Patents Assigned to TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
  • Automotive side-impact protection system
    Publication number: 20010038197
    Abstract: In an automotive side-impact protection system an inflatable elongated cushioning bag is tensioned between two fixed points in a vehicle. One of the tensioning straps is branched at the one of its ends facing the cushioning bag into two tensioning strap sections, engaging the cushioning bag at two different levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Side gas bag
    Publication number: 20010038198
    Abstract: An assembly consists of a vehicle structure including a vehicle side wall and of a gas bag side impact protection system including a gas bag. The gas bag is adapted to be inflated by means of compressed gas furnished by a source of compressed gas and comprising an outer side facing the vehicle side wall and an inner side facing the vehicle interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai Burkle, Jochen Gunst
  • Gas bag
    Patent number: 6312010
    Abstract: A gas bag for an occupant restraint system has several walls of layers of fabric, which delimit the interior of the gas bag, adjacent walls being connected in one piece with each other by interweaving and interwoven regions having an edge adjoining the interior of the gas bag. The edge runs at least in sections in an undulating shape which shape is defined by successive concave and convex portions of the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Heigl
  • Structural component consisting of a belt buckle, attachment hardware and force limiter
    Patent number: 6312057
    Abstract: An assembly unit comprising a belt buckle (10) for the insert tongue of a vehicular seat belt, a fastener fitting (12) for the belt buckle (10) and a force limiter between the belt buckle (10) and the fastener fitting (12) is characterized in that the force limiter contains a traction means (14, 16) fixedly connected to the belt buckle (10), movable relative to the fastener fitting (12) by a predetermined travel, and a stretchable member (24) coupled to the belt buckle (10) and the fastener fitting (12), which can be stretched by a predetermined tensile force between the belt buckle (10) and the fastener fitting (12) being exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Herbert Feile
  • Gas generator and device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 6308984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas generator comprises an outer housing which has a fastening section, and outflow openings in the outer housing. The outflow openings are distributed on the periphery of the outer housing in a region of the fastening section such that thrust neutrality occurs during an outflow of a gas generated by the gas generator. The gas generator further comprises a gas directing part, the fastening section being constructed for arresting the gas-directing part to the outer housing. The outer housing has indentations in the fastening section, and the outflow openings are provided in the indentations. Further, the invention relates to a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Assembly including a gas bag
    Publication number: 20010030415
    Abstract: An assembly consists of a vehicle door, an A-pillar of a vehicle and an inflatable gas bag. In the inflated condition the gas bag is supported by the vehicle door and in the region of the A-pillar of the vehicle. The internal overpressure exceeds 105 Pa (14, 5 psi) in at least one part of said inflated gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Jurgen Heigl, Alexander Heilig, Sven Hofmann
  • Gas bag module
    Publication number: 20010030417
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a side gas bag module extending along a roof frame of the vehicle. The gas bag module comprises a gas bag and a housing with two separate side pieces which define an ejection channel for the gas bag. One of the side pieces is to be located close to the frame and the other of the side pieces is to be located close to an interior of the vehicle. The side pieces each have upper and lower ends constituting marginal sections. The side piece close to the interior is constructed to be so elastic and to have such a shape adapted to a shape of the side piece close to the frame, that the side piece close to the interior only rests against an outside of side piece close to the frame and embraces the latter in the manner of a clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Kolb
  • Protection system against lateral collisions for vehicle occupants
    Patent number: 6302436
    Abstract: A protective system is proposed for an optimum protection of a vehicle occupant against lateral effects, which consists of a plurality of elements combined with each other. An inflatable protective cushion (18) which is supported on the side structure of the vehicle and is inflated to be very hard is provided in the pelvic region. Above it, integrated into the inner covering of the door is an impact body (14) which extends between the door rail and the arm rest. A further inflatable protective cushion (24) at the level of the door rail provides an increased protection in the thorax region in cooperation with a releasable covering part (22) acting as an impact plate. A third inflatable protective cushion (32) is provided for the head region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz Eyrainer
  • Gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 6302433
    Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflation opening, a fabric piece arranged inside the gas bag opposite the inflation opening and forming an outflow opening for compressed gas which flows through the inflation opening into the gas bag, and at least one tether which is likewise arranged inside the gas bag. The tether is arranged such that the compressed gas flowing out through the outflow opening from a volume surrounded by the fabric piece, substantially does not flow against the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Norbert Lang
  • Detonator for a pyrotechnical gas generator and gas generator
    Patent number: 6302023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detonator for a pyrotechnical gas generator (3), comprising a squib (9) arranged therein, contact lines (13) for said squib and a high-frequency choke to prevent spurious release, characterized in that the contact lines (13) are extrusion-coated with an electrically non-conducting material (17) or are encapsulated in said material to form a base body, and in that at least one ferromagnetic body (21, 23) and the base body are assembled to form a unit which acts as a high-frequency choke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Inertia sensor, belt retractor and injection molds for molding a support and a lever of an inertia sensor
    Publication number: 20010028167
    Abstract: An inertia sensor for vehicle-sensitive activation of a belt retractor blocking mechanism, has a mass body, a support for the mass body, and a sensor lever having a control pawl and being mounted on the support for swivelling motion about a swivel axis and resting on the mass body. The support is provided with a first circular cylindrical surface area with a axis which is parallel to the swivel axis and runs through the center of gravity of the mass body. An appendix is formed on the first circular cylindrical surface area of the support for mounting the support to the belt retractor. Further, a belt retractor with the inertia sensor and injection molds for molding the support and the sensor lever are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Juergen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Tensioner for a safety belt
    Patent number: 6299211
    Abstract: A tensioner for a safety belt has a piston/cylinder unit, which comprises a cylinder and a piston arranged in its interior, a compressed gas source, on the activation of which the piston is displaced, a belt engagement device which engages the safety belt, a traction cable which connects the piston to the belt engagement device, and at least one dampener for the absorption of energy on deceleration of the movement of the belt engagement device. The cylinder has a first end nearer to the belt engagement device and a second end further away therefrom. The piston consists of at least two piston parts, namely of a first, radially outer piston part and a second, radially inner piston part, the second piston part being uncoupled from the first piston part on deceleration of the piston at the end of the tensioning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Vehicular side-impact restraint system
    Patent number: 6296275
    Abstract: A vehicular side-impact restraint system comprises a gas lance defining a longitudinal direction, a gas bag which is in fluid communication with the gas lance, an ejection channel in which the gas lance and the gas bag are arranged, a cutout provided in the ejection channel and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, and a cover for the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Anton Schirle
  • Gas bag
    Patent number: 6296276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag having at least one chamber. The gas bag comprises at least two fabric layers arranged opposite one another and delimiting the at least one chamber which can be filled with gas. The fabric layers each form a surface area and consist of threads which comprise warp and weft threads. The gas bag further comprises at least one spacer which is joined to the fabric layers and, in an inflated state of the gas bag, limits a distance between the fabric layers. The spacer is made up of some of the threads which, related to the inflated state of the gas bag, depart from the surface area formed by their associated fabric layer and extend towards the opposite fabric layer to be joined to threads of the opposite fabric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philipp Ritter
  • Airbag
    Patent number: 6296272
    Abstract: A gas bag, with several walls (3) of fabric material which delimit the interior of the gas bag, at least one separating cross-piece (23 to 27) which is formed by interweaving opposite wall regions and divides the interior of the gas bag into several chambers (15 to 21), is characterized in that the separating cross-piece (23 to 27) has at least one free end at which it widens and runs out in a drop shape (33, 35) or in a rounding (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Trw Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. Kg
    Inventor: Jürgen Heigl
  • Assembly, in particular gas bag module
    Publication number: 20010022440
    Abstract: An assembly consists of a first component and of a second component. The first component is provided with at least one opening and with at least one holding projection which is associated with the opening The second component consists of sheet metal and is provided with at least one holding tongue which has a cross-piece and a head. The cross-piece extends through the opening in the first component and is bent around such that the head lies against the side of the holding projection facing away from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Norbert Lang
  • Belt retractor
    Patent number: 6290160
    Abstract: A belt retractor has a frame (1; 101), a belt reel rotatably mounted about an axis in the frame, a control disc (10; 110) coaxial with the belt reel and a reduction gear unit (7, 15, 16) which translates rotation the belt reel into a reduced rotation of the control disc. The control disc has a cutout window (11; 111) between a pair of detector elements. The first (8; 108) of these detector elements is connected to the belt reel for joint rotation and the second (12; 112, 113, 114, 115, 116) is arranged as fixed relative to the frame. The window is located on the same radius as said detector elements relative to the axis. The arrangement provides a precise measurement of the absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Strobel
  • Restraining device with tensioning element
    Patent number: 6290253
    Abstract: A restraint device for vehicle occupants, in particular for the lateral restraining of the occupant, comprising an inflatable gas bag (10) and a tensioning device which is connected with the vehicle, engages the gas bag, pulls the gas bag into an intended position on inflation, and holds the gas bag in this position, is characterized in that the tensioning device has at least one inflatable tightening means (20) which shortens in the pulling direction by the inflation and thereby exerts a tensile force on the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Tietze, Jochen Schaupp
  • Gas bag module with cover
    Patent number: 6283498
    Abstract: A gas bag module includes a housing for accommodating a folded gas bag, a cover connected to said housing by at least one tether and a fastener element on said housing for connection of said tether to said housing. To counteract extreme loading of the cover and other vehicle parts on deployment of the gas bag, said fastener element is plastically deformable when loaded by tensile forces in said tether as generated by inertial forces of said cover occurring on deployment of said gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Kurt Breitweg
  • Side impact protection device
    Publication number: 20010017458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag which in an inflated state at least partially covers at least one side window of a vehicle. At least one emergency opening device is provided on the gas bag, by means of which the gas bag can be vented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Steffen Rothweiler, Lothar Zink