Patents by Inventor Ralph Recktenwald

Ralph Recktenwald 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: 12617320
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part which can be moved from a usage position into a non-usage position, a seat back, a base, and a seat kinematics connecting the seat part pivotably to the base. The seat kinematics may have a rocker which by a first rotary joint is deflected pivotably on an adapter connected to the base and by a second rotary joint is deflected pivotably on the seat part. A spacing between the base and the seat part can be changed by selection of a first articulation point for articulation of the first pivot joint on the adapter fixedly connected to the base, and/or by selection of a second articulation point for articulation of the second pivot joint on the seat part. A method for assembling such a vehicle seat is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Kaemmerer, Gregor Lubczyk, Markus Weber, Ralph Recktenwald, Holger Kunz
  • Patent number: 12600268
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat part, a backrest, a kinematics system for transferring the vehicle seat from a use position into an entry position and back, a drive apparatus for driving the kinematics system, and a coupling apparatus for coupling the drive apparatus to the kinematics system. The coupling apparatus has a pawl and a counter-element. The pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another in order to couple the drive apparatus to the kinematics system, wherein the pawl is released from the counter-element by an actuation of the coupling apparatus, resulting in the drive apparatus being decoupled from the kinematics system. The pawl is configured as a bracing pawl, and the pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another beyond a self-locking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Kaemmerer, Ralph Recktenwald, Holger Kunz
  • Publication number: 20260077688
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part, a backrest, a kinematics system for transferring the vehicle seat from a use position to an entry position and back, a locking mechanism, having two pawls for releasably locking at least part of the vehicle seat, an actuating mechanism for unlocking the two pawls, and a single position indicator which, as a common sensor, detects a locking position of the two pawls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Stefan HABER, Joachim KÄMMERER, Ralph RECKTENWALD, Peter MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20260077689
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part, a backrest, a kinematic system for shifting the vehicle seat from a position of use into an entry position and back again, a longitudinal adjustment device for longitudinally adjusting the vehicle seat, and an entry position stop that is configured to absorb in the entry position a force acting upon the backrest and to run free to provide an emergency exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Joachim KÄMMERER, Andre BÖHM, Ralph RECKTENWALD, Holger KUNZ, Andreas WIESEMANN
  • Publication number: 20240140279
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may have a seat part which can be moved from a usage position into a non-usage position, a seat back, a base, and a seat kinematics connecting the seat part pivotably to the base. The seat kinematics may have a rocker which by a first rotary joint is deflected pivotably on an adapter connected to the base and by a second rotary joint is deflected pivotably on the seat part. A spacing between the base and the seat part can be changed by selection of a first articulation point for articulation of the first pivot joint on the adapter fixedly connected to the base, and/or by selection of a second articulation point for articulation of the second pivot joint on the seat part. A method for assembling such a vehicle seat is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Joachim KAEMMERER, Gregor LUBCZYK, Markus WEBER, Ralph RECKTENWALD, Holger KUNZ
  • Publication number: 20230382273
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat part, a backrest, a kinematics system for transferring the vehicle seat from a use position into an entry position and back, a drive apparatus for driving the kinematics system, and a coupling apparatus for coupling the drive apparatus to the kinematics system. The coupling apparatus has a pawl and a counter-element. The pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another in order to couple the drive apparatus to the kinematics system, wherein the pawl is released from the counter-element by an actuation of the coupling apparatus, resulting in the drive apparatus being decoupled from the kinematics system. The pawl is configured as a bracing pawl, and the pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another beyond a self-locking action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: ADIENT US LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Kaemmerer, Ralph Recktenwald, Holger Kunz
  • Patent number: 9592749
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a basic structure, a backrest support which is articulated on the basic structure in a lockable manner by at least one fitting, a backrest structure a backrest that has the backrest support and the backrest structure, the backrest being movable in relation to the basic structure by a kinematic system in order to transfer the vehicle seat from at least one use position, in which it can be sat on, into an out-of-use position or into a further use position and back again. A four-bar linkage temporarily exists the four-bar linkage controlling the kinematic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: André Boehm, Georg Fischer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 9290116
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (71) for a vehicle seat, comprising a handle (41) for jointly actuating two locks (23), a force transfer between the handle and each lock, a first indicator (51) associated with the first force transfer, and a second indicator associated with the second force transfer, wherein the two indicators each indicate the respective locking status of the associated lock, and the two indicators actuate an overall indicator (61) by means of a logical OR function in order to visibly indicate the unlocked state. The force transfer is preferably formed from Bowden cables (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Joachim Kämmerer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 9145071
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular to a motor vehicle seat, having a base structure (3) that is to be connected to the vehicle structure (S) and a backrest (10) that can be moved relative to the base structure (3) by kinematics, such as to transfer the vehicle seat (1) from at least one usage position allowing a person to sit down to a non-usage position or to another usage position. A multi-bar linkage, in particular a four-bar linkage (V), exists at least temporarily, which linkage controls the kinematics. A leaf spring (30) is provided in the vehicle seat. The leaf spring forms a gear element of the multi-bar linkage in the relaxed extended state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Böhm, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Publication number: 20140312670
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular to a motor vehicle seat, having a base structure (3) that is to be connected to the vehicle structure (S) and a backrest (10) that can be moved relative to the base structure (3) by kinematics, such as to transfer the vehicle seat (1) from at least one usage position allowing a person to sit down to a non-usage position or to another usage position. A multi-bar linkage, in particular a four-bar linkage (V), exists at least temporarily, which linkage controls the kinematics. A leaf spring (30) is provided in the vehicle seat. The leaf spring forms a gear element of the multi-bar linkage in the relaxed extended state thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Andre Böhm, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Publication number: 20140152065
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a basic structure, a backrest support which is articulated on the basic structure in a lockable manner by at least one fitting, a backrest structure a backrest that has the backrest support and the backrest structure, the backrest being movable in relation to the basic structure by a kinematic system in order to transfer the vehicle seat from at least one use position, in which it can be sat on, into an out-of-use position or into a further use position and back again. A four-bar linkage temporarily exists the four-bar linkage controlling the kinematic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: André Boehm, Georg Fischer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Publication number: 20130320736
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (71) for a vehicle seat, comprising a handle (41) for jointly actuating two locks (23), a force transfer between the handle and each lock, a first indicator (51) associated with the first force transfer, and a second indicator associated with the second force transfer, wherein the two indicators each indicate the respective locking status of the associated lock, and the two indicators actuate an overall indicator (61) by means of a logical OR function in order to visibly indicate the unlocked state. The force transfer is preferably formed from Bowden cables (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Joachim Kämmerer, Ralph Recktenwald