Patents by Inventor Andreas Hitz

Andreas Hitz 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: 8146986
    Abstract: A dashboard support for a motor vehicle includes a tubular cross member for installation between A-pillars of a vehicle body, and a holder joined to the cross member for attachment of functional vehicle components. The cross member has at least one slot, oriented in a direction transversely to a longitudinal axis of the cross member, for receiving a limb of the holder such as to allow adjustment of a position of the holder in relation to the cross member by sliding and/or turning the limb before the holder is being joined to the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Bierkamp, Andreas Hitz, Stefan Hilgenberg
  • Patent number: 8043681
    Abstract: In a method of making a hybrid structure, at least one support body is fixed in a tube component which is then placed in an injection molding tool. An injection-molded part is injection-molded to an outer surface of the tube component in an area of the support body. As a result, the tube component is inwardly deformed, when regions adjacent to the support body are exposed to an injection pressure, and forms indentations for engagement of the injection-molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Handing, Christian Hielscher, Andreas Hitz, Andreas Wille
  • Patent number: 7810873
    Abstract: A dashboard support extending between the A-pillars of a motor vehicle includes a passenger-side beam member constructed to suit a load exposure on a passenger side, a driver-side beam member which is constructed to suit a load exposure on a driver side and connected to the passenger-side beam member; and an air guiding channel which is made of plastic and arranged in the driver-side beam member. The air guiding channel is supported on the inside by the driver-side beam member so as to be aligned in its three rotary degrees of freedom and its translational degrees of freedom in travel direction and vertical direction. The air guiding channel has a sidewall which is formed, for securement in a direction transversely to the travel direction, with an outwardly directed protuberance for engagement in a receiving member in the driver-side beam member when the air guiding channel is displaced transversely to the travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hitz, Benjamin Viallard
  • Publication number: 20100230997
    Abstract: A door impact beam for a motor vehicle includes a formed metal sheet defined by a longitudinal axis and having a tubular cross section which has a closed circumference in a center portion of the metal sheet, and is configured with open circumference at both end portions of the metal sheet which adjoin the center portion in a direction of the longitudinal axis. Each end portion is defined by an opening angle which continuously increases from the center portion to respective ends of the end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: OTTO BUSCHSIEWEKE, Andreas Hitz, Mirko Paare
  • Publication number: 20090302641
    Abstract: A dashboard support for a motor vehicle includes a tubular cross member for installation between A-pillars of a vehicle body, and a holder joined to the cross member for attachment of functional vehicle components. The cross member has at least one slot, oriented in a direction transversely to a longitudinal axis of the cross member, for receiving a limb of the holder such as to allow adjustment of a position of the holder in relation to the cross member by sliding and/or turning the limb before the holder is being joined to the cross member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: ROMAN BIERKAMP, Andreas Hitz, Stefan Hilgenberg
  • Publication number: 20090140553
    Abstract: A dashboard support extending between the A-pillars of a motor vehicle includes a passenger-side beam member constructed to suit a load exposure on a passenger side, a driver-side beam member which is constructed to suit a load exposure on a driver side and connected to the passenger-side beam member; and an air guiding channel which is made of plastic and arranged in the driver-side beam member. The air guiding channel is supported on the inside by the driver-side beam member so as to be aligned in its three rotary degrees of freedom and its translational degrees of freedom in travel direction and vertical direction. The air guiding channel has a sidewall which is formed, for securement in a direction transversely to the travel direction, with an outwardly directed protuberance for engagement in a receiving member in the driver-side beam member when the air guiding channel is displaced transversely to the travel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hitz, Benjamin Viallard
  • Publication number: 20070000709
    Abstract: A dashboard for a motor vehicle includes a support beam extending between windshield pillars of a motor vehicle body, and an active arrangement which interacts with the support beam for vibration damping. The active arrangement includes plural actuators which are disposed on the support beam and a controller which is operatively connected to the actuators. Further provided is an alert system for recognizing a fatigue state of a driver, with the actuators operatively connected to the alert system via the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: ELISABETH DANGER, Martin Pohl, Andreas Hitz, Andreas Wille
  • Patent number: 6715954
    Abstract: An instrument support member with an integrated air conducting unit to be mounted between the A-columns of a motor vehicle is composed of at least two metal shells which are connected to each other by plasma jet welding with an effective focus remote from the nozzle, and a plastic tube surrounded by the shells. The plastic tube is mounted at a radial distance from the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Benteler AG
    Inventors: Christoph Mainka, Andreas Hitz
  • Patent number: 6533025
    Abstract: An instrument panel support, positioned between A columns of a motor vehicle, has a profiled support member with an integrated air guide system. The profiled support member has at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet connected to the air guide system. The air guide system forms at least a portion of a heat exchanger of an air conditioner of the motor vehicle. Preferably, at least one heat exchanger conduit is integrated into the air guide system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Benteler AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Krogmeier, Andreas Hitz, Rafael Carcia, Wulf Härtel
  • Publication number: 20010043835
    Abstract: An instrument support member with an integrated air conducting unit to be mounted between the A-columns of a motor vehicle is composed of at least two metal shells which are connected to each other by plasma jet welding with an effective focus remote from the nozzle, and a plastic tube surrounded by the shells. The plastic tube is mounted at a radial distance from the shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Christoph Mainka, Andreas Hitz