Patents by Inventor Torsten Groning

Torsten Groning 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: 20120319413
    Abstract: A crash box arrangement includes a hollow member having a first hardness and defining a hollow space in communication with at least one ventilation opening; and a damper having a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness. The damper has an impulse cavity in communication with the hollow space of the hollow member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Andres, Torsten Gröning, Bjoerg Haupt, Tobias Tyroller
  • Publication number: 20120323447
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement for an automobile includes a crossbeam with crash boxes and a pedestrian protection element arranged on the crossbeam. The material of the pedestrian protection element has a lower firmness compared to the material of the crossbeam. A deformation element is arranged in the pedestrian protection element. The deformation element can be retracted into the crossbeam in an impact with a pedestrian, so that only the pedestrian protection element produces a damping effect. In a high-intensity crash, the deformation element can be rigidly connected with the crossbeam and thus lengthen the available deformation path of the crash box along the deformation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: MAX NIESSE, Torsten Gröning
  • Patent number: 8240725
    Abstract: A bumper system for motor vehicles includes a cross member, and at least one crush box positioned between the cross member and the vehicle frame. Two coupling levers have opposite ends operably and pivotally connected with a crush box and cross member. The coupling levers are arranged in a mutually parallel relationship and oriented at an angle relative to vehicle travel, such that the cross member is supported by the crush box for displacement from a ready position toward the vehicle frame in both horizontal and vertical directions. An energy absorption element constructed from a foam material was positioned between a cross member and the crush box, and is clamped between the coupling levers to selectively resist inward movement of the cross member from the ready position upon impact to absorb impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Wiedermann, Frank Seifert, Torsten Groning
  • Patent number: 8141917
    Abstract: A bumper system for motor vehicles includes an energy absorption assembly that extends generally perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel and is connected with the longitudinal supports of the vehicle frame by crush boxes. The energy absorption assembly has first and second generally parallel bumper members, which support one another along first and second contact surfaces. The first bumper member is slideably supported by the second bumper member and is configured such that upon impact, the first bumper member is slidingly displaced along the first and second contact surfaces both horizontally relative to the longitudinal supports of the vehicle frame and vertically relative to the second bumper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Wiedermann, Frank Seifert, Torsten Groning
  • Patent number: 7931319
    Abstract: A bumper of a motor vehicle includes a cross member which is disposed transversely to a side rail of a motor vehicle frame and movable from a standby position in a direction of the motor vehicle. Placed between the cross member and the side rail is a crash box. A coupler maintains a distance between the cross member and the crash box, when the cross member assumes the standby position, and a strut extends at an inclination between the cross member and the crash box to connect the cross member to the crash box. The strut is supported upon the cross member by a linear guide and supported upon the crash box by a swivel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Schmidt, Frank Seifert, Torsten Gröning
  • Publication number: 20100253103
    Abstract: A bumper system for motor vehicles includes an energy absorption assembly that extends generally perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel and is connected with the longitudinal supports of the vehicle frame by crush boxes. The energy absorption assembly has first and second generally parallel bumper members, which support one another along first and second contact surfaces. The first bumper member is slideably supported by the second bumper member and is configured such that upon impact, the first bumper member is slidingly displaced along the first and second contact surfaces both horizontally relative to the longitudinal supports of the vehicle frame and vertically relative to the second bumper member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Holger Wiedermann, Frank Seifert, Torsten Groning
  • Publication number: 20100244471
    Abstract: A bumper system for motor vehicles includes a cross member, and at least one crush box positioned between the cross member and the vehicle frame. Two coupling levers have opposite ends operably and pivotally connected with a crush box and cross member. The coupling levers are arranged in a mutually parallel relationship and oriented at an angle relative to vehicle travel, such that the cross member is supported by the crush box for displacement from a ready position toward the vehicle frame in both horizontal and vertical directions. An energy absorption element constructed from a foam material was positioned between a cross member and the crush box, and is clamped between the coupling levers to selectively resist inward movement of the cross member from the ready position upon impact to absorb impact energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Holger Wiedermann, Frank Seifert, Torsten Groning
  • Publication number: 20100219649
    Abstract: A bumper of a motor vehicle includes a cross member which is disposed transversely to a side rail of a motor vehicle frame and movable from a standby position in a direction of the motor vehicle. Placed between the cross member and the side rail is a crash box. A coupler maintains a distance between the cross member and the crash box, when the cross member assumes the standby position, and a strut extends at an inclination between the cross member and the crash box to connect the cross member to the crash box. The strut is supported upon the cross member by a linear guide and supported upon the crash box by a swivel joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: CHRISTOPH SCHMIDT, Frank Seifert, Torsten Gröning