Patents by Inventor Johannes A. Varcus

Johannes A. Varcus 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: 10703234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat carrier for a vehicle seat having a position displacement device for the vehicle seat, which is secured to at least one transverse seat carrier which is arranged on the base of the vehicle, and having a deformation device which is arranged between the position displacement device and the transverse seat carrier and which absorbs by means of deformation catapult movements of vehicle occupants which occur in the event of a collision. It is proposed that at least one crashbox be provided between the position displacement device and the transverse seat carrier as a deformation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johannes A. Varcus
  • Publication number: 20180215290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat carrier for a vehicle seat having a position displacement device for the vehicle seat, which is secured to at least one transverse seat carrier which is arranged on the base of the vehicle, and having a deformation device which is arranged between the position displacement device and the transverse seat carrier and which absorbs by means of deformation catapult movements of vehicle occupants which occur in the event of a collision. It is proposed that at least one crashbox be provided between the position displacement device and the transverse seat carrier as a deformation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johannes A. Varcus
  • Patent number: 9517746
    Abstract: An air bag system deploys from within a structural element of a vehicle. A main bag is configured for storage in a folded condition in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering. A shielding bag is disposed over an inflator and has a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag. The projection body is substantially continuous in the direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag. The main bag has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott, Markus Koelsch, Johannes A. Varcus
  • Patent number: 9266495
    Abstract: A side airbag system for a vehicle has a primary airbag and a secondary airbag at least partially surrounding the primary airbag. The primary airbag comprises at least one primary vent venting into the secondary airbag and the secondary airbag comprises at least one secondary vent. The primary airbag is inflated by an inflator and the secondary airbag is inflated by gases leaving the primary airbag through the primary vent. The secondary airbag has a panel overlying the primary vent, and inflation of the primary airbag urges the vent and panel in an outboard direction against outboard vehicle structure to restrict flow through the vent. The inflation rates of the primary and secondary airbags are thereby controlled such that the primary airbag protects a vehicle occupant against impacts with a localized load profile and the primary and secondary airbags together protect the occupant against impacts with a distributed load profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Grindle, Timothy Scott, Felix Haenel, Johannes A. Varcus, Markus Koelsch
  • Publication number: 20150266446
    Abstract: A side airbag system for a vehicle has a primary airbag and a secondary airbag at least partially surrounding the primary airbag. The primary airbag comprises at least one primary vent venting into the secondary airbag and the secondary airbag comprises at least one secondary vent. The primary airbag is inflated by an inflator and the secondary airbag is inflated by gases leaving the primary airbag through the primary vent. The secondary airbag has a panel overlying the primary vent, and inflation of the primary airbag urges the vent and panel in an outboard direction against outboard vehicle structure to restrict flow through the vent. The inflation rates of the primary and secondary airbags are thereby controlled such that the primary airbag protects a vehicle occupant against impacts with a localized load profile and the primary and secondary airbags together protect the occupant against impacts with a distributed load profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Barry GRINDLE, Timothy SCOTT, Felix HAENEL, Johannes A. VARCUS, Markus KOELSCH
  • Publication number: 20150061265
    Abstract: An air bag system deploys from within a structural element of a vehicle. A main bag is configured for storage in a folded condition in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering. A shielding bag is disposed over an inflator and has a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag. The projection body is substantially continuous in the direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag. The main bag has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: TIMOTHY SCOTT, MARKUS KOELSCH, JOHANNES A. VARCUS
  • Patent number: 8905433
    Abstract: An air bag system deploys from within a structural element of a vehicle. A main bag is configured for storage in a folded condition in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering. A shielding bag is disposed over an inflator and has a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag. The projection body is substantially continuous in the direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag. The main bag has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott, Markus Koelsch, Johannes A. Varcus
  • Publication number: 20140138939
    Abstract: An air bag system deploys from within a structural element of a vehicle. A main bag is configured for storage in a folded condition in an internal region behind a covering of the structural element, wherein the main bag has a distal end configured to rupture a tear seam in the covering. A shielding bag is disposed over an inflator and has a projection body extending away from the inflator to a remote edge within the main bag. The projection body is substantially continuous in the direction of the main bag except for at least one gas passage at the remote edge for coupling inflation gas from the inflator to the main bag. The main bag has a fold proximate to the gas passage so that inflation of the main bag begins with the unfolding of the fold in a manner that displaces the main bag toward the tear seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott, Markus Koelsch, Johannes A. Varcus
  • Patent number: 8646845
    Abstract: A seatbelt guide is attached to a seat of a motor vehicle in the shoulder area of the seat to guide a shoulder belt. The guide includes an inner element fixed relative to the seat, and an outer element spaced from the inner element by a distance to receive and guide the seatbelt. The outer element is movable relative to the inner element in a longitudinal direction to allow the seatbelt to be removed from the guide. This may be desirable if, for example, the seat has a fold-down back rest. The outer element pivots about a pivot axis extending approximately in a transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johannes A Varcus
  • Patent number: 8480119
    Abstract: An occupant protection airbag device for a vehicle includes a housing having an opening and a closed end, a strut secured to the housing adjacent the closed end and extending from the closed end toward the opening, and an inflator supported by the strut adjacent the opening and spaced from the closed end to form a storage chamber between the inflator and the closed end of the housing. The inflator is spaced from an inner wall of the housing to form a gap therebetween. An airbag is stored in a deflated condition between the inflator and the closed end of the housing, and a forward-most layer of the airbag passes through the gap and around a surface of the inflator immediately adjacent the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raf Haidar, Timothy Scott, Johannes A Varcus
  • Publication number: 20120001466
    Abstract: A seatbelt guide is attached to a seat of a motor vehicle in the shoulder area of the seat to guide a shoulder belt. The guide includes an inner element fixed relative to the seat, and an outer element spaced from the inner element by a distance to receive and guide the seatbelt. The outer element is movable relative to the inner element in a longitudinal direction to allow the seatbelt to be removed from the guide. This may be desirable if, for example, the seat has a fold-down back rest. The outer element pivots about a pivot axis extending approximately in a transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Johannes A. Varcus
  • Publication number: 20110260437
    Abstract: An occupant protection airbag device for a vehicle includes a housing having an opening and a closed end, a strut secured to the housing adjacent the closed end and extending from the closed end toward the opening, and an inflator supported by the strut adjacent the opening and spaced from the closed end to form a storage chamber between the inflator and the closed end of the housing. The inflator is spaced from an inner wall of the housing to form a gap therebetween. An airbag is stored in a deflated condition between the inflator and the closed end of the housing, and a forward-most layer of the airbag passes through the gap and around a surface of the inflator immediately adjacent the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Raf Haidar, Timothy Scott, Johannes A. Varcus
  • Patent number: 7604252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver's knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4). So that it deploys better and provides better protection for a vehicle occupant, in particular the driver, in the event of a crash, it comprises a first catch strap (3) dividing the airbag essentially horizontally, and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3). The space between the steering column and the knees of the driver is therefore rapidly filled by the airbag in the event of a crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Heitplatz, Johannes A. Varcus
  • Publication number: 20070200321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver's knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4). So that it deploys better and provides better protection for a vehicle occupant, in particular the driver, in the event of a crash, it comprises a first catch strap (3) dividing the airbag essentially horizontally, and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3). The space between the steering column and the knees of the driver is therefore rapidly filled by the airbag in the event of a crash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Frank Heitplatz, Johannes A. Varcus