Patents by Inventor Ralf Kupferer

Ralf Kupferer 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: 7384253
    Abstract: To provide a method for coating the surface of an interior component for motor vehicles which can be carried out in a cost-effective and simple way it is proposed that the interior component is positioned at a distance from a molded part in the region of its surface to be coated, so that a gap is formed between the surface to be coated and the molded part, that the interior component is braced with the molded part, the gap is filled with a liquid surface coating material and said material is cured by exposure to UV radiation. Also proposed are a device for carrying out the method and an interior component which is produced by using the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Publication number: 20070137557
    Abstract: To provide a method for coating the surface of an interior component for motor vehicles which can be carried out in a cost-effective and simple way it is proposed that the interior component is positioned at a distance from a molded part in the region of its surface to be coated, so that a gap is formed between the surface to be coated and the molded part, that the interior component is braced with the molded part, the gap is filled with a liquid surface coating material and said material is cured by exposure to UV radiation. Also proposed are a device for carrying out the method and an interior component which is produced by using the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Patent number: 7214340
    Abstract: To provide a method for coating the surface of an interior component for motor vehicles which can be carried out in a cost-effective and simple way it is proposed that the interior component is positioned at a distance from a molded part in the region of its surface to be coated, so that a gap is formed between the surface to be coated and the molded part, that the interior component is braced with the molded part, the gap is filled with a liquid surface coating material and said material is cured by exposure to UV radiation. Also proposed are a device for carrying out the method and an interior component which is produced by using the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Patent number: 6756598
    Abstract: In order for a unit for irradiating a workpiece with ultraviolet radiation, with at least one UV radiation source and at least one transporting device, it being possible by means of the transporting device for the workpiece to be fed from a charging location of the unit to an irradiating zone and to be transported from the latter to a removal location of the unit, to be developed in such a way that the unit can be operated more easily, it is proposed according to the invention that the unit has a common charging and removal location and the workpiece can be moved back and forth between the common charging and removal location and the irradiating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Publication number: 20030041974
    Abstract: In order for a unit for irradiating a workpiece with ultraviolet radiation, with at least one UV radiation source and at least one transporting device, it being possible by means of the transporting device for the workpiece to be fed from a charging location of the unit to an irradiating zone and to be transported from the latter to a removal location of the unit, to be developed in such a way that the unit can be operated more easily, it is proposed according to the invention that the unit has a common charging and removal location and the workpiece can be moved back and forth between the common charging and removal location and the irradiating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Publication number: 20030044598
    Abstract: To provide a method for coating the surface of an interior component for motor vehicles which can be carried out in a cost-effective and simple way it is proposed that the interior component is positioned at a distance from a molded part in the region of its surface to be coated, so that a gap is formed between the surface to be coated and the molded part, that the interior component is braced with the molded part, the gap is filled with a liquid surface coating material and said material is cured by exposure to UV radiation. Also proposed are a device for carrying out the method and an interior component which is produced by using the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Erwin Behr Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Ralf Kupferer, Martin Ehrath
  • Patent number: 6444319
    Abstract: So that a method for the surface coating of an interior fitting for vehicles with a lacquer or resin layer, in which the interior fitting to be coated is inserted into a cavity of a molding tool, the inner wall of which is at a defined distance from the interior fitting in the region of the interior fitting surface to be coated and thereby forms a clearance extending over the entire surface to be coated and having a substantially constant thickness, and in which a liquid surface coating material is introduced into the clearance and is cured there, can be developed in such a way that the quality of the surface coating is improved as far as possible without additional after-working, it is proposed that the surface coating material have at least two components which are mixed with one another in a mixing and feeding assembly immediately before the filling of the clearance and are fed to the clearance, and that, after the clearance has been filled, the molding tool be separated from the mixing and feeding assembl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Erwin Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Berg, Thomas Hempel, Ralf Kupferer