Patents by Inventor Klaus Rathje
Klaus Rathje 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: 20080277951Abstract: A motor vehicle front part includes a bumper unit provided with a bumper crossmember and a support which rigidifies the bumper unit in a region upstream of the bumper crossmember upon impact with a pedestrian. The front part of a vehicle is provided with a bumper unit so that the pedestrian's protection is also improved on vehicles whose design do not enable a lower support to be incorporated. The support is therefore arranged above the bumper crossmember.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2006Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Klaus Rathje, Dennis Waldherr
-
Patent number: 7104350Abstract: In order to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle, a bodyshell element forming a hood or trunk lid has at least one edge area with an outer part isolated from a support structure, in such a way that the outer part creates an energy-absorbing zone in front of the support structure part as a means of protection in a collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Garry Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
-
Patent number: 7013951Abstract: The invention relates to a front part of a motor vehicle having a fender unit which comprises a front fender which is covered on the outside by a fender covering, and which is connected in its lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, an air guiding part being arranged underneath the fender. According to the invention, in the event of a head-on impact the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens it in a region which is positioned in front of the fender, the air guiding part being supported on the bottom supporting structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Ralph Bauer, Garry Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje
-
Publication number: 20050194821Abstract: In order to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle, a bodyshell element forming a hood or trunk lid has at least one edge area with an outer part isolated from a support structure, in such a way that the outer part creates an energy-absorbing zone in front of the support structure part as a means of protection in a collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2005Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventors: Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
-
Patent number: 6890011Abstract: An energy-absorbing bumper with a structural part of foam material or the like which is arranged underneath an outer skin or shell, supports the outer skin or shell in a flexible manner and is arranged between a collision contact zone of the outer skin or shell and a rear side of the bumper.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Eduardo Arvelo, Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Maya Ziegs
-
Patent number: 6846037Abstract: The body of passenger motor vehicles comprises, among other things, two longitudinal bearers and a rear end having a rear end middle piece. In order to minimize the extent of repair of damages to the rear end, the invention provides that the rear bumper bending bearer is bolted as a lower module in the area of the rear longitudinal bearer to the body via deformation elements provided for absorbing energy. In order to minimize the complexity of repairs of damages involving a greater extent of deformation to the rear end, the invention additionally provides that the entire rear end middle piece or portions thereof is/are structured as another lower module of the rear end module that can be bolted to the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: ISE Innomotive Systems Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Engels, Friedhelm Buning, Karl-Heinz Baumann, Klaus Rathje
-
Patent number: 6840659Abstract: A transition region between an engine hood or front trunk lid and a headlight is configured such that the front hood or trunk lid and the headlight adjoin each other without any support to the greatest possible extent. Thus, in the case of a collision with a pedestrian, the front hood or trunk lid can be deformed without any support. In addition, the headlights are arranged outside a zone which is highly likely to be struck by a child's head.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Garry Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
-
Publication number: 20040144522Abstract: The invention relates to a front part of a motor vehicle having a fender unit which comprises a front fender which is covered on the outside by a fender covering, and which is connected in its lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, an air guiding part being arranged underneath the fender.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Ralph Bauer, Garry Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje
-
Publication number: 20040066061Abstract: The body of passenger motor vehicles comprises, among other things, two longitudinal bearers and a rear end having a rear end middle piece. In order to minimize the extent of repair of damages to the rear end, the invention provides that the rear bumper bending bearer (2) is bolted as a lower module (1) in the area of the rear longitudinal bearer to the body via deformation elements (4) provided for absorbing energy. In order to minimize the complexity of repairs of damages involving a greater extent of deformation to the rear end, the invention additionally provides that the entire rear end middle piece or portions thereof is/are structured as another lower module (10) of the rear end module that can be bolted to the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: Frank Engels, Friedhelm Buning, Karl-Heinz Baumann, Klaus Rathje
-
Patent number: 6641209Abstract: A front-hood arrangement, in particular a hood arrangement for a passenger vehicle is provided with a downwardly facing, lateral separating gap between the front hood and a mudguard. The front hood has an internal inner hood and an external outer hood. The front hood has a stiffening zone which is supported directly or indirectly on a supporting element of the vehicle body when the front hood is closed. The outer hood has a lateral border region, the end edge of which is adjacent to the separating gap, at least one connecting web being provided via which the stiffening zone is connected to the border region of the outer hood. In order to improve the expansion behavior when a person impacts vertically onto the front hood, it is proposed that when the front hood is closed, the stiffening zone is supported laterally outwards on stop means which are fastened to the supporting element of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Juergen Warwel, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje
-
Publication number: 20030141728Abstract: An energy-absorbing bumper with a structural part of foam material or the like which is arranged underneath an outer skin or shell, supports the outer skin or shell in a flexible manner and is arranged between a collision contact zone of the outer skin or shell and a rear side of the bumper.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Eduardo Arvelo, Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Maya Ziegs
-
Publication number: 20030099110Abstract: A transition region between an engine hood or front trunk lid and a headlight is configured such that the front hood or trunk lid and the headlight adjoin each other without any support to the greatest possible extent. Thus, in the case of a collision with a pedestrian, the front hood or trunk lid can be deformed without any support. In addition, the headlights are arranged outside a zone which is highly likely to be struck by a child's head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2002Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventors: Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
-
Publication number: 20030098192Abstract: In order to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle, a bodyshell element forming a hood or trunk lid has at least one edge area with an outer part isolated from a support structure, in such a way that the outer part creates an energy-absorbing zone in front of the support structure part as a means of protection in a collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2002Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventors: Gary Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
-
Publication number: 20020195837Abstract: A front-hood arrangement, in particular a hood arrangement for a passenger vehicle is provided with a downwardly facing, lateral separating gap between the front hood and a mudguard. The front hood has an internal inner hood and an external outer hood. The front hood has a stiffening zone which is supported directly or indirectly on a supporting element of the vehicle body when the front hood is closed. The outer hood has a lateral border region, the end edge of which is adjacent to the separating gap, at least one connecting web being provided via which the stiffening zone is connected to the border region of the outer hood. In order to improve the expansion behavior when a person impacts vertically onto the front hood, it is proposed that when the front hood is closed, the stiffening zone is supported laterally outwards on stop means which are fastened to the supporting element of the vehicle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Juergen Warwel, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje
-
Patent number: 5785367Abstract: The invention relates to a bumper for a vehicle body having two side members (11, 12), said bumper consisting of a bumper bracket (13) extending over the width of the body, with two deformation members (14, 15) projecting at right angles from the back at a distance from one another, said members being integral with bumper bracket (13) and being connectable by bolt connections (20) with side members (11, 12). The deformation members (14, 15) are more resistant to deformation than bumper bracket (13), so that they deform to absorb additional energy only when the ability of bumper bracket (13) to deform is exhausted.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Andreas Otto, Klaus Rathje