Patents by Inventor Oliver Diehl

Oliver Diehl 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: 11833648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a functional unit for attachment to a workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal part, said functional unit comprising a fastening element having a fastening section for the rotationally fixed fastening of the functional unit to the workpiece and having a head part that adjoins the fastening section in an axial direction and that has a functional section and a head part support surface remote from the fastening section; and a fixing element that can be fixed to the functional section of the head part of the fastening element by means of a rotational movement and that has a fixing element support surface that, in a state of the fixing element installed at the fastening element, faces the head part support surface such that an attachment part can be clamped between the head part support surface and the fixing element support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PROFIL Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert
  • Patent number: 11773893
    Abstract: A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PROFIL Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Andreas Lembach
  • Patent number: 11739780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a functional element, in particular to a bolt element, for attachment to a workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The functional element comprises a fastening section that has a reshaping section that can be reshaped to fasten the functional element to the workpiece, in particular wherein the reshaping section is a rivet section, and a functional section having a functional region, wherein the functional section is connected, in particular is rotationally fixedly connected, to the fastening section. The fastening section and the functional section are produced from different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: PROFIL Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oliver Diehl
  • Publication number: 20230110968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for fastening a functional element to a section of a workpiece and/or for reshaping a section of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising a support device for supporting the workpiece, wherein the workpiece section has a first surface facing the support device and a second surface facing away from the support device. The support device comprises a first support element having a first workpiece support surface that is associated with the first surface, and a second support element having a second workpiece support surface that faces away from the first workpiece support surface and that is associated with a supporting surface. The first and the second support element are movable relative to one another by means of a spreading device such that the first and the second workpiece support surface can be moved away from one another in an axial direction, in particular wherein the axial direction extends perpendicular to the first and/or second workpiece support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias Jene, Oliver Diehl, Christoph Becker, André Mordelt, Maik Beutler
  • Patent number: 11608847
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is adapted for punching into a workpiece, in particular into a sheet metal part. It comprises a head part forming a flange and having a contact surface for contact with the workpiece; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, in particular from the contact surface, and that is in particular arranged coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the functional element. The punching section has a peripheral punching edge at its free end for punching through the workpiece and surrounds a cavity in a peripheral direction, said cavity having an opening defined by the punching edge. An inner wall of the punching section facing the cavity has at least one elevated slug securing portion projecting radially inwardly into the cavity, in particular wherein the elevated portion has the form of a rib extending in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PROFIL Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Tobias Jene, Amer Mahlme, Christian Sowa, Richard Humpert
  • Patent number: 11511495
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attaching functional elements, e.g. composed of metal, to a component, in particular to a component comprising fiber-reinforced plastic, while using a setting head, wherein the functional element has a contact surface provided with adhesive and wherein the adhesive can be supplied to the setting head in individual depots adapted to the functional elements on a carrier band is characterized in that the functional elements are taken over by a guide device and are each pressable to an adhesive depot and are subsequently guidable with the adhering adhesive depots and separately from the carrier band in the setting head to the setting position in front of a setting die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: PROFIL VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert
  • Publication number: 20220324183
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening to a workpiece, said fastening element comprising at least a first workpiece element having a first opening and a second workpiece element having a second opening aligned with the first opening, wherein the fastening element has a first contact section having a first contact surface for contact with a region of the first workpiece element surrounding the first opening and a second contact section having a second contact surface for contact with a region of the second workpiece element surrounding the second opening, with the first contact section and the second contact section being connected to one another by means of a reshaping section, and with a rivet section extending from the second contact section in a direction facing away from the reshaping section. The invention further relates to a corresponding component assembly and to a method of manufacturing such a component assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Amer Mahlme, Tobias Jene
  • Publication number: 20220290711
    Abstract: The invention relates to a functional element, in particular to a bolt element, for attachment to a workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The functional element comprises a fastening section that has a reshaping section that can be reshaped to fasten the functional element to the workpiece, in particular wherein the reshaping section is a rivet section, and a functional section having a functional region, wherein the functional section is connected, in particular is rotationally fixedly connected, to the fastening section. The fastening section and the functional section are produced from different materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Oliver Diehl
  • Publication number: 20220235805
    Abstract: A functional element for pressing into a workpiece comprises a functional section; and a fastening section having an abutment surface for introducing a press-in force into the functional element; a workpiece contact surface that is disposed opposite the abutment surface; and a sealing region for receiving displaced material of the workpiece, said sealing region being disposed between the workpiece contact surface and the functional section and forming a contact surface for the displaced material to seal a connection between the functional element and the workpiece, wherein the contact surface has a first part surface, which extends obliquely to an axial direction and which converges viewed in a press-in direction of the functional element, and a second part surface that adjoins the first part surface, that extends obliquely to the axial direction of the functional element, and that diverges viewed in the press-in direction of the functional element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Amer Mahlme, Oliver Diehl, Tobias Jene
  • Publication number: 20220126422
    Abstract: The invention relates to a functional unit for attachment to a workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal part, said functional unit comprising a fastening element having a fastening section for the rotationally fixed fastening of the functional unit to the workpiece and having a head part that adjoins the fastening section in an axial direction and that has a functional section and a head part support surface remote from the fastening section; and a fixing element that can be fixed to the functional section of the head part of the fastening element by means of a rotational movement and that has a fixing element support surface that, in a state of the fixing element installed at the fastening element, faces the head part support surface such that an attachment part can be clamped between the head part support surface and the fixing element support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert
  • Publication number: 20220112914
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastening unit for fastening to a workpiece, said fastening unit comprising a rivet element and a reshaping element coupled to the rivet element and movable relative thereto, wherein the rivet element has a rivet section and the reshaping element has a reshaping section and a support section, which is arranged at a region of the reshaping element remote from the reshaping section, for axially supporting the fastening unit at an abutment. The rivet section and the reshaping section are designed such that, on an axial relative movement between the rivet element and the reshaping element that is produced by an introduction movement, the rivet section cooperates with the reshaping section and can be reshaped by it in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Austin Gordon Scott Hefner, Tobias Jene
  • Publication number: 20220099128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is adapted for punching into a workpiece, in particular into a sheet metal part. It comprises a head part forming a flange and having a contact surface for contact with the workpiece; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, in particular from the contact surface, and that is in particular arranged coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the functional element. The punching section has a peripheral punching edge at its free end for punching through the workpiece and surrounds a cavity in a peripheral direction, said cavity having an opening defined by the punching edge. An inner wall of the punching section facing the cavity has at least one elevated slug securing portion projecting radially inwardly into the cavity, in particular wherein the elevated portion has the form of a rib extending in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Tobias Jene, Amer Mahlme, Christian Sowa, Richard Humpert
  • Patent number: 11174889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joining element comprising a shaft to be placed into a component; a head provided at a first end of the shaft; and a punching element attached in a losable manner to a second end of the shaft remote from the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PROFIL Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Christian Sowa
  • Publication number: 20210341009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is configured for punching into a workpiece, comprising a head part forming a flange; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, and that has a peripheral punching edge, wherein the head part has a contact surface for contact with the workpiece, said contact surface at least sectionally surrounding the punching section at a radial outer side, and a boundary section that at least sectionally bounds the contact surface at the radial outer side and that extends away from the contact surface in the same direction as the punching section. The invention further relates to a component assembly comprising a self-punching functional element, and a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Tobias Jene, Amer Mahlme, Christian Sowa
  • Publication number: 20210148397
    Abstract: A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Andreas Lembach
  • Patent number: 10962042
    Abstract: A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Andreas Lembach
  • Publication number: 20210086454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening to a workpiece, said fastening element comprising at least a first workpiece element having a first opening and a second workpiece element having a second opening aligned with the first opening, wherein the fastening element has a first contact section having a first contact surface for contact with a region of the first workpiece element surrounding the first opening and a second contact section having a second contact surface for contact with a region of the second workpiece element surrounding the second opening, with the first contact section and the second contact section being connected to one another by means of a reshaping section, and with a rivet section extending from the second contact section in a direction facing away from the reshaping section. The invention further relates to a corresponding component assembly and to a method of manufacturing such a component assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert
  • Publication number: 20200347870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joining element comprising a shaft to be placed into a component; a head provided at a first end of the shaft; and a punching element attached in a losable manner to a second end of the shaft remote from the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Christian Sowa
  • Patent number: 10788071
    Abstract: A hole punch and a method for piercing a workpiece wherein a hole punch includes a sheet metal part and a piercing body attached thereto which carries out the piercing function and which is provided with a thread cylinder or can be provided with a thread cylinder, for example by pressing a threaded pin into a centrally arranged passage of the hole punch, wherein the hole punch can also be formed in one piece as a piercing body with a sheet metal-like flange. Furthermore a method is claimed for the manufacture of the hole punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: PROFIL VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Andreas Lembach
  • Patent number: 10759077
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hole in a component consisting of a composite material, such as a fiber or fabric reinforced plastic part, wherein the component, having first and second oppositely disposed sides, is placed with its first side on a support having an iris diaphragm. A tip which diverges in the axial direction is pressed from the second side of the component through the component, which optionally has a pre-piercing, for formation of the hole or for enlargement of the pre-piercing. The iris diaphragm has a smaller starting opening which receives a narrower region of the tip and opens into a larger opening with increasing penetration of the component by the tip, the component is supported during hole formation over an as large as possible area from the first side. A piercing aid in the form of an iris diaphragm or a die button is likewise claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PROFIL VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Richard Humpert, Andreas Lembach, Christian Sowa