Patents by Inventor Fohl

Fohl 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: 4403752
    Abstract: Automatic roll-up device for a safety belt having a winding shaft connected, on the one hand, to a roll-up spring and, on the other hand, to an automatic locking device and carrying a belt web winding roll, the roll-up device also having a belt brake located downstream of the winding shaft in direction of pull of the belt web, the belt brake being in the form of a movable clamping member partly looped around by the belt web and actuatable for clamping the belt web after release of the automatic locking device, the automatic roll-up device further including a braking roller displaceable in direction of the winding shaft, the belt web extending from the belt web winding roll to the braking roller and partly looped around the braking roller, the braking roller engaging with prestressing the belt-web winding roll at all varying diameters of the belt-web winding roll, the braking roller rotating counter for the belt web winding roll during movement of the belt web and, when elevated pulling force is applied to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk G.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4402528
    Abstract: Deflection fitting for a safety belt, especially for motor vehicles with a fitting plate which can swievel about a swivel axis. The fitting plate has a guide slot which is defined by a rounded deflection surface and lateral edge webs adjacent thereto. The guide slot is arranged asymmetrically to the swivel axis relative to its lengthwise dimension is concerned, and the swivel axis is arranged asymmetrically to the guide slot in the travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4399655
    Abstract: Pyrotechnical driving device especially for a back-tightening device of a safety belt system with a cartridge containing a propellant charge, preferably a solid propellant charge. The cartridge is connected to a cylinder which contains a driving piston. The cartridge is separated from the piston by a rupture plate which is ruptured after the propellant charge is activated and after which the driving piston is accelerated. The rupture plate is followed directly by a form-stable nozzle plate which has a nozzle opening which is narrower as compared to the rupture plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4394992
    Abstract: Energy absorber for load carrying flexible pulling means, such as belts or ropes, especially for a safety belt system comprising(a) a rigid body(b) a storing element for the pulling means at the body(c) one end of the pulling means fastened to the storing element(d) at least one non-rotatable friction roller spaced from the storing element and mounted in the body(e) the pulling means at least partly wrapped around the friction roller(f) a clamping element for the pulling means disposed between the storing element and the friction surface(g) the clamping element exerting a predetermined tension force on the pulling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4393555
    Abstract: Belt lock for a safety belt with a plug-in guide provided in a lock-housing for a belt plug-in tongue. The tongue can be arrested in the plug-in guide by a latch mechanism, and can be unlocked by operation of a pressure element against the force of a spring. The plug-in tongue is provided at one side at a longitudinal edge with an engagement detent in which a latch of the locking mechanism can engage. The tongue has a guide profile at its forward end, seen in the plug-in direction which profile fits only at the correct insertion mode with a mating surface in the plug-in guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Fohl
  • Patent number: 4392619
    Abstract: Automatic roll-up device for retarding movement of a safety belt when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is exceeded, combined with a braking- or clamping device in which the retarded belt is arrested. The roll-up device has a retarding mechanism which blocks a control disc causing braking of the belt roller. This causes a change in movement of the belt which activates the braking- or clamping device. The latter immediately arrests movement of the belt and absorbs any pulling forces which would have been exerted against the retarding mechanism. The roll-up device can be of light-weight construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4392671
    Abstract: Restraining system, especially a passive restraining system, for motor vehicles wherein one end of the belt is slideable in a slider track, preferably arranged above the vehicle door, and can be locked at the end of the track behind a securing element which extends into the slider track. An inertial mass sensor activated when an acceleration or tilting force exceeds a predetermined value, results in movement of the inertial mass in the direct path of the movable securing element causing blocking of its movement and retaining it in locked position to lock the belt end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4388985
    Abstract: Device for braking and/or blocking of load carrying flexible pulling means such as belts or ropes having a braking roller partly wrapped by the load carrying flexible pulling means. The roller can move with respect to a clamping surface when the pulling means exerts a tangential force on the braking roller. A clamping surface is disposed adjacent the pulling means near the braking roller. Braking roller movement effects clamping of the pulling means against the clamping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4381084
    Abstract: A retightener for safety-belt automatic wind-up devices having an energy converter having a charge, which when activated in the case of danger, the explosive pressure of the fired charge acts on a retightening element which tightens the safety-belt around the body of the motor vehicle passenger. The retightener of the invention has an intermediate liquid medium transmitting the explosive pressure of the charge arranged between the charge and the retightening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4378947
    Abstract: Deflection fitting for a safety belt of a restraining system having a fitting plate with guide slot and cross bar. A sleeve-like deflection element has a longitudinal slit to permit sliding onto the cross bar. The element may then be rotated 180.degree.. Plug-like locking part has a longitudinal slot fitting the cross bar on one side and a key which fits into the longitudinal slit of the deflection on the other side. Pressing the plug-like locking part into the sleeve opening of the deflection element locks the deflection element to the cross bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4378915
    Abstract: Braking device for safety belts which have a braking system ahead of the braking device, which latter has movable brake roller partly wrapped around by the belt, a stationary clamping bar disposed adjacent one side of the belt, and a movable arresting element. Upon activation resulting from a belt pull which exceeds a predetermined force, the brake roller is moved out of position against the arresting element which latter moves toward the stationary pad to cause clamping of the belt and which also arrest the brake roller by contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4378913
    Abstract: Device for securing an element projecting through an opening against axial displacement of the element including an end of the element projecting through the opening being formed with a noncircular cross-section and with a peripheral slot, and a perforated disc mounted on the projecting end and having at least a part thereof formed of material harder than that of the element, the perforated disc having an inner contour corresponding to the cross-section of the projecting end and, after being mounted on the projecting end, being turnable relative to the element to an extent that at least the part thereof formed of the harder material engages in the peripheral slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4375953
    Abstract: A miniature photoflash unit which is electrically activated when the unit is electrically connected to a power source (piezoelectric crystal) associated with many of today's pocket type cameras. The unit is capable of being positioned atop the camera and comprises a small planar housing, lamp-firing circuitry positioned externally of the housing, several (e.g., ten) subminiature flash lamps secured to the base and having lead-in wires passing through the base to effect electrical contact with the lamp-firing circuitry, a tabular mounting device is inserted within the camera to provide electrical connection between the circuitry and power source, and means for covering the externally located lamp-firing circuitry. The circuitry may be positioned either on an external surface of the housing or on a planar surface of the cover means which is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Andre C. Bouchard, John A. Scholz, Timothy Fohl
  • Patent number: 4372012
    Abstract: Belt adjusting device for a safety belt, including a sliding member having a slot formed therein bordered by edges of the sliding member through which a portion of the safety belt is pulled forming a loop, and a locking bar at least partly disposed within the belt loop, the locking bar being slideable transversely to the slot and having a groove formed therein extending parallel to the slot, when a load is applied to the belt the groove formed in the locking bar is aligned opposite one of the edges of sliding member bordering the slot, and the belt is pressed between the groove formed in the locking bar and the one edge of the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4369931
    Abstract: A redirecting device for a safety belt for use in motor vehicles, in which one end is rolled up on an automatic winder and the other end of the safety belt has a fitting for connecting the belt to a lock. The redirecting member is a hollow rotatable cylindrical member, wider than the belt, mounted on an axle supported by the legs of a bracket. Roll elements are disposed at the ends of the rotatable member to support it and permit it to rotate freely. Additional roll elements which project beyond both sides of the wall of the rotatable member are disposed in the central region of the rotatable member. This has the advantage of a smaller ratio of retraction force to pull-out force of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4351496
    Abstract: Safety belt roll-up device with a locking pawl mechanism to engage locking teeth of a locking wheel in fixed connection with the belt shaft. The pawl mechanism has a double locking pawl having two pawl levers, rotatably mounted on a common pivot axis. Each lever has a pawl tooth for engagement with the locking wheel. The two pawl teeth are spaced a distance which is different than the pitch of the locking teeth of the locking wheel or a multiple thereof. A release mechanism, upon the vehicle exceeding permissible limit of acceleration or deceleration, activates the pawl to move into locking engagement. By virture of the two pawl levers in the locking mechanism combination of the invention, a pawl tooth hitting the point of the tooth of the locking wheel and bouncing off, results in immediate engagement of the other pawl tooth with a locking tooth of the locking wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4349217
    Abstract: Deflection fitting for a safety belt, including a U-shaped deflection fitting bracket formed of a bent sheetmetal strip, the U-shaped bracket defining two end portions, a middle portion and corners between the middle portion and end portions and having rounded edges at least at the corners, a rounded belt deflection bar extending from one end portion of the bracket to the other, and means for fastening the middle portion of the bracket to a vehicle frame, the middle portion being oriented at an angle across the width of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4347053
    Abstract: A photographic flash device which includes several pyrotechnic charges for emitting light upon electrical ignition thereof. Each charge is centrally suspended within an individual chamber located within the device's light-transmitting, plastic housing. The charges may be arranged in annular or linear arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Fohl, Andre C. Bouchard
  • Patent number: 4345665
    Abstract: Safety belt system has an automatic roll-up device and a sensor device which effects locking of the belt in the automatic roll-up device when a predetermined deceleration is exceeded. In combination, the safety belt system has an electric safety current circuit connected to the battery to provide current to energize actuating means which effect locking of the belt in the roll-up device, a switch is provided in the circuit operable by the steering wheel lock. Another switch in the circuit is triggered by the sensor when deceleration is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: REPA Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4335491
    Abstract: Belt-lock and plug-in tongue for safety belt having movable spring loaded latch and slideable member to move latch out of engagement by pressing push button. A wire spring is disposed in the push button with a bent portion of the spring banked at the lock housing to effect counter-action for the pressure against the push button and a free, bent-spring ending abutting against the slide member to keep it fixed and prevent rattling. The spring arrangement also relieves pressure on the sliding member when the push button is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl