Patents by Inventor Michael Niehaus

Michael Niehaus 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: 11785980
    Abstract: In one embodiment is provided an apparatus which forms conically shaped smoking shells having blocking tips, the apparatus including: (i) a conical form mandrel having an exterior surface, an interior section, and a vacuum opening fluidly connecting the interior section with the exterior surface; (ii) a motor operably connected to the conical form mandrel which can rotate the conical form mandrel; (iii) a conical form mandrel vacuum system operably connected to the interior section of conical form mandrel; (iv) a vacuum table having an upper surface, a vertical elevation system operably connected to the upper surface, which vertical elevation system vertically positions the upper surface, and table heater supported by the vacuum table, and a table vacuum system operably connected to the upper surface; and (v) a garage system located next to the conical form mandrel, the garage system including a base and a garage carriage slidingly connected to the base, the garage carriage including first and second ends wit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LSR HC LLC
    Inventors: Michael Niehaus, Randall Bachtel, John Hersman, Trent Warncke, Joseph Bullard
  • Patent number: 11083212
    Abstract: In one embodiment is provided an apparatus which forms conically shaped smoking shells having blocking tips, the apparatus including: (i) a conical form mandrel having an exterior surface, an interior section, and a vacuum opening fluidly connecting the interior section with the exterior surface; (ii) a motor operably connected to the conical form mandrel which can rotate the conical form mandrel; (iii) a conical form mandrel vacuum system operably connected to the interior section of conical form mandrel; (iv) a vacuum table having an upper surface, a vertical elevation system operably connected to the upper surface, which vertical elevation system vertically positions the upper surface, and table heater supported by the vacuum table, and a table vacuum system operably connected to the upper surface; and (v) a garage system located next to the conical form mandrel, the garage system including a base and a garage carriage slidingly connected to the base, the garage carriage including first and second ends wit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: LSR HC LLC
    Inventors: Michael Niehaus, Randall Bachtel, John Hersman, Trent Warncke, Joseph Bullard
  • Patent number: 10501386
    Abstract: A solid propellant compact (10) in the form of a compact made of a powdered and/or granulated solid propellant, especially for inflators and/or actuators of a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes at least one recess on at least one of its sides. Solid propellant compacts (10) of this type are provided in an inflator (14) comprising at least one combustion chamber. A module includes such inflator (14) with an airbag inflatable by the inflator (14). A pyrotechnical drive unit (30) comprising a housing (32), a piston (34) movable in the housing (32) includes solid propellant compacts (10) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Niehaus, Bernd Lorbeer, Torsten Berg
  • Patent number: 8700914
    Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Peter Eriksson, Jan Bredahl, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20130247790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a propellant pellet for pyrotechnical safety devices in vehicles, such as airbag modules, belt tensioners, micro-inflators and igniters. The propellant pellet according to the invention has a substantially cylindrical shape and can be obtained by dry injection of a powdered propellant composition. The pellets have a maximum diameter of 2 mm and preferably a relative bulk density, defined as ratio of bulk density of the propellant pellets to the maximum theoretical density of the propellant composition, of at least 0.5. A propellant charge, an igniter and an inflator each comprising a plurality of said propellant pellets are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Klaus Bernau, Sebastian Reichgruber, Michael Niehaus, Siegfried Zeuner, Sebastian Herler, Christian Bichlmaier, Thomas Nobach
  • Publication number: 20130200601
    Abstract: A solid propellant compact (10) in the form of a compact made of a powdered and/or granulated solid propellant, especially for inflators and/or actuators of a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes at least one recess on at least one of its sides. Solid propellant compacts (10) of this type are provided in an inflator (14) comprising at least one combustion chamber. A module includes such inflator (14) with an airbag inflatable by the inflator (14). A pyrotechnical drive unit (30) comprising a housing (32), a piston (34) movable in the housing (32) includes solid propellant compacts (10) of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Niehaus, Bernd Lorbeer, Torsten Berg
  • Patent number: 7912558
    Abstract: A PLC for distributed control includes a storage unit that stores common-data specifying information for specifying common data shared by a corresponding PLC and another PLC, a receiving unit that receives the common-data specifying information from another PLC, and a collating unit that collates the common-data specifying information stored in the storage unit with the common-data specifying information received by the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Araki, Sutemaro Kato, Friedrich Adams, Michael Niehaus
  • Patent number: 7689301
    Abstract: A safety control device for ensuring safety of an object to be controlled, including: communication unit which is used for communication with another safety control device and uses a frame including a test bit string T having correlation with a base bit string B; and detection unit which compares with the base bit string B the test bit string T included in a frame having been received from another safety control device, thereby determining the number of bit errors in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Elan Schaltelemente GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tsutomu Araki, Hirofumi Kato, Sutemaro Kato, Michael Niehaus
  • Patent number: 7651126
    Abstract: A device for protecting goods and/or persons including a security element; and a gas generating system connected to the security element and including an explosive charge formed at least of: a primary pyrotechnic compound, in a first chamber, initiated by at least one initiator having a reinforcing charge and including at least one propellant having an optionally adjusted oxygen balance, and a secondary compound, in a secondary chamber, including an oxidant constituent capable of delivering only gas by decomposition and at least one reducing additive having a function of contributing nitrogen, the additive being present in a proportion by weight less than about 70% of the weight of the primary-secondary compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Seva Technologies, Etienne Lacroix
    Inventors: Paul-Philippe Cord, Virginie Desbleumortiers, Fabrice Boyer, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20090313481
    Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Peter Eriksson, Jan Bredahl, Michael Niehaus
  • Patent number: 7554782
    Abstract: A safety PLC having duplex power supply circuits, includes: a first output-stage transistor; a first DC power supply that drives the first output-stage transistor; a second output-stage transistor; a second DC power supply that drives the second output-stage transistor; a signal transfer path that includes a resistor and connect the first output-stage transistor to the second output-stage transistor; and a pair of overvoltage protection units, each of which is disposed between a pair of output terminals of the corresponding one of the first and second DC power supplies and restricts the maximum value of an output potential difference between the pair of output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kawamura, Kuniyuki Niwa, Sutemaro Kato, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20080021575
    Abstract: A safety control device for ensuring safety of an object to be controlled, including: communication unit which is used for communication with another safety control device and uses a frame including a test bit string T having correlation with a base bit string B; and detection unit which compares with the base bit string B the test bit string T included in a frame having been received from another safety control device, thereby determining the number of bit errors in the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicants: JTEKT Corporation, Elan Schaltelemente GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Tsutomu ARAKI, Hirofumi Kato, Sutemaro Kato, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20070052299
    Abstract: A safety PLC having duplex power supply circuits, includes: a first output-stage transistor; a first DC power supply that drives the first output-stage transistor; a second output-stage transistor; a second DC power supply that drives the second output-stage transistor; a signal transfer path that includes a resistor and connect the first output-stage transistor to the second output-stage transistor; and a pair of overvoltage protection units, each of which is disposed between a pair of output terminals of the corresponding one of the first and second DC power supplies and restricts the maximum value of an output potential difference between the pair of output terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kawamura, Kuniyuki Niwa, Sutemaro Kato, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20070055388
    Abstract: A PLC for distributed control includes a storage unit that stores common-data specifying information for specifying common data shared by a corresponding PLC and another PLC, a receiving unit that receives the common-data specifying information from another PLC, and a collating unit that collates the common-data specifying information stored in the storage unit with the common-data specifying information received by the receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Araki, Sutemaro Kato, Friedrich Adams, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20060071455
    Abstract: A device for protecting goods and/or persons including a security element; and a gas generating system connected to the security element and including an explosive charge formed at least of: a primary pyrotechnic compound, in a first chamber, initiated by at least one initiator having a reinforcing charge and including at least one propellant having an optionally adjusted oxygen balance, and a secondary compound, in a secondary chamber, including an oxidant constituent capable of delivering only gas by decomposition and at least one reducing additive having a function of contributing nitrogen, the additive being present in a proportion by weight less than about 70% of the weight of the primary-secondary compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicants: Seva Technologies, a corporation of France, Etienne LaCroix, a corporation of France
    Inventors: Paul-Philippe Cord, Virginie Desbleumortiers, Fabrice Bouyer, Michael Niehaus
  • Toy
    Patent number: D464090
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Hornsby, Joseph Lee McGowan, Christopher Neal Hall, David Michael Niehaus
  • Toy
    Patent number: D464382
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Hornsby, Joseph Lee McGowan, Christopher Neal Hall, David Michael Niehaus
  • Toy
    Patent number: D469827
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Hornsby, Joseph Lee McGowan, Christopher Neal Hall, David Michael Niehaus
  • Toy
    Patent number: D480768
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Hornsby, Joseph Lee McGowan, Christopher Neal Hall, David Michael Niehaus
  • Toy
    Patent number: D490486
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: All Season Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Hornsby, Joseph Lee McGowan, Christopher Neal Hall, David Michael Niehaus