Patents by Inventor Thomas Benz

Thomas Benz 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).

  • Publication number: 20220017038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deflection device (10) for a seatbelt system in a vehicle comprising a deflection fitting (12) which includes a guide gap (14) through which a webbing can be guided. The guide gap (14) has a bearing surface (16) for the webbing and is provided, at least on the bearing surface (16), with a friction-reducing slide coating (22) formed of an epoxy resin powder paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas BENZ, Markus SORG, Edgar SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 8925758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for refrigerated goods. The container includes a body part and a front part coupled to the body part. The front part is formed by a pair of side pieces and at least one central piece extending to and connected to the side pieces. The central piece has a constant cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Jürgen Fink, Christine Linke
  • Patent number: 8925751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door storage container having a base, a rear wall, and a front wall. The front wall is in the form of a plurality of interlocking elements assembled together. The plurality of interlocking elements assembled together to form the front wall includes an upper extrusion profile, a lower extrusion profile, and a panel enclosed between the upper extrusion profile and the lower extrusion profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Benz
  • Patent number: 8925341
    Abstract: An ice cube container of an ice maker for household purposes includes a bottom, front and rear wall sections arranged on opposite ends of the bottom, and two sidewall sections interconnecting the end wall sections. The front and rear wall sections have each a length which is shorter than a length of the side wall sections. Arranged on one of the sidewall sections is a removal handle to allow easy removal of ice cubes. The ice cube container is removably received in a receptacle of a freezer compartment drawer of a refrigeration appliance in only one way in which the removal handle of the ice cube container faces the center of the freezer compartment drawer when the ice cube container is inserted in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, James Jenkins, Matthew Ricket
  • Patent number: 8902427
    Abstract: A photometer for measuring photometric magnitudes in a liquid medium includes a housing adapted to be introduced into the medium for on-site measurements; and light-emitting measuring beam transmitter and receiver that are arranged behind opposing measuring windows in a measuring slot in the housing, in which the slot is open to the medium. A measuring beam is generated in a measuring conduit in the measuring slot. A reference conduit is included for a reference measurement which is separate from the measuring conduit. At least one carrier part for the measuring beam transmitter and the measuring beam receiver is provided to move on a given path in the housing. The carrier part is constructed to move on the given path from the measuring conduit to the reference conduit and back, for measuring intensity values of the measuring beam in the measuring conduit and in the reference conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: WTW Wissenschaflich-Technische Werstatten GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Holeczek, Heike Seibt, Ulrich Rettig, Amir Agah, Marlene Holderried, Thomas Benz
  • Patent number: 8657132
    Abstract: A moveable bin divider is provided for use in a door bin. The divider includes a divider plate extending at least a portion of the width and depth of a bin within which it is used. The divider plate includes a panel integral and perpendicular thereto which extends vertically and includes a first portion connected by a bridge over a wall of a bin with which it is used to a second portion which terminates at an engagement mechanism such as a tongue or groove. The engagement mechanism is received or receives a corresponding tongue or groove on a wall of a bin in which the bin divider is received for securely holding the divider within the bin. The engagement mechanism is biased against the bin wall to prevent undesired movement of the moveable bin divider. A combination bin and bin divider is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Matthew Ricket
  • Patent number: 8651599
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a heat-insulated housing having an interior space in which a pair of chilled-goods containers are disposed adjacent to one another at a spacing from the floor. Each chilled-goods container is mounted on extending elements that guide chilled-goods container into and out of the interior space. A longitudinal beam extends between the chilled-goods containers and each of the extractable elements is supported on sidewalls of the housing via at least one crossbeam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, Karl-Friedrich Laible
  • Patent number: 8485618
    Abstract: A kitchen device, in particular, a refrigerator or freezer, with an interior, in which at least one height-adjustable support for accommodation of goods is provided, wherein at least one transport carriage running along guide rails is provided on the kitchen device, wherein said transport carriage may be fixed to the support and adjusted in height by a drive with a height adjustment. The invention is characterized in that the shell surface may be particularly simply and easily adjusted for height without the need to remove the goods from the kitchen device operation of the kitchen device being particularly simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Michael Krapp
  • Patent number: 8398187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator includes a heat-insulated housing having an interior space in which a pair of chilled-goods containers are disposed adjacent to one another at a spacing from the floor. Each chilled-goods container is mounted on extending elements that guide chilled-goods container into and out of the interior space. A longitudinal beam extends between the chilled-goods containers and each of the extractable elements is supported on sidewalls of the housing via at least one crossbeam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, Karl-Friedrich Laible
  • Patent number: 8376484
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes at least one vertical support that has a vertical guiding groove with a recess and a plurality of vertically staggered steps provided therein, and a horizontal support provided with a peg engaged into the recess of the guiding groove. In the interlocked position of the horizontal support, the peg rests on one of the steps and presses against a first wall of the vertical support from which the steps protrude. A contact surface of the horizontal support presses against a second wall of the vertical support, the second wall being arranged opposite to the first wall. The contact surface and the steps are staggered in the direction of the width of the walls, the steps being located in a lower position in the recess than the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Michael Krapp
  • Publication number: 20120287422
    Abstract: A photometer for measuring photometric magnitudes in a liquid medium includes a housing adapted to be introduced into the medium for on-site measurements; and light-emitting measuring beam transmitter and receiver that are arranged behind opposing measuring windows in a measuring slot in the housing, in which the slot is open to the medium. A measuring beam is generated in a measuring conduit in the measuring slot. A reference conduit is included for a reference measurement which is separate from the measuring conduit. At least one carrier part for the measuring beam transmitter and the measuring beam receiver is provided to move on a given path in the housing. The carrier part is constructed to move on the given path from the measuring conduit to the reference conduit and back, for measuring intensity values of the measuring beam in the measuring conduit and in the reference conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: WTW WISSENSCHAFTLICH-TECHNISCHE WERKSTATTEN GMBH
    Inventors: MICHAEL HOLECZEK, Heike Seibt, Ulrich Rettig, Amir Agah, Marlene Holderried, Thomas Benz
  • Patent number: 8240791
    Abstract: A container for forming an interior space within a refrigerating device that can be accessed via a door opening of the refrigerating device including a plurality of blanks forming a plurality of walls, a cooled goods support base, and a support rail such that the height of the cooled goods support is adjustably settable. A joint is formed between a blank forming the first side wall and a blank forming the rear wall, and the joint is at least partly concealed behind the support rail relative to a view into the refrigerating device through the door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, Hans-Philipp Reitz
  • Publication number: 20110272549
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes at least one vertical support that has a vertical guiding groove with a recess and a plurality of vertically staggered steps provided therein, and a horizontal support provided with a peg engaged into the recess of the guiding groove. In the interlocked position of the horizontal support, the peg rests on one of the steps and presses against a first wall of the vertical support from which the steps protrude. A contact surface of the horizontal support presses against a second wall of the vertical support, the second wall being arranged opposite to the first wall. The contact surface and the steps are staggered in the direction of the width of the walls, the steps being located in a lower position in the recess than the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Michael Krapp
  • Patent number: 8042892
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes at least one vertical support that has a vertical guiding groove with a recess and a plurality of vertically staggered steps provided therein, and a horizontal support provided with a peg engaged into the recess of the guiding groove. In the interlocked position of the horizontal support, the peg rests on one of the steps and presses against a first wall of the vertical support from which the steps protrude. A contact surface of the horizontal support presses against a second wall of the vertical support, the second wall being arranged opposite to the first wall. The contact surface and the steps are staggered in the direction of the width of the walls, the steps being located in a lower position in the recess than the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Michael Krapp
  • Publication number: 20110239688
    Abstract: An ice cube container of an ice maker for household purposes includes a bottom, front and rear wall sections arranged on opposite ends of the bottom, and two sidewall sections interconnecting the end wall sections. The front and rear wall sections have each a length which is shorter than a length of the side wall sections. Arranged on one of the sidewall sections is a removal handle to allow easy removal of ice cubes. The ice cube container is removably received in a receptacle of a freezer compartment drawer of a refrigeration appliance in only one way in which the removal handle of the ice cube container faces the center of the freezer compartment drawer when the ice cube container is inserted in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, James Jenkins, Matthew Ricket
  • Publication number: 20100280908
    Abstract: A method and system that delivers advertisements and messages to a user of an activity item list is described. The method includes associating advertisements and messages with one or more activity items in the activity item list and making the advertisement and messages available to the user at a time of user interest and need. The method includes allowing the user to select an activity item list from a library of pre-defined lists. The user may announce progress on an activity to friends and others on a social network. The method includes allowing businesses and others to obtain the rights to have advertisements and messages associated with activity items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Jennifer Bantrell Benz, Allen Thomas Benz
  • Publication number: 20100139168
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door storage container having a base, a rear wall, and a front wall. The front wall is in the form of a plurality of interlocking elements assembled together. The plurality of interlocking elements assembled together to form the front wall includes an upper extrusion profile, a lower extrusion profile, and a panel enclosed between the upper extrusion profile and the lower extrusion profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Benz
  • Patent number: 7703866
    Abstract: An article support divider system includes a base for supporting articles thereon. The base includes a matrix of openings. Supporting members include a lower portion sized for being press fit into selected respective ones of the openings. A receiving slot is also provided on the receiving members to receive at least one divider plate in a substantially vertical orientation on the surface of the base for dividing the base into different storage regions. In a more specific aspect, a divider system is provided for use within a refrigerator, including at least one of the freezer compartment or refrigerator compartment thereof. The divider system also can be utilized in walls or the ceiling of the compartment with a plurality of openings formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Jonathan Grey, Matthew Ricket, Martin Wagner
  • Publication number: 20100031694
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for forming within a refrigerating device an interior space that can be accessed via a door opening of the refrigerating device. The container includes a plurality of blanks forming a plurality of walls, a cooled goods support base, and a support rail such that the height of the cooled goods support is adjustably settable. A joint is formed between a blank forming the first side wall and a blank forming the rear wall, and the joint is at least partly concealed behind the support rail relative to a view into the refrigerating device through the door opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Görz, Hans-Philipp Reitz
  • Publication number: 20090261704
    Abstract: A kitchen device, in particular, a refrigerator or freezer, with an interior, in which at least one height-adjustable support for accommodation of goods is provided, wherein at least one transport carriage running along guide rails is provided on the kitchen device, wherein said transport carriage may be fixed to the support and adjusted in height by a drive with a height adjustment. The invention is characterised in that the shell surface may be particularly simply and easily adjusted for height without the need to remove the goods from the kitchen device operation of the kitchen device being particularly simple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benz, Michael Krapp