Patents by Inventor Ulrich Rick

Ulrich Rick 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: 9463959
    Abstract: A module lift assembly includes first and second multipoint adapter plates separated by a horizontal transverse spreader bar; a lift frame having first and second longitudinal lift beams separated by horizontal transverse bracing; a plurality of slings of adjustable length connecting the first multipoint adapter plate to the first lift beam and connecting the second multipoint adapter plate to the second lift beam; and a plurality of slider assemblies each slidingly affixed to the first and second lift beams, and a lift shackle for attaching to a module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PCL INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich (Rick) Hermann, Jacek Olearczyk
  • Patent number: 9440616
    Abstract: An actuator is provided for raising the front hood of a vehicle having at least one extension part, by whose extension movement the front hood of the vehicle can be raised or is raised. It is provided that the extension part is at least partially formed by a planar formation, which is deformable from a first shape (e.g., a starting shape) into a second shape (e.g., an intermediate shape or final shape) to raise the front hood. Furthermore, a motor vehicle is provided that has an actuator for raising the vehicle front hood and a pedestrian protection system for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9399564
    Abstract: A module lift assembly includes a lift assembly, a pair of transversely spaced apart longitudinal lift beams and slings connecting the lift assembly to the lift beams. Each of slings is pivotally connected to the lift assembly and the connected lift beam, and is composed of pivotally connected elongate segments. Pivoting of the segments relative to each other, the lift assembly and the lift beams allows the lift assembly to be lowered and raised relative to the lift beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: PCL INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich (Rick) Hermann
  • Patent number: 9254814
    Abstract: An elastic structure for use in an energy absorption system of a motor vehicle is provided. The elastic structure includes a structure configured as occupant protection and/or pedestrian protection expandable by a medium. An elastic function structure at least partially covers the structure and acts as a gas barrier. An energy absorption system for a motor vehicle as occupant protection and/or pedestrian protection and a motor vehicle having at least one such energy absorption system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9254813
    Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle that encompasses a windshield and has an A-column flanking the windshield is provided. The body includes at least one expandable element mounted on the A-column along the edge of the windshield. The body also includes and a cover that covers an installation space of the at least one expandable element and tightly adjoins the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9221411
    Abstract: A gasbag for a pneumatic personal protection device on a motor vehicle is provided. The gasbag has a membrane at least locally comprising an inner layer and an outer layer that exhibits a higher tolerance to a frictional load than the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20150291398
    Abstract: A module lift assembly includes a lift assembly, a pair of transversely spaced apart longitudinal lift beams and slings connecting the lift assembly to the lift beams. Each of slings is pivotally connected to the lift assembly and the connected lift beam, and is composed of pivotally connected elongate segments. Pivoting of the segments relative to each other, the lift assembly and the lift beams allows the lift assembly to be lowered and raised relative to the lift beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventor: Ulrich(Rick) HERMANN
  • Patent number: 9120459
    Abstract: A safety device is provided, comprising an elastic membrane, which partially or completely delimits a hollow space, which is provided for the accident-initiated filling subject to elastic expansion of the membrane, and a gas generator with a filling fluid source communicating with the hollow space, wherein between the filling fluid source and a surface of the membrane facing the hollow space and/or in the membrane at least one heat protection means is arranged, which is provided for the protection of the membrane from a thermal impact through filling fluid of the filling fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9102304
    Abstract: A protective device has a gas generator and a chamber that is limited by a stretchable membrane and is expandable through gas of the gas generator. The membrane is elastic and a stretchability of the membrane is limited at least in a first portion through a reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9045109
    Abstract: A gasbag for a pedestrian protection system, when in the inflated state encompasses a first, oblong central section and end sections angled away from the ends of the first central section. At least one first and one second membrane with differing permeability values are distributed over the sections in such a way that an average permeability of the end sections is lower than an average permeability of the first central section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8991858
    Abstract: A side airbag gas bag is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. The gas bag includes, but is not limited to an occupant region and a child seat region adjoining thereon, which with inflated gas bag optionally forms a recess for receiving a contour of a child seat or a volume for the lateral protection of an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8851517
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a safety device for a motor vehicle is provided. The safety device includes an elastic membrane, which partially or completely delimits a hollow space, which is provided for an accident-initiated filling subject to elastically expand the membrane. The elastic membrane is covered by a separate envelope in a gas-tight manner, which provides an opening through the expansion of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8840135
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle, a method for transferring an airbag of the airbag device into a compact state, and a vehicle with the airbag device are provided. The airbag device includes an airbag that, on an activation of the airbag device, is configured from a compact state into an expanded state. The airbag has a head region, a thorax region, and a pelvis region. In the expanded state of the airbag, the head region is configured for protection of a head of an occupant situated on a vehicle seat, the thorax region is configured for protection of an upper body of the occupant, and the pelvis region is configured for protection of a pelvis of the occupant. The airbag is configured as a single-chamber side airbag. The airbag device further comprises a gas generator for generation of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Jenny, Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20140246875
    Abstract: A module lift assembly includes first and second multipoint adapter plates separated by a horizontal transverse spreader bar; a lift frame having first and second longitudinal lift beams separated by horizontal transverse bracing; a plurality of slings of adjustable length connecting the first multipoint adapter plate to the first lift beam and connecting the second multipoint adapter plate to the second lift beam; and a plurality of slider assemblies each slidingly affixed to the first and second lift beams, and a lift shackle for attaching to a module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: PCL INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich (Rick) Hermann, Jacek Olearczyk
  • Patent number: 8770334
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body is provided. The motor vehicle body includes a front hood with an outer skin and a stiffening layer arranged under the outer skin and attached to the outer skin. The motor vehicle body also includes an actuator for lifting up the front hood during an accident, which is accommodated in a recess in the stiffening layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20140183847
    Abstract: An instrument panel is integrated into the vehicle, and extends from the driver to the passenger side in a longitudinal extension. The vehicle encompasses a steering wheel, which is arranged on the driver side, and protrudes from the instrument panel in a direction oriented opposite the traveling direction of the vehicle. The vehicle exhibits an airbag module with at least one airbag, which is integrated into the instrument panel in front of the steering wheel as viewed in the traveling direction. The airbag is designed to inflate when and/or after activated out of an opening arranged in the instrument panel in an inflating direction oriented in the direction of an upper body position of the driver. The instrument panel encompasses a guiding ramp, which is designed to guide the airbag over the steering wheel as it being inflated in the inflating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich RICK, Christoph DAAB, Frank SATERDAG
  • Publication number: 20140175777
    Abstract: An elastic structure for use in an energy absorption system of a motor vehicle is provided. The elastic structure includes a structure configured as occupant protection and/or pedestrian protection expandable by a medium. An elastic function structure at least partially covers the structure and acts as a gas barrier. An energy absorption system for a motor vehicle as occupant protection and/or pedestrian protection and a motor vehicle having at least one such energy absorption system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20140175775
    Abstract: A side airbag gas bag is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. The gas bag includes, but is not limited to an occupant region and a child seat region adjoining thereon, which with inflated gas bag optionally forms a recess for receiving a contour of a child seat or a volume for the lateral protection of an occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Patent number: 8672344
    Abstract: A cladding section is provided for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. An airbag flap arrangement is located in the cladding section, and pivots along at least one hinge line during the actuation of an airbag. This type of cladding section provides that it have one stepped height difference on the surface relative to the passenger compartment, and that the airbag flap arrangement is located in the area of the height difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Wagner, Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8651680
    Abstract: An occupant protection device is provided for a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to at least one airbag module that is arranged in a hub region of a steering wheel. The airbag module includes, but is not limited to a visual surface facing a vehicle driver and the visual surface is entirely or partially formed of a textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick