Patents by Inventor Thomas SCHNAUFER
Thomas SCHNAUFER 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).
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Patent number: 11858323Abstract: A convertible top element for a convertible vehicle has, in sequence: an outer cover layer, a coupling layer, a convertible top bow, an absorber layer and an inner cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Steffen Borchert, Peter Holler, Ralf Mehling, Thomas Schnaufer, Daniel Seiboth, Christian Spickermann
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Publication number: 20210086599Abstract: A convertible top element for a convertible vehicle has, in sequence: an outer cover layer, a coupling layer, a convertible top bow, an absorber layer and an inner cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Steffen BORCHERT, Peter HOLLER, Ralf MEHLING, Thomas SCHNAUFER, Daniel SEIBOTH, Christian SPICKERMANN
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Patent number: 10876564Abstract: A blind rivet nut for connecting two components by means of a screw connection includes a rivet shank. The rivet shank has an internal thread, at the axial first end of which a deformation portion configured to produce the riveted joint is arranged. At the axial second end of the rivet shank there is arranged a rivet head with a contact face that allows an adjacent component face to lie against. The supporting surface has a radial extent which is greater than or equal to 1.5 times and less than or equal to 2 times the radial extent of the rivet shank.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Schnaufer, Andreas Beil, Simon Spitzer, Christian Berthold, Robert Weinmann
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Patent number: 10336383Abstract: A component, in particular a body component, for a vehicle, has at least one test section which is arranged in a predetermined area of the component and which is connected in one piece to the rest of the component by way of at least one connecting element. The connecting element is embodied as predetermined breaking point.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Schnaufer, Jan Jaap Timmerman, Peter Jahnke, Andre Koch
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Publication number: 20190040893Abstract: A blind rivet nut for connecting two components by means of a screw connection includes a rivet shank. The rivet shank has an internal thread, at the axial first end of which a deformation portion configured to produce the riveted joint is arranged. At the axial second end of the rivet shank there is arranged a rivet head with a contact face that allows an adjacent component face to lie against. The supporting surface has a radial extent which is greater than or equal to 1.5 times and less than or equal to 2 times the radial extent of the rivet shank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andreas BEIL, Simon SPITZER, Christian BERTHOLD, Robert WEINMANN
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Patent number: 10029740Abstract: A component arrangement having a first component and a second component is provided. At least one component has a plurality of preforms, wherein the plurality of preforms of the first component overlap a preform of a second component in the connecting region of the two components.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Schnaufer, Andreas Beil, Simon Spitzer
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Patent number: 9919744Abstract: The invention relates to a shell structure having a force transmission point, wherein a force transmission structure is provided on the force transmission point, wherein the force transmission structure has a fitting element comprising a fastening element, wherein the fitting element is connected to the shell structure. According to the invention, the fitting element has a contact surface having the shell structure and the contact surface can be clamped with or is clamped with the shell structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Mihaly Gonda, Thomas Schnaufer, Juergen Lenz, Andreas Beil
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Patent number: 9873464Abstract: A vehicle body includes a first body component made of fiber-reinforced plastic and a second body component made of fiber-reinforced plastic. The body components are adhesively bonded to each other by an adhesive layer and are subjected to shearing load and/or tensile stress in a main stress plane, wherein the adhesive layer is shaped by way of an adhesive flange, on which the adhesive layer is oriented obliquely to the main loading plane at an angle between 30° and 60°.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Schnaufer, Andreas Beil, Juergen Lenz, Lorenz Schmid, Martin Eis, Torsten Fleischer
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Patent number: 9834252Abstract: A profile strip of a vehicle body is provided, wherein the profile strip is configured with at least one shell component made of fiber-reinforced plastic material and with at least one pultrusion component. The profile strip is subjected to bending in a bending direction and the pultrusion component is arranged alongside the shell component, as seen in the bending direction. The pultrusion component is configured with an outer shell and with at least one inner crosspiece, which is coupled to the inside of the outer shell. The at least one inner crosspiece extends in the bending direction and the at least one shell component has additional inner ribs, which extend likewise in the bending direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Schnaufer, Andre Koch
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Publication number: 20160311482Abstract: A component, in particular a body component, for a vehicle, has at least one test section which is arranged in a predetermined area of the component and which is connected in one piece to the rest of the component by way of at least one connecting element. The connecting element is embodied as predetermined breaking point.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Jan Jaap TIMMERMAN, Peter JAHNKE, Andre KOCH
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Publication number: 20160229466Abstract: A component arrangement having a first component and a second component is provided. At least one component has a plurality of preforms, wherein the plurality of preforms of the first component overlap a preform of a second component in the connecting region of the two components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andreas BEIL, Simon SPITZER
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Publication number: 20160214333Abstract: A method is provided for producing a reinforced fiber composite component. The method includes the following acts: providing a reinforcing profile, enclosing the reinforcing profile with a core element, producing a sheath for the core element by braiding it with endless fibers, and impregnating the braided core element with a matrix. A reinforced fiber composite component provided in this manner includes a core element which is braided with a sheath, the core element enclosing a reinforcing profile that is arranged inside the core element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andreas BEIL, Simon SPITZER
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Publication number: 20160144899Abstract: A profile strip of a vehicle body is provided, wherein the profile strip is configured with at least one shell component made of fiber-reinforced plastic material and with at least one pultrusion component. The profile strip is subjected to bending in a bending direction and the pultrusion component is arranged alongside the shell component, as seen in the bending direction. The pultrusion component is configured with an outer shell and with at least one inner crosspiece, which is coupled to the inside of the outer shell. The at least one inner crosspiece extends in the bending direction and the at least one shell component has additional inner ribs, which extend likewise in the bending direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andre KOCH
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Publication number: 20160129948Abstract: A vehicle body includes a first body component made of fiber-reinforced plastic and a second body component made of fiber-reinforced plastic. The body components are adhesively bonded to each other by an adhesive layer and are subjected to shearing load and/or tensile stress in a main stress plane, wherein the adhesive layer is shaped by way of an adhesive flange, on which the adhesive layer is oriented obliquely to the main loading plane at an angle between 30° and 60°.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andreas BEIL, Juergen LENZ, Lorenz SCHMID, Martin EIS, Torsten FLEISCHER
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Publication number: 20160040703Abstract: A blind rivet nut for connecting two components via a screw connection is provided. The blind rivet nut includes a rivet shaft with an internal thread, on the axial first end of which shaft a deformation portion for producing the rivet connection is arranged, wherein a rivet head with a bearing surface for bearing an adjacent component surface is arranged on the axial second end of the rivet shaft. The bearing surface has a radial extent which is designed to be greater than or equal to 1.2 times the radial extent of the rivet shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Thomas SCHNAUFER, Andreas BEIL, Simon SPITZER, Christian BERTHOLD, Robert WEINMANN
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Publication number: 20160016613Abstract: The invention relates to a shell structure having a force transmission point, wherein a force transmission structure is provided on the force transmission point, wherein the force transmission structure has a fitting element comprising a fastening element, wherein the fitting element is connected to the shell structure. According to the invention, the fitting element has a contact surface having the shell structure and the contact surface can be clamped with or is clamped with the shell structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mihaly GONDA, Thomas SCHNAUFER, Juergen LENZ, Andreas BEIL
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Patent number: 8714630Abstract: A flat vehicle body component made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic has at least one interconnecting web that protrudes from the flat vehicle body component and that is made entirely of the matrix material epoxy resin. A mounting part at least partially envelops the interconnecting web in a force locking manner, so that the mounting part is clamped securely on the interconnecting web. The mounting part has at least one hole that can be used for fastening another component. An additional component may be fastened in the hole in a conventional manner, so that the carbon fiber reinforced plastic component does not need corresponding holes. The interconnecting web may be integrally molded on the vehicle body component during its manufacture so that practically no additional engineering effort is needed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Philipp Schmied, Carsten Mueller, Rastislav Takacs, Thomas Schnaufer, Siegfried Stoeckl
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Publication number: 20120248821Abstract: A flat vehicle body component made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic has at least one interconnecting web that protrudes from the flat vehicle body component and that is made entirely of the matrix material epoxy resin. A mounting part at least partially envelops the interconnecting web in a force locking manner, so that the mounting part is clamped securely on the interconnecting web. The mounting part has at least one hole that can be used for fastening another component. An additional component may be fastened in the hole in a conventional manner, so that the carbon fiber reinforced plastic component does not need corresponding holes. The interconnecting web may be integrally molded on the vehicle body component during its manufacture so that practically no additional engineering effort is needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Philipp SCHMIED, Carsten MUELLER, Rastislav TAKACS, Thomas SCHNAUFER, Siegfried STOECKL