Patents by Inventor Bernhard Rimmelspacher

Bernhard Rimmelspacher 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: 11707954
    Abstract: To improve a trailer device for a motor vehicle, comprising a holding unit for a crossmember mountable on a vehicle body on the rear-end side thereof and a ball neck receiving body having a ball neck receptacle, into which an insertion portion of a ball neck carrying a coupling ball is insertable and fixable, wherein the ball neck receiving body is arranged mounted on the holding unit so as to be pivotable at least between a working position, in which a ball neck is insertable by means of its insertion portion into the ball neck receptacle, and a rest position, it is proposed that the trailer device comprises a drive, which is coupled to the ball neck receiving body by means of a coupling unit which has a freewheel and which in particular comprises a plurality of coupling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ACPS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Patent number: 11701929
    Abstract: To improve a trailer device for motor vehicles, comprising a holding unit for a crossmember mountable on a vehicle body on the rear-end side thereof and a ball neck receiving body having a ball neck receptacle, in which an insertion portion of a ball neck supporting a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, wherein the ball neck receiving body is arranged mounted on the holding unit so as to be pivotable at least between a working position, in which a ball neck is insertable by means of its insertion portion into the ball neck receptacle, and a rest position, it is proposed that the trailer device comprises a locking device which fixes the ball neck receiving body in the rest position in a locking state relative to the holding unit and has an unlocking state, in which the locking device allows the ball neck receiving body to pivot from the rest position in the direction towards the working position, and that an actuator is provided, by means of which the locking device is movable from the locking sta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ACPS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Michael Fischer, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Patent number: 11577562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer hitch, comprising a ball neck, which is movable between an operative position and a rest position and has a trailer ball, a pivot bearing unit, which is arranged fixed to the vehicle, and a rotation-blocking device having at least two rotation-blocking bodies that are guided such that they are movable by means of a guide body in a guide direction having at least one component in the radial direction in relation to the pivot axis, and having an actuation body, which is arranged such that it is rotatable about the pivot axis and has a respective wedge face extending transversely to the guide direction for each of the rotation-blocking bodies and of which the rotary movement in an actuation direction causes the at least two rotation-blocking bodies to be movable and urgeable in the guide direction, wherein there is provided a release position latching device that, in a release position of the actuation body, is movable between a latch release position, which releases movement o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Stefan Naegele, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Publication number: 20220063361
    Abstract: In order to improve a mounting system for a load carrier or a trailer coupling, comprising at least one mounting receptacle, which can be mounted on a rear section of a motor vehicle body, in such a way that a high weight saving is made possible, in particular in the case when a load carrier or a trailer coupling is not being used, it is proposed that the mounting system has a set of two mounting receptacles, which is configured such that each of the mounting receptacles in the mounted state is connected to the motor vehicle body by means of a mounting region for a rear-side impact or crash element provided on the motor vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Hipp, Aleksej Kadnikov, Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Patent number: 11220145
    Abstract: In order to provide a trailer coupling device for motor vehicles, comprising a rear-side cross member which is mountable on a vehicle body, a supporting unit provided on the cross member which holds a ball neck receiving sleeve having a ball neck receptacle in which a ball neck incorporating a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, in which the ball neck receiving sleeve is minimally visible and disturbing when the ball neck is not inserted, it is proposed that the supporting unit comprises a pivot bearing unit by means of which the ball neck receiving sleeve is pivotable from a working position in which the ball neck is insertable therein in order to use a trailer, into a rest position in which an insertion opening of the ball neck receiving sleeve is arranged outside a visible region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner
  • Publication number: 20210370731
    Abstract: To improve a trailer device for a motor vehicle, comprising a holding unit for a crossmember mountable on a vehicle body on the rear-end side thereof and a ball neck receiving body having a ball neck receptacle, into which an insertion portion of a ball neck carrying a coupling ball is insertable and fixable, wherein the ball neck receiving body is arranged mounted on the holding unit so as to be pivotable at least between a working position, in which a ball neck is insertable by means of its insertion portion into the ball neck receptacle, and a rest position, it is proposed that the trailer device comprises a drive, which is coupled to the ball neck receiving body by means of a coupling unit which has a freewheel and which in particular comprises a plurality of coupling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Publication number: 20210370729
    Abstract: To improve a trailer device for motor vehicles, comprising a holding unit for a plvcrossmember mountable on a vehicle body on the rear-end side thereof and a ball neck receiving body having a ball neck receptacle, in which an insertion portion of a ball neck supporting a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, wherein the ball neck receiving body is arranged mounted on the holding unit so as to be pivotable at least between a working position, in which a ball neck is insertable by means of its insertion portion into the ball neck receptacle, and a rest position, it is proposed that the trailer device comprises a locking device which fixes the ball neck receiving body in the rest position in a locking state relative to the holding unit and has an unlocking state, in which the locking device allows the ball neck receiving body to pivot from the rest position in the direction towards the working position, and that an actuator is provided, by means of which the locking device is movable from the locking
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Michael Fischer, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Patent number: 11179984
    Abstract: In order to improve a holding device which is mountable on a tail region of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, comprising a swivel bearing unit which is mountable fixed to the vehicle on the tail region of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger motor vehicle, by means of a support unit, on which swivel bearing a swivel element supporting an attachment element is mounted pivotable about a swivel axis extending transversely, in particular inclined, relative to a longitudinal central plane and is thereby pivotable from an operating position into a rest position and vice versa, such that a holding device is provided to which widely differing attachment elements are fixable, it is proposed that the swivel element is provided with an attachment element carrier having a plug-in receptacle, into which attachment element carrier an attachment element is pluggable with an end region and is fixable with positive engagement, and in that in the operating position, the plug-in receptacle extends with its central axis sub
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Stefan Naegele, Aleksej Kadnikov, Francois Capron
  • Patent number: 11034198
    Abstract: In order for a trailer hitch, comprising a bearing unit mountable on a rear end portion of a vehicle body, in fixed relation to the vehicle, said bearing unit having a bearing base and a ball neck carrier supported for movement on the bearing base, and further comprising a ball neck which at a first end is fixedly connected to the ball neck carrier and at a second end carries a hitch ball and which is movable, by the movement of the ball neck carrier relative to the bearing base, between two final positions, one of which is an operating position and the other one of which is a rest position, to be improved such that the position of the ball neck can be detected as simply and unambiguously as possible, it is proposed that a sensor system be provided for detecting the position of the ball neck relative to the bearing base, which sensor system detects the positions of the ball neck relative to the bearing base mounted in fixed relation to the vehicle and generates position information representative of the respe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Publication number: 20210129609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer hitch, comprising a ball neck, which is movable between an operative position and a rest position and has a trailer ball, a pivot bearing unit, which is arranged fixed to the vehicle, and a rotation-blocking device having at least two rotation-blocking bodies that are guided such that they are movable by means of a guide body in a guide direction having at least one component in the radial direction in relation to the pivot axis, and having an actuation body, which is arranged such that it is rotatable about the pivot axis and has a respective wedge face extending transversely to the guide direction for each of the rotation-blocking bodies and of which the rotary movement in an actuation direction causes the at least two rotation-blocking bodies to be movable and urgeable in the guide direction, wherein there is provided a release position latching device that, in a release position of the actuation body, is movable between a latch release position, which releases movement o
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Stefan Naegele, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Patent number: 10717332
    Abstract: In order to improve a trailer device for motor vehicles, comprising a crossmember, which is mountable on a vehicle body at the rear-end side thereof, a holding unit, which is provided on the crossmember and which carries a ball neck receiving body comprising a ball neck receptacle, into which receiving body an insertion portion of a ball neck supporting a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, in such a way that the ball neck receiving body is both visible and intrusive to the least possible extent when the ball neck is not inserted, it is proposed that the holding unit comprises a pivot bearing unit, by means of which the ball neck receiving body is movable from a working position, in which the ball neck is insertable into said receiving body for trailer operation, into a rest position, and that at least one stop element fixedly connected to the holding unit is provided, which stop element has a first support surface, which, in the working position, abuts against the insertion portion with the inse
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Publication number: 20190375256
    Abstract: In order to provide a trailer coupling device for motor vehicles, comprising a rear-side cross member which is mountable on a vehicle body, a supporting unit provided on the cross member which holds a ball neck receiving sleeve having a ball neck receptacle in which a ball neck incorporating a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, in which the ball neck receiving sleeve is minimally visible and disturbing when the ball neck is not inserted, it is proposed that the supporting unit comprises a pivot bearing unit by means of which the ball neck receiving sleeve is pivotable from a working position in which the ball neck is insertable therein in order to use a trailer, into a rest position in which an insertion opening of the ball neck receiving sleeve is arranged outside a visible region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Scambia Holdings Cyprus Limited
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner
  • Patent number: 10434831
    Abstract: In order to provide a trailer coupling device for motor vehicles, comprising a rear-side cross member which is mountable on a vehicle body, a supporting unit provided on the cross member which holds a ball neck receiving sleeve having a ball neck receptacle in which a ball neck incorporating a coupling ball is insertable and fixable therein, in which the ball neck receiving sleeve is minimally visible and disturbing when the ball neck is not inserted, it is proposed that the supporting unit comprises a pivot bearing unit by means of which the ball neck receiving sleeve is pivotable from a working position in which the ball neck is insertable therein in order to use a trailer, into a rest position in which an insertion opening of the ball neck receiving sleeve is arranged outside a visible region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Bosal ACPS Holding 2 B.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner
  • Patent number: 10189323
    Abstract: The invention provides a trailer coupling including a ball neck movable between an operative position and a rest position. A coupling ball and a pivot bearing unit are fixed to the vehicle. A rotation blocking arrangement has at least two rotation blocking bodies. An actuating body has a respective cam face that runs transversely to the guide direction for each of the rotation blocking bodies arranged to be rotatable about the pivot axis. As a result of the rotary movement in a direction of actuation the at least two rotation blocking bodies are movable in the guide direction. A release position latching arrangement is movable between a latch release position and a latching position that fixes the actuating body in relation to the guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Bosal ACPS Holding 2 B.V.
    Inventors: Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Publication number: 20180319232
    Abstract: In order to improve a holding device which is mountable on a tail region of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, comprising a swivel bearing unit which is mountable fixed to the vehicle on the tail region of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger motor vehicle, by means of a support unit, on which swivel bearing a swivel element supporting an attachment element is mounted pivotable about a swivel axis extending transversely, in particular inclined, relative to a longitudinal central plane and is thereby pivotable from an operating position into a rest position and vice versa, such that a holding device is provided to which widely differing attachment elements are fixable, it is proposed that the swivel element is provided with an attachment element carrier having a plug-in receptacle, into which attachment element carrier an attachment element is pluggable with an end region and is fixable with positive engagement, and in that in the operating position, the plug-in receptacle extends with its central axis sub
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Stefan Naegele, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Publication number: 20180222263
    Abstract: In order for a trailer hitch, comprising a bearing unit mountable on a rear end portion of a vehicle body, in fixed relation to the vehicle, said bearing unit having a bearing base and a ball neck carrier supported for movement on the bearing base, and further comprising a ball neck which at a first end is fixedly connected to the ball neck carrier and at a second end carries a hitch ball and which is movable, by the movement of the ball neck carrier relative to the bearing base, between two final positions, one of which is an operating position and the other one of which is a rest position, to be improved such that the position of the ball neck can be detected as simply and unambiguously as possible, it is proposed that a sensor system be provided for detecting the position of the ball neck relative to the bearing base, which sensor system detects the positions of the ball neck relative to the bearing base mounted in fixed relation to the vehicle and generates position information representative of the respe
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Patent number: 9975387
    Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles comprising a ball neck, which is mountable at a first end on a rear part of a motor vehicle to be fixed to the vehicle by means of a ball neck holder and which carries a coupling ball at a second end, in such a manner that load carriers can be mounted and securely held in a simple manner, it is proposed that at least one positioning body is arranged on the ball neck at a defined spacing from the coupling ball to position a load carrier holding arrangement attachable to the coupling ball and the ball neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Scambia Holdings Cyprus Limited
    Inventors: Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher
  • Patent number: 9855803
    Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, including a ball neck which is mountable on a rear part of a motor vehicle so as to be fixed to the vehicle by means of a ball neck carrier by way of a first end and on a second end carries a coupling ball, in such a manner that load carriers can be mounted and held securely in a simple manner, it is proposed that, for positioning a load carrier holding device, which is loadable onto the coupling ball and the ball neck, at least one first positioning body is arranged on the ball neck at a defined spacing from the coupling ball, that the at least one first positioning body is arranged on a ball neck portion of the ball neck which adjoins a ball attachment of the ball neck which carries the coupling ball and in particular, proceeding from the ball attachment, extends along the ball neck over a distance which corresponds to a maximum of one and a half times the diameter of the coupling ball, and that the at least one first positioning body extends transv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Scambia Holdings Cyprus Limited
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Wolfgang Gentner, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Patent number: 9849741
    Abstract: In the case of a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, including a cross member, which is connectable to a motor vehicle body, and a bearing unit, which carries a ball neck that at a first end is connected to the bearing unit and at a second end carries a coupling ball, and a holding base, which carries the bearing unit and is connected to the cross member, it is proposed according to the invention that the holding base should have a flange unit, for receiving the bearing unit, and two holding elements that project from the flange unit and in so doing run at a spacing from one another and act on the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Scambia Holdings Cyprus Limited
    Inventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Wolfgang Gentner, Aleksej Kadnikov
  • Publication number: 20170072753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer coupling including a ball neck, which is movable between an operative position and a rest position and which has a coupling ball, a pivot bearing unit, which is arranged fixed to the vehicle, and a rotation blocking arrangement having at least two rotation blocking bodies, which are guided by means of a guide body to be movable in a guide direction having at least one component in the radial direction relative to the pivot axis, and having an actuating body which has a respective cam face, that runs transversely to the guide direction, for each of the rotation blocking bodies and which is arranged to be rotatable about the pivot axis and as a result of the rotary movement whereof in a direction of actuation the at least two rotation blocking bodies are movable and urgeable in the guide direction, wherein a release position latching arrangement is provided which, in a release position of the actuating body, is movable between a latch release position that allows movement of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Aleksej Kadnikov, Wolfgang Gentner, Bernhard Rimmelspacher