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: 8011687
    Abstract: An air bag module arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to an air bag module a one driver-side dashboard panel that is fastened to an internal transverse support. In order to allow a simply constructed and simple fastening, the air bag module is fastened to an external transverse support of the external vehicle structure. An air bag and a method for fastening an air bag module, in particular for producing an air bag module arrangement, are also provided for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8002306
    Abstract: A vehicle interior cladding is provided for one or more vehicle components situated in or adjacent to the vehicle passenger compartment, in particular for the dashboard of a vehicle, with an airbag cover, under which an airbag is arranged in an airbag module for a restraint function. The vehicle interior cladding exhibits at least two separate cladding components that are provided for cladding different areas of one or more arranged vehicle components, in particular for a passenger side dashboard. A first cladding component at least partially envelops the airbag cover and a second cladding component forms a visible boundary line with the airbag cover. An airbag through opening is formed in the vehicle interior cladding at least partially in the area of the boundary line during the deployment of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20110116251
    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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20110109112
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to having a steering assembly and at least one trim element that is removably connected to the steering assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas JENNY, Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20110109066
    Abstract: An occupant protection device is provided for a vehicle, with at least one airbag module, which is entirely or partially covered by a fiber material, wherein the airbag module includes, but is not limited to at least one opening line. The at least one opening line is suitable for and/or designed for providing an opening function. The at least one opening line is covered with a tear-open region of the fiber material. The tear-open region in transverse extension over the opening line is designed homogenously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Thomas Jenny
  • Publication number: 20110109069
    Abstract: An airbag module is provided for a vehicle, including, but not limited to an airbag including, but not limited to a gas filling device, which has at least two outflow openings through which the gas flows into the airbag. The at least two outflow openings adapted such that a majority of the gas flows in a thrust-neutral and/or force-neutral manner into the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20110101653
    Abstract: A passenger protection device is provided for a vehicle, with an airbag module. The airbag module encompasses an airbag module cover, which has a weakened area. The weakened area is suitable and/or designed for providing an opening function of the airbag module given an activation of the airbag module. The airbag module has a covering, with one edge area of the covering being aligned to following the progression of the weakened area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich RICK, Thomas JENNY
  • Publication number: 20110100155
    Abstract: A steering wheel for a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a first cladding element that includes, but is not limited to a support material and a textile covering with cutting and/or joining points. The textile covering at least partially forms a visible surface of the first cladding element. The steering wheel has at least one constructive device for receiving the cutting and/or joining points and/or for screening the cutting and/or joining points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas JENNY, Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20110018241
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Udo WAGNER, Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20100327565
    Abstract: An airbag device is provided for a motor vehicle. The airbag device includes, but is not limited to a carrying part on the motor vehicle side and an airbag module of an inflatable, folded gas bag fastened to the carrying part and a gas generator for inflating the gas bag. The carrying part includes, but is not limited to a fastening section to which the airbag module is detachably mounted. The airbag module is fastened to the fastening section of the carrying part via a link guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Udo Wagner, Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20100259032
    Abstract: A dashboard support part is provided having an airbag exit opening and a module fastening frame, on which a passenger airbag module is directly and removably fastened, the module fastening frame being implemented integrally with the dashboard support part. The passenger airbag module is fastened on the module fastening frame using screws and/or using projections of the passenger airbag module inserted into pockets of the module fastening frame transversely to a firing direction of the passenger airbag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Udo Wagner
  • Publication number: 20100253052
    Abstract: A side airbag system is provided with a side airbag for protecting the upper thorax and head area of a vehicle passenger between a lateral vehicle structure and the vehicle passenger, and with a gas generator that is fluidically connected with the side airbag. The side airbag is planar in the deployed condition, and protectively covers a path of motion for the head, along with various seated positions for small and large vehicle passengers. In order to realize an expanded protective potential for the head in semi-convertibles and compact cars, the side airbag, viewed from the lateral vehicle structure, has an outer contour with an essentially continuous bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20100253049
    Abstract: A vehicle interior cladding is provided for one or more vehicle components situated in or adjacent to the vehicle passenger compartment, in particular for the dashboard of a vehicle, with an airbag cover, under which an airbag is arranged in an airbag module for a restraint function. The vehicle interior cladding exhibits at least two separate cladding components that are provided for cladding different areas of one or more arranged vehicle components, in particular for a passenger side dashboard. A first cladding component at least partially envelops the airbag cover and a second cladding component forms a visible boundary line with the airbag cover. An airbag through opening is formed in the vehicle interior cladding at least partially in the area of the boundary line during the deployment of the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20100219618
    Abstract: A dashboard support part is provided for fastening on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, having an airbag exit opening for unfolding a passenger airbag, and a flap configuration, which is hinged on the dashboard support part and closes the airbag exit opening. The dashboard support part has a depression, in which the flap configuration is received. The flap configuration comprises a separate flap, which closes the entire airbag exit opening, is only connected to the dashboard support part along a hinge line, and rests in the depression along its remaining circumference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Udo Wagner
  • Publication number: 20100156072
    Abstract: A head airbag module for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, is provided with a head airbag and a receptacle, which receives the folded head airbag. The head airbag having a gas channel and an airbag, and the head airbag module being implemented so that the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by filling of the gas channel, before the airbag is filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20100156073
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, is provided with a vehicle body, at least one head airbag and one gas generator for filling the head airbag. The gas generator being fastened to an element of the vehicle body that extends essentially in the vehicle transverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20100148477
    Abstract: A side airbag is provided for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, having an airbag and tensioner/tensioning means for stretching out the unfolded airbag. The tensioner/tensioning means having a peripheral, fillable tensioning frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20090314128
    Abstract: A steering wheel is provided for a motor vehicle, having a hub area, a steering wheel rim, which is situated at least partially around this hub area, and a spoke for connecting the steering wheel rim to the hub area, the hub area, the spoke, and the steering wheel rim each being molded essentially from a high-strength plastic material and the steering wheel rim is implemented around the circumference of the steering wheel at least sectionally as a self-supporting hollow profile. Alternatively or additionally, the steering wheel rim is implemented around the circumference of the steering wheel at least sectionally as a self-supporting hollow profile made of a high-strength plastic material and is at least partially encapsulated with a steering wheel cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20090127833
    Abstract: An air bag module arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to an air bag module a one driver-side dashboard panel that is fastened to an internal transverse support. In order to allow a simply constructed and simple fastening, the air bag module is fastened to an external transverse support of the external vehicle structure. An air bag and a method for fastening an air bag module, in particular for producing an air bag module arrangement, are also provided for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Publication number: 20090121462
    Abstract: A restraint system is provided that includes, but is not limited to at least one airbag module having an airbag having at least one chamber for front vehicle occupants in a vehicle, a space at a distance from the windshield between dashboard and front vehicle occupant being fillable using the airbag by unfolding. To improve the vehicle comfort and the passenger safety according to the current and future requirements and provide more interior space, the airbag module is fastenable to a vehicle body structure forming the front vehicle interior, the restraint system being implemented using an airbag enlarged by a depth (T) of a dashboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick