Patents by Inventor Franz Wier

Franz Wier 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: 9789847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt reel (10) for a seat belt of a vehicle, said reel comprising a plastic base body (22) with a receiving chamber (26) that contains a belt strap pin (34) for securing a belt strap (36). In said reel, a first end (52) of the belt strap pin (34) is directly supported on the base body (22) of the belt reel (10) and a second end (56) of the belt strap pin (34) is secured in a separate receiving part (54) that is attached to the base body (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Adolf Foehl Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20160075304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt reel (10) for a seat belt of a vehicle, said reel comprising a plastic base body (22) with a receiving chamber (26) that contains a belt strap pin (34) for securing a belt strap (36). In said reel, a first end (52) of the belt strap pin (34) is directly supported on the base body (22) of the belt reel (10) and a second end (56) of the belt strap pin (34) is secured in a separate receiving part (54) that is attached to the base body (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 9238448
    Abstract: A belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame made of plastic for receiving a belt reel. The housing frame 10 is designed an open, U-shaped frame, on the open front face of which a reinforcing plate 59 made of plastic is fastened. In addition, a belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame of plastics material for receiving a belt reel. A pawl co-operating with the belt reel is mounted in the housing frame. The pivoting path of the pawl is limited by a bearing surface formed in the housing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ADOLF FOEHL GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Isabel Wier, Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20120234957
    Abstract: A belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame made of plastic for receiving a belt reel. The housing frame 10 is designed an open, U-shaped frame, on the open front face of which a reinforcing plate 59 made of plastic is fastened. In addition, a belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame of plastics material for receiving a belt reel. A pawl co-operating with the belt reel is mounted in the housing frame. The pivoting path of the pawl is limited by a bearing surface formed in the housing frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Isabel Wier, Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 7422173
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt retractor has a housing, a piston which is displaceable in the housing, and teeth, which are arranged separated and spaced from the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 7350733
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt comprises a housing in which a piston is displaceable, and an exit port, wherein the exit port is arranged in the wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH & Co. Kg
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6994288
    Abstract: A belt retractor comprising a tensioning device having a cylinder and a piston displaceably guided in said cylinder, said piston being provided with a tooth rack section into which a pinion can engage to drive said belt retractor, wherein said tooth rack section comprises at least one segment which is detachably attached to said piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20060006269
    Abstract: A safety belt system for a motor vehicle includes a belt retractor (10). The belt retractor (10) includes a belt spool (14) and an electric motor (18). The belt spool (14) can be rotated by the electric motor (18) at least in a belt webbing winding direction. According to a first aspect, the electric motor (18) is coupled to the belt spool (14) without a clutch, and the belt retractor (10) further includes a retraction spring (24) which pre-tensions the belt spool (14) in the belt webbing winding direction. The pre-tensioning force of the retraction spring (24) is restricted to functionality in terms of comfort. According to a second aspect, the electric motor (18) is controlled by a control unit (20) coupled to the braking system of the vehicle. A method for controlling an electric motor (18) in a safety belt system makes provision that the electric motor (18) is activated in response to a braking process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20050173905
    Abstract: An ignition device for a pyrotechnic system in a motor vehicle includes an igniter and an interface unit (20) for the production of an electrical connection of the ignition device with a release system. The interface unit (20) is held in a housing (10) of the pyrotechnic system in a form-fitting manner without a further mounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Franz Wier, Karl-Heinz Koeppel
  • Publication number: 20050156073
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt comprises a housing in which a piston is displaceable, and an exit port, wherein the exit port is arranged in the wall of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20050156072
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt retractor has a housing, a piston which is displaceable in the housing, and teeth, which are arranged separated and spaced from the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20050156074
    Abstract: A belt spool, in particular for a belt retractor with belt tensioner, has a spool body. The spool body has a mounting at an axial end face. A pinion is arranged on the mounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20050134034
    Abstract: In a pyrotechnical drive (110) for a vehicle-occupant restraint system, has a cylinder (112), a piston (114) that is movably arranged in the cylinder, a pyrotechnical propellant charge (152) for generating pressurized gas, and an ignition charge for igniting the propellant charge. The piston has a thrust surface area (142) which can be acted upon with the pressurized gas in order to drive the piston (114). Between the ignition charge and the thrust surface area (142), a flow connection (F) is provided. In addition, a belt retractor (100) is described having a pyrotechnical drive of this type and a method for operating a pyrotechnical drive (110) of this type. In the method, the piston (114) is propelled over a first driving distance (Z1) by the gases generated by the combustion of the ignition charge (154) and is then propelled over a second driving distance by the gases generated during the combustion of the propellant charge (152).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6820901
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, at least a first and a second energy-absorbing element, which each has a connecting end and a locking end, wherein the locking ends each are provided with a locking disc and adapted to be selectively connected with the frame. The belt retractor further comprises a first and a second locking pawl which by means of at least one actuating device can each selectively be brought into engagement in one of the locking discs, wherein at least one switching device is provided which can selectively prevent the engagement action of at least one locking pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20040169105
    Abstract: A belt retractor comprising a tensioning device having a cylinder and a piston displaceably guided in said cylinder, said piston being provided with a tooth rack section into which a pinion can engage to drive said belt retractor, wherein said tooth rack section comprises at least one segment which is detachably attached to said piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6745970
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt comprises a belt reel rotatably mounted in a frame, two locking discs for blocking the belt reel and two energy absorbing elements. The energy absorbing elements are each connected at an axial end to a locking disc and one of which is non-rotatably connected at an axial end to the belt reel. The belt retractor further comprises two locking pawls that are capable of cooperating with the locking discs. At least one of said locking pawls is releasably connected in a starting position to the frame by a connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6732966
    Abstract: A belt spool for a belt retractor comprises a torsion rod and a spool body that has a recess in which is provided a shaped part by means of which an end of a safety belt can be fastened in the recess. The shaped part rests at the torsion rod in order to be supported when the shaped part is stressed by a tensile load of the safety belt. There is also proposed a belt retractor including such a belt spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6712306
    Abstract: A coupling disc for a belt retractor of a vehicle safety belt comprises a coupling catch which is pivotally mounted on the coupling disc so as to be movable between a position of rest and a coupling position. The coupling catch and the coupling disc are formed in one piece from plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20030205638
    Abstract: A coupling disc for a belt retractor of a vehicle safety belt comprises a coupling catch which is pivotally mounted on the coupling disc so as to be movable between a position of rest and a coupling position. The coupling catch and the coupling disc are formed in one piece from plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Publication number: 20030038202
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt comprises a belt reel rotatably mounted in a frame, two locking discs for blocking the belt reel and two energy absorbing elements. The energy absorbing elements are each connected at an axial end to a locking disc and one of which is non-rotatably connected at an axial end to the belt reel. The belt retractor further comprises two locking pawls that are capable of cooperating with the locking discs. At least one of said locking pawls is releasably connected in a starting position to the frame by a connecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wier