Patents by Inventor Christophe Bahr

Christophe Bahr 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: 8556736
    Abstract: A device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft includes balls arranged in rows between axial grooves of the inner shaft and axial grooves of the outer shaft, enabling the shafts to slide in the direction of a common axis. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of one of the inner or outer shafts and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the other of the inner and outer shafts. The two rolling tracks are hinged through a convex pivot surface and a corresponding concave support face of one of the inner and outer shafts, and a difference between the radii of the pivot surface and the support face defines two contact areas and a pivot axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam S.A.S.
    Inventors: Amaud Janvier, Christophe Bahr
  • Patent number: 8398496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft sliding in the direction of a common axis thereof, with balls provided between the two shafts. The balls are arranged in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of the inner shaft and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the outer shaft, wherein each of the two rolling tracks is hinged through a pivot surface and a bearing surface of the corresponding shaft, and the difference between the radii defines two bearing areas defining a hinge axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Arnaud Janvier
  • Patent number: 8342574
    Abstract: A device for the assisted locking and unlocking of an adjustable steering column has a fixed cam element secured to a column body, a moving cam element extended by an operating lever, and an articulation system coupled to a central spindle mounted between the elements and passing through the body. The articulation system includes an elastic return member intended to collaborate with two sets of complementary bosses borne respectively by each cam element and delimiting with one another, two end-of-travel stops so that by pivoting the lever, the moving cam element can be made to move between a locked position and an unlocked position via an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam Sas
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Florian Botte
  • Publication number: 20110174028
    Abstract: A device for the assisted locking and unlocking of an adjustable steering column has a fixed cam element secured to a column body, a moving cam element extended by an operating lever, and an articulation system coupled to a central spindle mounted between the elements and passing through the body. The articulation system includes an elastic return member intended to collaborate with two sets of complementary bosses borne respectively by each cam element and delimiting with one another, two end-of-travel stops so that by pivoting the lever, the moving cam element can be made to move between a locked position and an unlocked position via an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: ZF SYSTEMES DE DIRECTION NACAM SAS
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Florian Botte
  • Publication number: 20110098121
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft sliding in the direction of a common axis thereof, with balls provided between the two shafts. The balls are arranged in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of the inner shaft and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the outer shaft, wherein each of the two rolling tracks is hinged through a pivot surface and a bearing surface of the corresponding shaft, and the difference between the radii defines two bearing areas defining a hinge axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Arnaud Janvier
  • Patent number: 7526978
    Abstract: Device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft that slide in the direction of a common axis with balls disposed between the two shafts. The balls are disposed in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is held by a double spring member that bears on the groove and which pushes on two rolling tracks for the balls, which come into contact with the groove. The two rolling tracks are articulated at the junction of the groove and the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Arnaud Janvier
  • Publication number: 20060053934
    Abstract: Device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft that slide in the direction of a common axis with balls disposed between the two shafts. The balls are disposed in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is held by a double spring member that bears on the groove and which pushes on two rolling tracks for the balls, which come into contact with the groove. The two rolling tracks are articulated at the junction of the groove and the inner shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Janvier Arnaud