Patents by Inventor Dirk Benthaus

Dirk Benthaus 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: 11014478
    Abstract: A seat back assembly and method of manufacture is provided. The seat back includes a foam cushion layer. A support sub-assembly is formed including a rigid support layer with a plurality of cavities and channels defined on a rear surface for receiving components and a generally smooth front surface. At least one component is retained in one of the cavities and a second component is secured on the front surface of the support layer. A trim material covers the cushion layer and secures the sub-assembly to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Benthaus, Zvonko Van Der Meer
  • Patent number: 10563680
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided with a first threaded fastener. A damper has a body sized to receive the first threaded fastener, and a flange to provide an installation surface. A second threaded fastener is sized to engage the first threaded fastener. An actuator includes a housing with a receptacle. The receptacle has a cavity sized to receive the flange of the damper, and the receptacle is provided with a slot with an opening to receive the body of the damper. A structural support member has an aperture formed therethrough. The second threaded fastener is engaged with the aperture of the structural support member to fasten the actuator to the structural support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Benthaus, Zvonko Van Der Meer
  • Publication number: 20190232838
    Abstract: A seat back assembly and method of manufacture is provided. The seat back includes a foam cushion layer. A support sub-assembly is formed including a rigid support layer with a plurality of cavities and channels defined on a rear surface for receiving components and a generally smooth front surface. At least one component is retained in one of the cavities and a second component is secured on the front surface of the support layer. A trim material covers the cushion layer and secures the sub-assembly to the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk BENTHAUS, Zvonko VAN DER MEER
  • Patent number: 10293725
    Abstract: A seat back assembly and method of manufacture is provided. The seat back includes a foam cushion layer. A support sub-assembly is formed including a rigid support layer with a plurality of cavities and channels defined on a rear surface for receiving components and a generally smooth front surface. At least one component is retained in one of the cavities and a second component is secured on the front surface of the support layer. A trim material covers the cushion layer and secures the sub-assembly to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Benthaus, Zvonko Van Der Meer
  • Publication number: 20180180074
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided with a first threaded fastener. A damper has a body sized to receive the first threaded fastener, and a flange to provide an installation surface. A second threaded fastener is sized to engage the first threaded fastener. An actuator includes a housing with a receptacle. The receptacle has a cavity sized to receive the flange of the damper, and the receptacle is provided with a slot with an opening to receive the body of the damper. A structural support member has an aperture formed therethrough. The second threaded fastener is engaged with the aperture of the structural support member to fasten the actuator to the structural support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk BENTHAUS, Zvonko VAN DER MEER
  • Publication number: 20170341551
    Abstract: A seat back assembly and method of manufacture is provided. The seat back includes a foam cushion layer. A support sub-assembly is formed including a rigid support layer with a plurality of cavities and channels defined on a rear surface for receiving components and a generally smooth front surface. At least one component is retained in one of the cavities and a second component is secured on the front surface of the support layer. A trim material covers the cushion layer and secures the sub-assembly to the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk BENTHAUS, Zvonko VAN DER MEER
  • Patent number: 7441837
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag system for a vehicle seat assembly of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a cover member adapted for mounting to the vehicle seat assembly. The inflatable airbag system also includes an inflatable airbag adapted to inflate outward from the cover member and outward from the vehicle seat assembly to thereby act as a protective barrier between an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly and an interior surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Harald Fischer, Dirk Benthaus, Andreas Kellner
  • Publication number: 20060250000
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag system for a vehicle seat assembly of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a cover member adapted for mounting to the vehicle seat assembly. The inflatable airbag system also includes an inflatable airbag adapted to inflate outward from the cover member and outward from the vehicle seat assembly to thereby act as a protective barrier between an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly and an interior surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Harald Fischer, Dirk Benthaus, Andreas Kellner
  • Patent number: 7100992
    Abstract: In order a safety device for a motor vehicle seat having a seat cushion part and a backrest, the backrest having a frame, a backrest cover, which faces rearward as seen in the direction of travel, and padding which faces forward, as seen in the direction of travel, and an airbag module is integrated into the backrest, said airbag module being arranged in that region of the backrest which faces the side wall structure of the motor vehicle in such a manner that an airbag is deployed when there is an impact between a driver and the side wall of the motor vehicle, said safety device ensuring a reliable and reproducible emergence of the airbag, it is proposed to arrange the airbag module to the rear of the backrest frame, when looking from the side wall of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Roland Beisswenger, Dirk Benthaus, Michael Eichler, Thomas Foelster, Alexander Koblischke, Uwe Nagel, Kai-Thorsten Schmiedl, Ulrich Tschaeschke
  • Publication number: 20050006933
    Abstract: In order a safety device for a motor vehicle seat having a seat cushion part and a backrest, the backrest having a frame, a backrest cover, which faces rearward as seen in the direction of travel, and padding which faces forward, as seen in the direction of travel, and an airbag module is integrated into the backrest, said airbag module being arranged in that region of the backrest which faces the side wall structure of the motor vehicle in such a manner that an airbag is deployed when there is an impact between a driver and the side wall of the motor vehicle, said safety device ensuring a reliable and reproducible emergence of the airbag, it is proposed to arrange the airbag module to the rear of the backrest frame, when looking from the side wall of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Roland Beisswenger, Dirk Benthaus, Michael Eichler, Thomas Foelster, Alexander Koblischke, Uwe Nagel, Kai-Thorsten Schmiedl, Ulrich Tschaeschke