Patents by Inventor Norbert Ellerbrok
Norbert Ellerbrok 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).
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Patent number: 7080880Abstract: A vehicle seat has an upper body side protection device that is integrated in the back rest. The protection device comprises a gas bag which has an elongated, oval chamber via which, in the case of an intrusion, the force is introduced into the occupant principally in the region of the hip and the shoulder, in order to displace him in the direction towards the center of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Dominique Acker, Sven Hofmann, Jürgen Hirth, Norbert Ellerbrok, Andreas Loos
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Patent number: 6793245Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The airbag comprises an airbag wall which has a front wall facing the occupant to be restrained, a back wall and a side wall. The front wall and the back wall are connected to each other by means of a detachable connection. This connection between the front wall and the back wall is severed by the unfolding of the side wall when the airbag is inflated.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Lüders, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Patent number: 6705643Abstract: The invention relates to a foot protection device for vehicle occupants. The protection device comprises a foot support piece which can support the occupant's feet, a base piece by which the foot protection device can rest on a floor of a vehicle, and an adjustment device to displace the foot support piece in a first direction parallel to the base piece. Ramp surfaces are constructed on at least one of the base piece and the foot support piece, which with a displacement of the foot support piece by the adjustment device bring about a movement of the foot support piece in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Karl Birk, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Publication number: 20040007905Abstract: A vehicle seat has an upper body side protection device that is integrated in the back rest. The protection device comprises a gas bag which has an elongated, oval chamber via which, in the case of an intrusion, the force is introduced into the occupant principally in the region of the hip and the shoulder, in order to displace him in the direction towards the center of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Dominique Acker, Sven Hofmann, Jurgen Hirth, Norbert Ellerbrok, Andreas Loos
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Patent number: 6634670Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system there is provided a gas bag having a wall (12) which has portions distributed across its surface area which, with increasing gas bag internal pressure, increase the volume of said gas bag (10) by a deployment or smoothing action. If the internal pressure in the gas bag rises due to increased power output of the gas generator or in case of high temperatures, a limitation of the increase in pressure is achieved by the increase in volume of the gas bag.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Alexander Heilig
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Patent number: 6568708Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas bag module comprises an inflatable gas bag has an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in the interior of the gas bag. The fabric layer guides a stream of compressed gas emerging from the compressed gas source upon inflation of the gas bag. A guiding plate is provided in the interior of the gas bag as an additional gas guiding means.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Miodek, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Publication number: 20020132088Abstract: The invention relates to a foot protection device for vehicle occupants. The protection device comprises a foot support piece which can support the occupant's feet, a base piece by which the foot protection device can rest on a floor of a vehicle, and an adjustment device to displace the foot support piece in a first direction parallel to the base piece. Ramp surfaces are constructed on at least one of the base piece and the foot support piece, which with a displacement of the foot support piece by the adjustment device bring about a movement of the foot support piece in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Karl Birk, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Patent number: 6443483Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module, comprising a module cover which has at least one opening flap movable upon activation of the module. An axis is provided relative to which the opening flap moves when it is opened, and a tether is provided between the at least one opening flap and a part of the gas bag module. In an open condition of the module cover the opening flap is fixed on the one hand to the module by means of the tether and on the other hand is fixed to the module cover via the axis. The axis and the tether are arranged with respect to the opening flap in such a manner and the opening flap has such a strength that its geometry is changed by the tether when it is swivelled open so that the opening flap moves outwardly by a smaller amount than without the tether.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Norbert Ellerbrok
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Publication number: 20020109338Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The airbag comprises an airbag wall which has a front wall facing the occupant to be restrained, a back wall and a side wall. The front wall and the back wall are connected to each other by means of a detachable connection. This connection between the front wall and the back wall is severed by the unfolding of the side wall when the airbag is inflated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Luders, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Patent number: 6371509Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflation opening and a fabric piece arranged in the interior of the gas bag opposite the inflation opening and defining a volume for compressed gas introduced into the gas bag through the inflation opening. The fabric piece forms at least one outflow opening for the compressed gas. The outflow opening defines a gas exit area affected by the compressed gas flowing through the outflow opening, and comprising at least one limiting strap arranged in the interior of the gas bag but outside of the gas exit area.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Norbert Lang
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Patent number: 6352283Abstract: A gas bag restraint system includes a multi-stage inflator and a gas bag in flow connection therewith. The gas bag comprises a first and a second fabric part which are at least approximately congruent, and a fabric strip which is stitched to an edge of the first fabric part and to an edge of the second fabric part. At least one burst seam is provided which in an intact condition forms a fold as a result of which the volume of the gas bag is reduced as compared to a condition in which the burst seam is destroyed. The fold formed by the burst seam is arranged in the fabric strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Gerd Jürgens, Gianula Knödler, Swen Schaub
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Publication number: 20020014765Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag comprising a gas bag wall which consists of at least one fabric piece, the latter including adjacent partial sections of fabric which are connected with each other by a seam. Further, the invention provides a gas bag of at least two fabric pieces. An uncoated sewing thread is provided by means of which the seam is formed and which is made of a plastic having a softening temperature of more than approximately 280° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Norbert Ellerbrok
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Publication number: 20010040366Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas bag module comprises an inflatable gas bag has an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in the interior of the gas bag. The fabric layer guides a stream of compressed gas emerging from the compressed gas source upon inflation of the gas bag. A guiding plate is provided in the interior of the gas bag as an additional gas guiding means.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: November 15, 2001Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Miodek, Norbert Ellerbrok
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Publication number: 20010040362Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module, comprising a module cover which has at least one opening flap movable upon activation of the module. An axis is provided relative to which the opening flap moves when it is opened, and a tether is provided between the at least one opening flap and a part of the gas bag module. In an open condition of the module cover the opening flap is fixed on the one hand to the module by means of the tether and on the other hand is fixed to the module cover via the axis. The axis and the tether are arranged with respect to the opening flap in such a manner and the opening flap has such a strength that its geometry is changed by the tether when it is swivelled open so that the opening flap moves outwardly by a smaller amount than without the tether.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2000Publication date: November 15, 2001Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co.KGInventor: Norbert Ellerbrok
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Patent number: 6302433Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflation opening, a fabric piece arranged inside the gas bag opposite the inflation opening and forming an outflow opening for compressed gas which flows through the inflation opening into the gas bag, and at least one tether which is likewise arranged inside the gas bag. The tether is arranged such that the compressed gas flowing out through the outflow opening from a volume surrounded by the fabric piece, substantially does not flow against the tether.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Norbert Lang
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Patent number: 6260881Abstract: The fabric part intended to be arranged in the interior of a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system and comprising, when spread out flat, a generally rectangular middle section with shorter and longer outer edges as well as four fastening sections. The fastening sections are disposed at the shorter outer edges of the middle section such that each thereof extends starting from the longer outer edges along the shorter outer edges toward a longitudinal centerline of the middle section. Each of the fastening sections ends at a distance away from the longitudinal centerline.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Norbert Lang
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Patent number: 6196575Abstract: A gas bag restraint system for vehicle occupants, comprises a gas bag with an interior having a first and a second chamber. The gas bag has an outer wall delimiting the interior of the gas bag and at least one dividing wall in the interior for separating the first and the second chambers in a fully inflated state of the gas bag. The dividing wall is gas-permeable at least during fully inflating of the gas bag to reach a fully inflated state of the gas bag. The system further comprises a multiple-stage gas generator which is communicated with the first chamber and which is able to produce different internal pressures of the gas bag.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Norbert Lang
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Patent number: 6164696Abstract: A gas bag restraint system for vehicle occupants has a multi-stage gas generator and a gas bag which includes an outer wall having wall portions and having at least one fold which is formed by a first holding element. The gas bag is able to gradually take up various discrete inflation volumes in accordance with activated stages of the gas generator and dependent on an internal pressure of the gas bag. The outer wall has the at least one fold in a first, partially inflated state of the gas bag, after ignition of a first stage of the gas generator. In the first state, the outer wall has a portion defining an inflated region of the gas bag and a portion defined by the at least one fold. The fold in the first state is turned over toward the inflated region of the gas bag and is secured by the first holding element to the portion of the outer wall defining the inflated region for forming an inwardly extending pocket.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Ellerbrok, Helmut Seibert
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Patent number: 5662354Abstract: An air bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises several sewn fabrics parts. All fabric parts consist of fabric which has the same fiber density and filament yarn. The gas permeability curve of the entire gas bag increases as a function of the internal gage pressure. At a gage pressure of approximately 10 kPa the permeability is at a value between approximately 0.4 and approximately 1.0 m.sup.3 /s. On further increases in gage pressure to values between approximately 10 kPa and approximately 20 kPa, the gas permeability of the air bag reaches a maximum and then decreases when the gage pressure is above approximately 20 kPa to at least approximately 40 kPa. This form of the gas permeability curve means that hardness of the air bag is automatically regulated in order to provide low hardness during the initial pressure build up.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1995Date of Patent: September 2, 1997Assignee: TRW Repa GmbHInventor: Norbert Ellerbrok
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Patent number: 5375878Abstract: A gas bag for vehicule occupant restraining systems comprises an envelope of several fabric sections, the gas permeability of which differs, despite which all fabric sections of the envelope can be fabricated of textile material having the same consistency, particularly having the same thread density (set) when the gas permeability of the fabric is defined with due regard to the tension condition between warp and weft threads of the inflated gas bag and taking into account the dynamic behaviour of the gas permeability as a function of the weave and crimp. Fabric sections having the same consistency can be stitched with no problem in series production and the seams are of high structural strength.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1993Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Assignee: TRW Repa GmbHInventor: Norbert Ellerbrok