Patents by Inventor Thomas Schrott

Thomas Schrott 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: 9907366
    Abstract: A belt buckle for a vehicle safety belt, comprising a housing (3) which is formed by at least two housing shells (1,2) joined together and in which a locking mechanism (4) is arranged, and a pushbutton (22), provided on said housing, for operating the locking mechanism (4), wherein at least two housing shells (1,2) are joined together at their shell rims and that elongated cover strips (8,9) made of solid material and covering the mutually abutting rims (17,18) of the housing shells (1,2) are fixed to the joined housing shells (1,2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Thomas Schrott, Mark Seer, Michael Bär, Martin Specht
  • Patent number: 9701276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for lifting a vehicle engine hood to protect pedestrians, said drive device comprising a pressure pipe (1) in which a piston (2) which can be driven by a drive gas can be moved along a linear guideway (3), a piston rod (4) connected to said piston (2), said piston rod (4) having a connection point (6) to be connected force-lockingly to a lifting gear for the engine hood at a rod portion (5) projecting beyond a first guideway end (11) of the pressure pipe, a second connection point (7) disposed at the second guideway end (12) located opposite the first guideway end (11), for force-locking support of the pressure pipe on the vehicle body, wherein said two connection points (6) and (7) are arranged at the pressure pipe (1) in line with the linear guideway (3) of the piston (2), and a gas source (8) supplying the drive gas, said gas source (8) being disposed in a pressure pipe portion (9) which is at an angle to the linear guideway (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Thomas Schrott
  • Publication number: 20150343990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for lifting a vehicle engine hood to protect pedestrians, said drive device comprising a pressure pipe (1) in which a piston (2) which can be driven by a drive gas can be moved along a linear guideway (3), a piston rod (4) connected to said piston (2), said piston rod (4) having a connection point (6) to be connected force-lockingly to a lifting gear for the engine hood at a rod portion (5) projecting beyond a first guideway end (11) of the pressure pipe, a second connection point (7) disposed at the second guideway end (12) located opposite the first guideway end (11), for force-locking support of the pressure pipe on the vehicle body, wherein said two connection points (6) and (7) are arranged at the pressure pipe (1) in line with the linear guideway (3) of the piston (2), and a gas source (8) supplying the drive gas, said gas source (8) being disposed in a pressure pipe portion (9) which is at an angle to the linear guideway (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Thomas Schrott
  • Publication number: 20150296928
    Abstract: A belt buckle for a vehicle safety belt, comprising a housing (3) which is formed by at least two housing shells (1,2) joined together and in which a locking mechanism (4) is arranged, and a pushbutton (22), provided on said housing, for operating the locking mechanism (4), wherein at least two housing shells (1,2) are joined together at their shell rims and that elongated cover strips (8,9) made of solid material and covering the mutually abutting rims (17,18) of the housing shells (1,2) are fixed to the joined housing shells (1,2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Thomas Schrott, Mark Seer, Michael Bär, Martin Specht
  • Publication number: 20120198665
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle has a frame that forms an insertion path for a buckle tongue of a seat belt. The seat belt buckle includes a locking device having a locking member for locking the buckle tongue) in the locked state. A retaining member is tensioned by a spring for securing the locking member in a locked state. An ejector for the buckle tongue is tensioned by a spring that is provided with at least one damping device to reduce the noise generated when the seat belt buckle changes from a locking state to a released state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Thomas Schrott
  • Publication number: 20090038126
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle has a frame that forms an insertion path for a buckle tongue of a seat belt. The seat belt buckle includes a locking device having a locking member for locking the buckle tongue) in the locked state. A retaining member is tensioned by a spring for securing the locking member in a locked state. An ejector for the buckle tongue is tensioned by a spring that is provided with at least one damping device to reduce the noise generated when the seat belt buckle changes from a locking state to a released state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: WALTER KRAUSS, THOMAS SCHROTT
  • Patent number: 6722697
    Abstract: An assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener has a seat belt buckle that is connected to a seat belt tightener by a pulling element. The pulling element is firmly connected within a buckle casing to a buckle mechanism of the belt buckle. The pulling element, in a region directly adjacent to the buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by a cover. The cover has an exterior shape that is tapered towards a direction in which the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process. The external dimensions of the cover in the region of its larger cross section approximate the external dimensions of the adjacent end of the buckle casing and in the external dimensions of the cover in the region of its smaller cross section approximate to the external dimensions of the pulling element. Put another way, the taper of the cover approximates a taper defined by the external dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and the external dimensions of the cable over the length of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott
  • Publication number: 20020109346
    Abstract: An assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener has a seat belt buckle that is connected to a seat belt tightener by a pulling element. The pulling element is firmly connected within a buckle casing to a buckle mechanism of the belt buckle. The pulling element, in a region directly adjacent to the buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by a cover. The cover has an exterior shape that is tapered towards a direction in which the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process. The external dimensions of the cover in the region of its larger cross section approximate the external dimensions of the adjacent end of the buckle casing and in the external dimensions of the cover in the region of its smaller cross section approximate to the external dimensions of the pulling element. Put another way, the taper of the cover approximates a taper defined by the external dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and the external dimensions of the cable over the length of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott
  • Patent number: 6357795
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle carrier unit free from rattling noises having a connecting element held in a specific place by a fixing device. The fixing device can be formed by a spring steel wire which is fixed at one end and with its free end, exerts pressure on the connecting element. To ensure reliable contact between the spring steel wire and the connecting element, the spring steel wire can have, at its end exerting a pressure on the connecting element, a loop that surrounds the connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Krauss, Thomas Schrott, Stephan Schwald
  • Patent number: 6266855
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle has a guide channel formed in a buckle frame into which a tongue connected to a seat belt can be inserted. An ejector, located in the guide channel acts, as an ejector spring in the ejection direction opposite to the insertion direction of the tongue. A locking element is mounted on the buckle frame and can be moved out of an unlocking position into a locking position in order to lock the tongue in the guide channel. A securing element is movable between a securing position for holding the locking element in the locking position and a release position for releasing the locking element. A blocking device is mounted on the securing element and is moved into a blocking position when the locking element is in the locking position. The securing element is held in the securing position against a movement into the release position, whereby the blocking device is held in the blocking position by the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott
  • Patent number: 6202269
    Abstract: A buckle for a seat belt has an interlock that provides impact resistance between an ejector and a support for a securing element for securing the locked state, the interlock being maintained during the retensioning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott