Patents by Inventor Martin Walthert

Martin Walthert 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).

  • Hub
    Patent number: 9370968
    Abstract: A hub for two-wheeled vehicles with a hub body and method of manufacturing, wherein the hub body is rotatably supported on the axle via at least one bearing. The hub body includes a first forged component and a second forged component, wherein the first and second forged components are connected with one another through at least one sleeve and wherein both of the forged components have a plurality of fastening flanges protruding outwardly for fastening spoke units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Spahr, Martin Walthert
  • Publication number: 20160144661
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a hub shell for a wheel of an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle, wherein the hub shell is rotatably supported by at least one bearing device. An adapter unit is disposed on one end of the hub shell. The adapter unit includes an inner stopper having an inner stop face for transferring a clamping force to the bearing device and an outer stopper with an outer stop face transmitting at least part of the clamping force. The adapter unit includes a first and a second stopper component transmitting the clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Martin WALTHERT, Stefan SPAHR, Simon HAAS
  • Patent number: 9273747
    Abstract: Suspension control and method for controlling a damper device of a bicycle that includes a damper device having a controllable damping valve. The damper device serves to dampen a relative motion between a first and a second component. A control device and a memory device are provided. The control device and the memory device define a characteristic damper curve which is characteristic of a correlation between a damping force and a characteristic parameter of the relative motion between the first and second components. At least one electric operating device is provided by means of which the defined characteristic damper curve can be modified in at least two sections of the characteristic damper curve while riding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Stefan Battlogg
  • Publication number: 20160052588
    Abstract: A quick release device for at least partially muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, having an axle unit and a clamping mechanism. The axle unit includes an axle extending axially, a locking means at a first end of the axle unit and a fastener at a second end of the axle unit. The clamping mechanism is suitable for mounting and demounting the axle unit to a two-wheeled vehicle. The clamping mechanism includes an operating lever and a clamping component connected therewith. The clamping component can be non-rotatably coupled with the axle unit and can be decoupled from the axle unit. The operating lever of the clamping mechanism can be moved from an engagement position in which it is non-rotatably connected with the clamping component to a rotary position in which it is freely rotatable relative to the clamping component, while the clamping component is non-rotatably coupled with the axle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Martin WALTHERT, Stefan SPAHR, Matthias MEIER
  • Patent number: 9212708
    Abstract: A hub for at least partially muscle-powered vehicles having a hub axle, a hub body, a rotatable driving device, and a freewheel device. The freewheel device includes a first and a second engagement component cooperating with one another having at least one axial toothing each. The freewheel device is biased to the engaging position via a magnetic biasing device. A first magnetic device biases the first engagement component and a second magnetic device biases the second engagement component to the engaging position. At least one magnetic component comprises a carrier unit and a multitude of magnetic units disposed thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Spahr, Martin Walthert
  • Patent number: 9182016
    Abstract: A drive hub for two-wheeled vehicles with a hub body and with a fixed axle and with a sprocket carrier on which a plurality of sprockets is provided. The sprocket carrier is rotatably supported on the axle by way of at least one bearing. The sprocket carrier includes a circumferentially closed sleeve device on which at least one sprocket is disposed radially outwardly and on which two axially spaced bearings are provided radially inwardly for rotatably supporting the sprocket carrier on the axle via the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Spahr, Martin Walthert
  • Publication number: 20150291246
    Abstract: A fork component is provided for an at least partially muscle-powered vehicle and in particular a bicycle having a fork column unit of a fibrous composite material. The fork column unit includes a fork column and a fork crown configured as two separate parts connected with one another by form-fit to form the fork column unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Achenbach, Martin Walthert, Valentin Wendel
  • Publication number: 20150175236
    Abstract: A suspension control system and a method for controlling a damper device of a bicycle include a damper device and a spring device for sprung damping of a relative motion between a first and a second component of the bicycle. The suspension device has a spring unit exhibiting a spring characteristic, and the damper device exhibits a damping characteristic. The spring characteristic of the spring unit is changed under the control of an electrically operated actuator, which in turn is controlled via an electric control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: MARTIN WALTHERT, VALENTIN WENDEL, STEFAN BATTLOGG, GERNOT ELSENSOHN
  • Patent number: 9051988
    Abstract: Shock absorber and method for operating a shock absorber for a bicycle wherein a relative motion of a first and a second component interconnected via a damper device is dampened. The damper device includes a controllable damping valve having at least one field generating device with which a field-sensitive medium can be influenced by applying a field intensity of the field generating device. A parameter for the current speeds of the first and second components relative to one another is obtained in real time. For damping, a current field intensity to be set is derived in real time by way of the parameter from a characteristic damper curve and by the field generating device the field intensity to be currently set is generated in real time for setting in real time a damping force which results from the predetermined characteristic damper curve at the parameter obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Juergen Poesel
  • Publication number: 20150144443
    Abstract: Shock absorber and method for operating a shock absorber for a bicycle wherein a relative motion of a first and a second component interconnected via a damper device is dampened. The damper device includes a controllable damping valve with a field generating device with which a field-sensitive medium can be influenced for influencing a damping force of the damper device by applying a field intensity of the field generating device. A parameter for the current relative speeds of the first and second components is obtained in real time. For damping, a current field intensity to be set is derived in real time by way of the parameter from a characteristic damper curve and the field intensity to be currently set is generated by the field generating device in real time for setting in real time a damping force which results from the predetermined characteristic damper curve at the parameter obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: STEFAN BATTLOGG, MARTIN WALTHERT, GERNOT ELSENSOHN, JUERGEN POESEL
  • Patent number: 9033120
    Abstract: Shock absorber for an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle having a damper device having a first and a second damper chamber assigned thereto which are hydraulically coupled with one another through a damping valve. In the damping valve a flow duct with a field-sensitive, rheological medium is provided. The damping valve has a field generating device assigned to it which serves for generating and controlling a field intensity in the flow duct of the damping valve. The flow duct comprises in the damping valve a collection chamber which is hydraulically connected with the first damper chamber through a plurality of flow apertures, wherein at least one flow aperture is configured as a through hole and at least one flow aperture, as a closable valve opening provided with a one-way valve. The collection chamber is hydraulically connected hydraulically with the second damper chamber via a plurality of fan-type damping ducts each separated from one another by a fan wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Michael Kieber, Juergen Poesel
  • Publication number: 20150061241
    Abstract: Suspension control and method for controlling a damper device of a bicycle that includes a damper device having a controllable damping valve. The damper device serves to dampen a relative motion between a first and a second component. A control device and a memory device are provided. The control device and the memory device define a characteristic damper curve which is characteristic of a correlation between a damping force and a characteristic parameter of the relative motion between the first and second components. At least one electric operating device is provided by means of which the defined characteristic damper curve can be modified in at least two sections of the characteristic damper curve while riding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: MARTIN WALTHERT, STEFAN BATTLOGG
  • Patent number: 8967732
    Abstract: A rim for a bicycle having a rim body including a rim well and a rim base and rim flanks connecting the rim base and the rim well wherein the rim flanks and the rim base consist of a fibrous composite material. A minimum wall thickness of the rim flanks is thinner in one radial region than in another radial region. The rim body is bulbous in cross-section. A maximum height from the rim base to the rim well is less than 1.5 times and in particular less than 1.2 times the maximum width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Martin Fischer, Andreas Tschanz
  • Patent number: 8967343
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle has a damper device with first and second damper chambers. The damper chambers are connected by way of a controllable throttle valve. A changeable electronic unit has a control device for controlling the electrically controllable throttle valve. The control device thereby influences the damper characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Jürgen PöSel
  • Patent number: 8939459
    Abstract: A suspension fork for a bicycle has a tube system with an inner tube and an outer tube that are movable relative to one another. A damper system with a field-sensitive damping fluid is provided within the tube system. The damper device has a damper chamber that is partitioned to form a first chamber and a second chamber by a movable piston attached to a piston rod. A first throttle valve with a first field generating device and a second throttle valve with a second field generating device enable influencing the first and second throttle valves. First and second switching valves are provided. The first and second throttle valves and the first and second switching valves are interconnected such that in the compression stage there is flow only through the first throttle valve while in the rebound stage the first and second throttle valves are connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Michael Kieber, Juergen Poesel
  • Patent number: 8936144
    Abstract: Hub for two-wheeled vehicles having a hub axle and a hub body and a rotor and with a toothed disk freewheel comprising a pair of interacting engagement components each comprising one axial toothing. The engagement components are biased in the engagement position via a biasing device. The one of the engagement components is received at the hub body to be non-rotatable and axially displaceable and the other of the engagement components is provided non-rotatable at the rotor for transmitting a rotary motion from the rotor to the hub body in the engagement position of the two engagement components. At least one engagement component is configured as a toothed disk and is provided with the axial toothing and has an axial width which is at least the size of half the outer radius of the axial toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Spahr, Martin Walthert
  • Patent number: 8910963
    Abstract: A damper device for a bicycle suspension fork has a magneto-rheological damping medium. A piston partitions a damper chamber into first and second chambers that are connected via a return duct, an adjustable throttle valve, and a transfer duct. A field-generating device generates a magnetic field in a damping duct of the throttle valve. A one-way circuit is provided for the damping medium, with two one-way valves disposed to cause a same direction of circulation of the damping fluid both when the piston rod plunges into and retracts from the damper chamber. A first one-way valves in the piston allows a flow of the damping medium from the second into the first chamber. A second one-way valve in the transfer duct allows a damping medium flow from the transfer duct into the second chamber. The adjustable throttle valve control the plunge and the retraction of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Michael Kieber, Juergen Poesel
  • Patent number: 8886403
    Abstract: A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Jürgen Pösel
  • Publication number: 20140239703
    Abstract: A wheel for at least partially muscle-powered vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles includes a hub and a rim having a plurality of spoke holes and a plurality of spoke systems for connecting the hub with the rim. A spoke system includes a spoke and a spoke nipple. A reinforcing unit with a through hole between the rim and the spoke nipple is provided. The reinforcing unit is a disk-type and is configured curved about at least one longitudinal axis. The reinforcing unit has a convex inner rim contact surface for bearing against a concave orientation area of the rim matched thereto. The reinforcing unit has a concave outside surface at which a nipple accommodation is provided at a depression having a concave nipple contact surface with a narrower curvature for accommodating a matching, convex supporting area of the spoke nipple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Stefan Spahr
  • Patent number: 8800730
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle or another, at least partly muscle-powered, vehicle has a damper device with a damper housing in which a first and a second damper chamber are separated from one another via at least one damper piston. A piston rod connected with the damper piston extends from the damper piston through the second damper chamber out of the damper housing. The first damper chamber is in communication with the second damper chamber via a flow duct that leads through the piston rod out of the damper housing toward at least one throttling device. The flow duct, at the throttling device, has a damping duct provided with a field-sensitive rheological fluid which, by way of a field generating device disposed at the throttling device, can be exposed to a field of a predetermined strength to influence the pass-through flow of the field-sensitive rheological fluid through the throttling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Jürgen Pösel