Patents by Inventor Marco Wahl

Marco Wahl 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: 11919471
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Wahl, Gerd Zischka
  • Publication number: 20230365096
    Abstract: In a vehicle occupant protection system, a gas generator assembly (12) comprises at least one separate support (24) mountable to the vehicle and at least two gas generators (16, 18) which are tightly mounted on the support (24). A control unit (22) determines the times of activation of the at least two gas generators (16, 18) simultaneously or time-delayed in order to be able to activate one of the gas generators (16, 18) already in advance of a possibly imminent crash situation so that the airbag (14) is filled in such a way that it starts an interaction with an associated vehicle occupant which moves the vehicle occupant by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Dominique ACKER, Gerd ZISCHKA, Marco WAHL, Tillmann HERWIG, Markus FEIL
  • Patent number: 11554745
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (14) and an elongate inflator (12) having at least one laterally projecting fastening bolt (36), wherein the airbag (14) comprises a cushion portion (24) and an insertion portion (26) for receiving the inflator (12) in an inserting direction (R), wherein the insertion portion (26) is arranged, with the airbag (14) being not inflated and flatly spread, on a side of the cushion portion (24) and includes one boundary (30) close to the cushion portion (24) and one boundary (32) remote from the cushion portion (24). The flatly spread airbag (14) has a front peripheral portion (20) and an opposed rear peripheral portion (22). The insertion portion (26) is wider than a diameter (d) of the inflator (12) and has at least one hole (38) for the fastening bolt (36) of the inflator (12) to pass through. The insertion portion (26) is angled toward the insertion opening (28) on the side remote from the cushion portion (24) opposed to the adjacent rear peripheral portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Marco Wahl
  • Publication number: 20220169200
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Marco WAHL, Gerd ZISCHKA
  • Publication number: 20220161753
    Abstract: A side airbag module (24) for a restraint device has a side airbag (26), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag (26), wherein the side airbag (26) includes at least a first chamber (32) and at least a second chamber (34) provided above the first chamber (32) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, and wherein, in a first activated state of the side airbag module (24), a first pressure (p1) prevails in the first chamber (32) and, in a second activated state, a second pressure (p2) prevails in the first chamber (32) and in the second chamber (34), the first pressure (p1) being higher than the second pressure (p2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Marco WAHL, Gerd ZISCHKA, Karel JIRICKA, Christian WEISS
  • Publication number: 20220001825
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (14) and an elongate inflator (12) having at least one laterally projecting fastening bolt (36), wherein the airbag (14) comprises a cushion portion (24) and an insertion portion (26) for receiving the inflator (12) in an inserting direction (R), wherein the insertion portion (26) is arranged, with the airbag (14) being not inflated and flatly spread, on a side of the cushion portion (24) and includes one boundary (30) close to the cushion portion (24) and one boundary (32) remote from the cushion portion (24). The flatly spread airbag (14) has a front peripheral portion (20) and an opposed rear peripheral portion (22). The insertion portion (26) is wider than a diameter (d) of the inflator (12) and has at least one hole (38) for the fastening bolt (36) of the inflator (12) to pass through. The insertion portion (26) is angled toward the insertion opening (28) on the side remote from the cushion portion (24) opposed to the adjacent rear peripheral portion (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Gerd ZISCHKA, Marco WAHL
  • Patent number: 11214211
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device for the protection of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat comprises plural restraining elements and a controller. The controller differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle seat is in a position within the range of a standard position, and a second situation in which the vehicle seat with the vehicle occupant is in a position beyond the standard position. When the first situation is given, the controller activates a tensioning unit for tensioning a seat belt of the second restraining element and an airbag of the first restraining element. When the second situation is given, a third restraining element integrated in the vehicle seat and/or operatively connected with the vehicle seat can be activated and/or connected by the controller so that the vehicle seat is moved initially via the third restraining element to a position within the range of the standard position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Kartenberg, Marco Wahl
  • Patent number: 11135995
    Abstract: A force-limiting device, especially for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle, has a force transducer (20) interacting with webbing (14) for which a normal webbing path is provided. The force transducer (20) includes a webbing track (30) that in a non-force-limiting position extends in parallel to the normal webbing path and in a force-limiting position extends inclined relative to the normal webbing path so that the force transducer (20) in the force-limiting position sets a predetermined extension force (F) required to move the webbing (14) vis-à-vis the force transducer (20) in a direction of belt extension (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Swen Schaub, Christian Muecke, Simon Gargallo, Günter Burkhardtsmaier, Bernd Gentner, Oliver Gross, Simon Kramer, Andreas Pregitzer, Marco Wahl, Malke Seiler, Nizam Bedak
  • Patent number: 11124148
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and/or an adjacent vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
  • Patent number: 11040684
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Simon Kramer, Marco Wahl, Silke Leger
  • Publication number: 20200189505
    Abstract: The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint device for the protection of a vehicle occupant (2) in a vehicle seat (6) comprising plural restraining elements and a controller, wherein at least one first restraining element comprises an airbag module (28) including an airbag (22) and at least one second restraining element comprises a seat belt (4) including a belt retractor, with the seat belt (4) being operatively connected with a tensioning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Achim Kartenberg, Marco Wahl
  • Publication number: 20200055479
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Simon Kramer, Marco Wahl, Silke Leger
  • Publication number: 20190381970
    Abstract: A force-limiting device, especially for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle, has a force transducer (20) interacting with webbing (14) for which a normal webbing path is provided. The force transducer (20) includes a webbing track (30) that in a non-force-limiting position extends in parallel to the normal webbing path and in a force-limiting position extends inclined relative to the normal webbing path so that the force transducer (20) in the force-limiting position sets a predetermined extension force (F) required to move the webbing (14) vis-à-vis the force transducer (20) in a direction of belt extension (R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Swen Schaub, Christian Muecke, Simon Gargallo, Günter Burkhardtsmaier, Bernd Gentner, Oliver Gross, Simon Kramer, Andreas Pregitzer, Marco Wahl, Malke Seiler, Nizam Bedak
  • Publication number: 20190047507
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and, resp., vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
  • Patent number: 9873400
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of protecting a vehicle occupant (14) during a side impact which includes a side airbag (10) comprising an inflatable thorax section (16) and an inflatable arm lift section (18). Inflation of the arm lift section (18) results in lifting of the arm (24) of the occupant (14). Furthermore an airbag (10) comprising an inflatable thorax section (16) and an inflatable arm lift section (18) is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
  • Publication number: 20160200279
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of protecting a vehicle occupant (14) during a side impact which includes a side airbag (10) comprising an inflatable thorax section (16) and an inflatable arm lift section (18). Inflation of the arm lift section (18) results in lifting of the arm (24) of the occupant (14). Furthermore an airbag (10) comprising an inflatable thorax section (16) and an inflatable arm lift section (18) is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
  • Patent number: 9365180
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system comprises an airbag (20) which in the folded state is accommodated in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (12) and in the deployed state extends between two seats (12, 52) of the vehicle. The airbag (20) includes a thorax zone (36) for laterally covering the thorax of a vehicle occupant (40) and a head zone (38) for laterally covering the head (42) of the vehicle occupant (40). The head zone (38) extends against the longitudinal vehicle direction (R) up to behind a headrest (18) of the vehicle seat (12) and completely covers the headrest (18) on the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Marco Wahl
  • Publication number: 20150115576
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system comprises an airbag (20) which in the folded state is accommodated in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (12) and in the deployed state extends between two seats (12, 52) of the vehicle. The airbag (20) includes a thorax zone (36) for laterally covering the thorax of a vehicle occupant (40) and a head zone (38) for laterally covering the head (42) of the vehicle occupant (40). The head zone (38) extends against the longitudinal vehicle direction (R) up to behind a headrest (18) of the vehicle seat (12) and completely covers the headrest (18) on the side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Marco Wahl
  • Publication number: 20150084315
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system comprises an airbag (20) which in the folded state is accommodated in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (12) and in the deployed state extends between two seats (12, 52) of the vehicle. The airbag (20) includes a thorax zone (36) for laterally covering the thorax of a vehicle occupant (40) and a head zone (38) for laterally covering the head (42) of a vehicle occupant (40). A first fastening portion (22) which is directly arranged on an inflator (26) supplying filling gas for the airbag (20) is provided on the airbag and a second fastening portion (24) is provided which is arranged at the thorax zone (36) between the first fastening portion (22) and an upper end (16) of the backrest (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Marco Wahl