Patents by Inventor Michael DRÜCKER

Michael DRÜCKER 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: 11975575
    Abstract: A trailer coupling for a motor vehicle comprises a coupling arm, on the free end region of which a ball neck is formed, on which a coupling ball is arranged. The coupling ball is spherical on the side facing away from the ball neck and has a spherical segment plane on the side facing the ball neck. Between the spherical segment plane and a portion of the ball neck has a smaller outer circumference than the spherical segment plane there is arranged a throat portion having a transition contour extending in a concave manner between the ball neck and the spherical segment. The transition contour transitions with a coupling ball transition region into an external contour of the coupling ball and transitions with a ball neck transition region into an outer surface of the ball neck. The transition contour has a curved configuration having a non-constant radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Kay Angermann, Michael Drücker, Waldemar Gross, Marc Weiner, Martin Wyrwich
  • Publication number: 20240042815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer coupling for a motor vehicle, wherein the trailer coupling has a coupling arm, on the free end region of which a ball neck is formed, on which a coupling ball is arranged for attaching a trailer or coupling a load carrier to the motor vehicle. The coupling ball is spherical on the side thereof facing away from the ball neck and has a spherical segment plane on the side thereof facing the ball neck. Between the spherical segment plane and a portion of the ball neck which has a smaller outer circumference than the spherical segment plane there is arranged a throat portion having a transition contour extending in a concave manner between the ball neck and the spherical segment. The transition contour transitions with a coupling ball transition region into an external contour of the coupling ball, in particular into the spherical segment plane, and transitions with a ball neck transition region into an outer surface of the ball neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Kay Angermann, Michael Drücker, Waldemar Gross, Marc Wiener, Martin Wyrwich
  • Publication number: 20200001670
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer coupling for a motor vehicle, wherein the trailer coupling has a coupling arm, on the free end region of which a ball neck is formed, on which a coupling ball is arranged for attaching a trailer or coupling a load carrier to the motor vehicle. The coupling ball is spherical on the side thereof facing away from the ball neck and has a spherical segment plane on the side thereof facing the ball neck. Between the spherical segment plane and a portion of the ball neck which has a smaller outer circumference than the spherical segment plane there is arranged a throat portion having a transition contour extending in a concave manner between the ball neck and the spherical segment. The transition contour transitions with a coupling ball transition region into an external contour of the coupling ball, in particular into the spherical segment plane, and transitions with a ball neck transition region into an outer surface of the ball neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kay ANGERMANN, Michael DRÜCKER, Waldemar GROSS, Marc WEINER, Martin WYRWICH