Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David M. Thimmig
  • Patent number: 6411868
    Abstract: A method for distinguishing between a movement state and a rest state of a motor vehicle, in which the output signal of a sensor arranged in the vehicle is evaluated. The invention provides for the noise of the sensor signal to be evaluated in order to distinguish between the movement state and the rest state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Lutz Tiede, Jürgen Leimbach
  • Patent number: 6404420
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device having a rotary switch and a display screen for displaying information. It is the object of the invention further to develop such a device to the effect that it permits operation which is as universal as possible and simple. The invention is defined by the fact that the rotary switch is provided for the two-dimensional movement of at least one display element of the display screen, that a rotary movement of the rotary switch is provided for selecting the direction of movement of the display element, and that a first axial movement of the rotary switch is provided for moving the display element in the selected direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Klein, Axel Hengst
  • Patent number: 6386056
    Abstract: A worm-gear has an electric motor, which drives a worm, which meshes with a worm-wheel. Hitherto both the motor shaft and the output shaft have been mounted in a housing which, for assembly reasons, only permits a sliding fit between the motor shaft and its bearings. In order to simplify the assembly and permit the desirable interference fit between the motor shaft and its bearings, provision is made for both bearings for the motor shaft to be arranged in a first housing part, which, when the shaft is installed, can be separated from and re-connected to a second housing part, in which two bearings for the output shaft are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Nouhad Bachnak, Otmar Ganser
  • Patent number: 6367503
    Abstract: A plastic tank comprises a line which is connected at least in certain sections to its wall and is formed in one piece with the plastic tank. For its production, the plastic tank is injection-moulded between a hollow mould and an inner mould inserted into the latter, the mould having a recess, in which a sprue body is formed as the starting material for the line. Before this sprue body can solidify completely, material is blown out from it by means of the internal gas pressure or pressure blowing technique via channels provided in the mould, so that the required line is created there. The lines may be arranged on the outside and/or inside and parallel and/or at an angle to the tank walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Dieter Keller, Martin Maasz, Karl Eck, Christian Kochsmeier
  • Patent number: 6366850
    Abstract: The invention specifies a method for navigating a vehicle, in which a change in the vehicle's direction is ascertained by integration of a signal indicating a speed of change in direction. To this end, the result of the integration is corrected by the following steps: a) The absolute direction of the vehicle at a first instant is determined using external auxiliary means; b) The absolute direction of the vehicle at a second instant is determined using external auxiliary means; c) The difference between the absolute directions is ascertained; and d) The result of the integration is normalized to this difference. The method enables the determination of directions more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Cornelis Dick de Jong
  • Patent number: 6349260
    Abstract: A method for calibration of a path length variable being used for navigating a terrestrial vehicle. The path length variable is measured by determining the number of revolutions of a wheel. For calibration of this value, two speed values are ascertained. A first speed value is determined using the number of revolutions of the wheel and a second speed value is determined using at least one external position sensor. One of the speed values is classified in a plurality of classes, and a calibration value in a class is ascertained using the speed values from this class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesman VDO AG
    Inventor: Cornelis Dick de Jong
  • Patent number: 6335581
    Abstract: In an electric motor, through which fuel flows, an armature core bundle of a rotor has a hose-like casing. This hose-like casing is manufactured from a fuel-resistant material and protects the armature core bundle against corrosion. An unbalance in the rotor due to the hose shape of the casing is kept particularly low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann Vdo AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Warnke
  • Patent number: 6318332
    Abstract: To monitor adequate oil lubrication of an internal combustion engine, air bubbles in the oil flow are detected by means of a sensor arranged in an oil line of a pressure circulation lubrication system and connected to an electronic evaluation system. These air bubbles are an early indicator of inadequate lubrication of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Eckhart Kern, Werner Wallrafen, Joachim Acht, Volker Wehrmeyer
  • Patent number: 6309327
    Abstract: An athletic training device having at least a base, a pad assembly and biasing members is adapted to permit primary rotation and translation, as well as secondary rotation of the pad assembly. Primary movement may be triggered by an operator to assist in developing faster player reaction times, while the secondary movement is permitted to assist players in developing techniques involved in engaging an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Rogers Athletic Company
    Inventor: Edwin A. Hallberg
  • Patent number: 6287243
    Abstract: A multi-adjustable exercise bench having a frame assembly, a back rest pivotally connected to the frame assembly, and a bottom rest pivotally connected at a first pivot to the back rest at a location spaced apart from the pivotal connection of the back rest to the frame assembly and pivotally connected at a second pivot to the frame assembly. Adjustment of the frame assembly to move the back rest from a first angle to a second angle relative to a bench supporting surface automatically moves the bottom rest from a first angle to a second angle relative to the back rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Larry H. Isom, Bret A. Tolles
  • Patent number: 6282807
    Abstract: A rolled web in combination with a dispenser having gauge indicia, the rolled web having roll volume indicia to aid a consumer in determining the relative amount of the product remaining on the roll. The web having indicia in a diagonal pattern along its length such that the lateral position of the indicia on the web relative to the gauge indicia on the dispenser indicates the relative portion of web remaining on the roll. Also disclosed is a method of indicating the relative portion of web remaining on a rolled web product where the method includes the steps of applying indicia to the web in a diagonal pattern along the length of the web, winding the web into a roll, and inserting the roll into a dispenser having gauge indicia wherein the position of the indicia on the web relative to the gauge indicia indicates the relative portion of web remaining on the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Filcon
    Inventor: Brian R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6276342
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a motor vehicle has two feed units arranged in a fuel tank. The feed units in each case feed fuel out of baffles to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and to suction jet pumps. This ensures a reliable supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine, even in the case of a very high fuel requirement and in the case of an angled design of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Sinz, Karl Eck, Michael Teichert
  • Patent number: 6209594
    Abstract: In the case of a filling pipe for a fuel tank a branching element is arranged in a section of the filling pipe. The flow of the inflowing fuel preferably runs along an outer wall of the filling pipe, so that a subflow is in each case conducted directly to the antisurge tower through a lower cross-sectional area. Larger volume flows, which completely fill the cross section, pass for the most part directly into the fuel tank. By this means, a sufficient basic supply of the antisurge tower is ensured irrespective of the volume flow produced during filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Knut Meyer, Peter Andreas Löw
  • Patent number: D459003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Rogers Athletic Company
    Inventor: Edwin A. Hallberg