Patents by Inventor Rudolf Lein

Rudolf Lein 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: 9744887
    Abstract: A seat having a backrest and a seat cushion includes rows of adjusting elements, respectively, which adjusting elements are arranged above one another, on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the seat. By alternately applying the adjusting elements mutually arranged in a vertically staggered manner in the two halves of the seat, a rotational movement can be actively applied to a seat user's back and possibly pelvis, which rotational movement corresponds to the rotational movement of the back, and possibly of the pelvis, when walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Durt, Rudolf Lein, Matthias Franz
  • Patent number: 8616654
    Abstract: A method and a device for adjusting a seat are provided. The method includes the acts of detecting a pressure exerted by a user on the seat via a pneumatic sensor and/or a hydraulic sensor, and adjusting the seat based on the pressure exerted by the user. The device includes a pneumatic or hydraulic lifting element, a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure sensor connected to the lifting element, and a control unit connected to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor detects a pressure exerted by a user on the seat, and the control unit controls the first lifting element to adjust the seat based on the pressure exerted by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raphael Zenk, Matthias Franz, Alexander Durt, Rudolf Lein
  • Patent number: 8038222
    Abstract: An actively ventilated vehicle seat includes a lower air-impermeable seat cushion or backrest part, an air-permeable intermediate layer made of a spacer fabric and an upholstered cover. The vehicle seat is divided into upholstered areas which are delimited from each other by seams anchored at the air-impermeable seat cushion. Air bridges are provided which extend transversely to the seams for connecting the intermediate layer between the individual upholstered areas. An unobstructed seat ventilating system and a permanently secure attachment of the seams are achieved in a simple manner in terms of production and without affecting the seating comfort in that the air bridges are integrated all around into the air-impermeable seat cushion and the seams are anchored above the air bridges in the air-impermeable material of the upholstered part covering the air bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Lein, Christian Pudenz
  • Publication number: 20100276973
    Abstract: A method and a device for adjusting a seat are provided. The method includes the acts of detecting a pressure exerted by a user on the seat via a pneumatic sensor and/or a hydraulic sensor, and adjusting the seat based on the pressure exerted by the user. The device includes a pneumatic or hydraulic lifting element, a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure sensor connected to the lifting element, and a control unit connected to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor detects a pressure exerted by a user on the seat, and the control unit controls the first lifting element to adjust the seat based on the pressure exerted by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raphael ZENK, Matthias FRANZ, Alexander DURT, Rudolf LEIN
  • Publication number: 20090243365
    Abstract: An actively ventilated vehicle seat includes a lower air-impermeable seat cushion or backrest part, an air-permeable intermediate layer made of a spacer fabric and an upholstered cover. The vehicle seat is divided into upholstered areas which are delimited from each other by seams anchored at the air-impermeable seat cushion. Air bridges are provided which extend transversely to the seams for connecting the intermediate layer between the individual upholstered areas. An unobstructed seat ventilating system and a permanently secure attachment of the seams are achieved in a simple manner in terms of production and without affecting the seating comfort in that the air bridges are integrated all around into the air-impermeable seat cushion and the seams are anchored above the air bridges in the air-impermeable material of the upholstered part covering the air bridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf LEIN, Christian PUDENZ
  • Publication number: 20090099490
    Abstract: A seat having a backrest and a seat cushion includes rows of adjusting elements, respectively, which adjusting elements are arranged above one another, on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the seat. By alternately applying the adjusting elements mutually arranged in a vertically staggered manner in the two halves of the seat, a rotational movement can be actively applied to a seat user's back and possibly pelvis, which rotational movement corresponds to the rotational movement of the back, and possibly of the pelvis, when walking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander DURT, Rudolf LEIN, Matthias FRANZ
  • Patent number: 6398303
    Abstract: The seat cushion of a seat can be tilted about its longitudinal center axis for generating a tilting movement of the pelvis of a seat occupant. For generating the tilting movement, an adjusting element is provided in each of the right and the left area of the seat cushion. The adjusting elements interact to cause an opposite adjusting movement in the vertical direction, whereby the tilting movement of the pelvis is achieved. The adjusting elements are constructed, for example, as liquid-filled rolling bellows, in which case a sliding vane rotary pump changes the volume of the two adjusting elements in a diametrically opposed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herrmann, Peter Beerbaum, Josef Leitner, Rudolf Lein, Erhard Moser, Ralf Dietz, Juergen Schreiner, Ludwig Faerber
  • Publication number: 20020021038
    Abstract: A seat, in particular a motor-vehicle seat, having a seat-adjusting mechanism is described. The seat-adjusting mechanism comprises a motor-driven spindle unit with a nut which has an inner profiled portion and a spindle which has an outer profiled portion. The spindle unit comprises a plurality of rollers which are arranged in planetary manner between the nut and the spindle and cooperate with the nut and the spindle. Each of the rollers has at least one outer profiled portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Rudolf Lein, Siegfried Angerer, Bernd Gombert, Markus Grebenstein