Patents by Inventor Christian Hoika

Christian Hoika has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9238447
    Abstract: A belt buckle feeder for a vehicle seat belt system includes a spindle drive and a belt buckle (12) mounted on a spindle (14) of the spindle drive, the belt buckle being movable in height via a spindle nut (26) located on the spindle (14). A safety mechanism comprising at least one locking element (44) is provided which is configured so that the locking element (44) enters into force fit and/or form fit with the spindle (14), when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, and introduces force acting on the belt buckle (12) in the extending direction (R) of the spindle (14) into a mounting point fixed to the vehicle white bypassing the spindle drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Hoika, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Publication number: 20150203069
    Abstract: A belt buckle feeder for a vehicle seat belt system includes a spindle drive and a belt buckle (12) mounted on a spindle (14) of the spindle drive, the belt buckle being movable in height via a spindle nut (28) located on the spindle (14). A safety mechanism comprising at least one locking element (44) is provided which is configured so that the locking element (44) enters into force fit and/or form fit with the spindle (14), when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, and introduces force acting on the belt buckle (12) in the extending direction (R) of the spindle (14) into a mounting point fixed to the vehicle white bypassing the spindle drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Hoika, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 6205627
    Abstract: A belt buckle for vehicle safety belts has a load bearing frame and a locking mechanism thereon. A housing encloses the frame and has an insertion slot for an insert tongue acting in conjunction with the locking mechanism. To eliminate any extraneous matter that has entered into the housing through the insertion slot, a channel leads from the insertion slot through the housing and out of the housing, forming a guide for gravity assisted movement of such extraneous matter out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Hoika
  • Patent number: 5309611
    Abstract: A buckle for vehicle safety belt systems provided with a pretensioner engaging the buckle, is prevented by a locking pawl (42) from unintentional opening at the beginning and at the end of a pretensioning stroke. By the effect of its mass inertia at the start of the pretensioning stroke an inertial body moves the locking pawl (42) into a locking position in which the release button (30) is prevented from moving in a direction relative to the base in the pretensioning direction (R). Due to the location of its center of gravity relative to its mounting position the locking pawl (42) at the end of the pretensioning stroke remains in the locking position and is decoupled from the inertial body (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Wier, Hans-Peter Betz, Christian Hoika