Patents by Inventor Gert Heumann

Gert Heumann 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: 6254173
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a safety body structure and side doors, each side being fixed to a door pillar of the safety body structure by at least one door hinge. When the vehicle receives a frontal impact, the forces which are imparted to the front section of the safety body structure are transmitted to the door pillar and are transmitted by the door to other body parts further away from the point of impact when the side door remains closed or is supported against the door pillar in the area of the door hinge without swinging outwardly. In order to prevent the front end of the door from swinging outwardly, the front end is caused to move, upon frontal impact to the vehicle, parallel to or inwardly toward a longitudinal center line of the vehicle by a controlled orientation of the deformation of a door hinge part in relation to the door pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Friedewald, Gert Heumann, Arnold Ensslen
  • Patent number: 6059355
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a safety body structure and side doors, each side being fixed to a door pillar of the safety body structure by at least one door hinge. When the vehicle receives a frontal impact, the forces which are imparted to the front section of the safety body structure are transmitted to the door pillar and are transmitted by the door to other body parts further away from the point of impact when the side door remains closed or is supported against the door pillar in the area of the door hinge without swinging outwardly. In order to prevent the front end of the door from swinging outwardly, the front end is caused to move, upon frontal impact to the vehicle, parallel to or inwardly toward a longitudinal center line of the vehicle by a controlled orientation of the deformation of a door hinge part in relation to the door pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Friedewald, Gert Heumann, Arnold Ensslen