Patents by Inventor Volker Holzapfel
Volker Holzapfel 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: 7850112Abstract: A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12), a belt spool (14) being rotatably supported in the frame (12), a locking disc (16) being rotatably mounted on the belt spool (14), a load limiting element (18) being effective between the belt spool (14) and the locking disc (16), a holding element (20) being able to hold the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a drive element (22) for the belt spool (14), the drive element (22) being rotatable to a limited extent relative to the belt spool (14) between an initial position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) holds the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a release position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) frees the locking disc (16).Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Joachim Braun, Volker Holzapfel
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Publication number: 20080265080Abstract: A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12), a belt spool (14) being rotatably supported in the frame (12), a locking disc (16) being rotatably mounted on the belt spool (14), a load limiting element (18) being effective between the belt spool (14) and the locking disc (16), a holding element (20) being able to hold the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a drive element (22) for the belt spool (14), the drive element (22) being rotatable to a limited extent relative to the belt spool (14) between an initial position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) holds the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a release position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) frees the locking disc (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Joachim Braun, Volker Holzapfel
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Publication number: 20030071453Abstract: A closure for a safety belt comprises a frame and at least one locking element which is pivotally mounted in its center of gravity to the frame such that it is movable between a locking position and a release position. The closure further comprises at least one spring which urges the locking element into the locking position. An actuating opening is provided which enables direct access to the locking element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Volker Holzapfel
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Patent number: 6199954Abstract: A belt tensioner for a vehicular seat belt, comprises a linear drive formed of a piston and a cylinder tube, and a belt engaging part connected to the piston by a deflected traction element. To provide a belt tensioner which can be more easily integrated in existing vehicle concepts, the belt engaging part is shiftingly guided in a guide fitting to be affixed flatly located to the vehicle body and the cylinder tube is affixed on or alongside the guide fitting.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: TRW Occupany Restraint Systems GmbH & Co., KGInventor: Volker Holzapfel
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Patent number: 6135499Abstract: An adjustment device for a deflection fitting of a vehicle safety belt system comprises a rail adapted to be mounted in the vehicle and a slidable carriage which is movable in the rail. The carriage is provided with a detent device for selectively blocking the carriage on the rail. The carriage further comprises a control surface and a locking roller movable on the control surface. The locking roller is moved from a normal release position to a locking position in response to a sudden displacement of the carriage in a downward direction to lock the carriage on the rail.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbHInventors: Volker Holzapfel, Jurgen Petzi
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Patent number: 6076757Abstract: A tensioner drive for a vehicular seat belt system has a compressed gas source and a turbine. The turbine has a housing and a turbine wheel with blades. The turbine wheel is rotatably supported in the housing and is surrounded by an annular space within the housing. The housing further has a plurality of nozzle openings distributed about the periphery of the annular space and directed therefrom towards the turbine wheel. The blades of the turbine wheel are exposed to pressure from the compressed gas source through the nozzle openings upon activation of the compressed gas source.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems & Co. KGInventor: Volker Holzapfel
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Patent number: 5941566Abstract: A belt height adjuster for a vehicle safety belt system comprises a U-shaped, vehicle-fixed rail and a sled adapted to slide in the rail. The rail has side flanges and a transverse flange and detent openings and comprises at least one pawl and a pin extending perpendicularly to the transverse flange. The pawl is pivotally mounted on the sled by means of the pin and is movable from a neutral position in which displacement of the sled is permitted into a locking position in which the pawl engages one of the side flanges and jams the sled in the rail. The pawl is so eccentrically and pivotally mounted on the sled that, in response to a downwardly directed acceleration, the pawl able to pivot out of the neutral position into the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbHInventors: Volker Holzapfel, Jurgen Petzi
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Patent number: 5860675Abstract: An adjuster device for a deflector fitting of a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided, which comprises a rail adapted for vehicle-fixed mounting. The rail is provided with latching openings and comprises a bottom part and two side parts. The adjuster device further comprises a sled shiftable in the rail and adapted for being coupled to a vehicle seat. The sled is provided with a fitting part for the deflector fitting and at least one latching part which is able to cooperate with the latching openings to block the sled against a downwards displacement in the rail. The latching part is translatable from a normal rest position, in which it does not engage a latching opening, into a locking position in which it engages at least one of the latching openings, by means of a force acting downwards on the fitting part relative to the rail.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: TRW Occupant Rsteraint Systems GmbHInventors: Albrecht Muller, Volker Holzapfel
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Patent number: 5788176Abstract: A safety belt retractor with a belt tensioner acting on a belt reel via a first coupling mechanism includes a housing, a vehicle and/or belt webbing-sensitive automatic blocking device for the belt reel and a second coupling mechanism which establishes a force flow between the housing and the belt reel after the belt has been tensioned and upon movement of the belt reel in the direction of belt unwinding in the event of the belt reel. The first coupling mechanism is connected on the power output side and the second coupling mechanism is connected on the power input side to the first end of a torsion bar whose second end is connected to the belt reel. A deactivation device connected to the second coupling mechanism is provided for the automatic blocking device.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1997Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbHInventors: Ralf Ebner, Volker Holzapfel, Gunter Weyhmuller
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Patent number: 5553890Abstract: A belt pretensioner for a safety belt comprises a pyrotechnic propellant charge (34) able to be operated by a fuze (48) and adapted to act on a drive device for a belt pretensioner. The drive device comprises a piston (18), adapted to be moved in translation, of a piston and cylinder unit. The pyrotechnic propellant charge (34) is mounted within the extent of a cylinder space (28) enclosed by the piston and cylinder unit. The fuze (48) is designed in the form of a self-contained unit and arranged separately from the propellant charge (34).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1995Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Assignee: TRW Repa GmbHInventors: Erwin B uhr, Volker Holzapfel, J urgen Petzi, Klaus B ohmler
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Patent number: 5526996Abstract: The seat belt retractor has a belt reel (12) rotatably mounted in a frame (10). A vehicle-sensitive latching mechanism includes a control disk (64) connected to the belt reel (12), rotation of which is lockable by means of the vehicle-sensitive inertial sensor (71, 71a, 73a, 75a). A belt tensioning drive engages the first axial end of a torsion bar (30), the second end of which is drivingly coupled to the belt reel (12). After belt tensioning the first end of said torsion bar (30) is blocked on the frame (10). Under the load subsequently introduced via the belt webbing (14) the torsion bar (30) is twisted about its axis for conversion of energy. The control disk (64) is connected to the belt reel (12) via a torque-limiting coupling (60, 62, 68, 74, 78; 92 to 106).Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: TRW Repa GmbHInventors: Ralf Ebner, John Grout, Volker Holzapfel, Albrecht Muller, Gunter Weyhmuller