Patents by Inventor Robert Graf
Robert Graf 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: 6860160Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Brian M. Curtis, Harold Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Patent number: 6814880Abstract: A liquid foam extinguishing formulation comprising a water soluble ammonium salt, a film-forming amphoteric fluorine surfactant, a foam-forming amphoteric co-surfactant, and a frostproofing agent, wherein the formulation is a stable, storable, ready to use, and frostproof single solution.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1999Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Robert Graf, Stefan Keipl
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Patent number: 6793032Abstract: A system for measuring seatbelt forces includes a guide that isolates a seatbelt force sensor 40 from input loads applied to the seatbelt at an angle. The system includes a rigid plate member 42 that supports the seatbelt force sensor 40, and which has one end attached to a portion of the seatbelt and an opposite end mounted to a guide bracket 70. The guide bracket 70 includes a pair of circular bosses 72 at one end for pivotally mounting the bracket 70 to a vehicle structure such as a B-pillar 68, for example. The bracket 70 guides the seatbelt in such a manner that input loads to the seatbelt that are applied at an angle do not affect the bending of the sensor 40.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Harald Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Publication number: 20040114524Abstract: A data ring having two or more nodes. The nodes are disconnectable. Appliances that communicate with one another can be connected to the nodes. The data ring includes a monitoring device for monitoring and driving the nodes. The data ring is distinguished by an additional node that can be connected by the monitoring device. The additional node allows a fault state to be produced deliberately in the other nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Robert Depta, Wolfgang Winderl, Reinhold Gruber, Robert Graf, Herbert Schur
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Publication number: 20040025601Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Brian M. Curtis, Harald Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Publication number: 20040016577Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that classifies a seat occupant into one of several different weight classes based on an estimated value of the seat occupant weight. An occupant's measured weight varies when the occupant's seating position changes or when the vehicle travels over adverse road conditions. A plurality of weight sensors are used to measure the weight exerted by a seat occupant against a seat bottom and are used to determine center of gravity for the seat occupant. A seat belt force sensor is also used to assist in classifying the seat occupant. Compensation factors using the seat belt force and center of gravity information are used to generate an estimated weight value. The estimated value of the occupant weight is compared to a series of upper and lower weight thresholds assigned to each of the weight classes to generate an occupant weight sample class. Over a period of time, several estimated weight values are compared to the weight class thresholds.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Harald Lichtinger, Brian M. Curtis, Robert Graf, Daniel Reich, Scott Morrell, Maria Kremer
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Patent number: 6636792Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that classifies a seat occupant into one of several different weight classes based on an estimated value of the seat occupant weight. An occupant's measured weight varies when the occupant's seating position changes or when the vehicle travels over adverse road conditions. A plurality of weight sensors are used to measure the weight exerted by a seat occupant against a seat bottom and are used to determine center of gravity for the seat occupant. A seat belt force sensor is also used to assist in classifying the seat occupant. Compensation factors using the seat belt force and center of gravity information are used to generate an estimated weight value. The estimated value of the occupant weight is compared to a series of upper and lower weight thresholds assigned to each of the weight classes to generate an occupant weight sample class. Over a period of time, several estimated weight values are compared to the weight class thresholds.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Harald Lichtinger, Brian M. Curtis, Robert Graf, Daniel Reich, Scott Morrell, Maria Kremer
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Patent number: 6595545Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Brian M. Curtis, Harold Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Patent number: 6544445Abstract: A fire-resistant composite substrate for use in making structural openings fire-resistant, the substrate containing: (a) elastically compressible particles; (b) at least one heat-activated expanding agent; (c) at least one heat-activated binder; and (d) a diisocyanate adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf AktienInventors: Robert Graf, Maria-Elisabeth Kaiser
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Publication number: 20020043795Abstract: A system for measuring seatbelt forces includes a guide that isolates a seatbelt force sensor 40 from input loads applied to the seatbelt at an angle. The system includes a rigid plate member 42 that supports the seatbelt force sensor 40, and which has one end attached to a portion of the seatbelt and an opposite end mounted to a guide bracket 70. The guide bracket 70 includes a pair of circular bosses 72 at one end for pivotally mounting the bracket 70 to a vehicle structure such as a B-pillar 68, for example. The bracket 70 guides the seatbelt in such a manner that input loads to the seatbelt that are applied at an angle do not affect the bending of the sensor 40.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Inventors: Harald Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Publication number: 20020043789Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that classifies a seat occupant into one of several different weight classes based on an estimated value of the seat occupant weight. An occupant's measured weight varies when the occupant's seating position changes or when the vehicle travels over adverse road conditions. A plurality of weight sensors are used to measure the weight exerted by a seat occupant against a seat bottom and are used to determine center of gravity for the seat occupant. A seat belt force sensor is also used to assist in classifying the seat occupant. Compensation factors using the seat belt force and center of gravity information are used to generate an estimated weight value. The estimated value of the occupant weight is compared to a series of upper and lower weight thresholds assigned to each of the weight classes to generate an occupant weight sample class. Over a period of time, several estimated weight values are compared to the weight class thresholds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Inventors: Harald Lichtinger, Brian M. Curtis, Robert Graf, Daniel Reich, Scott Morrell, Maria Kremer
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Publication number: 20010052696Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2001Publication date: December 20, 2001Inventors: Brian M. Curtis, Harald Lichtinger, Robert Graf
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Patent number: 6010763Abstract: A fireproofing material is provided in the form of a loose mixture comprising:a. at least one heat-insulating material which is heat resistant at temperatures of up to 1100.degree. C.,b. at least one swelling agent active at elevated temperatures,c. at least one binder active at elevated temperatures, andd. at least one flexibly compliant constituent,wherein the mixture is free from inorganic fibers. The mixture is typically contained in a sealed flexible bag. The flexibly compliant constituent is typically a granular foam or a fiber conglomerate. The flexibly compliant constituent is present in the mixture in quantities of 1 to 30% by weight and preferably 2 to 15% by weight.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1996Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Grunau IllertissenInventors: Dieter Annemaier, Robert Graf
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Patent number: 5876042Abstract: A device for sealing the gap or void between the outer circumference of a pipe and a hole in a wall the pipe passes through includes a sheet metal casing flexible enough to be bent around the pipe. The inside wall of the casing includes spaced apart inner directed radial projections for containing a swelling agent that is heat activated for filling the void between the housing and pipe in a manner overlapping the gap between the pipe and the wall.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Gruenau Illertissen GmbHInventors: Robert Graf, Dieter Annemaier
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Patent number: 5496881Abstract: The invention is an aqueous composition for forming fireproof coatings and caulking. The composition is halogen, asbestos and antimony-free. The composition contains 5-20% by weight of a binder resin; 10-60% by weight of a particulate flameproofing agent; 0.2 to 27.5% by weight of non-asbestos inorganic fibers with an average length of 300 micron; 0.1 to 10% by weight of a plasticizer; and water.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1994Date of Patent: March 5, 1996Assignee: Chemische Fabrik Gruenau GmbHInventors: Dieter Annemaier, Robert Graf
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Patent number: 5126076Abstract: The invention relates to low-flammability structural elements, particularly boards, and to a process for constructing them. The low-flammability structural elements are constructed utilizing combustible plastics waste material. They contain in addition non-combustible inorganic additives and a flame-proofing agent mixture. The components are held together by at least one hardened adhesive. Because of this build-up the structural elements display, despite the combustible components, low-flammability.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Chemische Fabrik GruenauInventors: Robert Graf, Dieter Annemaier
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Patent number: 4816312Abstract: The invention relates to a fire prevention material in loose form containing at least one material thermally insulating at temperatures up to 1100.degree. C.; at least one material which irreversibly expands at temperatures over 150.degree. C., particularly over 200.degree. C.; and at least one preferably finely divided binder, which is able to expand on heating. All the constituents of the material are waterproof and weatherproof, so that the fire prevention material can be frequently handled over long periods. It is preferably packed into incompletely filled bags.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1986Date of Patent: March 28, 1989Assignee: Chemische Fabrik Grunau GmbHInventors: Dieter Annemaier, Robert Graf, Stefan Keipl
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Patent number: 4770025Abstract: A pulling clamp which can engage an automotive frame member at two points. The pulling clamp includes two elongated bow shaped members (12, 14) each of which is provided with at least one elongated slot (18) for the reception of a bolt (66) which is passed through suitable apertures in the frame member (56) to be pulled the bolt being held in place by a nut (68). The bow shaped members are spread apart by a threaded spreading member (34) to firmly clamp opposed side walls of the frame member between the head of the bolt, the nut, and the outer surfaces (20) of the pulling clamp. In one embodiment a second elongated slot (90) is provided inwardly of the first elongated slot (28) so that box sections of smaller width may be engaged by passing a bolt through a second set of elongated slots. In another embodiment threaded apertures (30, 42) are disposed inwardly of the elongated slots (28), which threaded apertures may receive additional gripping means (72).Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1987Date of Patent: September 13, 1988Inventor: Robert Graf
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Patent number: 4212015Abstract: A portable radio link system mast, particularly for use in the field, employing mast tube elements which are lifted, one after the other, by means of a lifting device installed in the head of the stand and, after a certain height is reached, are connected with always the next mast tube element. The lifting device consists of three frictionally self-locking pawls arranged on top of each other, a carrying pawl, a lowering pawl and a lifting pawl, which permit a slipless lifting, lowering and locking of the mast tube elements in connection with springs. A cardigan cam lever with a feeler stud draws attention to a wrong connection of the mast tube elements, and a mast tube element in the range of the lifting device can only be pushed out of the head of the stand after a correct contact is established with the following mast tube element.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1978Date of Patent: July 8, 1980Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri & Company LimitedInventors: Robert Graf, Rene Meier
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Patent number: D284855Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1984Date of Patent: July 29, 1986Assignee: PKS/Communications, IncorporatedInventor: Robert Graf