Patents by Inventor Frank Blockhaus

Frank Blockhaus 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).

  • Publication number: 20220411981
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmueller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Patent number: 11427945
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmueller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Patent number: 11180882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmueller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Patent number: 10822731
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmueller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Patent number: 10443170
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmueller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Publication number: 20180044831
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a visible seam, which is arranged in a sheet material part. The arrangement also includes a lighting apparatus, which is arranged beneath an underside of the sheet material part. The visible seam has an upper thread and a lower thread. The lower thread extends along the underside of the sheet material part in a direction (R). The upper thread has first thread portions along the upper side of the sheet material part and is guided, at stitch holes formed during the sewing process, through said stitch holes via second thread portions. By means of the lighting apparatus, emitted light passes into the second thread portions, into the stitch holes, and from there into the first thread portions. Some of the light propagates along the first thread portions, starting from an adjacent second thread portion, whereas another portion of the light exits from the first thread portion. In this way, the upper thread of the visible seam is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Frank Blockhaus, Julia Schmidt, Holger Wagner, Christoph Riethmuller, Benjamin Pohl
  • Publication number: 20030066586
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an airbag cover is set forth in which at least one recess is formed in the inner side of the cover layer at the location of the tear-open position and is substantially sealingly closed by a cover film, with foam material being applied onto the cover layer and onto the cover film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Blockhaus, Udo Kansteiner, Wolfgang Gundlach
  • Publication number: 20020078814
    Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, forming a tear seam in an interior panel of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of securing the interior panel in a workstation with the inner surface of the interior panel being exposed; and moving knife means across the inner surface to form a tear seam which is substantially V-shaped in cross-section. Achieves accurate positioning the tear seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Udo Kansteiner, Thomas Bender, Frank Blockhaus, Rudolf Heitgress