Patents by Inventor Dirk ERDLOPFF

Dirk ERDLOPFF 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).

  • Joining method while producing an improved heat-staked rivet connection
    Patent number: 11919252
    Abstract: A method for joining a first component with a second component includes providing a first component with a thermoplastic rivet; providing a second component having a rivet hole, wherein the rivet hole forms a rivet hole inlet in a first surface of the second component and a rivet hole outlet in a second surface of the second component, and wherein the second component forms in the second surface a structured rivet head accommodating portion disposed in a region of the rivet hole outlet; inserting a free end of the rivet via the rivet hole inlet into the rivet hole until a unilaterally abutting, inserted position of the rivet reaching through the rivet hole is reached; and heat staking the free end of the rivet in the inserted position while forming a rivet head, so that the rivet head is at least partially accommodated in the rivet head accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Dirk Erdlopff
  • JOINING METHOD WHILE PRODUCING AN IMPROVED HEAT-STAKED RIVET CONNECTION
    Publication number: 20210316515
    Abstract: A method for joining a first component with a second component includes providing a first component with a thermoplastic rivet; providing a second component having a rivet hole, wherein the rivet hole forms a rivet hole inlet in a first surface of the second component and a rivet hole outlet in a second surface of the second component, and wherein the second component forms in the second surface a structured rivet head accommodating portion disposed in a region of the rivet hole outlet; inserting a free end of the rivet via the rivet hole inlet into the rivet hole until a unilaterally abutting, inserted position of the rivet reaching through the rivet hole is reached; and heat staking the free end of the rivet in the inserted position while forming a rivet head, so that the rivet head is at least partially accommodated in the rivet head accommodating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Dirk ERDLOPFF