Patents by Inventor Ernst Wittmann
Ernst Wittmann 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).
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Patent number: 7988188Abstract: A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Ralf Zauritz, Ernst Wittmann, Udo Laube, Christoph Goertz
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Publication number: 20100194084Abstract: A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2008Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Ralf Zauritz, Ernst Wittmann, Udo Laube, Christoph Goertz
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Patent number: 7735856Abstract: A side air-bag for use in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The side air-bag is formed from two superimposed layers (1) of a laminar material such as fabric. Each layer (1) has a leading edge (3) and a trailing edge (4). The air-bag includes at least one internal tether (8) which extends from the leading edges (3) to the trailing edges (4), with the length d of the tether being less than the width D of the elements (1) forming the airbag between the leading edge (3) and a trailing edge (4) at a point where the tether (8) is positioned.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Jutta Schlosser, Ernst Wittmann
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Patent number: 7654566Abstract: Described is a gas generator unit comprising of a cylindrical gas generator (10), the lateral surface (10a) of which demonstrates emission holes (12) arranged in a thrust-neutral manner within a ring-shaped area (10b), and a deflector element (20), which is rigidly connected to the gas generator (10) and is made of a heat resistant material and at least surrounds the ring-shaped area (10b) at least partially. To make the gas generator harmless in the event of a fire, the deflector element (20) demonstrates, in an inflow area (20a) opposite the ring-shaped area (10b), borings (22), which are sealed by at least one blocking element (24, 32) made of a meltable or combustible material, the borings being arranged in such a manner that the gas generator unit is thrust-neutral in the absence of the blocking element (24).Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Joachim Huber, Ernst Wittmann
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Patent number: 7422234Abstract: An airbag for use in motor vehicles having two or more chambers, which is simple to manufacture, low-cost and not susceptible to disturbances. The airbag is configured such that the chambers can have different internal pressures in case of airbag activation since a dividing seam between the chambers of the airbag is configured to act as a gas stream divider and direct differing quantities of gas into the chambers.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Joachim Huber, Ernst Wittmann
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Publication number: 20080131631Abstract: Described is a gas generator unit comprising of a cylindrical gas generator (10), the lateral surface (10a) of which demonstrates emission holes (12) arranged in a thrust-neutral manner within a ring-shaped area (10b), and a deflector element (20), which is rigidly connected to the gas generator (10) and is made of a heat resistant material and at least surrounds the ring-shaped area (10b) at least partially. To make the gas generator harmless in the event of a fire, the deflector element (20) demonstrates, in an inflow area (20a) opposite the ring-shaped area (10b), borings (22), which are sealed by at least one blocking element (24, 32) made of a meltable or combustible material, the borings being arranged in such a manner that the gas generator unit is thrust-neutral in the absence of the blocking element (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Joachim Huber, Ernst Wittmann
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Patent number: 7322595Abstract: A fastening arrangement for an airbag module in motor vehicles wherein the gas generator is fastened by means of at least one stay bolt and nut screwed thereupon. The bolt is designed for the gas generator and penetrating through at least one hole of a retaining member that serves for mounting the airbag module and fastening to a vehicle part. An electrical insulating shell and washer are arranged between the gas generator and the retaining member to prevent spurious voltage signals from communicating with the gas generator, which can lead to inadvertent airbag deployment.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Rainer Wallentin, Ernst Wittmann
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Publication number: 20070126220Abstract: An airbag for use in motor vehicles having two or more chambers, which is simple to manufacture, low-cost and not susceptible to disturbances. The airbag is configured such that the chambers can have different internal pressures in case of airbag activation since a dividing seam between the chambers of the airbag is configured to act as a gas stream divider and direct differing quantities of gas into the chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2004Publication date: June 7, 2007Inventors: Joachim Huber, Ernst Wittmann
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Publication number: 20060232054Abstract: A side air-bag for use in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The side air-bag is formed from two superimposed layers of a lamina material such as fabric. Each layer has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The air-bag includes at least one internal tether which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, with the length d of the tether being less than the width D of the elements forming the airbag between the leading edge and a trailing edge at a point where the tether is positioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2004Publication date: October 19, 2006Inventors: Jutta Schlosser, Ernst Wittmann
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Publication number: 20050253364Abstract: A fastening arrangement for an airbag module in motor vehicles wherein the gas generator is fastened by means of at least one stay bolt and nut screwed thereupon. The bolt is designed for the gas generator and penetrating through at least one hole of a retaining member that serves for mounting the airbag module and fastening to a vehicle part. An electrical insulating shell and washer are arranged between the gas generator and the retaining member to prevent spurious voltage signals from communicating with the gas generator, which can lead to inadvertent airbag deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2003Publication date: November 17, 2005Inventors: Rainer Wallentin, Ernst Wittmann