Patents by Inventor Torsten Gerhardt
Torsten Gerhardt 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).
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Publication number: 20140252734Abstract: A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and three wheels. The first and second wheels are assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair. A first cylinder unit supports the first wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body and a second cylinder unit supports the second wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body. Each cylinder unit includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder connected in series. Each first cylinder has a first diameter and each second cylinder has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The first and second cylinder units are fluidly connected to each other. Fluid is transferable between cylinder units between a first cylinder of the one cylinder unit and a second cylinder of the other cylinder unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert SPAHL, Edmund HALFMANN, Torsten GERHARDT, Marc SIMON
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Publication number: 20140252731Abstract: A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least three wheels, first and second wheels of the three wheels being assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair. The vehicle includes at least one wheel control part suspending each of the first and second wheels of the wheel pair from the vehicle body. At least one resilient element supports each wheel control part on the vehicle body. The resilient element has a non-linear spring characteristic with a spring rate which increases in a compression direction and decreases in a rebound direction. The vehicle may be a motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert SPAHL, Edmund HALFMANN, Torsten GERHARDT, Marc SIMON
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Publication number: 20140252730Abstract: A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least three wheels, with two of the wheels being assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair. A first wheel control part suspends the first wheel of the wheel pair from the vehicle body and a second wheel control part suspends the second wheel of the wheel pair from the vehicle body. The first wheel control part is configured to be coupled to the second wheel control part via a first gearwheel mechanism, and the second wheel control part is configured to be coupled to the first wheel control part via a second gearwheel mechanism. The first and second gearwheel mechanisms each have a negative transmission ratio between a drive shaft and an output shaft. The laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle may be a motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert SPAHL, Edmund HALFMANN, Torsten GERHARDT, Marc SIMON
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Publication number: 20140252732Abstract: A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least three wheels. The first and the second wheels are assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair. Each wheel of the wheel pair is rotatably mounted on a wheel support. The wheel supports of the wheel pair are connected to one another in an articulated manner via a double lever which is mounted rotatably at a first pivot point on the vehicle body. The wheel supports of the wheel pair also are connected to one another in an articulated manner via a parallel trailing arm, which runs parallel to the double lever and is configured to transmit lateral tilting of one wheel support to the other wheel support.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert SPAHL, Edmund HALFMANN, Torsten GERHARDT, Marc SIMON
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Publication number: 20140152040Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a front seat and a rear seat, each having a backrest and a squab. The front and rear seats are arranged in a staggered duplex overlapping relationship. A portion of a front edge of the rear seat squab overlaps a portion of a rear edge of the front seat squab. An inboard edge of the rear seat squab overlaps a portion of an inboard edge of the front seat squab. A longitudinal distance measured from a front edge of the front seat squab to a rear edge of the rear seat squab is less than the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the front and rear seat squabs. A transverse distance measured from an outboard edge of the front seat squab to an outboard edge of the rear seat squab is less than the sum of the widths of the front and rear seat squabs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
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Publication number: 20140152043Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a single occupancy front seat configured for use by a driver of the vehicle. A single occupancy rear seat is configured for use by a passenger of the vehicle and arranged in a staggered relationship with respect to the front seat. A child seat is mounted asymmetrically on the rear seat such that the child seat is positioned further from the front seat than it would be if symmetrically mounted on the rear seat. Mountings secure the child seat on the rear seat and are positioned to mount the child seat asymmetrically on the rear seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
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Publication number: 20140152041Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a stepped floor that has an upper portion and a lower portion. A front seat is disposed on the lower portion. A rear seat is arranged in a staggered relationship behind the front seat. The front seat is mounted high and has an upright backrest and the rear seat has a backrest that is more reclined than the backrest of the front seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
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Publication number: 20140152039Abstract: A seating arrangement for a passenger vehicle includes a vehicular central longitudinal axis. A front seat and a rear seat each include a central longitudinal axis. The respective central longitudinal axes of the front and rear seats are arranged on opposite sides of the vehicular central longitudinal axis in a staggered relationship. The front seat is mounted high and at least one of the seats is positioned such that the central longitudinal axis of the respective seat measured at a rear edge of the respective seat is mounted closer to the vehicular central longitudinal axis than is possible with a symmetrical side-by-side seating arrangement by mounting the respective seat such that a distance measured from the central longitudinal axis of the respective seat at a rear edge of the seat to the vehicular central longitudinal axis is less than half the width of the rear edge of the respective seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
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Publication number: 20140152042Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a central longitudinal axis extending through the vehicle. A front seat is configured for use by a driver and defines a front seat central longitudinal axis. A rear seat is configured for use by a passenger and defines a rear seat central longitudinal axis. The front and rear seats are substantially arranged on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis in a staggered relationship. The central longitudinal axis of the front seat is arranged at a different angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle than the central longitudinal axis of the rear seat. At least one of the seats is positioned such that the central longitudinal axis of the respective seat measured at a rear edge of the seat is mounted closer to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle than is possible with a symmetrical side-by-side seating arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: David Woodhouse, Torsten Gerhardt, Robert Spahl
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Publication number: 20140028043Abstract: A movable bulkhead 10, 110 for a motor vehicle such as a van 1 is disclosed comprising a number of panels 11, 12, 13, 111, 112 and 113 hingedly connected together to permit the bulkhead 10 to be moved or transformed between forward and rear positions by rotation of the panels 11, 12, 13, 111, 112 and 113. The bulkhead 10 is U-shaped defining a concavity that faces forward when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the forward position and rearwardly when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the rear position so as to maximize the cargo carrying capacity of the van 10.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Steve David Fleming, John K. Harding
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Publication number: 20130274951Abstract: A system is disclosed having a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle that is carried by the primary vehicle when not in use. The system further includes at least one of an immobilizing device to immobilize the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the primary vehicle, a data storage device for storing information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, a user interface device for displaying information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, and a user prompt for providing information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle to encourage usage of the secondary vehicle and lower CO2 emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Marcus Hurst, Robert Spahl, David Burrage
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Patent number: 8474894Abstract: A moveable bulkhead 10, 110 for a motor vehicle such as a van 1 is disclosed comprising of a number of panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113 hingedly connected together to permit the bulkhead 10 to be moved or transformed between forward and rear positions by rotation of the panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113. The bulkhead 10 is “U”-shaped defining a concavity that faces forward when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the forward position and rearwardly when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the rear position so as to maximize the cargo carrying capacity of the van 1.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Steve David Fleming, John K. Harding
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Patent number: 8251426Abstract: A stowable seat 10 for a motor vehicle 1, and in particular for a van, having a moveable bulkhead 9 is disclosed in which a backrest 11 of the seat 10 is stowed vertically above a base 12 of the seat 10 and a support mechanism 20 for the seat 10 is arranged so that no member of the support mechanism 20 is located to the rear of a vertical plane “V” aligned with a rearmost part of the stowed seat 10. This arrangement allows the moveable bulkhead 9 to be moved up to the rearmost edge of the stowed seat 10 thereby maximizing the carrying capacity of the motor vehicle 1 when the seat 10 is stowed. The support mechanisms 20 allow the seat 10 to be moved between its stowed and ‘in-use’ positions simply by moving the backrest 11.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Torsten Gerhardt
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Patent number: 8128162Abstract: An armrest assembly for a vehicle seat 5 comprises an armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, a shingle head restraint portion 12 moveably attached to one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, to permit the shingle head restraint 12 to be moved towards and away from the one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, and a height adjuster to selectively secure the head restraint 12 in one of a number of predetermined displaced positions relative to the armrest portion 11a, the armrest portion being moveable from a folded up position 11a to a folded down position 11c.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Andrew John Murray, Will Farrelly, John K. Harding
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Patent number: 8100306Abstract: A roof bar (10) for a motor vehicle (1) includes an elongate load carrying member (13) selectively held in a deployed position by a latch mechanism (20). A crossbar portion (15) of the elongate load carrying member (13) is wider than it is thick and is orientated such that the width of the crossbar portion (15) is vertically arranged when the roof bar (10) is in the deployed position so as to increase the resistance to vertical bending of the crossbar portion (15).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, John K. Harding, Steve David Fleming, Danny Edward Stanesby, Alicia Agius, Will Farrelly, Ian Sutherland Wright
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Publication number: 20110260489Abstract: A stowable seat 10 for a motor vehicle 1, and in particular for a van, having a moveable bulkhead 9 is disclosed in which a backrest 11 of the seat 10 is stowed vertically above a base 12 of the seat 10 and a support mechanism 20 for the seat 10 is arranged so that no member of the support mechanism 20 is located to the rear of a vertical plane “V” aligned with a rearmost part of the stowed seat 10. This arrangement allows the moveable bulkhead 9 to be moved up to the rearmost edge of the stowed seat 10 thereby maximizing the carrying capacity of the motor vehicle 1 when the seat 10 is stowed. The support mechanisms 20 allow the seat 10 to be moved simply between its stowed and ‘in-use’ positions by moving the backrest 11.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Torsten Gerhardt
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Publication number: 20110241544Abstract: A lighting system for a motor vehicle 1 is disclosed in which a light source 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is fitted to the inside of each door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R so as to selectively provide interior lighting when the respective door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R is closed and puddle lighting when it is open. Each of the light sources 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is mounted close to a waistline of the door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R to which it is attached and is arranged to project light in a downward direction so as not to provide a distraction for a driver of the motor vehicle 1.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Andrew John Murray, Torsten Gerhardt, John K. Harding, Will Farrelly
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Patent number: 8002327Abstract: A motor vehicle (5) has a roof structure including a front roof member (6) and a rear member (4) which together form a cover for a passenger compartment (I) of the motor vehicle (5) when both of the roof members (4, 6) are in respective raised positions. When both of the roof members (4, 6) are lowered into stowed positions to form a convertible vehicle, a flap (7, 107) is deployed on each side of the motor vehicle (5) to bridge a gap between the stowed front roof member (6) and an upper edge of an outer rear panel (9).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Alan Richard Condon, John K Harding, Torsten Gerhardt
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Patent number: 7967365Abstract: An actuation mechanism for a stowable front roof panel includes a first support assembly to provide vertical movement of the roof panel and a second sliding support structure to provide horizontal movement of the front roof panel. The first support assembly includes first and second upwardly extending supports and a transverse tubular cross member that in combination form an inverted U-shaped roll over protection member. The roll over protection member is used to provide roll over protection to the occupants of the motor vehicle in the event of a vehicle roll over.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Alan Condon, John Harding
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Publication number: 20110148134Abstract: A moveable bulkhead 10, 110 for a motor vehicle such as a van 1 is disclosed comprising of a number of panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113 hingedly connected together to permit the bulkhead 10 to be moved or transformed between forward and rear positions by rotation of the panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113. The bulkhead 10 is “U”-shaped defining a concavity that faces forward when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the forward position and rearwardly when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the rear position so as to maximize the cargo carrying capacity of the van 1.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Steve David Fleming, John K. Harding