Patents by Inventor Bernd Gross

Bernd Gross 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).

  • Publication number: 20150130252
    Abstract: An arrangement of components, in particular for a vehicle seat, includes a first component and a second component which are interconnected by a connector. The connector includes a nail-shaped pin that has a grooved drive stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Werner, Bernd Gross, Andreas Dannheisig
  • Publication number: 20150021308
    Abstract: A method is provided in which two parts (2, 3) are connected to each other by a weld. The two parts (2, 3) are fixed by a magnet (4) during welding. A magnetic field of the magnet (4) influences the flow of a melt in the weld (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Johannes Kraus, Michael Hamers, Jörgen Von Bodenhausen, Bernd Gross
  • Publication number: 20140331478
    Abstract: A method for joining at least two workpiece layers (1, 2) by introducing a connecting element (10) with a coating (15) applied externally to the connecting element (10), where the connecting element (10) is guided, in particular punched, through the first workpiece layer (1) by a ram (26), forming a cut surface (1), and penetrates at least partially into the second workpiece layer and is deformed by a die (21) such that it connects the at least two workpiece layers (1, 2) together in a form-fitting manner. The connecting element (10) is heated such that the coating (15) applied externally to the connecting element (10) melts and wets, in particular completely closes, the cut surface in the first workpiece layer (1); after a cooling process, the re-solidified coating (15) adheres to the cut surface of the first workpiece layer (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Jesus Galan, Bernd Gross, Axel Koever
  • Publication number: 20140212630
    Abstract: A method for producing vehicle seat components involves working a semifinished blank in a cutting manner The method can be carried out easily and at low cost and makes it possible to produce components that require little reworking and also provides a vehicle seat component that is both suitable for reducing crash energies by deformation and has an adequate wear resistance. The method includes local heating of the semifinished blank in the region of an intended cutting line of the vehicle seat components to be cut out and cutting out the vehicle seat components from the semifinished blank along the cutting line during or shortly after the heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Bernd Groß, Jutta Klingspohn, Matthias Goebel
  • Publication number: 20140202572
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-flow channel (1) for a ventilation device of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, a sealing element (7) is arranged in a bonded manner on at least one pipe opening (6) of the air-flow channel (1), in the region of an opening edge (2), said sealing element (7) being able to be arranged in the region of the opening edge (2) of the pipe opening (6), or applied onto said air-flow channel (1), by means of a fusing process or a thermal welding method such that the melted material of the sealing element (7) becomes joined to the heated material of the air-flow channel (1). The invention additionally relates to a method for producing an air-flow channel (1) for a ventilation device of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS INTERIORS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Mirko Wiedemeyer, Martin Kuckertz, Hans-Georg Werner, Antoine Kmeid, Peter John Thurgood, Bernd Gross
  • Publication number: 20140178652
    Abstract: A vehicle structural clement made of plastic has at least one carbon filler reinforced region and at least one fiberglass reinforced region. In a method for producing the vehicle structural element, a pre-heated carbon fiber reinforced region and a pre-heated fiberglass reinforced region are placed in a press and shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Hans-Georg Werner, Sreenivas Paruchuri
  • Publication number: 20130316187
    Abstract: A method for the roll-forming of profiles or structural parts from semifinished sheet-like products, in particular from metallic materials, in particular from steel sheet or aluminum. For this, the semifinished sheet-like product is adjusted in its temperature, the adjustment of the temperature taking place locally, in particular in forming regions of the semifinished product that are intended to undergo a forming operation. Furthermore, a component is preferably produced by using this method, in particular a structural part for a seat structure of a motor vehicle, in particular a vehicle seat rail that can be adjusted forwards and backwards to adjust the seat, and to a roll-forming device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Hans-Georg Werner
  • Patent number: 8539661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a structural element that consists of several components which are at least partly connected to one another. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing the motor vehicle seat according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Andreas Dannheisig, Marian Stepankowski, Joshua Hesterberg
  • Publication number: 20130220049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a component of an adjustment device for vehicle seats, wherein, in a first step, a work piece is machined such that the work piece is harder in a first region than in a second region, and/or in that the work piece is of a larger geometrical size in a third region than in a fourth region, wherein, in a second step, the work piece is deformed in such a way that a tool is moved onto the work piece at a speed greater than 1 m/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Werner, Bernd Gross
  • Publication number: 20130200244
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment device for a vehicle seat includes at least one rail guide with at least one upper rail and a lower rail, wherein the upper rail and lower rail are mounted movably relative to each other via a bearing. A roller cage is provided as the bearing between the upper rail and lower rail, wherein, in the roller cage, rollers are arranged inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the rails or transversely with respect to the running direction of the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Werner, Bernd Gross, Joshua Hesterberg
  • Patent number: 8393681
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to a retracted inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has lateral seat parts on both sides of the seat, a padding defining a seat area and a padding support below said padding. The restraint device is arranged between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts by means of a locking element provided for locking the restraint device in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Harald Mund
  • Patent number: 8297697
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to an extended inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has a padding defining a seat area, and a padding support below said padding. The restraint device is arranged between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts by means of a locking element (e.g. detent recesses (28) or the like) provided for locking the restraint device in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Harald Mund
  • Patent number: 8272687
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to a retracted inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has lateral seat parts on both sides of the seat, a padding defining a seat area and a padding support (34) below said padding. The restraint device also comprises a tilting element (24) between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts, said tilting element having at least one deformable element (24) as an energy dissipation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Harald Mund
  • Publication number: 20120187738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a structural element (100) of a motor vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle seat, wherein the structural element (100) comprises a first component (101) and a second component (102). In an overlap region (103), the first component (101) and the second component (102) have a formed-closed connection, or a form-closed and form-closed connection, wherein the connection in the overlap region (103) can be produced by an electromagnetic pulse shaping method, wherein the first component comprises at least one form-closed moulding (600), wherein the second component can be moulded into the at least one form-closed moulding (600).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Christian Hübsch, Joshua Hesterberg, Dirk Angermann, Dirk Eckenroth, Stefan Funk, Andreas Dannheisig, Hans-Georg Werner, Wolfgang Pellenz, Robin Ndagijimana, Vikas Wayal, Praveen Koparde, Yaniv Oren, Martin Oren, Vedat Nuyan
  • Publication number: 20120128539
    Abstract: An air purification device for a vehicle comprises an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air conduction volume between the air inlet and the air outlet. At least one reaction surface element is provided in the air conduction volume. At least one light source for ultraviolet light is arranged in the air conduction volume. A surface of the reaction surface element comprises a catalytic material, and the reaction surface element is arranged substantially in the entire air conduction volume or occupies at least 50% of the inner surface of the air purification device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Hans-Georg Werner, Joshua Hesterberg, Man Loong Leong
  • Publication number: 20120126605
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest comprises means for retaining the headrest on the backrest as a vehicle seat. The headrest is adjustable vertically (Z-direction) in a reversible manner relative to the backrest, and at least partially with regard to its distance from the head of a seat occupant (X-direction). Such adjustments are carried out at least temporarily at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Hans-Georg Werner, Joshua Hesterberg, Sachin Bharambe, Thomas Frotz, Denis Quandt
  • Publication number: 20100244538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a structural element that consists of several components which are at least partly connected to one another. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing the motor vehicle seat according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Andreas Dannheisig, Marian Stepankowski, Joshua Hesterberg
  • Publication number: 20100171356
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has a structural element that includes a plurality of components, at least some of which are connected to one another. At least one of the components is available in a plurality of materials, such as steel or a lightweight construction. The shape of the components, however, is configured so that it remains unchanged irrespective of the component material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson control Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Andreas Dannheisig, Philipp Ehrenstein, Marian Stepankowski
  • Patent number: 7714031
    Abstract: Shaped articles of melamine/formaldehyde foam have a formaldehyde emission of less than 0.1 ppm, determined according to DIN 55666, and are obtainable by the following process: a) a foam is prepared from a melamine/formaldehyde precondensate having a molar melamine: formaldehyde ratio greater than 0.5, b) the foam obtained is annealed at below 200° C., and c) the annealed foam is molded in a press at from 160 to 240° C. and an absolute pressure from 5 to 100 bar in the course of from 15 to 120 seconds to give the shaped article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Baumgartl, Bernd Gross, Jens Schierholz
  • Publication number: 20100060045
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to a retracted inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has lateral seat parts on both sides of the seat, a padding defining a seat area and a padding support (34) below said padding. The restraint device also comprises a tilting element (24) between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts, said tilting element having at least one deformable element (24) as an energy dissipation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Harald Mund