Patents by Inventor Helmut Pritz

Helmut Pritz 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).

  • Publication number: 20230123491
    Abstract: A connector for connection to a mating connector includes a connector housing having a contact chamber configured to accommodate a contact assembly extending from a contact side toward a mating side, and a secondary retention means having two mounting arms and a securing element disposed therebetween. The connector housing has an access opening. The secondary retention means is movable between a pre-latched and a final latched position. One of the mounting arms has a first latching unit which, in the final latched position, is connected to a first mating latching unit disposed on the connector housing. One of the mounting arms has a locking element extending away parallel to a mating axis, which in the pre-latched position, blocks connection to the mating connector. In the final latched position, the securing element extends through the access opening into the contact chamber and locks the contact assembly in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Helmut Pritz, Thomas Halbig
  • Publication number: 20230120026
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a circuit board to a mating connector includes a connector housing, a lens unit and a receiving unit. The connector housing has a receiving chamber and is connectable to a mating connector housing of the mating connector. The lens unit is disposed in the receiving chamber and is light-conductively connectable to a transmitter/receiver unit disposed on the circuit board and to at least one optical waveguide of the mating connector. The securing unit has two mounting arms and a securing portion connecting the mounting arms, the securing unit being releasably connected via the mounting arms at two opposite side walls of the connector housing, and the securing portion securing the lens unit in place within the receiving chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Helmut PRITZ, Thomas HALBIG
  • Publication number: 20230118676
    Abstract: A connector for a circuit board includes a connector housing having a mounting arm. The mounting arm has a first fastening element that is releasably connectable to a first connecting element on the circuit board. The connection between the first fastening element and the first connecting element can be established and/or released by deflecting the mounting arm. A securing unit is disposed on the connector housing in such a way that the securing unit is movable between a releasing position and a locking position. In the locking position, the securing unit blocks deflection of the mounting arm. In the releasing position, the securing unit enables deflection of the mounting arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Helmut PRITZ, Thomas HALBIG
  • Publication number: 20230123938
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector, a mating connector and a lever unit mounted on the connector and having a locking element and a securing element. The connector and the mating connector are movable into a connected position in which the connector and the mating connector are conductively interconnected. The connector and the mating connector each have a contact carrier, each having a receiving opening. In the connected position, the lever unit is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position, the locking element is located in the receiving openings of both contact carriers, and in the unlocking position, the locking element is located outside the receiving opening of at least one of the contact carriers. In the connected position, the securing element is movable into a blocking position in which the securing element secures the lever unit in place in the locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas HALBIG, Helmut PRITZ
  • Patent number: 11592623
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector, an optical waveguide and a circuit board having a through-hole and a transmitter/receiver configured to transmit and/or receive light signals. The connector is interlockingly and releasably connected to the circuit board via a fastening element which is passed through the through-hole and connected to the circuit board. The connector has a receiving chamber which at least partially borders the transmitter/receiver. A lens unit is disposed in the receiving chamber and light-conductively connects the transmitter/receiver to the optical waveguide. A locking element is movably disposed on the connector. The locking element is disposed at least partially within the receiving chamber and secures the lens unit in the receiving chamber. The locking element is movable into a final latched position in which the locking element extends at least partially into the through-hole and blocks release of the fastening element from the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MD ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Pritz, Thomas Halbig, Heinrich Axt
  • Patent number: 11588278
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector and a cable connected thereto. First and second inner conductor contacts are disposed within an outer conductor sleeve of the connector. The cable has first and second insulated inner conductors. The inner conductor contacts each have a mating portion, for mating with a mating connector, and a connecting portion, in which the inner conductors are connected, with a transition portion extending therebetween. The inner conductor contacts have a first contact spacing in the mating portion and a smaller second contact spacing in the connecting portion. In the transition portion, a transition from the first to the second contact spacing occurs continuously. In an end portion of the cable, the inner conductors are disposed parallel to each other within the outer conductor sleeve and are spaced apart from each other by a conductor spacing equal to the second contact spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MD ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Pritz, Sabrina Schnobrich, Christian Neulinger, Dominik Schroll, Marijela Bajic
  • Publication number: 20220360017
    Abstract: A connection system includes a connector, a mating connector and a locking unit disposed on the connector and having a locking member. The connector and the mating connector each have a housing with a contact carrier disposed therein. The contact carriers are each connected to a signal conductor. The connector is movable in a mating direction into a connected position with the mating connector, in which the signal conductors are conductively connected. The contact carriers each have a through-opening disposed transverse to the mating direction. In the connected position, the through-openings are in alignment with each other, and the locking member is movable between a locking position, in which the locking member is located in the through-openings of both contact carriers, and an unlocking position, in which the locking member is located outside of the through-opening of at least one of the contact carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Halbig, Helmut Pritz
  • Publication number: 20220187544
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector, an optical waveguide and a circuit board having a through-hole and a transmitter/receiver configured to transmit and/or receive light signals. The connector is interlockingly and releasably connected to the circuit board via a fastening element which is passed through the through-hole and connected to the circuit board. The connector has a receiving chamber which at least partially borders the transmitter/receiver. A lens unit is disposed in the receiving chamber and light-conductively connects the transmitter/receiver to the optical waveguide. A locking element is movably disposed on the connector. The locking element is disposed at least partially within the receiving chamber and secures the lens unit in the receiving chamber. The locking element is movable into a final latched position in which the locking element extends at least partially into the through-hole and blocks release of the fastening element from the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Helmut Pritz, Thomas Halbig, Heinrich Axt
  • Publication number: 20220173551
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector and a cable connected thereto. First and second inner conductor contacts are disposed within an outer conductor sleeve of the connector. The cable has first and second insulated inner conductors. The inner conductor contacts each have a mating portion, for mating with a mating connector, and a connecting portion, in which the inner conductors are connected, with a transition portion extending therebetween. The inner conductor contacts have a first contact spacing in the mating portion and a smaller second contact spacing in the connecting portion. In the transition portion, a transition from the first to the second contact spacing occurs continuously. In an end portion of the cable, the inner conductors are disposed parallel to each other within the outer conductor sleeve and are spaced apart from each other by a conductor spacing equal to the second contact spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Helmut Pritz, Sabrina Schnobrich, Christian Neulinger, Dominik Schroll, Marijela Bajic
  • Patent number: 7686330
    Abstract: A gas generator has a tubular housing in which a combustion chamber containing a propellant charge, an outflow chamber and a clearance volume are disposed, positioned behind one another axially. A partition disk is provided between the clearance volume and the outflow chamber and has a central opening and an integrally formed tube section which surrounds the opening and extends to its free end away from the clearance volume towards the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Meixner, Helmut Pritz
  • Patent number: 7665762
    Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system a rigid outer housing (12), a chamber (14) formed in the outer housing (12), in which a compressed gas is present at least upon activation of the gas generator (10), a component immovable (20; 34; 62) relative to the outer housing (12), at least one outflow opening (22) formed in the immovable component (20; 34; 62), and a least one resilient element (26), which is clamped inside the outer housing (12) and rests against the immovable component (20; 34; 62) at least in its normal position. In its normal position, the resilient element (26) closes a flow path between the chamber (14) and external surroundings of the gas generator (10) and is deformed elastically under the influence of compressed gas, whereby it clears a flow cross-section (30) whose size is increasing with increasing pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Gabler, Karl Englbrecht, Daniel Kraus, Stefan Labitzke, Thomas Nobach, Helmut Pritz, Johann Seidl
  • Publication number: 20080296877
    Abstract: A gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has a rigid outer housing (12), a chamber (14) formed in the outer housing (12), in which a compressed gas is present at least upon activation of the gas generator (10), a component immovable (20; 34; 62), at least one outflow opening (22) formed in the component immovable (20; 34; 62) relative to the outer housing (12), and at least one substantially flat, resilient element (26), which is clamped inside the outer housing (12) and rests against the immovable component (20; 34; 62) at least in its normal position. In its normal position, the resilient element (26) closes a flow path between the chamber (14) and external surroundings of the gas generator (10) and is deformed elastically under the influence of compressed gas, whereby it clears a flow cross-section (30) whose size is increasing with increasing pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Gabler, Karl Englbrecht, Daniel Kraus, Stefan Labitzke, Thomas Nobach, Helmut Pritz, Johann Seidl
  • Patent number: 7293796
    Abstract: A gas generator, comprising a first and a second combustion chamber, each of which is associated with a propellant charge and an igniter, an outflow chamber with inflow- and outflow openings, arranged between the combustion chambers, and a partition plate dividing the outflow chamber into two partial chambers is provided. An edge region of the partition plate lies at least partially against a boundary of the outflow chamber. Each partial chamber is associated with one of the combustion chambers. A central section of the partition plate surrounded by the edge region has a geometry deviating from a plane and has at least one projection which is directed into one of the partial chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Meixner, Helmut Pritz, Herbert Ragner
  • Publication number: 20070080529
    Abstract: A gas generator has a tubular housing in which a combustion chamber containing a propellant charge, an outflow chamber and a clearance volume are disposed, positioned behind one another axially. A partition disk is provided between the clearance volume and the outflow chamber and has a central opening and an integrally formed tube section which surrounds the opening and extends to its free end away from the clearance volume towards the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Rudolf Meixner, Helmut Pritz
  • Publication number: 20050067822
    Abstract: A gas generator, comprising a first and a second combustion chamber, each of which is associated with a propellant charge and an igniter, an outflow chamber with inflow- and outflow openings, arranged between the combustion chambers, and a partition plate dividing the outflow chamber into two partial chambers is provided. An edge region of the partition plate lies at least partially against a boundary of the outflow chamber. Each partial chamber is associated with one of the combustion chambers. A central section of the partition plate surrounded by the edge region has a geometry deviating from a plane and has at least one projection which is directed into one of the partial chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Rudolf Meixner, Helmut Pritz, Herbert Ragner