Patents by Inventor Thomas Kielwein

Thomas Kielwein 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: 7651136
    Abstract: A force limiter for a vehicle safety belt includes a shaft and at least one metal strap, one end of which is attached to the shaft and which supports on a strap accommodation ring radially outside of the shaft. The distance between the strap accommodation ring and the shaft is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20090014577
    Abstract: A belt spool for a belt retractor with a force limiter has at least one flange (16) with a front face (27) and one insert (28) provided on the front face (27) of the flange (16). The insert (28) constitutes the portion that is cut by the force limiter. The invention further relates to a belt retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Konrad Elsaesser, Helmut Gross, Thomas Kielwein, Bernd Gentner, Karl Hudelmaier
  • Publication number: 20060279076
    Abstract: A force limiter for a vehicle safety belt includes a shaft and at least one metal strap, one end of which is attached to the shaft and which supports on a strap accommodation ring radially outside of the shaft. The distance between the strap accommodation ring and the shaft is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20060163410
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt has a frame, a belt spool for the safety belt which is rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking disc which is arranged on the belt spool and is connected therewith through an energy absorption element, and a blocking mechanism which allows to block the locking disc against a rotation in the unwinding direction of the safety belt in the frame. A detent is provided which is movably arranged in the belt spool and can prevent a rotation of the locking disc relative to the belt spool as a function of its position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Herbert Blum, Bernd Gentner, Thomas Kielwein
  • Patent number: 6986480
    Abstract: A force limiter is provided on a belt retractor. The belt retractor comprises a belt spool (1) that is rotatably mounted in a frame (10) and has at least one flange (1a) and a disk (2) that can be non-rotatably blocked on the frame. The disk (2) and the flange (1a) of the belt spool (1) are adapted to be coupled by a cutting element (3). The cutting element (3), with a relative rotation between the disk (2) and the flange (1a), comes into a coupling position and cuts material when the relative rotation is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Blum, Bernd Gentner, Thomas Kielwein
  • Publication number: 20060006725
    Abstract: A belt retractor has a belt spool (12) rotatably mounted in a frame (10), a disc adapted to be blocked against rotation on the frame (10), and a force-limiting arrangement. The force-limiting arrangement includes a cutting body (22) which is adapted to be guided into a coupling position in which the cutting body (22) couples the belt spool (12) to the disc (16) such that upon a relative rotation between the disc (16) and the belt spool (12), the cutting body (22) cuts material. The force-limiting arrangement has a guiding-in mechanism which guides the cutting body (22) into the coupling position as a function of accident-related data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Bernd Gentner, Thomas Kielwein
  • Patent number: 6957790
    Abstract: A sensor for triggering a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a locking mechanism of a belt retractor, comprises an inertia body, a lower shell in which the inertia body is received, and an upper shell which rests on the inertia body and into which it projects. The upper shell is part of a pivotally mounted sensor lever which swings on displacement of the inertia body and activates the locking mechanism. At least one of the shells has at least one projecting support section for abutment of the inertia body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jürgen Rink, Bernd Semler
  • Publication number: 20050133652
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt has a frame, a belt spool which can receive a safety belt and is rotatably arranged in the frame, and a blocking mechanism by means of which the belt spool can be blocked against a rotation in the safety belt unwinding direction relative to the frame. The blocking mechanism contains a coupling disc which is rotatable relative to the belt spool. A locking mechanism is provided which locks a response of the blocking mechanism in a function range in which almost the entire safety belt is wound on the belt spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Kielwein
  • Publication number: 20040056136
    Abstract: A force limiter is provided on a belt retractor. The belt retractor comprises a belt spool (1) that is rotatably mounted in a frame (10) and has at least one flange (1a) and a disk (2) that can be non-rotatably blocked on the frame. The disk (2) and the flange (1a) of the belt spool (1) are adapted to be coupled by a cutting element (3). The cutting element (3), with a relative rotation between the disk (2) and the flange (1a), comes into a coupling position and cuts material when the relative rotation is continued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Blum, Bernd Gentner, Thomas Kielwein
  • Publication number: 20030234310
    Abstract: A sensor for triggering a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a locking mechanism of a belt retractor, comprises an inertia body, a lower shell in which the inertia body is received, and an upper shell which rests on the inertia body and into which it projects. The upper shell is part of a pivotally mounted sensor lever which swings on displacement of the inertia body and activates the locking mechanism. At least one of the shells has at least one projecting support section for abutment of the inertia body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jurgen Rink, Bernd Semler
  • Patent number: 6547175
    Abstract: An inertia sensor for vehicle-sensitive activation of a belt retractor blocking mechanism, has a mass body, a support for the mass body, and a sensor lever having a control pawl and being mounted on the support for swivelling motion about a swivel axis and resting on the mass body. The support is provided with a first circular cylindrical surface area with a axis which is parallel to the swivel axis and runs through the center of gravity of the mass body. An appendix is formed on the first circular cylindrical surface area of the support for mounting the support to the belt retractor. Further, a belt retractor with the inertia sensor and injection molds for molding the support and the sensor lever are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Juergen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 6533321
    Abstract: The belt retractor of the occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actor. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface and the actor is connected to the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Class, Thomas Kielwein, Michael Lüders
  • Patent number: 6435442
    Abstract: A vehicle-sensitive sensor for a belt retractor for vehicle safety belt systems, comprises an inertia body displaceable in case of decelerations and accelerations of the sensor, and a two-armed lever. A first arm of the two-armed lever forms a coupling pawl, and a second arm of the two-armed lever is able to be engaged by the inertia body such that, in case of a displacement of the inertia body, the lever is pivoted so that the coupling pawl is directed into a clutch toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jürgen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Publication number: 20020014767
    Abstract: The belt retractor of the occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actor. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface and the actor is connected to the output interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Class, Thomas Kielwein, Michael Luders
  • Publication number: 20010028167
    Abstract: An inertia sensor for vehicle-sensitive activation of a belt retractor blocking mechanism, has a mass body, a support for the mass body, and a sensor lever having a control pawl and being mounted on the support for swivelling motion about a swivel axis and resting on the mass body. The support is provided with a first circular cylindrical surface area with a axis which is parallel to the swivel axis and runs through the center of gravity of the mass body. An appendix is formed on the first circular cylindrical surface area of the support for mounting the support to the belt retractor. Further, a belt retractor with the inertia sensor and injection molds for molding the support and the sensor lever are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Juergen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 6206316
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt spool rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking catch arranged on the belt spool, a locking mechanism adapted to pivot the locking catch between an initial position and a locking position, a locking disc and a locking toothing. The locking toothing is arranged on the locking disc. The locking catch when in the locking position engages into the locking toothing of the locking disc so that the belt spool is locked with respect to the locking disc. The locking disc is connected to the frame by means of a holding device which allows a rotation of the locking disc relative to the frame only after a predetermined torque has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jürgen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 6158685
    Abstract: A blocking mechanism for a seat belt retractor has a belt reel (10) rotatably mounted in a frame (12), a ratchet toothing (16) arranged on the frame, a ratchet pawl (24) arranged on the belt reel (10) for cooperation with the ratchet toothing (16) and an inertial disc (20) used as a belt webbing-sensitive sensor element. The inertial disc (20) is rotatable relative to the belt reel (10). The ratchet pawl (24) is pivotally mounted on the inertial disc (20). The belt reel (10) has an actuating element (26a) engaging the ratchet pawl (24). In operation, the actuating element (26a) causes the ratchet pawl (24) to engage with the ratchet toothing (16) when the belt reel (10) is rotated relative to the inertial disc (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jurgen Rink, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 6045194
    Abstract: A belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The backrest of the seat is able of being latched to a vehicle body in an upright seating position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided for selectively blocking rotation of the belt reel on the frame. The blocking mechanism is activated as long as the backrest is not locked in place by latching action of the lock. The blocking mechanism comprises a spring-loaded actuating element coupled to the lock by a traction cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Jurgen Rink
  • Patent number: 5904311
    Abstract: A control disk for a belt retractor comprises an inertial disk and an actuating projection. The inertial disk is rotatable relative to the control disk and connected. thereto by a slipping clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Andreas Hermanni
  • Patent number: 5895003
    Abstract: A coupling disk comprises a control pawl mounted swivably about a swivel axis for swiveling from a resting position into a engagement position in which the coupling disk is coupled to a functional part of the belt retractor. The control pawl has a mount which is configured yielding transversely to the swivel axis. The control disk comprises an abutment on which the control pawl is supported when the mount yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kielwein