Patents by Inventor Erik Hilfrich

Erik Hilfrich 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: 9638887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for a curved mirror having support elements and a curved mirror. The objective of providing a support device for a curved mirror which is constructed in a particularly simple manner and which enables particularly low production costs is achieved by a support device in that the support device has at least one bent metal carrier profile-member, the bent carrier profile-member having in the longitudinal direction an at least similar curvature to the curved mirror and being substantially mirror-symmetrical in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Stephan Drewes, Thomas Groβerüschkamp, Erik Hilfrich, Mark Hirt, Jens Liesner, Lothar Patberg, Roman Glass
  • Publication number: 20170014891
    Abstract: A method for the individualized adaptation of the shape of components includes providing a basic material for producing the components. Next at least one unifying production method is selected. The components are then produced with a geometrically identical base shape by the unifying production method. Then at least one individualizing production method is selected. Then the shape of the components is adapted to at least two different final shapes by the individualizing production method that is different from the unifying production method. The final shape of each component differs from its basic shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Andreas COTT, Erik HILFRICH, Joseph Georg KEVENHÖRSTER, Oliver MERTENS, Lothar PATBERG, Marcus RAUHUT, Ralf STEGMEYER
  • Patent number: 9458717
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed for providing a positive and/or a non-positive connection between at least two connecting partners. The connector or connecting means has at least one first region which engages with the first connecting partner by way of a positive and/or a non-positive connection, and at least one second region is provided which engages with the at least second connecting partner by way of a positive and/or a non-positive connection. The connecting means provides a positive and/or non-positive connection between at least two connecting partners in a simple and inexpensive manner and which meets high safety requirements. The second region of the connecting means has a region which is formed from an at least partially flat material made of an Fe alloy with shape memory characteristics and which, when activated, ensures the positive and/or non-positive connection with the second connecting partner by way of a change in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Rainer Fechte-Heinen, Lothar Patberg, Joseph Georg Kevenhörster, Andreas Cott, Thomas Flaskamp, Vanessa Wieschalla, Erik Hilfrich
  • Publication number: 20150367597
    Abstract: A tailored semifinished part (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is disclosed in the form of a metal sheet or strip which is formed from a first blank (1) and at least one second blank (2) and the first and at least one second blank are physically, frictionally and/or adhesively (3) joined to one another. The first blank (1) may be an ultrahigh-strength, monolithic material. A motor vehicle component (5?, 6?, 7?, 8?, 9?) may be made of the tailored semifinished part (5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Erik Hilfrich, David Pieronek
  • Publication number: 20150337659
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed for providing a positive and/or a non-positive connection between at least two connecting partners. The connector or connecting means has at least one first region which engages with the first connecting partner by way of a positive and/or a non-positive connection, and at least one second region is provided which engages with the at least second connecting partner by way of a positive and/or a non-positive connection. The connecting means provides a positive and/or non-positive connection between at least two connecting partners in a simple and inexpensive manner and which meets high safety requirements. The second region of the connecting means has a region which is formed from an at least partially flat material made of an Fe alloy with shape memory characteristics and which, when activated, ensures the positive and/or non-positive connection with the second connecting partner by way of a change in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Rainer FECHTE-HEINEN, Lothar PATBERG, Joseph Georg KEVENHÖRSTER, Andreas COTT, Thomas FLASKAMPp, Vanessa KREUZER, Erik HILFRICH
  • Publication number: 20130229723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for a curved mirror having support elements and a curved mirror. The objective of providing a support device for a curved mirror which is constructed in a particularly simple manner and which enables particularly low production costs is achieved by a support device in that the support device has at least one bent metal carrier profile-member, the bent carrier profile-member having in the longitudinal direction an at least similar curvature to the curved mirror and being substantially mirror-symmetrical in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Stephan Drewes, Thomas Großerüschkamp, Erik Hilfrich, Mark Hirt, Jens Liesner, Lothar Patberg, Roman Glass
  • Patent number: 7958638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal plate, especially made of steel, for producing motor vehicle body components. In order to make the body component sufficiently rigid at highly stressed points in spite of using lightweight materials, the sheet metal plate (11) is provided with local reinforcement zones (13, 14). To this avail, the sheet metal plate (11) is joined together from at least two cut metal sheets (7, 9) with a straight seam (10). At least one of the cut metal sheets (7) comprises several parallel strips (2 to 6) having different strengths while each local reinforcement zone (13, 14) lies within a reinforced strip (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventor: Erik Hilfrich
  • Publication number: 20110123780
    Abstract: A method for forming a beading fold in a multi-layer composite material, which has at least one core layer made of a plastics material and at least two cover layers made of a metallic material, provides high process reliability and optimal integrity of the formed multi-layer composite material. In particular, the method provides that, in the region of the beading fold to be formed, the core layer of the composite material is heated at least in portions to a temperature of 180° C. to 300° C. Also described herein is a multi-layer composite material having at least one beading fold, said material comprising at least one core layer made of a plastics material and at least two cover layers made of a metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Börger, Erik Hilfrich, Oliver Kleinschmidt
  • Publication number: 20080268277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal plate, especially made of steel, for producing motor vehicle body components. In order to make the body component sufficiently rigid at highly stressed points in spite of using lightweight materials, the sheet metal plate (11) is provided with local reinforcement zones (13, 14). To this avail, the sheet metal plate (11) is joined together from at least two cut metal sheets (7, 9) with a straight seam (10). At least one of the cut metal sheets (7) comprises several parallel strips (2 to 6) having different strengths while each local reinforcement zone (13, 14) lies within a reinforced strip (2, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Erik Hilfrich
  • Patent number: 6309013
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a cover (14) which has a closed position in which it closes a roof opening (12) in a fixed roof skin (10), and which can be raised for ventilation purposes, and with an adjustable headliner part (16, 116) which can be both moved from a closed position in which it blocks viewing of the cover from the motor vehicle interior (18) and an open position in which it exposes the roof opening or the cover. The headliner can also be raised with the cover to increase the ventilation function. A coupling mechanism is provided for coupling the headliner to the cover for entraining the headliner to rise with the cover but is disengageable for uncoupling of the headliner part from the cover for enabling longitudinal movement of the headliner relative to the cover into said at least one pushed-back position. Engagement and disengagement the coupling mechanism can be position dependent or can be manually actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignees: Webasto Vehicle System International GmbH, Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Staltmayer, Engelbert Hirschvogel, Günther Schwanitz, Martin Danzl, Robert Werner, Siegfried Betz, Erik Hilfrich