Patents by Inventor Ulrich Klafke

Ulrich Klafke 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: 9955756
    Abstract: A shell element for the buckle cover of a seat belt buckle is disclosed. The shell element comprises a base body made of a hard elastomer and an outer and an inner surface. So that when the buckle cover bears against a further vehicle element with a hard surface, no wear and no undesirable noise is generated and so that the seat belt buckle permanently has attractive visual and haptic properties, a further element made of a soft elastomer is directly connected to the base body and is connected thereto by a material and/or positive connection, said further element forming at least one part of the outer surface of the shell element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Klafke, Mario Eckmann, Ole Scharnberg, Jens Albrecht, Sandra Kleinke, Wolf Ulrich Wachter
  • Patent number: 9604593
    Abstract: Safety belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a roll-up spindle rotatably supported in a frame, on which roll-up spindle a safety belt is held with its one end, wherein the roll-up spindle is biased into a roll-up position, in which the safety belt is rolled up on the roll-up spindle and the safety belt can be rolled off the roll-up spindle against the bias by rotating the roll-up spindle and wherein a torsion rod is provided in the roll-up spindle which is fastened to the roll-up spindle with a first end and which is fastened to the frame with a second end, wherein a plastic material is molded around the torsion rod in the roll-up spindle, wherein at least the second end of the torsion rod is free from the plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Klafke
  • Patent number: 8955783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a wind-on spindle which is mounted rotatably in a housing connected to the motor vehicle body and on which a safety belt is held with its one end, the wind-on spindle being prestressed into a wind-on position, in which the safety belt is wound on the wind-on spindle and the safety belt can be unwound from the wind-on spindle, counter to the prestress, as a result of the rotation of the latter, and the safety belt emerging from its end held on the wind-on spindle through an exit orifice out of the wind-on spindle. According to the invention, there is provision whereby, in the state unwound completely from the wind-on spindle, the safety belt runs, between its end held on the wind-on spindle and the exit orifice of the wind-on spindle, in a sheet-like manner over at least one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ulrich Klafke
  • Publication number: 20130154336
    Abstract: Safety belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a roll-up spindle rotatably supported in a frame, on which roll-up spindle a safety belt is held with its one end, wherein the roll-up spindle is biased into a roll-up position, in which the safety belt is rolled up on the roll-up spindle and the safety belt can be rolled off the roll-up spindle against the bias by rotating the roll-up spindle and wherein a torsion rod is provided in the roll-up spindle which is fastened to the roll-up spindle with a first end and which is fastened to the frame with a second end, wherein a plastic material is molded around the torsion rod in the roll-up spindle, wherein at least the second end of the torsion rod is free from the plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Klafke
  • Publication number: 20130022767
    Abstract: A shell element for the buckle cover of a seat belt buckle is disclosed. The shell element comprises a base body made of a hard elastomer and an outer and an inner surface. So that when the buckle cover bears against a further vehicle element with a hard surface, no wear and no undesirable noise is generated and so that the seat belt buckle permanently has attractive visual and haptic properties, a further element made of a soft elastomer is directly connected to the base body and is connected thereto by a material and/or positive connection, said further element forming at least one part of the outer surface of the shell element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Klafke, Mario Eckmann, Ole Scharnberg, Jens Albrecht, Sandra Kleinke, Wolf Ulrich Wachter
  • Publication number: 20120001009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a wind-on spindle which is mounted rotatably in a housing connected to the motor vehicle body and on which a safety belt is held with its one end, the wind-on spindle being prestressed into a wind-on position, in which the safety belt is wound on the wind-on spindle and the safety belt can be unwound from the wind-on spindle, counter to the prestress, as a result of the rotation of the latter, and the safety belt emerging from its end held on the wind-on spindle through an exit orifice out of the wind-on spindle. According to the invention, there is provision whereby, in the state unwound completely from the wind-on spindle, the safety belt runs, between its end held on the wind-on spindle and the exit orifice of the wind-on spindle, in a sheet-like manner over at least one surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Klafke