Patents Assigned to ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
  • Patent number: 11975676
    Abstract: The invention describes an airbag (10), in particular a head side airbag (10) or a head-thorax side airbag, including at least two opposite fabric layers (12, 14) which form at least one inner wall (13) and one outer wall (15) of the airbag (10), wherein the airbag (10) is manufactured in one piece by a multi-layer weaving process in which the fabric layers (12, 14) are interwoven at least in a peripheral region (16), with a gas generator mount (18) for an external gas generator (20) being disposed in either of the two fabric layers (12, 14). The invention further describes an airbag module (8) comprising an airbag (10) according to the invention as well as a method for manufacturing a one-piece-woven airbag (10) and a method for manufacturing an airbag module (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Tatjana Schmid
  • Patent number: 11964603
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a foot support device for a footwell of a vehicle. The present disclosure includes a plurality of support elements arranged one behind the other and rotatably connected to one another. The plurality of support elements can each move from a rest position to an active position upon the detection of a predetermined driving situation. When set in the rest position, the plurality of support elements are each arranged parallel to the floor of the footwell, and when set in the active position, the plurality of support elements are each inclined with respect to the floor of the footwell to support at least one foot of an occupant. The foot support device includes a drive arrangement lifting at least a foremost support element to the active position, which causes movement of a subsequent support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: AUDI AG, ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Jakobs, Franz Fürst, Walter Krönes, Christoph Grundheber
  • Patent number: 11945393
    Abstract: A foot protection device for a driver (34) of a vehicle including pedals comprises an inflatable first airbag (40) located beneath at least one pedal (10, 12) which, in the inflated state, extends between a bulkhead (24) delimiting the footwell and the associated pedal (10, 12). The first airbag (40) in the inflated state and in a lateral view extends from the bulkhead (24) to the front side of the pedal (10, 12) and laterally encloses the pedal (10, 12) to prevent the foot from bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Freisler, Markus Schlipf
  • Patent number: 11930893
    Abstract: A plug-in tongue for a seatbelt includes a plug-in tongue component (10) and a clamping member (12) mounted thereto, wherein a belt guide passage (30) is delimited between the plug-in tongue component (10) and the clamping member (12), and the clamping member (12) comprises a center part (18) and two lateral parts (20) extending from the two ends of the center part (18) transversely to the latter. The plug-in tongue is characterized in that the center part (18) includes a central guide surface (32) located between the two lateral parts (20), and the two lateral parts (20) include lateral guide surfaces (34) facing each other, the guide surfaces (32, 34) constituting limitations of the belt guide passage (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Knoedl, Dominik Seitzer, Hans-Peter Betz
  • Patent number: 11919471
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Wahl, Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 11919469
    Abstract: The invention describes a side airbag (2) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) provided to be mounted on a vehicle seat (4) and having at least one fabric cut (6, 7) and one gas cushion (8), wherein the side airbag (2) includes at least three fastening points (12, 14, 16) for mounting on the vehicle seat (4), in particular on a vehicle seat frame, wherein at least a first fastening point (12) and a second fastening point (14) are arranged in the at least one fabric cut (6, 7), wherein the first and second fastening points (12, 14) are arranged, in a condition mounted on the vehicle seat (4), in an upper area of the side airbag (2) and in a vehicle seat transverse direction (Q) are arranged at a distance (a) from each other. The invention also describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprising a seat-integrated airbag module (30) and a vehicle seat (4) comprising a seat-integrated airbag module (30) each of which comprises a side airbag (2) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Stojan Bogdanovic, Dominique Acker, Achim Kartenberg, Joana Hessel, Sotirios Fotopoulos
  • Patent number: 11919468
    Abstract: A side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) which is provided to be mounted on a vehicle seat (14) comprises an inflatable head gas cushion (18) and an inflatable torso gas cushion (20) connected to the head gas cushion (18) both of which form separate inflatable compartments of the side airbag (12). The head gas cushion (18) and the torso gas cushion (20) are formed by separate inflatable cushions which are fastened to each other in a connecting section (22). In a vehicle occupant restraint system, the side airbag (12) is mounted on a vehicle seat (14) of a vehicle on the side facing a passenger seat (16) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Kathrin Weinhardt, Andreas Loos, Javier Acedo Ibanez
  • Patent number: 11904793
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (12) including two outer wall layers (18) which are interconnected at a circumferential joint (22) along a circumferential edge (20) of the airbag (12) and which delimit an interior of the airbag (12) fillable with gas, wherein an opening (26) which is in fluid communication with the fillable interior of the airbag (12) is provided in the circumferential joint (22), and a plug (14) which is permanently inserted in the opening (26). The plug (14) includes a passage (16), and an outer circumferential surface (32) of the plug (14) is sealed against an inner edge (28) of the opening (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Patent number: 11878746
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle is provided that includes a steering wheel actuator for moving and detecting movements of a steering wheel of the vehicle. The steering wheel actuator includes a steering wheel electric motor. The steer-by-wire steering system further includes an axle actuator for moving and detecting movements of wheels of an axle of the vehicle. The axle actuator includes an axle electric motor and an axle control unit. The steer-by-wire steering system an equivalent circuit, which measures a current induced by the steering wheel electric motor and provides the axle control unit with at least one measurement value depending on the induced current for controlling the axle electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Bergmann
  • Patent number: 11865995
    Abstract: A passenger airbag (12) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) is assembled from a first cut piece and a second cut piece, the first cut piece being U-shaped and including a transverse leg, with two longitudinal legs projecting from the opposite ends of the transverse leg. At an inner face (56) of the transverse leg located between the longitudinal legs, a U-shaped inner fabric portion is disposed which is provided to line a module housing and which forms an inflation orifice. The second cut piece has an elongate shape and is connected, at a short lateral edge, to the inner fabric portion to circumferentially close the latter and the inflation orifice. The dimensions of the inner fabric portion are adjusted to a depth (t) of the module housing (18) such that, in the filled state of the passenger airbag (12), the inner face (56) of the first cut piece is positioned at an upper edge (80) of the module housing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 11866103
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering apparatus with a blocking device for limiting a steering angle of rotation, wherein the blocking device has a blocking element movable between a locking position and a release position, and with a shaft which is mounted rotatably about its centre longitudinal axis. When in the locking position, the blocking element interacts with a blocking contour in order to stop a rotational movement of the shaft. The blocking element is movable by the actuator for interaction with the blocking contour. The steering angle of rotation for the steering apparatus can be limited in two directions of rotation directed facing away from each other by the blocking element, wherein both a first end stop position in a first direction of rotation and a second end stop position in a second direction of rotation opposed to the first direction of rotation can be predefined by the blocking element and in interaction with the blocking contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Büker
  • Patent number: 11858447
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) comprises a seat (14), at least one airbag integrated in the seat (14) and an airbag control device. The seat (14) is adjustable at least between a first seating position and a second seating position, the seat (14) in the second seating position having an orientation (A) that is rotated vis-à-vis the first seating position about an angle of rotation (?) from 170° to 190°. The airbag has a first inflated state and a second inflated state in which the airbag has an external geometry different from the one in the first inflated state. Accordingly, the airbag control device is arranged so that, in the case of need, the airbag adopts the first inflated state when the seat (14) is in the first seating position, and the airbag adopts the second inflated state when the seat (14) is in the second seating position. Further, a vehicle (10) comprising such an occupant restraint system (30) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 11845394
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leg protection device for an occupant protection system of a vehicle. The leg protection device includes an airbag module. The airbag module includes an airbag and a gas generator that inflates the airbag to a deployed state such that the airbag is disposed in the footwell and in front of a vehicle seat. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber fluidically connected to the first chamber. The first chamber and the second chamber are deployed in the footwell to protect an occupant when the airbag is set in the deployed state. The first chamber is connected to the second chamber by a flexible connection region that diverts the airbag along the object in any spatial direction when the airbag encounters the object during deployment in the footwell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: AUDI AG, ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Jakobs, Franz Fürst, Walter Krönes, Christoph Grundheber
  • Patent number: 11827173
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (12) comprising a restraint airbag (30) which is inflated in a situation of restraint and, in an inflated state, has a restraining effect on an occupant (16), and at least one backup member (36, 36a, 36b) which, in a restraining state, is at least in portions in contact with the inflated restraint airbag (30) and is configured so that it backs the restraint airbag (30) and in particular absorbs a force (F) applied to the restraint airbag (30) by contacting a vehicle occupant (16), wherein, in the inflated state, the restraint airbag (30) is interposed between the backup member (36, 36a, 36b) and the vehicle occupant (16), wherein the backup member (36, 36a, 36b) is arranged, in an initial state, on or in the airbag module. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat and a vehicle comprising an airbag module according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Freisler, Theresa Betz, Frederic Myers
  • Patent number: 11820440
    Abstract: An electromechanically assisted steering system is proposed, having a worm drive which comprises a worm shaft and a worm gear, an electric motor which has a drive shaft, and a spring element. At an end assigned to the electric motor, the worm shaft has a first bearing portion which is connected to the drive shaft in a torque-transmitting manner. The worm shaft has a second bearing portion which is arranged at an end of the worm shaft remote from the first bearing portion. The spring element is connected to the first bearing portion or to the second bearing portion so as to transmit axial force in the axial direction, such that the spring element axially pretensions the worm shaft relative to the worm gear. A tolerance compensation of the worm drive in the axial direction of the worm shaft is carried out exclusively via the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Liesenfeld
  • Patent number: 11814111
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for pressing a rack onto a pinion, with a pressure piece. The pressure piece being arranged within a housing and to be displaceable in an axial direction of a center longitudinal axis. A bearing element is fixed on the housing in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis. A prestressing element acts in the axial direction. The pressure piece is loaded by the prestressing element which is arranged between the pressure piece and the bearing element with a prestressing force in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis and directed away from the bearing element. An adjusting ring which is arranged between the bearing element and the pressure piece. At least two inclined faces of the adjusting ring and an adjusting section bear against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11807294
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an energy absorption device for arrangement between a fastening device and a holder, wherein the holder is movable relative to the fastening device when a predetermined impact force is exceeded. The energy absorption device includes a deformable strand for absorbing energy, and a guide device for guiding the strand during the deformation. In order to be able to implement the assembly and/or the production more cost-effectively, the strand and the guide device are formed in one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Büker, Stephan Haenisch
  • Patent number: 11801886
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering device comprising an end stop device for limiting a steering angle of rotation. The end stop device has a rotation device that has at least one rotary element which is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of a shaft and/or is rotatable together with the shaft. The end stop device has a locking device which cooperates with the rotation device for stopping a rotational movement of the shaft about the central longitudinal axis and with respect to two directions of rotation oriented opposite each other. In order to be able to reliably absorb and transmit high forces and/or torques when the steering device is in a stop position, the locking device has a locking element, the locking element that limits the steering angle of rotation from being movable by the rotation device at least with a first movement component in the axial direction of the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Büker
  • Patent number: 11801883
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering system for a motor vehicle, which is designed as a steer-by-wire steering system and comprises a rack, an electric drive for longitudinal displacement of the rack, a worm gear and a drive shaft which is in toothed engagement with the rack. The electric drive is connected to the drive shaft by the worm gear so as to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Büker, Andreas Birkheim
  • Patent number: 11794612
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) for a motor vehicle, having a backrest (12), a height-adjustable headrest (14) and a seatbelt guide (22) integrated in the vehicle seat (10) for a seatbelt (18), wherein the height-adjustable headrest (14) is coupled to the backrest (12), and wherein the headrest (14) can be mechanically coupled to a seatbelt guide adjusting mechanism (36), which mechanically adjusts the seatbelt guide (22) when adjusting the height of the headrest (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, FAURECIA AUTOSITZE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Gumprecht, Martin Seyffert, Artur Klein, Alexander Zagula, David Reich, Swen Schaub