Patents by Inventor Knut Moldenhauer

Knut Moldenhauer 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: 11909186
    Abstract: A coil spring cassette includes a stator housing part and a rotor housing part that is rotatable relative to the stator housing part about a longitudinal axis. The stator housing part and the rotor housing part together form therebetween a first chamber and a second chamber at respective positions along the longitudinal axis. A first flat cable with a reversal of winding direction is arranged in the first chamber. A second flat cable with a uniform winding direction is arranged in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kostal Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Knut Moldenhauer, Raphael Kleine
  • Patent number: 11299192
    Abstract: An operating arrangement for a vehicle includes a steering column retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard, a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column, a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft, and a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard. The steering column module has a screen positioned behind the steering wheel. In a manual vehicle driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard. In an automatic (or autonomous) vehicle mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hirschfeld, Peter Floeper, Martin Deitmerg, Knut Moldenhauer, Ludwig Feldmueller
  • Publication number: 20210359502
    Abstract: A coil spring cassette includes a stator housing part and a rotor housing part that is rotatable relative to the stator housing part about a longitudinal axis. The stator housing part and the rotor housing part together form therebetween a first chamber and a second chamber at respective positions along the longitudinal axis. A first flat cable with a reversal of winding direction is arranged in the first chamber. A second flat cable with a uniform winding direction is arranged in the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Knut Moldenhauer, Raphael Kleine
  • Publication number: 20200172145
    Abstract: An operating arrangement for a vehicle includes a steering column retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard, a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column, a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft, and a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard. The steering column module has a screen positioned behind the steering wheel. In a manual vehicle driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard. In an automatic (or autonomous) vehicle mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hirschfeld, Peter Floeper, Martin Deitmerg, Knut Moldenhauer, Ludwig Feldmueller
  • Patent number: 8963543
    Abstract: An angle sensor for sensing angular position of a rotatable shaft includes a drive gear, a measuring gear, and a sensor housing. The drive gear is connected to the shaft. The measuring gear is driven by the drive gear. The angular position of the shaft can be determined from an angular position of the measuring gear. The sensor housing has a bearing for the drive gear. The drive gear and the measuring gear are rotationally mounted about respective axes of rotation in the sensor housing with the drive gear being inside the bearing. The drive gear is forcibly pressed into a radial position inside the bearing by at least one spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Knut Moldenhauer
  • Patent number: 8570031
    Abstract: An assembly for sensing the angular position of a rotatable shaft includes a bearing ring, a driving gear, and a measuring gear. The bearing ring is connectable to the shaft and has two recesses. The driving gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and has two entraining elements. The entraining elements extend radially toward the rotational axis of the driving gear and are arranged opposite one another with respect to the circumference of the driving gear. The entraining elements respectively penetrate into the recesses of the bearing ring such that the driving gear is connected to the bearing ring and rotates as the bearing ring rotates. The measuring gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and is engaged with the driving gear such that the measuring gear rotates as the driving gear rotates. One of the entraining elements is resilient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arnd Ruebenhagen, Thomas Puetter, Knut Moldenhauer, Alexander Trinn
  • Patent number: 8083525
    Abstract: An electrical device such as a steering column module for a vehicle includes a connector, a movable element, and a transport securing element movable to a position in which the transport securing element blocks the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also blocks the connector from connecting with an external connection element. The transport securing element is movable to a position in which the transport securing element does not block the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position not blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also does not block the connector from connecting with an external connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lukas Fiala, Alexander Trinn, Knut Moldenhauer
  • Publication number: 20110309827
    Abstract: An assembly for sensing the angular position of a rotatable shaft includes a bearing ring, a driving gear, and a measuring gear. The bearing ring is connectable to the shaft and has two recesses. The driving gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and has two entraining elements. The entraining elements extend radially toward the rotational axis of the driving gear and are arranged opposite one another with respect to the circumference of the driving gear. The entraining elements respectively penetrate into the recesses of the bearing ring such that the driving gear is connected to the bearing ring and rotates as the bearing ring rotates. The measuring gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and is engaged with the driving gear such that the measuring gear rotates as the driving gear rotates. One of the entraining elements is resilient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Arnd Ruebenhagen, Thomas Puetter, Knut Moldenhauer, Alexander Trinn
  • Publication number: 20110207348
    Abstract: An electrical device such as a steering column module for a vehicle includes a connector, a movable element, and a transport securing element movable to a position in which the transport securing element blocks the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also blocks the connector from connecting with an external connection element. The transport securing element is movable to a position in which the transport securing element does not block the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position not blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also does not block the connector from connecting with an external connection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Lukas Fiala, Alexander Trinn, Knut Moldenhauer
  • Patent number: 7900532
    Abstract: An electric shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a gate channel, and a detent device. The detent device has a spring-loaded pin and a detent contour cooperating therewith. The detent contour includes first and second paths and a connection path therebetween. The detent contour is movable relative to the channel between a first position in which the first path is aligned with the channel and a second position in which the second path is aligned with the channel. The lever is connected to the pin such that the lever is movable within the channel along the first path when the detent contour is in the first position and within the channel along the second path when the detent contour is in the second position and such that the lever is movable along the connection path between the paths when the detent contour moves between the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Ralf Boebel, Martin Deitmerg, Thomas Luksch, Knut Moldenhauer, Frank Blaesing, Dirk Bunselmeier, Klaus Hirschfeld, Bjorn Mans, Ralf Winkelmann, Michael Bleckmann, Rainer Buehlmann, Martin Kunze, Peter Molkow
  • Patent number: 7895916
    Abstract: A vehicular operating device includes a lever movably attachable at one end to a housing such as a steering column such that the lever is pivotable relative to the housing between different positions. A connector connectable to the housing is adjacent to the first end of the lever and is in communication with the hollow body of the lever. A catch line having first and second ends runs through the hollow body of the lever with the first end of the catch line being connected to the connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to the second end of the lever. Upon the lever breaking, the catch line secures the lever to the connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end of the lever and the connector to thereby prevent the lever from breaking away from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Knut Moldenhauer, Werner Volmer
  • Publication number: 20090320634
    Abstract: An electric shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a gate channel, and a detent device. The detent device has a spring-loaded pin and a detent contour cooperating therewith. The detent contour includes first and second paths and a connection path therebetween. The detent contour is movable relative to the channel between a first position in which the first path is aligned with the channel and a second position in which the second path is aligned with the channel. The lever is connected to the pin such that the lever is movable within the channel along the first path when the detent contour is in the first position and within the channel along the second path when the detent contour is in the second position and such that the lever is movable along the connection path between the paths when the detent contour moves between the positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Ralf Boebel, Martin Deitmerg, Thomas Luksch, Knut Moldenhauer, Frank Blaesing, Dirk Bunselmeier, Klaus Hirschfeld, Bjorn Mans, Ralf Winkelmann, Michael Bleckmann, Rainer Buehlmann, Martin Kunze, Peter Molkow
  • Publication number: 20090188343
    Abstract: A vehicular operating device includes a lever movably attachable at one end to a housing such as a steering column such that the lever is pivotable relative to the housing between different positions. A connector connectable to the housing is adjacent to the first end of the lever and is in communication with the hollow body of the lever. A catch line having first and second ends runs through the hollow body of the lever with the first end of the catch line being connected to the connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to the second end of the lever. Upon the lever breaking, the catch line secures the lever to the connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end of the lever and the connector to thereby prevent the lever from breaking away from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Knut Moldenhauer, Werner Volmer