Patents by Inventor Norman Dix

Norman Dix 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: 11473358
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for an engine hood of a motor vehicle, having a hinge substructure, which can be attached to a body component of the motor vehicle, and having a hinge upper part, which can be attached to the engine hood. The hinge upper part is retained on the hinge substructure so as to pivot about a pivoting axis. The hinge assembly includes at least one support element, which enables deformation of the hinge substructure in a first direction, in which the hinge substructure can be moved away from a limit stop area of the at least one support element. The at least one support element limits deformation of the hinge substructure in a second direction opposite the first direction by means of the limit stop area. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Richard Schabenberger, Norman Dix, Bernhard Hüttinger
  • Publication number: 20220048582
    Abstract: A system of a side skirt for a car of a multi-car vehicle and a side skirt support, the side skirt configured to cover a space below the underframe of the car from a side, and having a coupler side edge that forms a side of the side skirt and arranged next to a coupler head of the car, the side skirt support suitable to attach the side skirt to the underframe of the car, the side skirt support having a bar with a first joint suitable to be attached to the underframe to allow rotation relative to the underframe, the bar being attached to a part of the side skirt via a second joint that allows part of the side skirt to rotate relative to the bar, the side skirt support having a rotation controller that limits the rotation that the part of the side skirt attached to the bar can perform relative to the bar, whereby the part attached to the bar can rotate into an end position, but cannot rotate beyond that end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Dix, Philipp Krach
  • Patent number: 10837204
    Abstract: In order to improve the release movement of a closure bracket assembly for retaining or raising a pivotable front flap of a motor vehicle from a normal position into a protection position, a closure bracket having a closure bolt and a closure bracket upper part is provided. The closure bolt is secured in a lock in the normal position and in the protection position. A front flap securing device can be secured on the front flap. A pivot shaft is arranged on the front flap securing device and about which the front flap securing device is pivotally mounted for raising purposes. A closure bracket holder is provided on which the closure bracket is held. The pivot shaft is arranged on the closure bracket holder and the closure bolt can be pivoted in the lock during raising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Hambusch, Norman Dix
  • Publication number: 20190383074
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for an engine hood of a motor vehicle, having a hinge substructure, which can be attached to a body component of the motor vehicle, and having a hinge upper part, which can be attached to the engine hood. The hinge upper part is retained on the hinge substructure so as to pivot about a pivoting axis. The hinge assembly includes at least one support element, which enables deformation of the hinge substructure in a first direction, in which the hinge substructure can be moved away from a limit stop area of the at least one support element. The at least one support element limits deformation of the hinge substructure in a second direction opposite the first direction by means of the limit stop area. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such hinge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Richard SCHABENBERGER, Norman DIX, Bernhard HÜTTINGER
  • Patent number: 10336291
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes two hinge joints to swingably connect a front gate to the vehicle body. Each hinge joint includes a body-side hinge lower part and a gate-side hinge upper part that includes an upper part portion swingably arranged on another upper part portion, with the upper part portions being detachably secured by a locking member. Pivot struts swingably connect the hinge lower and upper parts to one another, with one pivot strut including a strut portion arranged on an upper part portion and movable translatorily in relation to another strut portion. To raise the front gate for protection, an actuator is activated to thereby release the locking member and pivot one upper part portion relative to the other one upper part portion, thereby translatorily moving one strut portion relative to the other strut portion, and with the one upper part portion pivoting relative to the other pivot strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Richard Schabenberger, Norman Dix
  • Patent number: 10279819
    Abstract: An articulating mount for a moveable front hatch of a train car includes a linear actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point. The linear actuator includes a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, and is effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points. The mount further includes a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car. The first guide includes a guide rail defining an opening sized to receive a first protrusion connected to the front hatch for guiding movement of the moveable end of the linear actuator, responsive to actuation of the linear actuator, along a first guide path between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Dellner Couplers AB
    Inventors: Thilo Koch, Norman Dix
  • Publication number: 20180044954
    Abstract: In order to improve the release movement of a closure bracket assembly for retaining or raising a pivotable front flap of a motor vehicle from a normal position into a protection position, a closure bracket having a closure bolt and a closure bracket upper part is provided. The closure bolt is secured in a lock in the normal position and in the protection position. A front flap securing device can be secured on the front flap. A pivot shaft is arranged on the front flap securing device and about which the front flap securing device is pivotally mounted for raising purposes. A closure bracket holder is provided on which the closure bracket is held. The pivot shaft is arranged on the closure bracket holder and the closure bolt can be pivoted in the lock during raising.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thorsten HAMBUSCH, Norman DIX
  • Publication number: 20170327074
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes two hinge joints to swingably connect a front gate to the vehicle body. Each hinge joint includes a body-side hinge lower part and a gate-side hinge upper part that includes an upper part portion swingably arranged on another upper part portion, with the upper part portions being detachably secured by a locking member. Pivot struts swingably connect the hinge lower and upper parts to one another, with one pivot strut including a strut portion arranged on an upper part portion and movable translatorily in relation to another strut portion. To raise the front gate for protection, an actuator is activated to thereby release the locking member and pivot one upper part portion relative to the other one upper part portion, thereby translatorily moving one strut portion relative to the other strut portion, and with the one upper part portion pivoting relative to the other pivot strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: RICHARD SCHABENBERGER, NORMAN DIX
  • Publication number: 20170197640
    Abstract: An articulating mount for a moveable front hatch of a train car includes a linear actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point. The linear actuator includes a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, and is effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points. The mount further includes a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car. The first guide includes a guide rail defining an opening sized to receive a first protrusion connected to the front hatch for guiding movement of the moveable end of the linear actuator, responsive to actuation of the linear actuator, along a first guide path between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Thilo KOCH, Norman DIX
  • Publication number: 20100270813
    Abstract: In a locking device for the bonnet of a motor vehicle, a guide device is arranged on the bonnet, whereby an element of the lock that consists of the locking hook and clip is in engagement with the guide device, and whereby when the bonnet is closed and locked, the latter can be displaced relative to the locking hook and the clip via the guide device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Dipl.-Ing. Franz Roth, Karsten Baumhof, Oliver Burgstahler, Norman Dix