Patents Assigned to TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
  • Publication number: 20030227166
    Abstract: A device for tensioning a safety belt includes a motor and a traction transmission means having a first end and a second end. The second end of the traction transmission means is coupled to a belt buckle or an end fitting of the safety belt. The motor is constructed as a tensioner drive for an emergency tensioning. The traction transmission is coupled to the motor such that a drive movement of the motor is converted into a longitudinal movement of the traction transmission means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Modinger, Joachim Biller
  • Publication number: 20030222452
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, and an energy converter coil having at least one metal strip. The energy converter coil has a plurality of metal strips which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the middle axis of the belt reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Rohrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 6655626
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt includes a frame, a belt spool rotatably mounted in the frame, and a locking mechanism which is provided with a release disk and by means of which the belt spool can be blocked against rotation in the frame. The belt retractor further includes a control disk as well as a reduction gear that couples the belt spool with the control disk. A rocking lever is provided which is adapted to be pivoted by the control disk between a release position in which it does not cooperate with the release disk, and a blocking position in which it engages in the release disk, whereby the belt spool can be blocked against rotation. A switch is provided which is adapted to be actuated by the control disk when a predetermined amount of belt webbing has been drawn off the belt spool and the control disk has been turned into a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Lloyd Snyder
  • Publication number: 20030217663
    Abstract: A method of producing a device containing pyrotechnical material comprises the following steps: providing a tubular housing element with a base and metal ducts incorporated in the base, with the housing element and the base being integrally formed of glass and the housing element and the base defining a housing interior with a bottom adjoining the base, and the metal ducts extending through the bottom into the housing interior; applying a metal layer on the bottom by forming a heat-generating element integrally connected with the metal ducts and the bottom; introducing the pyrotechnical material into the housing element; and sealing the housing element by heating and melting off. The device obtainable in this way serves for use in vehicle occupant restraint systems, for instance as an igniter in gas generators and belt tensioners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Hudelmaier, Wolfgang Gabriel, Thomas Modinger
  • Publication number: 20030218323
    Abstract: A gas bag module includes folded gas bag (10). The gas bag (10) is surrounded by a cover (12). The cover (12) is placed into several folds in some areas. The folds are connected with each other by a seam (22). The seam (22) is torn open by the expansion pressure of the unfolding gas bag (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Berbalk
  • Publication number: 20030209624
    Abstract: A seat-belt retractor is provided wherein no further belt retraction is necessary to unlock the belt spool following a tensioning of the belt webbing. Specifically, the seat-belt retractor has a belt spool that is rotatably mounted in a frame and a coupling pawl that is pivotally mounted on one face of the belt spool. The drive wheel is mounted in the frame co-axially with the belt spool. The drive wheel has an annular internal toothing extending around the coupling pawl. The coupling pawl has a free end shaped with a coupling tooth or a pair of coupling teeth and is movable, in a tension-released condition of belt webbing, from an engagement position where the coupling tooth or teeth is or are engaged in a tooth gap or two adjacent tooth gaps of the internal toothing, to a release position disengaged from the internal toothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Biller
  • Patent number: 6644686
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing a gas bag in its folded position, the device comprising a hollow receiving body having an outlet opening and provided for accommodating the gas bag. The receiving body has an opening flap connected with it, which in a closed state of the receiving body closes the outlet opening of the receiving body via a detent connection. The detent connection has a ring connected with and formed on one of the receiving body and the opening flap, and has at least one pair of projecting hooks connected with one of the opening flap and the receiving body. The hooks engage on opposite sections of the ring and are orientated facing away from each other. The invention further relates to a side gas bag protective means which is equipped with such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Günther Saelzle
  • Publication number: 20030205638
    Abstract: A coupling disc for a belt retractor of a vehicle safety belt comprises a coupling catch which is pivotally mounted on the coupling disc so as to be movable between a position of rest and a coupling position. The coupling catch and the coupling disc are formed in one piece from plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20030201631
    Abstract: A gas bag consists of an upper piece, a front piece and a rear piece, which each have a generally hexagonal shape with a first half and a second half. The first half of the upper piece is congruent with the second half of the rear piece and connected therewith along three outer edges thereof. The first half of the rear piece is congruent with the second half of the front piece and connected therewith along three outer edges thereof. The first half of the front piece is congruent with the second half of the upper piece and connected therewith along three outer edges thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philipp Ritter
  • Publication number: 20030197357
    Abstract: A gas bag module comprises a gas generator and a rigid housing in which the gas generator is arranged. The housing has at least two gas outflow channels with one port each, the ports adjoining each other and being directed towards the gas generator and separated from each other by a wall. The gas generator has a continuous gas outflow zone with at least two sections, each of the sections of the gas outflow zone being associated with one of the ports. The housing is constructed such that gas emerging from the sections of the gas outflow zone can only flow into the one of the gas outflow channels which is associated with the respective section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Heigl, Hans-Joachim Tietze, Jurgen Worsch
  • Patent number: 6634671
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system comprises an inflatable gas bag, a tensioning band which is tensioned in the case of inflation of the gas bag so that the tensioning band has a tension, and a device which at the end of a predetermined period of time after inflation of the gas bag reduces the tension of the tensioning band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Heigl, Steffen Rothweiler
  • Patent number: 6634670
    Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system there is provided a gas bag having a wall (12) which has portions distributed across its surface area which, with increasing gas bag internal pressure, increase the volume of said gas bag (10) by a deployment or smoothing action. If the internal pressure in the gas bag rises due to increased power output of the gas generator or in case of high temperatures, a limitation of the increase in pressure is achieved by the increase in volume of the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Alexander Heilig
  • Patent number: 6616175
    Abstract: The invention relates to gas bag restraint system for use in motor vehicles, the system comprising a gas bag, a cover for the gas bag, a guiding sheet metal and a deployment opening for the gas bag. Upon deployment of the gas bag the cover is swiveled outwards to uncover the deployment opening. A guiding sheet metal is provided which forms at least part of the cover and is bent during swiveling. The guiding sheet metal exerts, in a position completely swiveled, a resistance to the gas bag when deploying so as to predetermine a deployment direction of the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sven Hofmann, Dominique Acker
  • Patent number: 6609409
    Abstract: An impact test stand for vehicle components, such as interior parts, operating parts and components of an occupant restraint system includes a stationary frame and an impact body. The impact body is mounted on a carriage. The carriage is guided by a guide track and driven by a linear drive. By accelerating the carriage, the impact body is driven against the component to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz Bock, Armin Dworschak, Bernd Herkommer
  • Patent number: 6609726
    Abstract: An assembly comprising an inflator (10) and an elongated gas bag (14) in fluid communication therewith, said gas bag (14) being transferable from a space-saving folded condition into a deployed condition by compressed gas made available when required by said inflator (10), is characterized in that a flexible, compression-resistant space keeper (16) is provided in the interior of said gas bag (14) which provides a flow path for the compressed gas in the interior of said gas bag (14) whilst at the same time permitting folding of said gas bag (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Stütz, Hartmut Wölke
  • Patent number: 6607209
    Abstract: A gas bag module for use in vehicles has a housing and an inflator arranged on the bottom of the housing. A normally folded gas bag is accommodated within the housing. A diffusor is arranged between the inflator and the folded gas bag. The diffusor consists of a first diffusor part fixed to the bottom of the housing and a second diffusor part movably mounted on the first diffusor part. The second diffusor part is movable with respect to the first diffusor part from a normal retracted position closer to the bottom of the housing to an advanced position further away from the bottom of the housing under the action of gas pressure generated by the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Dannenhauer, Jens Debler, Alexander Heilig, Adelbert Ott
  • Patent number: 6607797
    Abstract: A textile air bag material for a protective cushion in an pant restraint system is disclosed. The textile air bag material is composed of a fabric layer having two superimposed wall portions interwoven with each other at their peripheries. The wall portions have a first side with a surface area. On this side a continuous foil of an air-tight material is applied over the entire surface area. Further, a protective cushion made of the textile material and a method for producing the textile material are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philipp Ritter
  • Publication number: 20030146605
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a back rest and a gas bag module integrated into said back rest extending in an upward direction to have an upward extent. The gas bag module includes a gas bag and a gas generator. When installed, the gas bag is arranged within the back rest so as to be extended in the upward direction of the back rest and one of folded and rolled up transversely to the upward direction. A height of said gas bag when inflated corresponds substantially to said upward extent of the back rest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Sven Hofmann, Andreas Loos
  • Patent number: 6601871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side gas bag module comprising a gas generator, a gas bag having an elongated shape in its folded condition for covering at least one side window of a motor vehicle and a protective sleeve having longitudinal ends which sleeve surrounds the gas bag in its folded condition. The gas bag has at least one restraint chamber and at least two fittings. The gas generator has at least two gas conduits which are connected with the fittings. The fittings project out from the protective sleeve between the longitudinal ends of the protective sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Publication number: 20030137140
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a safety belt arrangement with a belt webbing, a belt buckle and one of an end- and deflection fitting. The restraint system further comprises two tracks with which a vehicle seat is connected and which, for displacement of the vehicle seat, are constructed for engagement into counter-tracks fixed to a floor of the vehicle. An elongated, rigid fastening element is provided which extends beneath the seat between the tracks and which is connected with both of the tracks. At least one belt tensioner is mounted to the fastening element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. Kg
    Inventors: Jurgen Lutz, Ralf Strobel