Patents by Inventor Frederic Michel

Frederic Michel 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: 12296786
    Abstract: A seat belt system (10) has a control unit (14) and a seat belt (16) which includes a webbing (18) and a belt retractor (20). The belt retractor (20) comprises a belt reel (28) for the webbing (18), a rotation angle sensor (30) with a sensor unit and a rotatable measuring element, and a gear unit coupling the belt reel (28) to the measuring element. The belt reel (28) has a fully extended position and a ghost position. Furthermore, the gear unit is designed so that the gear unit reduces the rotation of the belt reel (28), when the belt reel (28) is adjusted from the ghost position to the fully extended position, to a maximum of 1.0 revolutions of the measuring element. In addition, a method for determining the extension length of a webbing (18) of a seat belt system (10) wound on a rotatable belt reel (28) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Frederic Michel, Patrizia Lang
  • Publication number: 20230158996
    Abstract: A seat belt system (10) has a control unit (14) and a seat belt (16) which includes a webbing (18) and a belt retractor (20). The belt retractor (20) comprises a belt reel (28) for the webbing (18), a rotation angle sensor (30) with a sensor unit and a rotatable measuring element, and a gear unit coupling the belt reel (28) to the measuring element. The belt reel (28) has a fully extended position and a ghost position. Furthermore, the gear unit is designed so that the gear unit reduces the rotation of the belt reel (28), when the belt reel (28) is adjusted from the ghost position to the fully extended position, to a maximum of 1.0 revolutions of the measuring element. In addition, a method for determining the extension length of a webbing (18) of a seat belt system (10) wound on a rotatable belt reel (28) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang HOLBEIN, Frederic MICHEL, Patrizia LANG
  • Patent number: 11066041
    Abstract: The invention describes a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprising a belt reel (12) supported for rotation in a frame, a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking of the belt reel (12) and a mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16). Via a gear (18) supported for rotation on the frame and a cam follower (22) the belt reel (12) acts on the mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16) and can adjust the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Pawel Patyk
  • Publication number: 20210162946
    Abstract: A device (10) for detecting a belted condition for a seat belt system (12) of a motor vehicle (14) is presented. The device (10) comprises at least one transceiver (24) for electromagnetic waves as well as a transponder (28) and a controller (30). The first transceiver (24) is disposed, when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L), in front of or behind the sitting position of a vehicle occupant (16) and is connected to the controller (30) so as to transmit signals. The transponder (28) is arranged on webbing of the seat belt system (12) associated with the vehicle seat (19) and is configured to receive and automatically respond to scanning signals of the transceiver (24). The controller (30) is configured to detect, based on output signals of the first transceiver (24), whether the vehicle occupant (16) has correctly fastened the seat belt (18). Furthermore, a method for detecting a belted condition is suggested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Boris Siebeck, Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 10744973
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a frame, a belt reel which is rotatably supported within the frame, a shell (16), a sensor (18) for vehicle-sensitive locking which includes a sensor lever (20), and comprising an idler arm (22) contacting a sensor (18) and being adjustable between an initial position in which the sensor lever (20) is locked and an extracting position in which the sensor lever (20) is released. The idler arm (22) is coupled to a damping element (26) having speed-sensitive damping characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 10668894
    Abstract: In a belt retractor (10) comprising a frame (12), a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking including a sensor lever (22), a belt reel (14) and a rocker arm (30) coupled to the belt reel (14) via a coupling (32) which is adjustable between a home position in which the sensor lever (22) is blocked and an extended position in which the sensor lever (22) is released, the coupling (32) is a wrap spring coupling comprising a drive element (34) coupled to the belt reel (14) as well as a driven element (40) connected to the rocker arm (30), wherein the drive element (34) and the driven element (40) include a respective annular outer friction surface (38, 44) and are arranged concentrically to each other and a coil spring (46) is provided which contacts the friction surfaces (38, 44) and couples the driven element (40) to the drive element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Publication number: 20190210556
    Abstract: The invention describes a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprising a belt reel (12) supported for rotation in a frame, a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking of the belt reel (12) and a mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16). Via a gear (18) supported for rotation on the frame and a cam follower (22) the belt reel (12) acts on the mechanism (17) for disabling the sensor (16) and can adjust the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Pawel Patyk
  • Publication number: 20180236969
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a frame, a belt reel which is rotatably supported within the frame, a shell (16), a sensor (18) for vehicle-sensitive locking which includes a sensor lever (20), and comprising an idler arm (22) contacting a sensor (18) and being adjustable between an initial position in which the sensor lever (20) is locked and an extracting position in which the sensor lever (20) is released. The idler arm (22) is coupled to a damping element (26) having speed-sensitive damping characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Publication number: 20180126948
    Abstract: In a bait retractor (10) comprising a frame (12), a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking including a sensor lever (22), a belt reel (14) and a rocker arm (30) coupled to the belt reel (14) via a coupling (32) which is adjustable between a home position in which the sensor lever (22) is blocked and an extended position in which the sensor lever (22) is released, the coupling (32) is a wrap spring coupling comprising a drive element (34) coupled to the belt reel (14) as well as a driven element (40) connected to the rocker arm (30), wherein the drive element (34) and the driven element (40) include a respective annular outer friction surface (38, 44) and are arranged concentrically to each other and a coil spring (46) is provided which contacts the friction surfaces (38, 44) and couples the driven element (40) to the drive element (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 9919676
    Abstract: On a belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt comprising a frame (12) provided with plural locking teeth (24), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and includes a locking tooth system (26) corresponding to the locking teeth (24), and comprising a locking mechanism adapted to transfer the belt reel (14) from a home position in which it is freely rotatable into a locking position in which the locking tooth system (26) of the belt reel (14) engages in the locking teeth (24) of the frame (12), wherein at least one pivoting control lever (28) is provided in which one side of the belt reel (14) is rotatably supported and which is adapted to guide the belt reel (14) from the home position into the locking position, an interlock mechanism is provided which releases the pivoting movement of the control lever (28) not before the latter has been rotated in the unwinding direction (A) of the webbing out of a home position into a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 9908504
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a rotatably supported belt reel from which webbing can be unwound, a force limiting means which in a force limiting phase permits controlled webbing extension in the webbing extension direction when the belt reel is blocked and a particular force threshold is exceeded, and a change-over device for performing a change-over operation during which it is changed between a low force limitation level and a high force limitation level. In accordance with the invention, the change-over device includes a control means which in response to the identification of an installed child safety seat suppresses a change-over operation from the low force limitation level to the high force limitation level and/or triggers a change-over operation from the high force limitation level to the low force limitation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Stegmeier, Frederic Michel
  • Patent number: 9834173
    Abstract: A coupling element (32) which is movable between a coupling position in which the coupling element couples the belt reel (12) to the damping means (22) and an idle position in which the coupling element (32) is disconnected from the belt reel (12) is provided on a belt retractor (10) comprising a belt reel (12) which is mounted in a housing (14) and onto which webbing of a seat belt can be wound and comprising a damping means (22) adapted to dampen the winding rotation of the belt reel (12) in a defined end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Thomas Kielwein
  • Patent number: 9527475
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12) provided with locking teeth (36). A belt reel (14) is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and provided on at least one axial end with ratchet teeth (38) adapted to engage in the locking teeth (36), when the belt reel (14) is shifted from a home position into a locked position. A locking bearing (32) interacts with the belt reel (14) on the side where the ratchet teeth (38) are arranged and keeps the belt reel in the home position up to a first load threshold. A load bearing (34) interacts with the belt reel on the opposite side and keeps the latter in the home position up to a second load threshold. The first load threshold is lower than the second load threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Nizam Bedak, Thomas Kielwein, Frederic Michel, Juergen Rink, Demal Sehic
  • Patent number: 9409545
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt includes a frame (12) provided with plural blocking teeth (22), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and includes a blocking tooth system (24), and a control mechanism by which the belt reel (14) can be moved from a home position in which it can freely rotate in the frame (12) into a blocking position in which its blocking tooth system (24) engages in the blocking teeth (22) of the frame. The control mechanism includes a locking lever (80) adjustable between a release position and a locked position in which it locks rotation of the belt reel (14) relative to the control mechanism so that the belt reel (14) can be moved into the blocking position by a tensile force acting in the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Pawel Patyk
  • Patent number: 9340182
    Abstract: A belt retractor (5) for a vehicle seat belt includes a frame (10) made of plastic material and two side legs (16) between which a belt reel (22) equally made of plastic material is arranged. The belt reel (22) is provided with a flange (26) at each of its end faces and a retaining pin (32) to which the seat belt (7) is fastened is accommodated in the belt reel (22). The retaining pin (32) extends into the flanges (26) of the belt reel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Frederic Michel
  • Publication number: 20160016535
    Abstract: On a belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt comprising a frame (12) provided with plural locking teeth (24), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and includes a locking tooth system (26) corresponding to the locking teeth (24), and comprising a locking mechanism adapted to transfer the belt reel (14) from a home position in which it is freely rotatable into a locking position in which the locking tooth system (26) of the belt reel (14) engages in the locking teeth (24) of the frame (12), wherein at least one pivoting control lever (28) is provided in which one side of the belt reel (14) is rotatably supported and which is adapted to guide the belt reel (14) from the home position into the locking position, an interlock mechanism is provided which releases the pivoting movement of the control lever (28) not before the latter has been rotated in the unwinding direction (A) of the webbing out of a home position into a release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Frederic Michel
  • Publication number: 20150083842
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprises a rotatably supported belt reel from which webbing can be unwound, a force limiting means which in a force limiting phase permits controlled webbing extension in the webbing extension direction when the belt reel is blocked and a particular force threshold is exceeded, and a change-over device for performing a change-over operation during which it is changed between a low force limitation level and a high force limitation level. In accordance with the invention, the change-over device includes a control means which in response to the identification of an installed child safety seat suppresses a change-over operation from the low force limitation level to the high force limitation level and/or triggers a change-over operation from the high force limitation level to the low force limitation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Stegmeier, Frederic Michel
  • Publication number: 20150041579
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12) provided with locking teeth (36). A belt reel (14) is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and provided on at least one axial end with ratchet teeth (38) adapted to engage in the locking teeth (36), when the belt reel (14) is shifted from a home position into a locked position. A locking bearing (32) interacts with the belt reel (14) on the side where the ratchet teeth (38) are arranged and keeps the belt reel in the home position up to a first load threshold. A load bearing (34) interacts with the belt reel on the opposite side and keeps the latter in the home position up to a second load threshold. The first load threshold is lower than the second load threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Nizam Bedak, Thomas Kielwein, Frederic Michel, Juergen Rink, Demal Sehic
  • Publication number: 20150001331
    Abstract: A coupling element (32) which is movable between a coupling position in which the coupling element couples the belt reel (12) to the damping means (22) and an idle position in which the coupling element (32) is disconnected from the belt reel (12) is provided on a belt retractor (10) comprising a belt reel (12) which is mounted in a housing (14) and onto which webbing of a seat belt can be wound and comprising a damping means (22) adapted to dampen the winding rotation of the belt reel (12) in a defined end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Thomas Kielwein
  • Publication number: 20140131501
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt includes a frame (12) provided with plural blocking teeth (22), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and includes a blocking tooth system (24), and a control mechanism by which the belt reel (14) can be moved from a home position in which it can freely rotate in the frame (12) into a blocking position in which its blocking tooth system (24) engages in the blocking teeth (22) of the frame. The control mechanism includes a locking lever (80) adjustable between a release position and a locked position in which it locks rotation of the belt reel (14) relative to the control mechanism so that the belt reel (14) can be moved into the blocking position by a tensile force acting in the webbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Frederic Michel, Pawel Patyk