Patents by Inventor Ralf Wilfert

Ralf Wilfert 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: 8998466
    Abstract: An interior lighting for a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a coupling-out zone for illumination of the vehicle interior, which includes, but is not limited to a lighting device. The lighting device includes, but is not limited to a light source that is configured to produce light and an optical fiber, into which the light can be coupled in or is coupled in. The optical fiber is configured to couple out the light extensively in the at least one coupling-out zone, and includes, but is not limited to an auxiliary lighting for producing an auxiliary light which is also configured for the illumination of the vehicle interior. The auxiliary lighting emits the auxiliary light starting from a side of the at least one optical fiber facing away from the vehicle interior in a trans-illumination zone through the optical fiber into the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Wilfert
  • Publication number: 20120257401
    Abstract: An interior lighting for a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a coupling-out zone for illumination of the vehicle interior, which includes, but is not limited to a lighting device. The lighting device includes, but is not limited to a light source that is configured to produce light and an optical fiber, into which the light can be coupled in or is coupled in. The optical fiber is configured to couple out the light extensively in the at least one coupling-out zone, and includes, but is not limited to an auxiliary lighting for producing an auxiliary light which is also configured for the illumination of the vehicle interior. The auxiliary lighting emits the auxiliary light starting from a side of the at least one optical fiber facing away from the vehicle interior in a trans-illumination zone through the optical fiber into the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ralf WILFERT
  • Publication number: 20120257403
    Abstract: An illumination device includes, but is not limited to at least one light-conductor plate and at least one light source. The at least one light-conductor plate includes, but is not limited to a first main surface and a first lateral surface. In addition, the at least one light-conductor plate includes, but is not limited to light-decoupling elements at least in a part region of the volume of the at least one light-conductor plate. The at least one light-conductor plate is arranged in an outer region of the motor vehicle and forms a decorative shaped part of the motor vehicle. Light of the at least one light source can be coupled into the at least one light-conductor plate via the first lateral surface and can be at least partially decoupled from the at least one light-conductor plate with the light-decoupling elements via the first main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ralf WILFERT
  • Publication number: 20120068513
    Abstract: An unlocking device is provided for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle, particularly for a vehicle seat with a foldable backrest, that includes, but is not limited to a basic element arranged on the backrest of the vehicle seat with a longitudinal axis, an unlocking element rotatable connected about a swivel axis to the basic element, as well as a belt guide. The swivel axis is substantially arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the basic element and the swivel axis is arranged in a plane of the backrest, and the belt guide configured in the form of an open profile. Through the unlocking element an improved entering is made possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Borris Ilse, Boris Jacob, Bertrand Bach, Ralf Wilfert, Woon Han Lee
  • Publication number: 20110214526
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal for a motor vehicle is provided with a damping element having an adjustment unit. A force that counteracts the movement of a pedal arm of the accelerator pedal may be set via the damping element. The adjustment unit is connected to a control unit and adjusts the damping element as a function of signals of the control unit. The force which counteracts the movement of the pedal arm can thus be set as a function of the operating units connected to the control unit or a sensor on the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dino DEMMA, Ralf WILFERT, Frank LEOPOLD
  • Patent number: 7543875
    Abstract: A tailgate arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular of a passenger car The tailgate arrangement has a cargo space expansion element that is mounted on the inside of the vehicle on a tailgate, surrounds a cavity, is joined or can be joined in at least a water-tight manner to a cargo space of the motor vehicle to expand it and can be braced between the tailgate and a rear support fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Leopold, Lee Tyler, Ralf Wilfert
  • Publication number: 20080238122
    Abstract: A tailgate arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular of a passenger car The tailgate arrangement has a cargo space expansion element that is mounted on the inside of the vehicle on a tailgate, surrounds a cavity, is joined or can be joined in at least a water-tight manner to a cargo space of the motor vehicle to expand it and can be braced between the tailgate and a rear support fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank Leopold, Lee Tyler, Ralf Wilfert