Patents by Inventor Ralf Zauritz

Ralf Zauritz 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: 11814001
    Abstract: A knee airbag having a first wall extending from an upper end and having a first outer surface serving as an impact surface being positioned opposite the knee-shin-area of an occupant to be protected when the airbag is fully deployed, and a second wall extending from a rear end adjacent or identical to the upper end of the first wall and having a second outer surface. The second wall comprises a first section, a second section and a groove section being positioned between the first section and the second section such that the second outer surface shows a groove. In order to make the knee airbag suitable for a vehicle that does not provide sufficient instrument panel surface to support it, the first wall and the first and second sections of the second wall enclose an angle between 20° and 80°, preferably between 30° and 60°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Andreas Engel, Ralf Zauritz, Florian Hanke
  • Publication number: 20220306035
    Abstract: A knee airbag having a first wall extending from an upper end and having a first outer surface serving as an impact surface being positioned opposite the knee-shin-area of an occupant to be protected when the airbag is fully deployed, and a second wall extending from a rear end adjacent or identical to the upper end of the first wall and having a second outer surface. The second wall comprises a first section, a second section and a groove section being positioned between the first section and the second section such that the second outer surface shows a groove. In order to make the knee airbag suitable for a vehicle that does not provide sufficient instrument panel surface to support it, the first wall and the first and second sections of the second wall enclose an angle between 20° and 80°, preferably between 30° and 60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas ENGEL, Ralf ZAURITZ, Florian HANKE
  • Patent number: 11097681
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having an airbag unit for protecting a passenger sitting rear of the vehicle seat. The deployed airbag (30) extends from the rear side of the backrest of the vehicle seat into the vehicle rear direction. A support surface (32) of the airbag (30) is positioned above the attachment between the airbag unit (20) and the backrest and an impact surface (34) of the airbag (30) is located in front of a rear seated passenger. The airbag is relatively small and high positioned such that the impact surface (34) is positioned to exclusively contact the head of the passenger. In the state in which the airbag (30) is fully deployed but free of outer forces, the impact surface (34) defines an impact plane (IP) and a support surface (32) defines a support plane (SP). The impact plane (IP) and the support plane (SP) enclose a first angle (a) between 5° and 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Ralf Zauritz
  • Patent number: 10479315
    Abstract: An airbag (1) including two opposing side walls (3) a lower wall (4) and an upper wall (5) forming an inflation opening (2) and a front wall (6). The airbag (1) is formed by sections of a one-part cut fabric (7). The upper wall (5) or the lower wall (4) is formed by two sections (8) of the cut fabric (7) along a connection (9), wherein the cut fabric (7) is folded and only the upper wall (5) or only the lower wall (4) is formed from two sections (8) and from the inflation opening (2) one connection (9) of the one-part cut fabric (7) extends toward the front wall (6). The one-part cut-fabric (7) forms a fitting section (10) for a gas generator. In a flatly extended state the fitting section (1) is adjacent to the two sections (8) forming lower wall (4) or the upper wall (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Ralf Zauritz
  • Publication number: 20190283701
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having an airbag unit for protecting a passenger sitting rear of the vehicle seat. The deployed airbag (30) extends from the rear side of the backrest of the vehicle seat into the vehicle rear direction. A support surface (32) of the airbag (30) is positioned above the attachment between the airbag unit (20) and the backrest and an impact surface (34) of the airbag (30) is located in front of a rear seated passenger. The airbag is relatively small and high positioned such that the impact surface (34) is positioned to exclusively contact the head of the passenger. In the state in which the airbag (30) is fully deployed but free of outer forces, the impact surface (34) defines an impact plane (IP) and a support surface (32) defines a support plane (SP). The impact plane (IP) and the support plane (SP) enclose a first angle (a) between 5° and 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: RALF ZAURITZ
  • Patent number: 10293778
    Abstract: A frontal airbag (10) having an outer skin (12) enclosing a gas space (G). The outer skin (12) forming an impact area (14) in front a vehicle occupant (P) and extends horizontally in a first direction (Y) and in a second perpendicular direction (Z?) when the airbag (10) is fully deployed. A first tether (20) extends in the first direction (Y) from a first end (21) connected to the impact area (14) at a first connection (25) to a second end (22) connected to the impact area (14) at a second connection (26). The first connection (25) extending in the second direction (Z?) from a lower end to an upper end and the second connection (24) extending in the second direction (Z?) from a lower end to an upper end, such that an intermediate impact area section (14c) is spanned by the first tether (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Ralf Zauritz
  • Publication number: 20180201223
    Abstract: An airbag (1) including two opposing side walls (3) a lower wall (4) and an upper wall (5) forming an inflation opening (2) and a front wall (6). The airbag (1) is formed by sections of a one-part cut fabric (7). The upper wall (5) or the lower wall (4) is formed by two sections (8) of the cut fabric (7) along a connection (9), wherein the cut fabric (7) is folded and only the upper wall (5) or only the lower wall (4) is formed from two sections (8) and from the inflation opening (2) one connection (9) of the one-part cut fabric (7) extends toward the front wall (6). The one-part cut-fabric (7) forms a fitting section (10) for a gas generator. In a flatly extended state the fitting section (1) is adjacent to the two sections (8) forming lower wall (4) or the upper wall (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: RALF ZAURITZ
  • Publication number: 20180022307
    Abstract: A frontal airbag (10) having an outer skin (12) enclosing a gas space (G). The outer skin (12) forming an impact area (14) in front a vehicle occupant (P) and extends horizontally in a first direction (Y) and in a second perpendicular direction (Z?) when the airbag (10) is fully deployed. A first tether (20) extends in the first direction (Y) from a first end (21) connected to the impact area (14) at a first connection (25) to a second end (22) connected to the impact area (14) at a second connection (26). The first connection (25) extending in the second direction (Z?) from a lower end to an upper end and the second connection (24) extending in the second direction (Z?) from a lower end to an upper end, such that an intermediate impact area section (14c) is spanned by the first tether (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: RALF ZAURITZ
  • Patent number: 8727061
    Abstract: A pedestrian airbag arrangement for a vehicle includes an airbag covering at least a part of the windscreen and/or at least a part of at least one A-pillar of the vehicle when it is in deployed state, an inflator in fluid connection to the airbag, and a retraction means for retracting the airbag. The retraction means includes a triggering means and a retractor retracting the airbag when released by the triggering means. In order to provide an automatic retraction of the airbag, the triggering means is activated by the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Erik Rydsmo, Mikael Hillström, Ulf Magnusson, Florian Pucher, Ralf Zauritz, Ulrich Koestler
  • Publication number: 20130333972
    Abstract: A pedestrian airbag arrangement for a vehicle includes an airbag covering at least a part of the windscreen and/or at least a part of at least one A-pillar of the vehicle when it is in deployed state, an inflator in fluid connection to the airbag, and a retraction means for retracting the airbag. The retraction means includes a triggering means and a retractor retracting the airbag when released by the triggering means. In order to provide an automatic retraction of the airbag, the triggering means is activated by the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicants: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Erik Rydsmo, Mikael Hillström, Ulf Magnusson, Florian Pucher, Ralf Zauritz, Ulrich Koestler
  • Patent number: 8136834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (1) having an upholstered component (3) which is covered by flexible covering (4), and a safety device which is arranged in the upholstered component (3) and has an airbag (5) which is coupled to a gas generator (6). The gas generator (6) is activated when sensor data relating to an accident or an imminent accident are present to inflate the airbag (5) with gas and unfold the airbag. An activator (8) is provided by means of which the airbag (5) or separate gas cushion (7) can be additionally repeatedly inflated with gas in a reversible fashion. The covering (4) is of an inelastic design, at least in certain areas, and has an elastic section (9) which is arranged in the covering (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Rikard Fredriksson, Ralf Zauritz, Frederic Charpentier
  • Patent number: 7988188
    Abstract: A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Ernst Wittmann, Udo Laube, Christoph Goertz
  • Patent number: 7862076
    Abstract: In order to achieve improved protection of the occupants of a motor vehicle, a side airbag is proposed which, when necessary, provides different hardnesses depending on the size of the vehicle occupant. The airbag includes at least one main chamber and at least one auxiliary chamber. The main chamber and auxiliary chamber are connected with each other via a connecting opening. Furthermore, an outflow opening is present from which gas can flow out of the airbag. The outflow opening is included in the auxiliary chamber. A closing element is provided which, when the auxiliary chamber meets an obstacle during or after expansion of the airbag, blocks or throttles the gas flow through the outflow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Stefan Hauser
  • Patent number: 7850200
    Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle capable of adjusting its internal pressure to the size of a vehicle occupant and to the accident situation. This adaptation is achieved by purely passive means. The airbag includes an airbag cover enclosing a gas chamber and also has at least one venting arrangement which connects the gas chamber with an external environment. Gas flow through the venting arrangement is throttled or blocked when a certain area of the airbag cover meets an obstacle. The venting arrangement includes at least one opening in the airbag cover and a tube which is connected with the airbag cover. The at least one opening ends in the tube, and the tube includes an exit opening to the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Stefan Hauser, Jurgen Weyand, Christian Miksits
  • Publication number: 20100207363
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (1) having an upholstered component (3) which is covered by flexible covering (4), and a safety device which is arranged in the upholstered component (3) and has an airbag (5) which is coupled to a gas generator (6). The gas generator (6) is activated when sensor data relating to an accident or an imminent accident are present to inflate the airbag (5) with gas and unfold the airbag. An activator (8) is provided by means of which the airbag (5) or separate gas cushion (7) can be additionally repeatedly inflated with gas in a reversible fashion. The covering (4) is of an inelastic design, at least in certain areas, and has an elastic section (9) which is arranged in the covering (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Rikard Fredriksson, Ralf Zauritz, Frederic Charpentier
  • Publication number: 20100194084
    Abstract: A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Ernst Wittmann, Udo Laube, Christoph Goertz
  • Patent number: 7556288
    Abstract: A side-impact air bag system for motor vehicles with an air bag (10) extending across at least a part of the longitudinal extent of the vehicle. The air bag (10) is formed by two layers of fabric which are joined to each other and is located in the region of the roof frame of the vehicle in its folded state, before it is unfolded in the form of a curtain. An inflation device (11) releases an inflating gas, and the air bag (10) contains at least one primary chamber (14) which can be inflated by directly feeding gas into it, as well as at least one additional pressure equalization chamber (16), which is separated from the immediately inflatable primary chamber (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Thomas Isensee
  • Publication number: 20080023945
    Abstract: In order to achieve improved protection of the occupants of a motor vehicle, a side airbag is proposed which, when necessary, provides different hardnesses depending on the size of the vehicle occupant. The airbag includes at least one main chamber and at least one auxiliary chamber. The main chamber and auxiliary chamber are connected with each other via a connecting opening. Furthermore, an outflow opening is present from which gas can flow out of the airbag. The outflow opening is included in the auxiliary chamber. A closing element is provided which, when the auxiliary chamber meets an obstacle during or after expansion of the airbag, blocks or throttles the gas flow through the outflow opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Stefan Hauser
  • Publication number: 20080012274
    Abstract: A side-impact air bag system for motor vehicles with an air bag (10) extending across at least a part of the longitudinal extent of the vehicle. The air bag (10) is formed by two layers of fabric which are joined to each other and is located in the region of the roof frame of the vehicle in its folded state, before it is unfolded in the form of a curtain. An inflation device (11) releases an inflating gas, and the air bag (10) contains at least one primary chamber (14) which can be inflated by directly feeding gas into it, as well as at least one additional pressure equalization chamber (16), which is separated from the immediately inflatable primary chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Thomas Isensee
  • Publication number: 20070273133
    Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle capable of adjusting its internal pressure to the size of a vehicle occupant and to the accident situation. This adaptation is achieved by purely passive means. The airbag includes an airbag cover enclosing a gas chamber and also has at least one venting arrangement which connects the gas chamber with an external environment. Gas flow through the venting arrangement is throttled or blocked when a certain area of the airbag cover meets an obstacle. The venting arrangement includes at least one opening in the airbag cover and a tube which is connected with the airbag cover. The at least one opening ends in the tube, and the tube includes an exit opening to the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Stefan Hauser, Jurgen Weyand, Christian Miksits