastening section and an at least partially elastic cover section, which is movable with respect to the fastening section so that it covers the through bore in a first position and exposes the through bore in a second position. The fastening section is fastened to the component a distance away from the through bore and the shield is endeavouring to move automatically into the first position in which the through bore is covered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Heindl
  • Gas bag restraint device
    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
  • Steering wheel comprising a decorative element
    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
  • Gas bag module with multi-function conductor film
    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
  • Steering wheel with decorative element
    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
  • Steering wheel with integrated gas bag
    Publication number: 20030197355
    Abstract: A steering wheel has a skeleton with a foamed sheathing, a hub, spokes and a steering wheel rim. A gas bag module is inserted in a central recess of the steering wheel. The gas bag module has a cover cap at the side facing the driver. For actuating a horn switch the module is movable in the direction of the steering wheel axis relative to the steering wheel. A movement gap is formed between the cover cap and the foamed sheathing. Mounting studs on the skeleton extend parallel to the steering wheel axis. The positioning of the mounting studs is defined by the foamed sheathing. The mounting studs have free ends which are slidingly accommodated in guide recesses provided in the cover cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen Bohn, Ralph Frisch
  • Steering wheel
    Publication number: 20030192396
    Abstract: A steering wheel comprises a rim skeleton and a rim casing. At least one vibration-damping element is provided which is arranged between the rim skeleton and the rim casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Lorenz