Patents by Inventor Ludger Mühlenbrock

Ludger Mühlenbrock 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: 12122320
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure has a structural component which has an automatic belt unit. The automatic belt unit is arranged in a hollow space of the structural component and the structural component is connected in a positive-locking and/or materially engaging and/or non-positive-locking manner to at least one other component of the vehicle seat structure. The vehicle seat structure has a seat substructure and the structural component which has an automatic belt unit forms a component of the seat substructure. The structural component which has the automatic belt unit forms a seat frame side portion of the seat substructure A method for assembling such a vehicle seat structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Ludger Muehlenbrock, Toralf Mueller, Tobias Schaffert, Klaus Tupuschies
  • Patent number: 12122281
    Abstract: A calf support arrangement for a vehicle seat may have one seat attachment unit. The arrangement may also have one first calf support element which is coupled to the seat attachment unit and is pivotable relative thereto. The arrangement may also have one second calf support element which is coupled to the first calf support element and is movable relative thereto. At least one guide arrangement is provided by which the calf support elements are arranged on the seat attachment unit coupled in terms of movement in such a manner that the two calf support elements are pivotable relative to the seat attachment unit and the second calf support element is movable relative to the first calf support element. A vehicle seat having the calf support arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventor: Ludger Muehlenbrock
  • Publication number: 20240326661
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a first seat component that may be a backrest lower portion, a second seat component which can be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the first seat component, in particular a backrest upper portion. The second seat component may have a slotted guiding member, a journal which is movably guided in the slotted guiding member of the second seat component, and an actuator for displacing the journal within the slotted guiding member. The first seat component may have a slotted support member in which the journal is movably guided, where the slotted guiding member and the slotted support member may intersect with each other in an intersection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Adient US LLC
    Inventor: Ludger MUEHLENBROCK
  • Patent number: 11945398
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure for a vehicle seat may have a structural component having an inertia belt reel. The inertia belt reel may be arranged in a cavity of the structural component, and the structural component may be connected to at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure. A method for assembling such a vehicle seat structure may include providing a structural component having an inertia belt reel and at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure that are displaced and/or rotated relative to one another such that the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure take up an end position with respect to one another. In a further step, the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure are connected to one another in a form-fitting and/or integrally bonded and/or force-fitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Ludger Muehlenbrock, Toralf Mueller, Tobias Schaffert, Klaus Tupuschies
  • Publication number: 20230264650
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure has a structural component which has an automatic belt unit. The automatic belt unit is arranged in a hollow space of the structural component and the structural component is connected in a positive-locking and/or materially engaging and/or non-positive-locking manner to at least one other component of the vehicle seat structure. The vehicle seat structure has a seat substructure and the structural component which has an automatic belt unit forms a component of the seat substructure. The structural component which has the automatic belt unit forms a seat frame side portion of the seat substructure A method for assembling such a vehicle seat structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Ludger MUEHLENBROCK, Toralf MUELLER, Tobias SCHAFFERT, Klaus TUPUSCHIES
  • Publication number: 20230112500
    Abstract: A calf support arrangement for a vehicle seat may have one seat attachment unit. The arrangement may also have one first calf support element which is coupled to the seat attachment unit and is pivotable relative thereto. The arrangement may also have one second calf support element which is coupled to the first calf support element and is movable relative thereto. At least one guide arrangement is provided by which the calf support elements are arranged on the seat attachment unit coupled in terms of movement in such a manner that the two calf support elements are pivotable relative to the seat attachment unit and the second calf support element is movable relative to the first calf support element. A vehicle seat having the calf support arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: Ludger MUEHLENBROCK
  • Patent number: 11458924
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part and a backrest. At least the seat part or the backrest may have a frame. The frame may have at least one frame side part. The frame side part may have an embossing for attaching a gas pressure generator for an airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Ludger Muehlenbrock, Toralf Mueller
  • Patent number: 11235685
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) having adjustment kinematics, in particular height-adjustment kinematics (6), with movable rockers (12, 14), in particular for adjusting the height of a seat frame of the vehicle seat (1) relative to a connectable vehicle structure, wherein at least one rocker (14) is mounted rotatably about an axis (A), in particular about an axis (A) of a transverse tube (16), and a toothed segment (18) which is connected to the at least one rocker (14) is provided, wherein the vehicle seat (1) has a drive (20) for moving the at least one rocker (14), and the drive (20) is mounted on a seat frame, in particular on a side part (100) of the seat frame, wherein a pinion (26) of the drive (20) meshes with the toothed segment (18), wherein, by aligning the position of the entire drive (20) relative to the side part (100) by means of a compensating body (200), the pinion (26) is positioned relative to the toothed segment (18) in a manner free from play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ludger Muehlenbrock
  • Publication number: 20210394706
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure for a vehicle seat may have a structural component having an inertia belt reel. The inertia belt reel may be arranged in a cavity of the structural component, and the structural component may be connected to at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure. A method for assembling such a vehicle seat structure may include providing a structural component having an inertia belt reel and at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure that are displaced and/or rotated relative to one another such that the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure take up an end position with respect to one another. In a further step, the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure are connected to one another in a form-fitting and/or integrally bonded and/or force-fitting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: ADIENT ENGINEERING AND IP GMBH
    Inventors: Ludger Muehlenbrock, Toralf Mueller, Tobias Schaffert, Klaus Tupuschies
  • Publication number: 20210261023
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have adjustment kinematics with movable rockers. At least one rocker is mounted rotatably about an axis, and a toothed segment which may be connected to the at least one rocker may be provided. The vehicle seat may have a drive for moving the at least one rocker, and the drive may be mounted on a seat frame. A pinion of the drive may mesh with the toothed segment. By aligning the position of the entire drive relative to the side part via a compensating body, the pinion may be positioned relative to the toothed segment in a manner free from play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH
    Inventor: Ludger Muehlenbrock
  • Publication number: 20210046892
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part and a backrest. At least the seat part or the backrest may have a frame. The frame may have at least one frame side part. The frame side part may have an embossing for attaching a gas pressure generator for an airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: ADIENT ENGINEERING AND IP GMBH
    Inventors: LUDGER MUEHLENBROCK, TORALF MUELLER
  • Patent number: 10434562
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component. The first component has a deformation region, wherein the deformation region is at least partially heated in a first step. An inner die for the plastic deformation is provided in a second method step. The first component is plastically deformed in the deformation region in order to connect the first component to the second component in a third step, and wherein the deformation region is at least partially contacted by the inner die in the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Maximilian Platvoet, Ludger Mühlenbrock
  • Patent number: 10137492
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component, wherein the first component has a deformation region. The deformation region is at least partially heated in a first step. In a second step an inner die, having an optical component for plastic deformation, is provided. In a third step the first component is plastically deformed in the deformation region in order to connect the first component to the second component. Light for heating the first component is directed at the deformation region by means of the optical component of the inner die in the first and/or third step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Maximilian Platvoet, Ludger Mühlenbrock
  • Patent number: 10023076
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and a backrest adjuster (1) for a vehicle seat are provided in order to adjust the inclination of a backrest (2.1) of a vehicle seat (2). The backrest adjuster includes a transmission element (5) that is coupled to a fitting (4) and to a pivot bearing (3). A clamping element (11) is mounted in the region of the pivot bearing (3) and in the region of the fitting (4) lying opposite the pivot bearing. In the region between the pivot bearing (3) and the fitting (4), the clamping element (11) is arranged at least in part in the transmission element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Hilmar Wahlen, Thorsten Klein-Hitpass, Ulli Genutt, Ludger Mühlenbrock
  • Patent number: 9555461
    Abstract: A method for connecting two components. The method includes heating a deformation region of at least one component part to provide complete heating. The at least one component part is plastically deformed after the complete heating of the deformation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Dannheisig, Michael Hamers, Ludger Mühlenbrock, Volker Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20160355107
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and a backrest adjuster (1) for a vehicle seat are provided in order to adjust the inclination of a backrest (2.1) of a vehicle seat (2). The backrest adjuster includes a transmission element (5) that is coupled to a fitting (4) and to a pivot bearing (3). A clamping element (11) is mounted in the region of the pivot bearing (3) and in the region of the fitting (4) lying opposite the pivot bearing. In the region between the pivot bearing (3) and the fitting (4), the clamping element (11) is arranged at least in part in the transmission element (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Hilmar WAHLEN, Thorsten KLEIN-HITPASS, Ulli GENUTT, Ludger MÜHLENBROCK
  • Publication number: 20160311008
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component. The first component has a deformation region, wherein the deformation region is at least partially heated in a first step. An inner die for the plastic deformation is provided in a second method step. The first component is plastically deformed in the deformation region in order to connect the first component to the second component in a third step, and wherein the deformation region is at least partially contacted by the inner die in the second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas DANNHEISIG, Maximilian PLATVOET, Ludger MÜHLENBROCK
  • Publication number: 20160311007
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component, wherein the first component has a deformation region. The deformation region is at least partially heated in a first step. In a second step an inner die, having an optical component for plastic deformation, is provided. In a third step the first component is plastically deformed in the deformation region in order to connect the first component to the second component. Light for heating the first component is directed at the deformation region by means of the optical component of the inner die in the first and/or third step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas DANNHEISIG, Maximilian PLATVOET, Ludger MÜHLENBROCK
  • Publication number: 20150321239
    Abstract: A method for connecting two components. The method includes heating a deformation region of at least one component part to provide complete heating. The at least one component part is plastically deformed after the complete heating of the deformation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas DANNHEISIG, Michael HAMERS, Ludger MÜHLENBROCK, Volker SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 8205946
    Abstract: The present application relates to an actuating device (1) having a drive part (2) moving an output part (5) from an initial position into a final position, wherein the output part (5), or the drive part (2), has a first region (9) and a second region (10), and the drive part (2), or the output part (5), interacts with the two regions (9, 10) such that the position of the output part (5) is changed during an interaction with the first region (9), and an interaction with the second region (10) prevents a return movement of the output part (5) into the initial position. The present invention further relates to a vehicle seat comprising the actuating device (1) according to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Ludger Mühlenbrock, Jörg Seibt