Patents by Inventor Werner Steuer

Werner Steuer 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: 9103392
    Abstract: A control mechanism for decoupling a drive ratchet on a bicycle hub makes it possible to push the bicycle backwards while the foot pedals of the pedal crank drive remain still. These functions can be applied to folding bicycles, in which pedal movements are harmful when in their folded up state. The control mechanism includes a controlling sleeve coupled to the drive ratchet, which is indirectly connected by means of a frictional device to the unmoving hub axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SRAM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Gunter Pehse, Karl-Joachim Kühne
  • Publication number: 20120083383
    Abstract: A control mechanism for decoupling a drive ratchet on a bicycle hub makes it possible to push the bicycle backwards while the foot pedals of the pedal crank drive remain still. These functions can be applied to folding bicycles, in which pedal movements are harmful when in their folded up state. The control mechanism includes a controlling sleeve coupled to the drive ratchet, which is indirectly connected by means of a frictional device to the unmoving hub axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Gunter Pehse, Karl-Joachim Kühne
  • Patent number: 8127640
    Abstract: A detachable coupling for connecting a pull cable connected to a shift actuator to a shifting cable connected to an internal gear hub for transmitting a shifting movement of the shift actuator to the internal gear hub. The detachable coupling includes an internal gear hub casing having a cable guide extending therefrom and a connecting sleeve having a contoured slot configured to be removably attachable to the cable guide. An end of the shifting cable is configured to be removably coupled to an end of the pull cable for transmitting the shifting movement along a cable transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Peter Kainzner, Gunter Pehse
  • Publication number: 20100043187
    Abstract: A funeral urn formed of a plurality of component urns adapted to engage with each other in a cooperative engagement. The urn structure formed of the engaged component urns has a first visual appearance. Each of the component urns, when not cooperatively engaged with another component urn, has a second visual appearance distinct from the first visual appearance of the urn structure. Cooperative engagement of all of the component urns to form the urn structure provides a visual cue to viewers of the formed urn structure, that all of a plurality of individuals whose ashes are held in the component urns are deceased such as with an urn structure formed of two component urns housing the ashes of a deceased husband and wife.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Karen Venita Hay-Steuer
  • Patent number: 7192379
    Abstract: A multi-speed hub for a bicycle that includes a hub shell, a hub shaft nonrotatably mounted to the bicycle, a driver, a planetary gearing system for providing a plurality of gear ratios and a control device for selecting the desired gear ratio. The planetary gearing system includes first, second and third planetary gear mechanism. The first planetary gear mechanism includes a first sun gear, a first planet carrier and a first ring gear, The first ring gear also functions as the planet carrier for the second planetary gear mechanism. A second sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the first planet carrier. The second planetary mechanism includes a second ring gear that substantially surrounds the planetary gearing system. A pawl carrier including a plurality of pawls that connect the driver to the planetary gearing system to provide different gear ratios. A stepped planet gear functions as the second and third planet gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Gunter Pehse, Michael Kophaupt
  • Patent number: 6988973
    Abstract: A multi-speed gear hub that includes a hub shaft, a hub sleeve mounted about the hub shaft and at least one planetary gear mechanism for providing a plurality of transmission paths. A bearing is mounted about the hub shaft such that an annular gap is created between the bearing and the hub shaft. A transmission sleeve is disposed in an annular gap for introducing a rotational shift movement into the interior of the gear hub. The configuration of the transmission element does not limit the rotation of the transmission and thus the shifting travel or the shifting angle for each gear ratio is not limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Steuer
  • Publication number: 20050197230
    Abstract: A multi-speed hub for a bicycle that includes a hub shell, a hub shaft nonrotatably mounted to the bicycle, a driver, a planetary gearing system for providing a plurality of gear ratios and a control device for selecting the desired gear ratio. The planetary gearing system includes first, second and third planetary gear mechanism. The first planetary gear mechanism includes a first sun gear, a first planet carrier and a first ring gear, The first ring gear also functions as the planet carrier for the second planetary gear mechanism. A second sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the first planet carrier. The second planetary mechanism includes a second ring gear that substantially surrounds the planetary gearing system. A pawl carrier including a plurality of pawls that connect the driver to the planetary gearing system to provide different gear ratios. A stepped planet gear functions as the second and third planet gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: SRAM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Gunter Pehse, Michael Kophaupt
  • Publication number: 20040079185
    Abstract: A detachable coupling device for connecting a pull cable connected to a shift actuator to a shifting cable connected to an internal gear hub for transmitting a shifting movement of the shift actuator to the internal gear hub. The detachable coupling includes an internal gear hub casing having a cable guide extending therefrom and a connecting sleeve having a contoured slot configured to be removably attachable to the cable guide. An end of the shifting cable is configured to be removably coupled to an end of the pull cable for transmitting the shifting movement along a cable transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Peter Kainzner, Gunter Pehse
  • Patent number: 6612197
    Abstract: An axle shift device for transmitting control movements from a remote control to a multi-speed hub in a cycle includes a housing and a pivoted lever arranged in the housing. The axle shift device is arranged on a hub axle of the multi-speed hub. This pivoted lever is in form-locking effective connection with a force transmission element which has a head and is preferably actuated in tension against a return spring. A slide arranged in the housing can move the pivoted lever out of form-locking engagement with the head of the force transmission element, thereby allowing the axle shift device to be removed from the hub axle in a simple manner without the aid of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Georg Blaschke
  • Patent number: 6478710
    Abstract: A shifting device for a multi-speed hub for a bicycle that, comprises a hub axle, a driver, a hub sleeve and an epicyclical transmission with an annulus, a plant carrier, planet wheels and a sun wheel, a control device for changing the gear ratios between the multi-speed hub and a remote control. The gear change is executed exclusively by the lifting out or engagement of pawls which can be controlled by means of a shift unit. The shift sleeve and bushing have projections and gaps and can slide under a respective foot of the pawl thereby enabling the pawls to be forcibly disengaged. An advantage of the invention is the ability to disengage the respective pawl even under load without the need to employ relatively large control forces by means of the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Michael Kohaupt
  • Publication number: 20020151404
    Abstract: A multi-speed gear hub that includes a hub shaft, a hub sleeve mounted about the hub shaft and at least one planetary gear mechanism for providing a plurality of transmission paths. A bearing is mounted about the hub shaft such that an annular gap is created between the bearing and the hub shaft. A transmission sleeve is disposed in an annular gap for introducing a rotational shift movement into the interior of the gear hub. The configuration of the transmission element does not limit the rotation of the transmission and thus the shifting travel or the shifting angle for each gear ratio is not limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Werner Steuer
  • Publication number: 20020004432
    Abstract: An axle shift device for transmitting control movements from a remote control to a multi-speed hub in a cycle includes a housing and a pivoted lever arranged in the housing. The axle shift device is arranged on a hub axle of the multi-speed hub. This pivoted lever is in form-locking effective connection with a force transmission element which has a head and is preferably actuated in tension against a return spring. A slide arranged in the housing can move the pivoted lever out of form-locking engagement with the head of the force transmission element, thereby allowing the axle shift device to be removed from the hub axle in a simple manner without the aid of tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Georg Blaschke
  • Patent number: 6267704
    Abstract: A multiple-speed transmission wheel hub for imparting torque to a drive wheel includes a hub shell formed around a wheel axis and a clutch wheel formed around the wheel axis and axially movable between at least first and second speed positions. First gearing couples the clutch wheel to the hub shell when the clutch wheel is in the first position producing a first transmission speed. Second gearing couples the clutch wheel in the second speed position with the hub shell producing a second transmission speed. A speed-shifting cam is disposed on the axis and axially rotatable between at least first and second speed positions, with helical segments formed on a surface of the clutch wheel facing the cam, the helical segments coupling to the cam to translate rotation of the cam into axial displacement of the clutch wheel both from the second speed position to the first speed position and from the first speed position to the second speed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: SRAM Corporation
    Inventors: Sam H. Patterson, Werner Steuer
  • Patent number: 6010197
    Abstract: A hub for aligning a plurality of spokes on a spoked wheel. The hub has a cylindrical hub sleeve and a hub axis extending centrally through the hub sleeve. The hub includes a flange-type hub head disposed at one end of the hub sleeve and extending circumferentially about the hub axis. The hub head defines a plurality of guide slots, each of the plurality of spoke guide slots being dimensioned and configured to receive and orient each of the plurality of spokes along a radial plane of the hub head such that the plurality of spokes define a plurality of tangent lines around an imaginary circle centered at the hub axis and that the tangent lines form a polygon centered at the hub axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Guillame Crosnier, Gunter Nurnberger, Werner Steuer, Peter Kroger, Hans-Joachim Mayer
  • Patent number: 5938560
    Abstract: A bicycle multi-gear hub with a coaster brake includes a hub body, a driver, a planetary gear arrangement and a coaster brake mechanism. The braking effect of the coaster brake mechanism is always boosted in all possible gears by the planetary gear arrangement when the driver is back-pedalled in a braking direction. The planetary gear arrangement can be shifted, if necessary, to always apply braking torque through a ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement, so that the planetary gear arrangement can be in the lowest gear of the multi-gear hub during braking. To shift the planetary gear arrangement into the lowest gear for braking when the planet carrier is connected to the driver for overdrive, a clutch member can be deflected by the planet carrier to disengage the driver from the planet carrier and engage the driver with the ring gear. The portion of the clutch member that engages the planet carrier can be configured independently of the portion of the clutch member that engages the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Werner Steuer
  • Patent number: 5540456
    Abstract: A hub for a bicycle can typically have an axle for being non-rotationally connected to a frame of the bicycle, a hub body rotatably mounted about the axle, and a drive element rotatably mounted on the axle. A plurality of transmission elements can preferably be disposed between the axle and the hub body for transmitting a drive force from the drive element to the hub body, and a selection between various gearing ratios provided by the transmission elements can preferably be provided by a selectively engageable ratchet mechanism and a control device for selectively engaging and disengaging the ratchet mechanisms. The ratchet mechanism can be provided by at least one pawl, biased radially inward by at least one spring, to non-rotationally couple a ring body in one direction of rotation with the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Meier-Burkamp, Werner Steuer
  • Patent number: 5469755
    Abstract: A multi-speed bicycle hub is combined with an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is fastened to a hub shaft. In the operating mechanism there is provided a linearly movable operating slide. This operating slide is provided with control tracks. The control tracks act on pivot levers. The pivot levers act on a control rod and a surrounding control tube provided within a hub shaft bore. The control rod and the control tube are in connection with a gear box within the hub sleeve. The control rod and the control tube are secured against being lost, when the hub is not yet combined with the operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Eduard Bergles
  • Patent number: 4800634
    Abstract: A hub sleeve for a bicycle hub is manufactured by cold-swaging or forging. The hub sleeve is integrally provided with ball bearing faces and with internal torque transmission teeth. The torque transmission teeth are obtained by radial dislocation of the wall material of the hub sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Richard Gerstner, Gunter Look, Werner Seybold, Werner Steuer
  • Patent number: RE33058
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-speed hub for bicycles or the like having a gear shift system for more than three gears, wherein the hub transmission comprises a single planetary transmission with axially fixed planet carriers with stepped plant gears and with two different sun wheels, control of the hub transmission taking place coaxially through the hub shaft, there being for the gear shift elements in the hub a single control system which has to be operated from only one side of the hub shaft, the hub further comprising an arrangement of concentric separate sleeve-like components which are in functional sequence subject to the action of a shift head guided in the hub shaft and subject to spring tension. Such a construction provides a multi-speed hub which has an unusually large number of selectable gear stages, all of which can be operated from one axial side of the hub and by a single shift device and in functional sequence, actuation of this multi-speed hub being simple and functionally reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Eduard Bergles
  • Patent number: D616624
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Werner Steuer et al.
    Inventors: Werner Steuer, Karen Venita Hay-Steuer