Patents by Inventor Elmar Finkenberger

Elmar Finkenberger 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).

  • Publication number: 20220314882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indirect rear view system for a motor vehicle, having a bearing element for fastening at least one reflection element, wherein the bearing element forms a coupling region for variable-position attachment to a vehicle-attachable adjustment element, wherein the coupling region for contacting a spherical connection region of the adjustment element has a first contact area and a second contact area axially offset with respect thereto wherein an imaginary separation surface extends through the region of transition of a main body of the bearing element into the coupling region of the bearing element, wherein the first contact area is arranged on one side of the imaginary separation surface and the second contact area is arranged on the opposite other side of the imaginary separation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Albrecht Popp
  • Publication number: 20220317413
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indirect rear viewing system for a motor vehicle having a supporting element for fastening at least one reflective element, wherein the supporting element has a coupling region for a position variable fastening/attachment to an adjusting element, which in turn can be attached to the vehicle, wherein the coupling region contacts a counter contact regions, of the adjusting element, wherein interlocking anti rotation means are present on the supporting element and on the adjusting element, wherein the anti rotation means are forming an index geometry, which, in a first operating state, permits an adjustment of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about two axes of rotation, which are transverse to one another, and, in at least a second operating state, permits a basic position change of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about a third axis of rotation which is aligned transversely to the two other axes of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Albrecht Popp
  • Patent number: 10632923
    Abstract: The description relates to a bearing assembly for rotatably or pivotally connecting a first (4) and a second (6) component to each other, wherein the two components (4, 6) are connected by a connecting element (8) disposed to be coaxial to a rotary or pivot axis (A); each of the two components (4, 6) comprises at least one first contact zone (10.4, 10.6), the contact zones (10.4, 10.6) having first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) which are complementary with respect to each other; the respective first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) being urged towards each other with an elastic preload force by a biasing part; and a latching geometry acting as a first latching means (14) being arranged between the first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6). Each of the two components (4, 6) has at least one second contact zone (18.4, 18.6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MEKRA LANG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Bastian Renk
  • Patent number: 10160401
    Abstract: A device for monitoring vehicles surroundings includes a sensor, a sensor holder and a fastener. Due to manufacturing tolerances, the sensor axis that passes through the head of the sensor deviates from the axis of the sensor main body. The sensor head passes into an opening in the sensor holder centered around a sensor holding axis. When the sensor is mounted into a receiver niche in the sensor holder, the sensor holding axis and the sensor axis are aligned. The fastener fastens the sensor to the sensor holder and compensates for the sensor axis deviating from the main body axis. Screws pass through bore holes in the fastener and into screw holes in the sensor holder. The bore holes have a larger diameter than do the screw holes, allowing the sensor axis to be aligned with the sensor holding axis despite the sensor axis deviating from the main body axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Simon Deffner, Matthias Zink
  • Publication number: 20180170262
    Abstract: The description relates to a bearing assembly for rotatably or pivotally connecting a first (4) and a second (6) component to each other, wherein the two components (4, 6) are connected by a connecting element (8) disposed to be coaxial to a rotary or pivot axis (A); each of the two components (4, 6) comprises at least one first contact zone (10.4, 10.6), the contact zones (10.4, 10.6) having first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) which are complementary with respect to each other; the respective first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) being urged towards each other with an elastic preload force by a biasing part; and a latching geometry acting as a first latching means (14) being arranged between the first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6). Each of the two components (4, 6) has at least one second contact zone (18.4, 18.6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Bastian Renk
  • Patent number: 9849823
    Abstract: An indicator unit for a system for indirect vision of a vehicle. A unit has a functional unit housing having at least one electronic carrier accommodated therein. The at least one electronic carrier has at least one first electric or electronic functional component for providing the function of a direction indicator, and a second electric or electronic functional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MEKRA LANG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Andreas Redlingshöfer
  • Patent number: 9610896
    Abstract: A adjusting device for a vehicular mirror directly transmits any forces exerted on the mirror between a base member and a rotating member when the mirror is not being adjusted. This permits a small electric motor to be used that can withstand only comparatively small forces exerted on the mirror while the mirror is being adjusted. The device includes the motor, a cylindrical base, a rotating member and a driven member. The mirror is adjusted when the motor drives the rotating member, and the rotating member is uncoupled from the base member. When the motor rotates the driven member, the rotating member is forced axially apart from the base member as a decoupling element on the rotating member slides up an inclined portion on the driven member. When the motor is not driving the rotating member, the rotating member is uncoupled from the motor and couples to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Albrecht Popp, Stefan Centmayer
  • Patent number: 9470273
    Abstract: A clutch device transmits rotational energy between a drive input and a drive output, in particular between an electric actuating unit and an actuating element of an adjustable motor vehicle exterior mirror. The clutch device permits a transmission of a load torque MR from the electric actuating unit to the actuating element in both directions, and in the event of an overload torque greater than a predefined threshold torque MK, automatically permits a relative rotation between the electric actuating unit and the actuating element. Furthermore, the clutch device is designed such that, in the event of a torque direction reversal, no load torque is transmitted over a predetermined free-travel angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MEKRA Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Albrecht Popp, Elmar Finkenberger
  • Patent number: 9333918
    Abstract: An exterior mirror arrangement for motor vehicles, in particular utility vehicles, has a holder mounted on a vehicle, a housing which is fastened, preferably latchably articulatedly connected, to the holder, and a holding member, which is displaceably received in the housing, for a vehicle exterior mirror. The housing has a housing portion which is formed in one piece from plastic and which alone guides the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MEKRA Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger
  • Publication number: 20150291080
    Abstract: An indicator unit for a system for indirect vision of a vehicle. A unit has a functional unit housing having at least one electronic carrier accommodated therein. The at least one electronic carrier has at least one first electric or electronic functional component for providing the function of a direction indicator, and a second electric or electronic functional component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Werner LANG, Elmar Finkenberger, Andreas Redlingshöfer
  • Publication number: 20150274091
    Abstract: A device for monitoring vehicles surroundings includes a sensor, a sensor holder and a fastener. Due to manufacturing tolerances, the sensor axis that passes through the head of the sensor deviates from the axis of the sensor main body. The sensor head passes into an opening in the sensor holder centered around a sensor holding axis. When the sensor is mounted into a receiver niche in the sensor holder, the sensor holding axis and the sensor axis are aligned. The fastener fastens the sensor to the sensor holder and compensates for the sensor axis deviating from the main body axis. Screws pass through bore holes in the fastener and into screw holes in the sensor holder. The bore holes have a larger diameter than do the screw holes, allowing the sensor axis to be aligned with the sensor holding axis despite the sensor axis deviating from the main body axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Simon Deffner, Matthias Zink
  • Publication number: 20140211333
    Abstract: A adjusting device for a vehicular mirror directly transmits any forces exerted on the mirror between a base member and a rotating member when the mirror is not being adjusted. This permits a small electric motor to be used that can withstand only comparatively small forces exerted on the mirror while the mirror is being adjusted. The device includes the motor, a cylindrical base, a rotating member and a driven member. The mirror is adjusted when the motor drives the rotating member, and the rotating member is uncoupled from the base member. When the motor rotates the driven member, the rotating member is forced axially apart from the base member as a decoupling element on the rotating member slides up an inclined portion on the driven member. When the motor is not driving the rotating member, the rotating member is uncoupled from the motor and couples to the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Albrecht Popp, Stefan Centmayer
  • Publication number: 20140111879
    Abstract: An exterior mirror arrangement for motor vehicles, in particular utility vehicles, has s a holder mounted on a vehicle, a housing which is fastened, preferably latchably articulatedly connected, to the holder, and a holding member, which is displaceably received in the housing, for a vehicle exterior mirror. The housing has a housing portion which is formed in one piece from plastic and which alone guides the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEKRA Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger
  • Publication number: 20110102923
    Abstract: A coupling between a primary mirror and additional mirror so that adjustment of at least one of said mirrors is executed in a way that their fields of view overlap or directly juxtapose. In doing so, the occurrence of a gap in the coverage of the fields of view in the border area shared between mirrors is avoided for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger, Stefan Centmayer