Patents by Inventor Bernard Schlegel

Bernard Schlegel 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: 11784435
    Abstract: A module element is provided for accommodating pluggable contact means and/or functional elements to provide an assembled plug connector module. The module element has a retaining contour arranged and designed in such a way that a first module element can be joined with a second module element in a transverse direction, and/or the module element has a fastening contour and at least one fastening element, which are arranged and designed correspondingly in such a way that a first module element can be joined with a second module element in the transverse direction to form the plug connector module. A plug connector module composed of at least two of the module elements described above is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Kliever, Irina Lötkemann, Heiko Meier, Bernard Schlegel
  • Patent number: 11777254
    Abstract: A plug-in connector has two pushbuttons arranged laterally thereon. An annular, asymmetric spiral spring is inserted in such a manner that the spiral spring, in its locking orientation, permits the respective pushbutton pin to move into the plug-in connector housing and prevents the pushbutton pin from moving out of the plug-in connector housing. The spiral spring can tilt from its locking orientation into its release orientation when arranged with its inner region in a release groove of the pushbutton pin. In its release orientation, the spiral spring permits the pushbutton pin to move out of the plug-in connector housing. This permits actuation similar to a ballpoint pen with only a few components and with high operating comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Bernard Schlegel
  • Patent number: 11764495
    Abstract: A protective conductor connection connects a protective conductor to a busbar of a grounding element. The grounding element extends in a plug-in direction on a wall of an isolating body of the plug connector. The grounding element has a mounting region for mounting on the wall, a contact element for electrically contacting a counterpart plug connector, and a contact surface for electrical contacting a plug connector housing. A spring element and an actuating element are provided on the mounting region and configured such that the actuating element, during actuation thereof, interacts with the spring element such that, in a first position of the actuating element, a contact connection for the protective conductor to the current rail is opened by the spring element, and in a second position of the actuating element, a contact connection for the protective conductor to the current rail is closed by the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernard Schlegel, Florian Hackemeier, Mario Stolle
  • Publication number: 20230166778
    Abstract: An insulating element for a high-power plug connector system comprises at least one stop formation for limiting the distance of insertion into the high-power plug connector system and at least one cutout, which allows contact to be established between a receivable high-power contact and at least one electrically conductive bar. The insulating element has at least one retaining formation, which is located on the periphery of the insulating element, near the stop formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander SCHÖNFELD, Bernard SCHLEGEL, Christof HERMONI
  • Patent number: 11658427
    Abstract: A connection device includes a bearing device for at least one spring element formed on a busbar of the connecting contact; a spring element configured to move from a first tension state in which a contact end of the spring element bears against the busbar, a second tension state in which the connection for the conductor to the busbar is closed, and a third tension state in which the contact connection for the conductor to the busbar is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Bernard Schlegel, Heiko Herbrechtsmeier, Irina Loetkemann
  • Patent number: 11493073
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for first and second housing parts of a housing of a plug connector, includes a push button, which extends in the axial longitudinal direction through an opening of the first housing part into the interior of the housing. The push button is movably arranged, relative to the housing, between predetermined first and second axial positions, which correspond with the first and second positions of the housing parts. The push button and an interior locking element are configured such that the push button is in pressure contact to the locking element and interacts with the locking element such that, in the case of movement of the push button from the first to the second positions a radial pressure contact between the two housing parts is provided such that a gap between the first and second housing parts is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Bernard Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20220320785
    Abstract: A plug connector module for a modular industrial plug connector is provided, wherein the plug connector module is formed from at least two independent functional units, wherein the functional units enclose a cavity when in the assembled state together. A method for producing a plug connector module for a modular industrial plug connector is also provided, comprising: initially assembling at least two independent functional units, wherein the functional units enclose a cavity when in the assembled state together; and subsequently at least partially filling the cavity with a fixing material, whereby the functional units are fixed to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Bernard SCHLEGEL, Heiko MEIER, Irina LÖTKEMANN
  • Patent number: 11384785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a push-button lock for locking a plug-in connector housing. The lock has a push-button body with a cylindrical unlocking recess containing an unlocking pin. The appropriate interaction of an outer contour of the unlocking pin, an inner contour of a through-opening of the plug-in connector housing and the push-button body by at least one locking element and two springs allows the plug-in connector housing to be locked and unlocked with great ease of use, the operating concept being particularly self-explanatory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Bernard Schlegel, Horst Huelsmeyer, Frank Bussmann
  • Patent number: 11387591
    Abstract: A plug connector module is provided for a modular industrial plug connector, wherein the plug connector module is formed from at least two independent functional units. In order to fit a holding frame with a plug connector module, a first functional unit is first of all combined with at least one second functional unit so as to form a plug connector module, and the plug connector module is then inserted into the holding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Harting Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Irina Lötkemann, Bernard Schlegel, Heiko Meier, Wilhelm Kliever
  • Publication number: 20220140501
    Abstract: A connection device includes a bearing device for at least one spring element formed on a busbar of the connecting contact; a spring element configured to move from a first tension state in which a contact end of the spring element bears against the busbar, a second tension state in which the connection for the conductor to the busbar is closed, and a third tension state in which the the contact connection for the conductor to the busbar is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Bernard SCHLEGEL, Heiko HERBRECHTSMEIER, Irina LOETKEMANN
  • Publication number: 20220094081
    Abstract: A protective conductor connection connects a protective conductor to a busbar of a grounding element. The grounding element extends in a plug-in direction on a wall of an isolating body of the plug connector. The grounding element has a mounting region for mounting on the wall, a contact element for electrically contacting a counterpart plug connector, and a contact surface for electrical contacting a plug connector housing. A spring element and an actuating element are provided on the mounting region and configured such that the actuating element, during actuation thereof, interacts with the spring element such that, in a first position of the actuating element, a contact connection for the protective conductor to the current rail is opened by the spring element, and in a second position of the actuating element, a contact connection for the protective conductor to the current rail is closed by the spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernard SCHLEGEL, Florian HACKEMEIER, Mario STOLLE
  • Publication number: 20210273370
    Abstract: A plug connector module is provided for a modular industrial plug connector, wherein the plug connector module is formed from at least two independent functional units. In order to fit a holding frame with a plug connector module, a first functional unit is first of all combined with at least one second functional unit so as to form a plug connector module, and the plug connector module is then inserted into the holding frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Irina LÖTKEMANN, Bernard SCHLEGEL, Heiko MEIER, Wilhelm KLIEVER
  • Publication number: 20210265766
    Abstract: A module element is provided for accommodating pluggable contact means and/or functional elements to provide an assembled plug connector module. The module element has a retaining contour arranged and designed in such a way that a first module element can be joined with a second module element in a transverse direction, and/or the module element has a fastening contour and at least one fastening element, which are arranged and designed correspondingly in such a way that a first module element can be joined with a second module element in the transverse direction to form the plug connector module. A plug connector module composed of at least two of the module elements described above is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Wilhelm KLIEVER, Irina LÖTKEMANN, Heiko MEIER, Bernard SCHLEGEL
  • Publication number: 20210131472
    Abstract: Disclosed is a push-button lock for locking a plug-in connector housing. The lock has a push-button body with a cylindrical unlocking recess containing an unlocking pin. The appropriate interaction of an outer contour of the unlocking pin, an inner contour of a through-opening of the plug-in connector housing and the push-button body by at least one locking element and two springs allows the plug-in connector housing to be locked and unlocked with great ease of use, the operating concept being particularly self-explanatory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Bernard SCHLEGEL, Horst HUELSMEYER, Frank BUSSMANN
  • Publication number: 20200321729
    Abstract: A plug-in connector has two pushbuttons arranged laterally thereon. An annular, asymmetric spiral spring is inserted in such a manner that the spiral spring, in its locking orientation, permits the respective pushbutton pin to move into the plug-in connector housing and prevents the pushbutton pin from moving out of the plug-in connector housing. The spiral spring can tilt from its locking orientation into its release orientation when arranged with its inner region in a release groove of the pushbutton pin. In its release orientation, the spiral spring permits the pushbutton pin to move out of the plug-in connector housing. This permits actuation similar to a ballpoint pen with only a few components and with high operating comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Bernard SCHLEGEL
  • Publication number: 20200224701
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for first and second housing parts of a housing of a plug connector, includes a push button, which extends in the axial longitudinal direction through an opening of the first housing part into the interior of the housing. The push button is movably arranged, relative to the housing, between predetermined first and second axial positions, which correspond with the first and second positions of the housing parts. The push button and an interior locking element are configured such that the push button is in pressure contact to the locking element and interacts with the locking element such that, in the case of movement of the push button from the first to the second positions a radial pressure contact between the two housing parts is provided such that a gap between the first and second housing parts is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Bernard SCHLEGEL
  • Patent number: 10516239
    Abstract: Provided is a holding frame for holding plug connector modules and for installing in plug connector casings or for screwing onto wall surfaces, wherein the plug connector modules are inserted into the holding frame and a holding arrangement on the plug connector modules cooperate with recesses provided on opposite side parts of the holding frame. Also, to allow simplified and/or less cost-intensive production with additional flexibility regarding the positioning or omission of earthing contacts, without compromising safe handling of the holding frame, one frame half has a projection in at least one fastening section, which protrudes in the direction of the other frame half and which engages with a recess in the fastening section of the other frame half in such a way that any lateral displacement of the side parts is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: HARTING ELECTRIC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Irina Loetkemann, Bernard Schlegel
  • Patent number: 10148046
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a plug connector for plug connector modules and for installation in plug connector housings or for screwing to wall surfaces. The holding frame is composed of two opposite sides in which there are provided recesses for receiving the plug connector modules. The holding frame is composed of four interconnected parts. A first side part and a second, opposite side part form the sides of the holding frame. A first head part and a second head part are provided on the ends of the side parts. The side parts are connected to one another via the head parts. Furthermore, the head parts have fastening ends by way of which the holding frame can be fastened in a plug connector housing or to a wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ramona Schlepp, Bernard Schlegel
  • Patent number: 9991624
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a modular plug connector comprising a metal housing and an insulating holding frame received therein. At least one plug connector module is received in the holding frame, comprises a metallic or at least electrically conductive material, and is electrically insulated from the housing by the holding frame. Furthermore, an earthing device, which bridges the holding frame and permits an electrical contact between the plug connector module and the metal housing, is provided on the plug connector module. This allows different plug connector modules to be held in the holding frame insulated from the housing, and at the same time others to be held in electrical contact with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernard Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20180115103
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a modular plug connector comprising a metal housing and an insulating holding frame received therein. At least one plug connector module is received in the holding frame, comprises a metallic or at least electrically conductive material, and is electrically insulated from the housing by the holding frame. Furthermore, an earthing device, which bridges the holding frame and permits an electrical contact between the plug connector module and the metal housing, is provided on the plug connector module. This allows different plug connector modules to be held in the holding frame insulated from the housing, and at the same time others to be held in electrical contact with the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Bernard Schlegel