Patents by Inventor Stefan STRACK

Stefan STRACK 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: 11927245
    Abstract: An energy chain comprising rollers on a number of chain links of the upper strand and/or of the lower strand. The rollers project, at least to a slight extent, beyond narrow sides of the lateral plates in the direction of the respectively opposite strand, in order to allow for rolling action when the energy chain is displaced. The invention provides for the rollers to comprise a wheel body made of plastic and having a hub, a rim and a radial region, which connects the hub and rim. The material thickness of the radial region is reduced in comparison with the rim such that radial impacts during the course of the rolling action can be damped by elastic deformability of the radial region of the roller itself. This significantly reduces the development of noise and vibration caused by rollers located opposite one another coming into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: IGUS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Strack, Andreas Hermey
  • Publication number: 20240026952
    Abstract: The invention relates to cable carriers having laterally stabilized tabs made of plastic. An arc-shaped guide region (120A, 120B) of one tab (102) engages in a free space (123) behind a retaining nub (121A, 121B) on the other tab. The retaining nub (121A, 121B) provides lateral stabilization. According to the invention, the retaining nub (121A, 121B) is spatially limited to a middle height section (hl) of the tab height and limited in dimension in the circumferential direction about the pivot axis (A). The arc-shaped guide region (120A, 120B) is thus overlapped solely by a smaller proportion, preferably ?33%, of the arc length or angle width (a) thereof by the retaining nub (121A, 121B) and remains not overlapped (that is, laterally free) over a predominant proportion, particularly 66%, of the arc length or angle width (ßa) thereof by the retaining nub (121A, 121B). This particularly facilitates the assembly of the chain tabs and their connection to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Andreas HERMEY, Thilo-Alexander JAEKER, Stefan STRACK, Georg THEISS
  • Patent number: 11692611
    Abstract: A chain link for an energy guide chain. The chain link has two link plates, and at least one pivotal transverse web, which connects the link plates together in an articulated manner and which can be converted into a closed position that connects the link plates together and into an open position that at least partly releases the link plate intermediate space. At least one pivotally designed end region of the transverse web can be secured to the link plate in a latching manner. The articulated connection between the transverse web and the link plate has a substantially cylindrical joint pin with a radius (R1) over at least one part of the circumference of the pin on one of the corresponding components consisting of the transverse web and the chain link and a substantially cylindrical pin receiving area on the other of the two corresponding components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: IGUS GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Dommnik, Stefan Strack, Thilo-Alexander Jaeker, Andreas Hermey
  • Publication number: 20220090651
    Abstract: Novel separators, transverse links and transverse bases or compartment bottoms for chain links of energy chains. The separator has a pivotable sidebar wherein the top portion and the bottom portion each have a holding clamp for interacting with the narrow sides of a transverse link, the top portion being connected to the first side bar and being detachable and/or pivotable together therewith. The transverse link has a row of teeth protruding at the narrow sides for interlocking with the separators, designed in a manner complementary thereto, and/or a cable-protecting protective layer on the inner face for protecting the guided cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas HERMEY, Stefan STRACK, Marcel KLEIN
  • Publication number: 20220082184
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side plate (10; 30A, 30B) for an energy chain, comprising a single-piece plate body that is made of plastic and has two overlapping regions (11A, 11B; 31A . . . 31D), each for pivotable connection to a corresponding overlapping region of an adjoining plate, the plate body also having a center region (12; 32A, 32B) between the overlapping regions. The overlapping regions and the center region have a number of cross-section transitions, each of which is located between two outer partial surfaces and at least one of which is rounded or broken (Q1 . . . Q5) between a first partial surface (F11, F21, F31) of the plate body and a second partial surface (F12, F22, F32) extending at an angle, particularly an angle of 90°, to the first partial surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas HERMEY, Thilo-Alexander JAEKER, Georg THEISS, Stefan STRACK
  • Publication number: 20210364063
    Abstract: An energy chain comprising rollers on a number of chain links of the upper strand and/or of the lower strand. The rollers project, at least to a slight extent, beyond narrow sides of the lateral plates in the direction of the respectively opposite strand, in order to allow for rolling action when the energy chain is displaced. The invention provides for the rollers to comprise a wheel body made of plastic and having a hub, a rim and a radial region, which connects the hub and rim. The material thickness of the radial region is reduced in comparison with the rim such that radial impacts during the course of the rolling action can be damped by elastic deformability of the radial region of the roller itself. This significantly reduces the development of noise and vibration caused by rollers located opposite one another coming into contact with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan STRACK, Andreas HERMEY
  • Publication number: 20210131527
    Abstract: A separating web for an energy chain for arranging between two cross webs. The separating web has recesses for mounting a respective compartment base. Each recess is flanked by a rigid continuous support region on one side and by an insertion opening on the other side for inserting a compartment base, and each recess is provided with an elastic tongue element for partly closing the insertion opening and for securing the compartment base. According to the invention, the elastic tongue element extends from the insertion opening to the opposing support region. One end of the tongue element is connected to the edge of the insertion opening, and the other end is connected to the support region. The tongue element side facing away from the recess is equipped with a free area into which the elastic tongue element can be deflected when inserting and removing a compartment base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan STRACK, Dominik BARTEN
  • Publication number: 20200355242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chain link for an energy guide chain for guiding cables and the like, comprising chain links which are connected in an articulated manner. The chain link has two link plates, which are laterally spaced from each other and which have narrow sides, and at least one pivotal transverse web, which connects the link plates together in an articulated manner and which can be converted into a closed position that connects the link plates together and into an open position that at least partly releases the link plate intermediate space. At least one pivotally designed end region of the transverse web can be secured to the link plate in a latching manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: igus GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg DOMMNIK, Stefan STRACK, Thilo-Alexander JAEKER, Andreas HERMEY
  • Patent number: 10622793
    Abstract: An energy chain for cables, which chain comprises chain links, of which at least a section of said chain links has side plates that are parallel to one another and has transverse connecting pieces that connect the side plates, wherein the majority of the guided cables run inside the chain links in a longitudinal direction, while at least one further cable is arranged outside the chain links and is supported by holding elements provided on the energy chain. Receptacles are attached on one side of the energy chain on the outer surfaces of at least some of the side plates in the region between each pair of pivot axes, in which receptacles the holding elements for the at least one further cable can be inserted along a plane that runs parallel to the side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: IGUS GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Strack
  • Publication number: 20190360555
    Abstract: A divider bar for an energy guide chain comprising chain links having two side plates which at least in some chain links are connected together by two transverse bars. In its central part the divider bar has at least one elongate opening in the form of a through hole for a transverse plate, wherein the opening opens to a narrow side of the divider bar by way of an insertion aperture so that a transverse plate can be inserted through the insertion aperture In relation to each opening the divider bar has a respective bending region by means of the bending of which the gap size of the insertion aperture of the associated opening can be varied. In that way the gap size of the insertion aperture, in particular in the installed state of the divider bar, can be reduced to a dimension which is slight in comparison with the internal width of the opening, whereby inter alia an inserted transverse plate is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas HERMEY, Stefan STRACK, Thilo-Alexander JAEKER
  • Publication number: 20180109091
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy chain for cables, which chain comprises chain links, of which at least a section of said chain links has side plates that are parallel to one another and has transverse connecting pieces that connect the side plates, wherein the majority of the guided cables run inside the chain links in a longitudinal direction, while at least one further cable is arranged outside the chain links and is supported by holding elements provided on the energy chain. Receptacles are attached on one side of the energy chain on the outer surfaces of at least some of the side plates in the region between each pair of pivot axes, in which receptacles the holding elements for the at least one further cable can be inserted along a plane that runs parallel to the side plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Stefan STRACK
  • Patent number: 9797473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line guide (100; 200; 300) for protecting at least one line, such as a cable, a hose, or the like for example, for supplying a motor vehicle seat for example. A longitudinal portion with multiple segments (110, 112; 210; 310) of the line guide is produced as a single piece, and each of the multiple segments has a closable holder (123; 223; 323) for the at least one line. Thus, the line can be positioned in a receiving area (130; 230; 330) when the holder is open and is held transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) in the closed position of the holder. The segments are connected together in the longitudinal direction so as to form an elbow (106; 206) by means of a flexible connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: IGUS GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Strack
  • Publication number: 20160348756
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line guide (100; 200; 300) for protecting at least one line, such as a cable, a hose, or the like for example, for supplying a motor vehicle seat for example. A longitudinal portion with multiple segments (110, 112; 210; 310) of the line guide is produced as a single piece, and each of the multiple segments has a closable holder (123; 223; 323) for the at least one line. Thus, the line can be positioned in a receiving area (130; 230; 330) when the holder is open and is held transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) in the closed position of the holder. The segments are connected together in the longitudinal direction so as to form an elbow (106; 206) by means of a flexible connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Stefan STRACK
  • Patent number: 9476480
    Abstract: Energy guiding chain, whose chain links (1, 2) each consist of two side straps (3, 4) that are connected to each other by cross-members (5, 6), where the cross-members display a bearing area (7) on at least one of their ends and, seen in the longitudinal direction of the side straps (3, 4), a contact area (9) outside the bearing area. To avoid the accumulation of foreign bodies, the side (11) of the contact area of the cross-members facing from the inside of the chain outwards displays a convex curvature or a linear slope towards its contact surface (10) and encloses an angle of <90° with the inner side (3a, 4a) of the respective side strap, such that the contact surface (10) moves along the inner side of the side strap towards the inside of the chain when the cross-member is pivoted open until a completely opened position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: igus GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hermey, Thilo-Alexander Jaeker, Stefan Strack
  • Publication number: 20160069421
    Abstract: Energy guiding chain, whose chain links (1, 2) each consist of two side straps (3, 4) that are connected to each other by cross-members (5, 6), where the cross-members display a bearing area (7) on at least one of their ends and, seen in the longitudinal direction of the side straps (3, 4), a contact area (9) outside the bearing area. To avoid the accumulation of foreign bodies, the side (11) of the contact area of the cross-members facing from the inside of the chain outwards displays a convex curvature or a linear slope towards its contact surface (10) and encloses an angle of<90° with the inner side (3a, 4a) of the respective side strap, such that the contact surface (10) moves along the inner side of the side strap towards the inside of the chain when the cross-member is pivoted open until a completely opened position is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Hermey, Thilo-Alexander JAEKER, Stefan STRACK