Patents by Inventor Udo Bieber

Udo Bieber 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: 7201393
    Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a gas generator carrier (14) with a base (16) and with a peripheral wall (18), and also a covering cap (24) with a side wall (30) extending from a front wall (26) of the covering cap (24). Detent hooks (32) are formed on the edge of the side wall (30) facing away from the front wall (26), which engage into corresponding detent openings (34) in the base (16) of the gas generator carrier (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Helmstetter, Udo Bieber
  • Patent number: 6874815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a the gas bag module, comprising a gas bag and a module housing which has a front wall that closes a ring-shaped outlet opening for the gas bag. A centric portion of the front wall is attached radially inwardly of the outlet opening such that, in the region of attachment, the centric portion is prevented from freely moving outwards when the front wall is opened. At least the centric portion of the front wall, which is attached to the module, has such a thickness and elasticity that upon deployment of the gas bag it swivels, without tearing open radially, about the attachment outwards and radially inwards, as seen from the module, and makes folds in order to clear the ring-shaped outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6848706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a covering cap which is visible from the exterior in an installed state and covers an outlet opening for a gas bag. The module further comprises at least one display integrated in the covering cap and a lighting for the display provided on a rear face of the covering cap. The covering cap has a front wall visible from the exterior with a section covering the outlet opening, the section being connected in one piece with a display section lying over the lighting. In the display section, the covering is constructed so as to be transparent or translucent. The display section is made of a first material component of the covering cap and the covering cap includes a second material component which has a carrier layer in the form of a cup. The base of the cup forms the section closing the outlet opening and the peripheral wall of which laterally delimits an accommodation space for the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6833093
    Abstract: A method of producing a vehicle steering wheel including a steering wheel rim comprises the following steps: A foaming mold with a top part and a bottom part is used; two different foam components, namely, a central carrier component as well as a soft component surrounding the latter, are injected into the bottom part which is not closed by the top part; the foaming mold is closed by closing the bottom part with the top part, and; the foaming mold is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Udo Bieber, Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6799774
    Abstract: An airbag module for occupant restraint systems in vehicles has a pot-like housing part (10) made of sheet metal to the base (14) of which a gas generator is attached and to the circumferential wall (16) of which, extending upwards from the base (14), an airbag (26) and a covering cap (12) made of plastic are attached. The covering cap (12) has a supporting wall (17) that is in contact with the outside of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10). The supporting wall (17) is provided with cutouts (20). On the free edge of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10) facing away from the base (14), there are arranged hook-shaped metal tabs (18) which pass through the cutouts (20) of the supporting wall (17) of the covering cap (12) and which are bent on their outside in the direction toward the base (14) of the housing part (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Matthias Helmstetter, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6786504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag restraining device comprising a gas bag module which has a gas bag with a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint. The front wall has a depression which is produced in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from moving when the gas bag is inflated. The gas bag restraining device further comprises a module cover closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of the gas bag module. The module cover has a central hole which is covered by a cap which is stationary during opening of said gas bag module. The module cover has an edge defining the central hole and opens, preferably tears, towards outside starting from the edge. A holding connection is provided between the edge and the cap which is released when said gas bag module is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Udo Bieber, John-Oliver Derrick
  • Publication number: 20040169355
    Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a gas generator carrier (14) with a base (16) and with a peripheral wall (18), and also a covering cap (24) with a side wall (30) extending from a front wall (26) of the covering cap (24). Detent hooks (32) are formed on the edge of the side wall (30) facing away from the front wall (26), which engage into corresponding detent openings (34) in the base (16) of the gas generator carrier (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Helmstetter, Udo Bieber
  • Patent number: 6752039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shock-absorbed vehicle steering wheel which comprises a hub with a steering wheel mounting and a handling region for a driver. The handling region is, in particular, a steering wheel rim. A vibration damper is provided in a path of the flux of force between the steering wheel mounting and the handling region. The vibration damper has damping characteristics which are adjustable via one of an electrical and magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6752416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a covering cap which is visible from the exterior in an installed state and covers an outlet opening for a gas bag. The module further comprises at least one display integrated in the covering cap and a lighting for the display provided on a rear face of the covering cap. The covering cap has a front wall visible from the exterior with a section covering the outlet opening, the section being connected in one piece with a display section lying over the lighting. In the display section, the covering is constructed so as to be transparent or translucent. The display section is made of a first material component of the covering cap and the covering cap includes a second material component which has a carrier layer in the form of a cup. The base of the cup forms the section closing the outlet opening and the peripheral wall of which laterally delimits an accommodation space for the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6588794
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cover cap for a gas bag restraint module, which cover cap tears open for deployment of a gas bag, contains the step of treating the cap at least region-wise physically and/or chemically such that its material in a treated region has a lower strength than in an untreated state. The treated region is a predetermined tear-open region for allowing the gas bag to unfold. A cover cap made of plastic for a gas bag restraint module has a predetermined tear region. The cap has a higher brittleness at said tear region than in a remainder of said cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: John-Oliver Derrick, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20030071385
    Abstract: A method of producing a vehicle steering wheel including a steering wheel rim comprises the following steps: A foaming mold with a top part and a bottom part is used; two different foam components, namely, a central carrier component as well as a soft component surrounding the latter, are injected into the bottom part which is not closed by the top part; the foaming mold is closed by closing the bottom part with the top part, and; the foaming mold is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Udo Bieber, Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6540254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger gas bag protection device which comprises a gas bag which, in relation to an inflated state, has a rear wall and a front wall which includes a center section and onto which a passenger strikes in the case of an accident. The gas bag, from a viewpoint of the passenger, has a round outer contour with a specific width and height in the inflated state. The width of the outer contour distinctly exceeds the height. In the inflated state the front wall has a depression opening out to the outside in the manner of a slit. The slit runs in a direction of the width of the gas bag. A restraint means is provided and the depression is formed in that on inflation of the gas bag a center section of the front wall is prevented from moving by means of the restraint means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20020195809
    Abstract: The invention relates to a the gas bag module, comprising a gas bag and a module housing which has a front wall that closes a ring-shaped outlet opening for the gas bag. A centric portion of the front wall is attached radially inwardly of the outlet opening such that, in the region of attachment, the centric portion is prevented from freely moving outwards when the front wall is opened. At least t,0he centric portion of the front wall, which is attached to the module, has such a thickness and elasticity that upon deployment of the gas bag it swivels, without tearing open radially, about the attachment outwards and radially inwards, as seen from the module, and makes folds in order to clear the ring-shaped outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20020153711
    Abstract: An airbag module for occupant restraint systems in vehicles has a pot-like housing part (10) made of sheet metal to the base (14) of which a gas generator is attached and to the circumferential wall (16) of which, extending upwards from the base (14), an airbag (26) and a covering cap (12) made of plastic are attached. The covering cap (12) has a supporting wall (17) that is in contact with the outside of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10). The supporting wall (17) is provided with cutouts (20). On the free edge of the circumferential wall (16) of the housing part (10) facing away from the base (14), there are arranged hook-shaped metal tabs (18) which pass through the cutouts (20) of the supporting wall (17) of the covering cap (12) and which are bent on their outside in the direction toward the base (14) of the housing part (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Matthias Helmstetter, Ralph Neupert
  • Publication number: 20020153712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a covering cap which is visible from the exterior in an installed state and covers an outlet opening for a gas bag. The module further comprises at least one display integrated in the covering cap and a lighting for the display provided on a rear face of the covering cap. The covering cap has a front wall visible from the exterior with a section covering the outlet opening, the section being connected in one piece with a display section lying over the lighting. In the display section, the covering is constructed so as to be transparent or translucent. The display section is made of a first material component of the covering cap and the covering cap includes a second material component which has a carrier layer in the form of a cup. The base of the cup forms the section closing the outlet opening and the peripheral wall of which laterally delimits an accommodation space for the gas bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert
  • Patent number: 6454295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a covering cap for a gas bag module of a vehicle occupant restraint device. The covering cap comprises at least one plastic layer and is provided at least in places with a heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Achim Hehl
  • Publication number: 20020124683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shock-absorbed vehicle steering wheel which comprises a hub with a steering wheel mounting and a handling region for a driver. The handling region is, in particular, a steering wheel rim. A vibration damper is provided in a path of the flux of force between the steering wheel mounting and the handling region. The vibration damper has damping characteristics which are adjustable via one of an electrical and magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20020125084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for damping vibrations in a steering wheel. The device comprises a damping means and an attenuation mass connected with the damping means. An electrical control unit is provided which is coupled with the damping means. The control unit is able to alter mechanical vibration characteristics of the device such that different vibration frequencies can be damped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kreuzer, Udo Bieber, Christian Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20020084631
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag restraining device comprising a gas bag module which has a gas bag with a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint. The front wall has a depression which is produced in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from moving when the gas bag is inflated. The gas bag restraining device further comprises a module cover closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of the gas bag module. The module cover has a central hole which is covered by a cap which is stationary during opening of said gas bag module. The module cover has an edge defining the central hole and opens, preferably tears, towards outside starting from the edge. A holding connection is provided between the edge and the cap which is released when said gas bag module is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Lorenz, Udo Bieber, John-Oliver Derrick
  • Publication number: 20010052691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger gas bag protection device which comprises a gas bag which, in relation to an inflated state, has a rear wall and a front wall which includes a center section and onto which a passenger strikes in the case of an accident. The gas bag, from a viewpoint of the passenger, has a round outer contour with a specific width and height in the inflated state. The width of the outer contour distinctly exceeds the height. In the inflated state the front wall has a depression opening out to the outside in the manner of a slit. The slit runs in a direction of the width of the gas bag. A restraint means is provided and the depression is formed in that on inflation of the gas bag a center section of the front wall is prevented from moving by means of the restraint means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Udo Bieber, Ralph Neupert