Patents Assigned to Firma Leopold Kostal
  • Patent number: 5012056
    Abstract: A control device for an electrical switch is suggested, which is composed, among other things, of an actuation element (1) as well as at least one latching pin (3) that is under the effect of a compression spring (2) and a system having at least one latching track (4) interacting with the latching pin (3). In the latching track (4), at least one molded pathway (7) lying inclined to the actuation directions is present, which upon a displacement of the latching pin (3) in one of the actuation directions necessarily produces a simultaneous displacement of the latching pin (3) in the other actuation direction. The control device designed in such a way serves the purpose of realizing the functions of both angular and axial displacement and in addition, of insuring that the electrical switch can only be brought into permissible switching positions by movement of the actuation element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Klaus Hirschfeld
  • Patent number: 4354155
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement for monitoring an electricity-consuming load fed with direct current one terminal of which is grounded, particularly for monitoring an incandescent of an automotive vehicle, and the circuit arrangement being installable without interfering with the existing network of lines or cutting conductors. Between the switch of the load and the current-consuming device a measurement coil is arranged parallel to a conductor within the magnetic field produced by the flow of electricity through the conductor, the input of the coil being connected to a voltage supply source and its output being connected in a Schmitt trigger circuit with the non-inverting input of a differential amplifier constituted as operational amplifier and the output of the amplifier being fed back via a resistor to the non-inverting input and being connected to a fault indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventors: Volker Speidel, Eduard Bergmann, Klaus Kassner, Werner-Ernst Berginski
  • Patent number: 4339667
    Abstract: An electrical circuit providing a light passing signal function obtained by means of a single push switch independently of whether the low beam switch is open or closed. An electronic system controlled by the push switch and the low beam switch is provided for controlling the high beam contact of the relay and when the low beam is disconnected the electronic system closes the relay contact as a function of the length of time of the closure of the push switch and when the low beam is connected the relay contact is also closed as a function of the length of time of the closure of the push switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventors: Eduard Bergmann, Volker Speidel
  • Patent number: 4336428
    Abstract: The invention concerns a steering column assembly switch for automotive vehicles with a supporting sleeve surrounding the casing tube of a steering mechanism and mountable thereon, supported by means of a roller bearing on the steering column and housing a plurality of switches, the sleeve having a hollow cylinder mounted at an acute angle to the axis of the sleeve, for a column lock and an ignition switch. The plurality switches are located in a common housing mounted on the supporting sleeve concentrically to the axis of said sleeve. The internal space is divided into two chambers by means of an annular disk and on both sides with conductor bars and switch contacts; each of the chambers contains an annular, rotatably and tiltably mounted sliding contact with a switching lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventor: Werner E. Berginski
  • Patent number: 4317104
    Abstract: A precision resistor for use in electrical circuits arranged on printed circuit boards is produced from a band of thermally conductive alloy. The band is selectively surface treated with a conductive coating to improve solderability in the region of the resistor where it is connected to conductors of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventors: Eduard Bergmann, Wolfgang Bonczek
  • Patent number: 4307301
    Abstract: An electric circuit arrangement to replace the combined pushing and locking electric switch of the type used in DC fed automobile blinker systems, characterized by a signal detection unit controlled by a push switch and comprising a timer member, an integrating member and a bi-stable storage member whose output controls a blinker relay or subsequent electric component. Actuation of the push switch generates a pulse which directly controls a flip-flop and a timer member as a function of the length of time of actuation of the push switch, the length of such time in relation to the setting of the timer acting to set or re-set the flip-flop. Two push switches are provided which control the timer and two bi-stable flip-flops whose outputs are cross-coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventor: Volker Speidel
  • Patent number: 4287786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column jacket of the steering column of motor vehicles which surrounds the steering spindle and contains a steering column assembly having a steering column switch or a switch rest. The steering wheel end of the steering column jacket forms a sleeve portion closed in the circumferential direction and receives a steering spindle bearing. From the front end of the steering column jacket a longitudinal rib extends, the flanks of which lead the steering column switch during the assembly, a window for the locking pin of the steering column lock being adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventor: Werner Berginski
  • Patent number: 4286126
    Abstract: An ignition switch has contact plates held in a socket plate and with trip cams on the circumference of the socket plate. A switching wheel carries a plurality of contact springs, which abut on one side against a central contact and have contact arms switchable by means of the trip cams with respect to the contact plates. The contact springs also cooperate with a starter repetition lock. The central contact is in the form of a spherical shell segment and each contact spring has a spherical shell segment pressed with a prestressing force onto the spherical shell segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventor: Werner E. Berginski
  • Patent number: 4281226
    Abstract: A rotary ignition switch has a pair of tiltable bridges extending in opposed directions and spring-pressed toward a center contact. When the switch is rotated a first end of one bridge remains against the center contact while its other or contact end rides up a helical cam track. The first end of the other bridge rests on the one bridge while its other or contact end also rides up a helical track. The contact ends of both bridges then drop off the helical cam tracks onto fixed contacts to complete respective circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventor: Werner Berginski
  • Patent number: 4251723
    Abstract: An opto-electronical switching device provided with an operating push-button key, particularly for motor vehicles, comprises a housing, containing a photodiode and a phototransistor, a rectangular push-button key, guided in the housing, with aperture plate and with an after-connected interrogating circuit, responding to the switching condition of the phototransistor. A rectangular leaf spring, curved transversely to the longitudinal direction, supported with its corners upon ribs of the push-button key inner surface and curved away from the push-button key inner surface, and the counter-support of the leaf spring is formed by a pin in the geometrical mid-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventors: Volker Speidel, Eduard Bergmann, Lothar Worlitz
  • Patent number: 4149048
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering column switch has a direction indicator blinker light switch which includes two engagement positions and two change of lane tipping positions. The switch also is automatically readjustable such as by a head lamp low beam flasher switch. The switch includes an integral switching lever having a tubular switching arm through which electrical leads are guided. The switching lever includes a catch extension and an operating extension molded from a thermoplastic material. A removable slide is provided to facilitate assembly of the electrical leads within the switching lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Firma Leopold Kostal
    Inventors: Friedhelm Winter, Klaus Buhle, Ralf Eifer