Patents by Inventor Frank Niebuhr

Frank Niebuhr 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: 20070087200
    Abstract: A composite part, in particular a vehicle panel such as a car body attachment part, a movable glass cover, or an interior space lining, comprises a foamed plastic layer and an elongated, extruded plastic body. The elongated, extruded plastic body enhances stability of the car body attachment part, is reinforced with fibers, and is embedded in the plastic layer at least in sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Harald Batke, Hans-Joachim Langhoff, Matthias Ludwig, Fred Melzian, Herbert Beck, Ralf Behmer, Sven Hardel, Frank Niebuhr, Tobias Niesner, Volker Staciwa
  • Patent number: 7201436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite component and a method of producing such composite component, in particular a car body attachment part for a motor vehicle, which includes an outer skin that is defined by an outer skin foil associated with the motor vehicle. An inner layer made of plastic is applied to a rear side of the outer skin foil by providing a foamed or injection-molded backing. A mounting piece is disposed in a depression of the outer skin foil and is anchored therein. An intermediate foil is situated between the mounting piece and the outer skin foil and prevents, at least in sections, any direct contact between the mounting piece and the outer skin foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr, Tobias Niesner, Harald Batke
  • Publication number: 20070023947
    Abstract: A method of producing a foamed part, in particular a car body attachment part for a motor vehicle, includes the following steps. A foaming tool is provided that includes a tool bottom part and a tool upper part. An outer skin is placed in the tool bottom part and an expandable material is applied. The foaming tool is closed, with at least one portion of the outer skin being located in a gap between the tool bottom part and the tool upper part. After the foaming process, during opening of the foaming tool, the outer skin is trimmed by the foaming tool itself. The invention further relates to a foaming tool for applying such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Herbert Beck, Harald Batke, Frank Niebuhr, Hans-Joachim Langhoff, Sven Hardel, Tobias Niesner
  • Publication number: 20060237994
    Abstract: A car body attachment part, when mounted to a motor vehicle, has an inner side comprising a surface portion, and an opposite, visible outer side. A method for producing the car body attachment part includes the following steps. A foaming mold is provided that includes a first tool mold die and a second tool mold die. The inner side of the car body attachment part is associated with the first tool mold die, and the outer side is associated with the second tool mold die. Next, a protective foil is inserted in the first tool mold die, at least in a region of the surface portion. The protective foil is provided with a foam backing so that the inner side in the region of the surface portion is constituted by the protective foil. The protective foil is connected with the foam backing such that the protective foil can be peeled off from the foam backing in a non-destructive manner. The car body attachment part is particularly useful as a roof module mounted to a roof of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Frank Niebuhr, Harald Batke, Hans-Joachim Langhoff, Tobias Niesner, Sven Hardel, Herbert Beck
  • Publication number: 20060208539
    Abstract: A vehicle body attachment part for a motor vehicle, in particular a roof module, comprises a large-area outer skin having first and second large-area outer skin portions that are formed from different materials. The vehicle body attachment part also includes a rear carrier layer that receives the outer skin. The first large-area outer skin portion is formed by a foil and the rear carrier layer is formed by providing the foil with a foamed backing. The carrier layer integrally extends under the second large-area outer skin portion, which is subsequently fastened to the rear carrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Frank Niebuhr, Harald Batke, Hans-Joachim Langhoff, Tobias Niesner, Sven Hardel, Herbert Beck
  • Publication number: 20060055210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite component and a method of producing such composite component, in particular a car body attachment part for a motor vehicle, which includes an outer skin that is defined by an outer skin foil associated with the motor vehicle. An inner layer made of plastic is applied to a rear side of the outer skin foil by providing a foamed or injection-molded backing. A mounting piece is disposed in a depression of the outer skin foil and is anchored therein. An intermediate foil is situated between the mounting piece and the outer skin foil and prevents, at least in sections, any direct contact between the mounting piece and the outer skin foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr, Tobias Niesner, Harald Batke
  • Patent number: 7000980
    Abstract: A roof component, in particular an inner liner for a vehicle roof, comprises a carrier layer which consists of a cured material, and a mounting structure. The mounting structure is formed by at least one undercut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Joachim Röder, Frank Niebuhr, Kai Stehning
  • Patent number: 6938946
    Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle has an outer skin formed of an at least partially deformable material. An inner layer is formed of a foamed plastic. A mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored via an interlocking fit between the outer skin and a deformed portion of the mounting part. The interlocking fit may be created when the foamed plastic is expanded in a mold, which increases interior pressure within the mold and deforms the outer skin against the mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Hock, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Patent number: 6851744
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a rim portion that guides a roof module towards an opening for a sliding roof cover. The rim portion has a water groove formed integrally with the roof module. In addition, the roof module may have an integrally formed spoiler adjacent the water groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Niebuhr, Joachim Röder, Markus Lutz, Manfred Röhnke
  • Publication number: 20040256889
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle body part embeds an insert piece into a foamed layer of the body part by holding the insert piece in a foaming tool using a magnetic force. The magnetic force holds the insert piece into position, eliminating the need for any additional holding structures in the foaming tool. A body part made by this method has improved visual quality, particularly at a transition area between the insert piece and a decorative part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Schonebeck, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Publication number: 20040258888
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite vehicle body part includes producing an embossed portion on a foil in the part via plastic deformation. The embossed portion is formed by pressing the foil against a thin, detachable decoration negative in a deep-drawing tool or a foaming tool. The embossed portion remains visible even after a foam backing or injection-molded backing is provided on the foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Publication number: 20040247853
    Abstract: A laminated component, in particular a vehicle body part, includes a substrate and a plastic layer disposed on the substrate. Shrinkage-resistant displacement bodies are embedded in the plastic layer to prevent shrinkage of the plastic layer when it is reacted and cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr, Tobias Niesner, Harald Batke
  • Publication number: 20040247854
    Abstract: A foaming tool has a first mold part, a second mold part, and at least two cavities for producing at least two composite parts from a substrate. A compensation zone is disposed between the two cavities and is adapted to accommodate a relief zone formed on the substrate. The substrate has a first component section and a second component section adapted to be arranged in the cavities of the foaming tool. The first and second component sections receive a foamed backing of an expandable material to form the composite parts. The substrate has a relief zone between the first and second component sections to handle any stresses on the substrate and prevent surface defects in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr, Harald Batke
  • Publication number: 20040247834
    Abstract: A foaming mold for forming a composite part has a first mold part and a second mold part. The first mold part and the second mold part delimit a mold cavity between them. A vent groove is disposed in one of the mold parts and collects any gas trapped in the mold cavity. A plurality of overflow channels are provided between the vent groove and the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr, Harald Batke
  • Publication number: 20040234729
    Abstract: A composite part, such as a mount-on car body panel, is manufactured as a foil part covered by a protective foil. The foil part and protective foil are both inserted into a foam die. Before the insertion, the protective foil is reworked on an outer side of the protective foil to remove rough areas. The resulting composite part has improved surface characteristics due to the reworking step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Frank Niebuhr, Matthias Ludwig, Sven Hardel, Joachim Bebenroth-Struss, Hans-Joachim Langhoff, Tobias Niesner, Harald Batke, Soren Beneke, Marcus Lutz
  • Publication number: 20040169400
    Abstract: A vehicle body panel and a method for manufacturing a vehicle body panel includes a thin plastic film that is applied to a deep-drawn, film-like exterior covering before a back-foamed layer is applied to the exterior covering. When the film hardens, it improves the structural stability of the film, preventing indentations due to varying levels of shrinkage of the back-foamed layer from becoming visible on the exterior covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Hans Joachim Langhoff, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Tobias Niesner, Harald Batke, Frank Niebuhr
  • Publication number: 20040169397
    Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle has an outer skin formed of an at least partially deformable material. An inner layer is formed of a foamed plastic. A mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored via an interlocking fit between the outer skin and a deformed portion of the mounting part. The interlocking fit may be created when the foamed plastic is expanded in a mold, which increases interior pressure within the mold and deforms the outer skin against the mounting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Hock, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Patent number: 6742836
    Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle has an outer skin formed of an at least partially deformable material. An inner layer is formed of a foamed plastic. A mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored via an interlocking fit between the outer skin and a deformed portion of the mounting part. The interlocking fit may be created when the foamed plastic is expanded in a mold, which increases interior pressure within the mold and deforms the outer skin against the mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Arvin Meritor GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Hock, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Publication number: 20030168890
    Abstract: A car body part for a motor vehicle comprises an outer skin which consists of an at least partially deformable material, an inner layer which consists of foamed plastics, and a mounting part which is placed in a recess of the outer skin and is anchored there by means of an interlocking fit. There is further proposed a method of producing such car body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel Hock, Matthias Ludwig, Marcus Lutz, Frank Niebuhr
  • Publication number: 20030057739
    Abstract: A roof component, in particular an inner liner for a vehicle roof, comprises a carrier layer which consists of a cured material, and a mounting structure. The mounting structure is formed by at least one undercut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Joachim Roder, Frank Niebuhr, Kai Stehning