Patents by Inventor Klaus Friedewald

Klaus Friedewald 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: 6267437
    Abstract: A front pillar arrangement for a motor vehicle body frame includes a front pillar with an outer part and an inner part and a door hinge attached to the outer part of the front pillar with one or more fastening elements along with at least one reinforcing element for mounting the door hinge on the outer part of the front pillar. A rigid connecting element extends between the outer part and the inner part of the front pillar and is attached to the reinforcing element by at least one fastening elements for the door hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Morsch, Klaus Friedewald, Peter Pfeiffer, Arnold Ensslen, Andreas Weiss, Uwe Hoffmann
  • 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: 6216552
    Abstract: A steering column arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel, a telescoping steering spindle, and a telescoping jacket tube made up of a lower tube part and an upper tube part. The steering wheel is connected by way of the spindle to a steering gear and the spindle is rotatably mounted in the jacket tube, the lower tube part being supported by a lower steering column bearing on a first support component which projects the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal collision and the upper tube part being supported by an upper steering column bearing on a second support component which substantially retains its position in event of a frontal collision. An unlocking device normally couples the second support component and the upper tube part and is activatable to uncouple them in the event of a frontal collision, and a wedge member is movable in the event of a frontal collision to prevent and/or diminish an upward movement of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Friedewald, Joachim Klement
  • 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