Patents by Inventor Ingrid Hofbauer

Ingrid Hofbauer 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: 6547278
    Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system has a combustion chamber delimited by a combustion chamber wall and filled with propellant granules. A structure is arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule, which has a disc-shaped holding face with grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form- and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall. The structure for holding down the propellant granules is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granules thereby arresting the propellant granules at a preselected filling level and at a variable distance from the combustion chamber cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Unterforsthuber, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Ingrid Hofbauer, Georg Schönhuber
  • Publication number: 20010020778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for a safety arrangement, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a combustion chamber delimited by a combustion chamber wall and filled with propellant granule, and also a means arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule. The gas generator according to the invention is characterized in that the means for holding down the propellant granule comprises a disc-shaped holding face having grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form- and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall, and is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granule, the grid holes having a smaller diameter than the propellant granule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Unterforsthuber, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Ingrid Hofbauer, Georg Schonhuber
  • Patent number: 6250673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for a safety arrangement, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a combustion chamber (4) delimited by a combustion chamber wall (4a) and filled with propellant granule (3), and also a means arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule. The gas generator according to the invention is characterized in that the means for holding down the propellant granule comprises a disc-shaped holding face (1) having grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall, and is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granule, the grid holes having a smaller diameter than the propellant granule (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Unterforsthuber, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Ingrid Hofbauer, Georg Schönhuber
  • Patent number: 5957492
    Abstract: A gas generator, in particular for vehicle occupant restraint systems, has a housing with chambers provided therein, of which at least one chamber is filled with gas and at least one chamber is filled with propellant the gas generator further has at least one igniter for igniting the propellant. The igniter cap is secured in a gas- and pressure-tight manner by welding to a closure part which closes an opening in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingrid Hofbauer, Markus Leifheit, Marc Winterhalder