Patents Assigned to TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
  • Belt retractor for incorporating in a fold-down type backrest
    Patent number: 6068341
    Abstract: A belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The backrest of the seat is able of being latched to a vehicle body in an upright seating position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided for selectively blocking rotation of the belt reel on the frame. The blocking mechanism is activated as long as the backrest is not locked in place by latching action of the lock. The blocking mechanism comprises an activating means responsive to inertial forces. The activating means has a coupling disk which is connected to the belt reel and has a coupling toothing. The activating means further has a coupling pawl which can be caused to engage the coupling toothing. The coupling pawl comprises a control knuckle coupled by a traction means to the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Rink
  • Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 6068286
    Abstract: A gas bag module comprises a housing, a gas bag arranged therein, a gas generator for filling the gas bag with compressed gas, and a cover formed by at least one cover part. The cover closes the housing and, after activation of the gas generator, is swiveled from a closed position into an opened position in order to allow the gas bag to emerge from the housing. The cover part, on opening, is swiveled around a swivel axis at least partially beneath a surface which is defined by an outer face of the cover part in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexander Heilig
  • Frame for a belt retractor of a vehicular seat belt system
    Patent number: 6068297
    Abstract: A frame for a belt retractor of a vehicular seat belt system includes two side parts, a rear wall connecting the side parts to each other, and a positioning strap having a first end connected to the rear wall and a second end. The second end is provided with a stiffening strip which in turn is connected to the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann-Karl Weller
  • Compressed gas accumulator for a vehicle occupant restraint system and gas bag module
    Patent number: 6068289
    Abstract: A compressed gas accumulator for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an accumulator container in which gas is stored for a long time at high pressure, a pyrotechnical charge, and at least one gas exit port. The exit port is opened by activation of the pyrotechnical charge in response to an activating signal to enable the compressed gas to emerge from the accumulator container. The gas exit port has a flow cross-section and at least one wall at least partly rimming the exit port. At least a portion of the wall is of a material which is attacked by the gas in the course of gas exit by erosion and/or combustion so that the flow cross-section of the gas exit port is increased to a degree which is at least approximately predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Allen C. Bosio
  • Belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest
    Patent number: 6065811
    Abstract: A belt retractor is provided for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest which can be latched to a vehicle body in an upright position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt, a reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided which blocks the belt reel non-rotatably to the frame as long as the backrest is not locked by latching action of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hermann-Karl Weller
  • Gas bag module for a vehicular occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 6056313
    Abstract: A gas bag module comprises a housing for an inflator, a retaining ring for a gas bag and a cover for said gas bag. The housing, the retaining ring and the cover are formed from plastic material. The cover is provided with latching elements snapped into place on the retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Lutz, Reiner Dannenhauer, Jens Debler
  • Fastener device for arresting a vehicle steering wheel to a steering shaft
    Patent number: 6053656
    Abstract: A fastener device for arresting a hub of a vehicle steering wheel to one end of a steering shaft includes a non-rotatable shaft/hub connection between the hub and the end of the steering shaft and an annular spring element which forms an interlocking fit between the hub and the steering shaft. The interlocking fit is effective in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft. The steering shaft comprises a raised face, the face surface area of which facing away from the steering wheel continues into a smaller shaft diameter. The spring element comprises an inner diameter which is smaller with respect to the outer diameter of the raised face. The spring element is radially pliable over at least a part of its axial length and can be fitted over the steering shaft together with the hub and reaches behind the raised face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Heilig
  • Belt retractor for incorporating in a fold-down type backrest
    Patent number: 6045194
    Abstract: A belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The backrest of the seat is able of being latched to a vehicle body in an upright seating position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided for selectively blocking rotation of the belt reel on the frame. The blocking mechanism is activated as long as the backrest is not locked in place by latching action of the lock. The blocking mechanism comprises a spring-loaded actuating element coupled to the lock by a traction cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jurgen Rink
  • Gas bag cover
    Patent number: 6039340
    Abstract: A gas bag cover of pliant material which is attachable to a vehicle by a fastener, includes at least one molded, protruding fastener web having at least one recess in which the fastener engages, and a reinforcement part encasing the recess at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Buckle tensioner
    Patent number: 6039352
    Abstract: A buckle tensioner for a vehicle comprises a belt buckle and a linear drive connected to the belt buckle via a traction member. The traction member has a first end connected to the belt buckle and a second end connected to the linear drive. The buckle tensioner further comprises a deflection member adapted to deflect the traction member between the first and the second ends of the traction member. The deflection member comprises a holding section for the linear drive and an attachment section. The attachment section is adapted for fixing the deflection member in a vehicle-fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 6033018
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a backrest with a separate backrest part, a headrest integrated in the backrest and a pivot pin horizontally arranged in the backrest. The separate backrest part and the headrest constitute two arms of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted about an axis defined by said pivot pin. The two-armed lever is pivoted about the axis in case of a rear end crash due to an inertia force of a vehicle occupant which is partly taken up by said separate backrest part, in order to move the headrest toward the head of said occupant and to reduce forces acting on the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Vehicle seat with gas bag located in the back rest
    Patent number: 6030036
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with a back rest comprises a gas bag, which is located in the back rest in a folded state, and a gas source to inflate the gas bag. It further comprises an accomodation at the upper side of the back rest and a supporting casing, which is inserted in the accomodation.To provide a vehicle seat with a restraint system, which largely prevents relative movements between the head of the vehicle occupant and his upper body in the event of a rear end impact, the gas bag emerges on activation of the gas source at about the height of the head of the vehicle occupant, with the supporting force being provided by the supporting casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants
    Patent number: 6024383
    Abstract: In an energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants a particularly smooth profile of the force as a function of the travel is achieved in that a plastic deformation of a tubular converter body (10) is effected which has a circular cross-sectional form in the undeformed state. Two symmetrically oppositely disposed rollers (18) are provided which each bear on a ramp face of a piston element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Buckle for a safety belt
    Patent number: 6016589
    Abstract: A buckle for a safety belt has a housing with a recess, a cable to anchor the buckle to a vehicle or to a vehicle seat, and a cable fixing device. The cable has an end nearest to the buckle and the cable fixing device has a retaining section by which the cable fixing device is connected with the end of the cable. The cable fixing device is attached to the buckle. The retaining section extends at least partly into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 6012738
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a gas bag and a gas generator for filling the gas bag. To seal the gas bag dynamically during the insufflation process and to substantially increase the pressure keeping duration of the gas bag, compressed gases which are produced by the gas generator are provided with a sealing compound. The sealing compound is distributed on the inner side of the bas bag during the insufflation process thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Beisswenger
  • Buckle for safety belts in vehicles
    Patent number: 6000110
    Abstract: A buckle for safety belts in vehicles comprises a load bearing housing in which an insertion path for receiving an insert tongue is formed. A movable latch is mounted on the housing. A casing is provided which surrounds the housing. The casing is provided with an opening at a rear side thereof remote from the insertion path. Within the casing at least one electric switch is arranged. This switch is fitted through the opening in the buckle in an already assembled condition thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Cover for a gas bag module integrated in an vehicle steering wheel
    Patent number: 5997031
    Abstract: A cover is provided, which is adapted for being mounted to a vehicle steering wheel having spokes and a hub open at a side facing a vehicle occupant and provided with a gas bag module integrated therein. The cover is formed as a flexible hollow body enveloping the hub and comprising an upper wall, a lower wall and a side wall connecting the upper and the lower walls. The hollow body can be opened in the vicinity of the lower wall so that it may be fitted over the hub and engages behind the steering wheel by the lower wall in order to fix the hollow body to the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Heilig
  • Belt retractor for a vehicular occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 5996924
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicular occupant restraint system has a load-bearing frame and a stud for securing the belt retractor to a vehicle. The stud has a free end facing away from the frame, this free end being provided with a connecting projection. The connecting projection is provided with a guide pin for a nut adapted to be screwed on the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Griech, Alberto Margalef, Klaus Schiele, Hermann-Karl Weller
  • Pyrotechnic drive, in particular for vehicle occupant restraint systems
    Patent number: 5988680
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic drive, in particular a linear drive for vehicle occupant restraint systems comprises a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a working space, a piston which together with the cylinder wall delimits the working space, and several pyrotechnic propellant charges producing gas. The gas reaches the working space and thereby sets the piston in motion relative to the cylinder. The propellant charges are ignited staggered in time relative to each other and comprise a first propellant charge integrated in the piston and a second propellant charge connected with the cylinder wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Method of controlling activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system, control system and vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 5983148
    Abstract: A method of controlling multistage activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system having a gas generator and adapted to be activated in a plurality of activation stages includes measuring differences in velocity occurring during a vehicle collision. A point in time as of which differences in velocity are measured is determined. A point in time as of which a predetermined first threshold value of the differences in velocity is attained is determined. The intensity of the vehicle collision is determined from the time difference of the points in time. Different output signals are furnished depending on the values established by determining the points in time for initiating different ones of the plurality of activation stages in activating the restraint system, in accordance with the determined intensity of the vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Dante Bigi, Allen Charles Bosio