Patents by Inventor Ralph KURZ

Ralph KURZ 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).

  • Method for selectively producing a first or a second variant of a multi-layer plastic component
    Patent number: 10960581
    Abstract: A method for selectively producing a first or a second variant of a multi-layer plastic component, where both variants have a substrate part, a decorative layer, and a foam layer between the substrate part and the decorative layer, includes producing the foam layer in a foaming mold which has a first mold half, into which the substrate part is inserted before the foaming process. To produce the first variant, the decorative layer is inserted into a second mold half of the foaming mold before the foaming process. To produce the second variant, a spacer layer is inserted into the second mold half before the foaming process where, after the foaming process, the spacer layer is removed from the foam layer and the decorative layer is applied to the foam layer. The foam layer includes at least one first portion having a higher contour stability than a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Dietl, Ralph Kurz
  • Method for Selectively Producing a First or a Second Variant of a Multi-Layer Plastic Component
    Publication number: 20180272570
    Abstract: A method for selectively producing a first or a second variant of a multi-layer plastic component, where both variants have a substrate part, a decorative layer, and a foam layer between the substrate part and the decorative layer, includes producing the foam layer in a foaming mold which has a first mold half, into which the substrate part is inserted before the foaming process. To produce the first variant, the decorative layer is inserted into a second mold half of the foaming mold before the foaming process. To produce the second variant, a spacer layer is inserted into the second mold half before the foaming process where, after the foaming process, the spacer layer is removed from the foam layer and the decorative layer is applied to the foam layer. The foam layer includes at least one first portion having a higher contour stability than a second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Florian DIETL, Ralph KURZ