Patents by Inventor Martin Lindmayer

Martin Lindmayer 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: 20040232710
    Abstract: An outside door handle includes a handle and a switching component which is coupled to the handle in such a manner that, when there is an opening force which acts in a correct manner on the handle in order to open it, the switching component automatically responds and generates a switching signal. Operating convenience may be achieved by a response threshold of the switching component selected to be at such a low level that the switching component responds even before the opening force overcomes a restoring force counteracting it and prestressing the handle into an unactuated starting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
  • Publication number: 20040129040
    Abstract: In said devices the operation of the handle serves to open the door when the lock is in the unlocked position. The handle operation is achieved by means of an operating lever (30) and the rotation of the lock cylinder (60) is transferred to a carrier (45). According to the invention, the construction may be simplified and rendered flexible, whereby a control member (50) is used, which transmits the movement of the carrier (45) to the operating lever (30) of the handle. The operating lever (30) has an adjustable bearing position (31, 11 or 32, 12), which is determined in relation to the rotational position of the lock cylinder (60) by the control member (50). The transfer ratios (34.1 to 33.1 or 34.2 to 33.2) on the operating lever (30) are thus altered relative to a connector (40) leading to the lock. Although an identical operation of the handle occurs, differing working strokes (36) occur at the connector (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Reinhold Mathofer, Mirko Alexander Rohring, Rudi Kolle, Martin Lindmayer, Ralf Lennhoff, Udo Babatz
  • Patent number: 6709033
    Abstract: A door grip arrangement for the door of a power vehicle, particularly a passenger vehicle, has a door grip positioned on the outside of the door and a support element positioned on the inside of the door. The door grip is swivel-mounted on the support element through the outer shell of the door, while the door grip exhibits a catch which, upon an opening movement of the door grip, actuates a release lever inside the door in order to open the door lock. The release lever is a part of a door lock positioned within the door. A return lever is swivel-mounted on the support element. The return lever is loaded by a spring device working in the return direction and impelling the door grip to perform a return movement in a direction opposite that of the opening movement. To enhance the safety of a vehicle equipped with a door which exhibits this kind of door grip arrangement, the return lever can swivel against its return direction, independent of any movement of the door grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer, Alfred Strauber
  • Publication number: 20030193427
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for operating a portable hand-held transmitter for a vehicle remote-control system in which a plurality of activation sequences control a plurality of assigned control functions in a normal operating mode, at least one control function being assigned to each prescribed activation sequence. The activation sequences differ in the manner and/or number of actuations of an activation mechanism of the portable transmitter. According to the invention the portable transmitter is switched over from the normal operating mode into a programming mode by means of a switch-over activation sequence which is carried out via the at least one activation mechanism. Assignments of the prescribed activation sequences and of the prescribed control functions can be changed as desired during the programming mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Schroeder, Jurgen Moczygemba, Martin Lindmayer, Michael Geber
  • Publication number: 20030001396
    Abstract: An outside door handle includes a handle and a switching component which is coupled to the handle in such a manner that, when there is an opening force which acts in a correct manner on the handle in order to open it, the switching component automatically responds and generates a switching signal. Operating convenience may be achieved by a response threshold of the switching component selected to be at such a low level that the switching component responds even before the opening force overcomes a restoring force counteracting it and prestressing the handle into an unactuated starting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
  • Publication number: 20020059693
    Abstract: A door grip arrangement for the door of a power vehicle, particularly a passenger vehicle, has a door grip positioned on the outside of the door and a support element positioned on the inside of the door. The door grip is swivel-mounted on the support element through the outer shell of the door, while the door grip exhibits a catch which, upon an opening movement of the door grip, actuates a release lever inside the door in order to open the door lock. The release lever is a part of a door lock positioned within the door. A return lever is swivel-mounted on the support element. The return lever is loaded by a spring device working in the return direction and impelling the door grip to perform a return movement in a direction opposite that of the opening movement. To enhance the safety of a vehicle equipped with a door which exhibits this kind of door grip arrangement, the return lever can swivel against its return direction, independent of any movement of the door grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer, Alfred Strauber
  • Publication number: 20020056171
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a door of a vehicle, especially an automobile, having an outer handle pull for opening a door lock and a door, which is mounted at its forward or rear end, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, to a support component within a mounting, such that the handle pull can pivot around a swiveling axis, and such that it pivots toward the outside when the door lock is opened. In order to reduce wear and tear on the door handle arrangement when the door lock is opened, while increasing comfort for the user, the mounting is designed such that the swiveling axis is tilted relative to a vertical axis, so that the handle pull pivots upward and toward the outside when the door lock is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 6378921
    Abstract: A grip arrangement for a vehicle door is known which has a gripping bow which is arranged on a body shell of the vehicle door and can be moved by pulling and which is supported by means of at least one bearing surface in its inoperative position on a corresponding supporting section of the body shell. The gripping bow is provided in an area of the at least one bearing surface in sections with a clearing which, in the inoperative position, defines a distance of the bearing surface to the supporting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Hans Deischl, Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 6237987
    Abstract: An opening system for a movable passenger motor vehicle body part, such as a door, has lock which is arranged on an inner shell of the vehicle body part and can be operated by an outside handle arrangement, which is fixed on an outer shell of the vehicle body part. A deformation-resistant supporting arrangement is provided at the level of the outer handle arrangement on a side of the inner shell of the vehicle body part facing the outside handle arrangement, which supporting arrangement projects toward the outside handle arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Udo Babatz, Rudi Kölle, Martin Lindmayer, Wolfram Schröder, Alfred Stauber
  • Patent number: 6173535
    Abstract: An opening arrangement is known for a vehicle door has a door lock which can be operated by an exterior door grip arranged on the outside on the exterior vehicle shell, which exterior door grip is movably disposed by a bearing bow fixed on the interior side on the exterior door shell. The bearing bow is supported on an end area, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, by way of at least one deformation-resistant torsion support on the interior door shell and is fixed on the opposite end area, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, on a door-fixed support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Hans Deischl, Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 6041690
    Abstract: A pneumatic drive unit is provided for partially opening a vehicle body part such as a trunk lid. The pneumatic drive unit includes a working chamber which in use applies pressure to move a control member which engages a contact surface of the vehicle body part. A vent channel is provided which selectively connects the working chamber with the atmosphere as a function of the position of a movable closing element of the drive unit element and contact of the control member with the vehicle body part such that when the body part is closed after a partial opening, the drive unit is ready for another control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Dieter Feichtiger, Martin Lindmayer, Kurt Schaible
  • Patent number: 5869908
    Abstract: The invention provides a key/vehicle communication device in which an electronic key capable of being inserted into a steering-column lock controls activation of an immobilizing device having an inductive key/steering-column lock communication channel for recognizing whether a key authorized for use is inserted. A key/vehicle communication channel is also provided, for the remotely controllable activation of at least one vehicle-side function via a key-side actuating member. A vehicle-side control unit determines, via the inductive key/steering-column lock communication channel, whether a key authorizing the driving of a vehicle is inserted in the steering-column lock and, if so, blocks the vehicle-side part of the key/vehicle communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Moczygemba, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 5666873
    Abstract: An operating system for hydraulic drive elements of a folding top, such as a lowerable folding top of a convertible, can be actuated by switching apparatus. The drive elements are fed by a pressure source from a pressure medium reservoir via an inlet and connected to a return to the pressure medium reservoir. Switchable directional control valves distribute the pressure generated by the pressure source to the drive elements moving various parts. Actuation of the directional control valves corresponds to a given sequence of movements of the top. To simplify the operating system, a plurality of operational elements assigned to various operating functions can be switched at the same time by individual directional control valves. As a result, a smaller number of expensive directional control valves is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Martin Lindmayer, Juergen Schrader, Frank van de Poel
  • Patent number: 5616965
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling and adjusting an arbitrary number of adjustment units for a motor vehicle includes an electro-pneumatic bus to which are connected in arbitrary sequence, both electrically and pneumatically, all the pertinent adjusting units. The electro-pneumatic bus is composed of at least one pneumatic adjustment pressure line and of at least one electric control signal line which may contain several conductors. While reference data from a central control electronics are applied through the electric control signal line of the electro-pneumatic bus, the individual adjusting units are connected through associated valves in the pneumatic system to the pneumatic adjustment pressure line of the electro-pneumatic bus. The adjusting units preferably are designed to be modular control loops. As a result the pneumatically driven adjusting members units not only two positions, but also they may be set and controlled in quasi-analogue manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignees: WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co., Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft, Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Uwe Reichert, Walter Decker, Frank Demling, Andrew Ogrissek, Dieter Feichtiger, Martin Lindmayer, Dieter Heinle
  • Patent number: 5516188
    Abstract: An inflatable child seat includes at least two air chambers. The child seat is foldable when the at least two air chambers have been evacuated to form a suitcase like body. A releasable fastener is provided for fixing the child seat in its folded position. One half of the suitcase-like body forms an air chamber representing an inflatable cushion and the other half contains air chambers forming side parts, a backrest, a head restraint and a tray of the child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Bruhnke, Klaus P. Claar, Dieter Feichtiger, Horst Kohl, Wolfram Schroeder, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 5421061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a concealed fastening of a door handle on a panelling of a vehicle door, vehicle flap or the like, with a handle plate which rests on the panelling and which has, in a fastening region, a hook arm which projects from its rear side and passes through a clearance in the panelling and which is pushed, with an end region engaging behind, onto a support bearing arranged movably on the rear side of the panelling. The end region is held at a distance from the engaged behind counterface of the support bearing and rests with a spacer means on the counter face of the support bearing, and the distance between a pressure face of the spacer means loading the support bearing and the end region being variably changeable in order to compensate production tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Mercedes Benz AG
    Inventors: Rudi Kolle, Bruno Stenzel, Martin Lindmayer, Peter Kolb
  • Patent number: 5409273
    Abstract: A locking-aid device is disclosed for a lock, especially for a vehicle door lock or flap lock, in which a pneumatic single-acting locking-aid drive is provided for displacing an abutment for a rotary latch out of a catch position into a locking position, in which the abutment is secured positively by means of a detent pawl. According to the invention the detent pawl can be lifted out, during the opening of the lock, independently of a movement of the locking-aid drive by means of an operative connection. This can be brought about purely mechanically or by means of a separate drive for lifting out the detent pawl during the opening of the lock, so that the abutment can always jump into its catch position immediately during or after the opening of the lock and thus also allows a successive multiple activation of the locking-aid assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Mercedes Benz AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Claar, Martin Lindmayer, Jan Schilling, Andreas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5355525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a hand-held transmitter for controlling vehicle functions. The hand-held transmitter has the ability to emit output signals for controlling both locking devices and drives for closing vehicle openings. A hand-held transmitter emits the output signals for controlling locking devices at a first output power and range and emits output signals for controlling the drives at a second output power and range. The second output power and range are lower than the first output power and range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Martin Lindmayer, Jurgen Moczygemba
  • Patent number: 5254996
    Abstract: A remote control system has a transmitter, a current storage device feeding its triggerable control signals, an external receptacle into which the transmitter can be inserted, and a charge monitoring device with charge-state indicator. The charge monitoring device with charge-state indicator is assigned to the receptacle and preferably causes the transmitter to automatically transmit a control signal after being inserted into the receptacle. Via the charge monitoring device, the charge state of the transmitter can be evaluated independently of the voltage supply from the current storage device of the transmitter either directly via its voltage supplied under load or indirectly via the intensity of the control signal emitted by it, and be indicated if respective minimum values are undershot. The system is suitable for remotely controlling motor-vehicle security devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Klaus Claar, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 5224364
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for sensing the rotary angle of a key-actuated lock system which contains a lock cylinder of a door or flap of a vehicle which is rotatable by way of a key. A follower is coupled to the lock cylinder via a driving coupling allowing a free-wheel rotational play and to a protection element of a lock and is rotatably mounted in a door interior. A switch-actuating part is rotationally coupled to the lock cylinder virtually free of play and is rotatable synchronously with the lock cylinder and a control switch which is switchable by the switch-actuating part at a specific rotary angle of the part and directly spatially adjacent thereto. The switch-actuating part is mounted behind the follower in relation to the lock cylinder on a carrier facing the interior of the vehicle and is fixed to the door or flap. A control switch is retained at least indirectly on the same carrier, and at least these two parts are sealed off relative to the door interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Klaus Claar, Jurgen Schrader, Martin Lindmayer