Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mayer, Brown & Platt
  • Patent number: 6309173
    Abstract: A feed pump (2) designed for feeding fuel in a motor vehicle, with an impeller (7) having vane chambers (10, 10a, 11, 11a) delimited by guide vanes (12, 13), and in casing parts (3, 4) adjacent to the impeller (7) and having part-annular channels (14, 15) arranged in the region of the vane chambers (10, 10a, 11, 11a), has a degassing duct (19), the start of which is arranged downstream of an inlet port (8). Some of the vane chambers (10) are connected to the degassing duct (19) via pockets (20) worked into the impeller (7). By means of this degassing duct (19), gas bubbles present in the fuel are discharged reliably from the feed pump (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Marx
  • Patent number: 6305732
    Abstract: A dashboard includes a microphone with a microphone capsule, which is connected to an electronic unit, in the dashboard of a motor vehicle. The microphone is a directional microphone in the form of a slotted-tube type microphone or of a parabolic mirror type microphone and is aligned with a driver's position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Hans-Wilhelm Rühl
  • Patent number: 6308133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system for a land vehicle having a measurement arrangement for supplying position, direction and/or distance data, having a data source arrangement for supplying navigation data, having an input arrangement at least for inputting a destination point, having a control arrangement at least for determining a route, and having at least one display apparatus for outputting navigation instructions. After receiving data from an identification sensor, the control arrangement uses stored data to determine the driver who is operating the land vehicle and outputs navigation instructions, matched to the driver, in predetermined regions or on predetermined routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mannessmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Ralf Löffert, Bernhard Troedel
  • Patent number: 6301764
    Abstract: The measuring instrument for a pressure gauge comprises an indicator unit (2) with two plates (4, 6) that bear rotatably an indicator shaft (24) carrying a pinion (28) and that furthermore bear a gear segment (32). The measuring instrument furthermore comprises a metal Bourdon tube (48) bent into an arc shape, which is soldered on one end to a spring carrier (40) and on the other to a spring end-piece (54). The spring end-piece (54) is connected to the gear segment (32) such that the displacement of the spring end-piece (54) because of the measurement pressure is transferred to the gear segment (32). The spring end-piece (54) constitutes a part that is rigidly attached to one of the two plates (4, 6) prior to the Bourdon tube (48) being soldered to the spring end-piece (54) and that is separated from this plate once the Bourdon tube (48) has been soldered to the spring end-piece (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Wika Alexander Wiegand GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Kurt Klein, Detlef Wahl, Heiko Schliessmann, Helmut Berninger, Bernd Friebe, Burkard Meisenzahl
  • Patent number: 6304817
    Abstract: The invention proposes an audio and/or navigation system for a motor vehicle with increased user convenience, particularly when the vehicle is used by more than one user. The audio and/or navigation system has a memory element (2) for storing user-related system parameters, and means (4) for identifying the user as well as means (5), which are connected to the memory element (2), for selecting and setting the stored user-related system parameters for the user as current system parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Troedel
  • Patent number: 6304003
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device, in particular for a door, a tailgate, a trunk lid or the like of a vehicle, with at least one actuating drive which is capable of being activated in order to set functions of the locking device and which is operatively connected to an element of the locking device via at least one transmission element, according to the invention means being provided which detect the continuous movements and functional positions of the actuating drive or of the transmission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Rathmann, Axel Schäfer, Erhard Franz, Peter Kleinmichel
  • Patent number: 6302639
    Abstract: Feed pumps operating on the side channel or peripheral principle are known from use in fuel feed units of motor vehicles. These feed pumps often have rings of blade chambers, which are delimited by moving blades, said rings being located opposite one another in an impeller. Impellers, of which the moving blades of blade chambers located opposite one another are arranged in a V-shaped manner in relation to one another, already achieve high efficiencies. The new feed pump is to have improved efficiency, as compared with these. The moving blades of the feed pump are arranged at an angle to the axis of rotation of the impeller, this angle of the moving blades increasing from the radially inner to the radially outer region in proportion to the radial extent of the moving blade. The feed pump is suitable particularly for use in a fuel feed unit in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Dirk Endler, Peter Marx, Christoph Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6298302
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation system (100) comprises a planning module (110) for planning a route between an origin and a destination and subsequently guides the driver along the planned route. The system further comprises a receiver (124) for the reception of traffic messages related to problem locations on roads, which messages are transferred to the driver. The navigation system according to the invention is arranged to read from its storage medium (106) with the map database additional information (404) indicating the potential problem locations for roads in the database. In this way, the information from the traffic message can be combined with the information from the map database and further exploited in the system, e.g. for planning a new route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesman VDO
    Inventors: Erik J. Walgers, Carla J. M. Emmerink, Paul D. M. Lahaije, Edwin W. Mulder
  • Patent number: 6296454
    Abstract: A suction jet nozzle and a diffuser having an inflow cone with an elliptical cross-section is implemented in a suction jet pump to be used in a motor vehicle's fuel tank. The jet nozzle is configured to produce a flat propulsion jet that seals the diffuser over its entire circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: René Schmid, Joachim Lepper, Wolfgang Planck, Ludger Kürmann
  • Patent number: 6293145
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring the filling level of a fluid in a vessel, in particular fuel tank is disclosed. The sensor has an electrode group which extends vertically over the fillable vessel height, and dips into the fluid and which forms electrical capacitors whose capacitances change in a measurable fashion when there are changes in the filling level. The capacitances are determined by a connected evaluation circuit and are represented as a signal which describes the filling level. There is at least one measuring electrode which extends over the entire fillable vessel height. A plurality of reference elements are arranged at different reference heights within the fillable vessel height. Optionally, a plurality of measuring electrodes are arranged in such a way that each measuring electrode has a significant change in width at a reference height assigned to it, and wherein the entire fillable vessel height is passed over by the measuring electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 6290442
    Abstract: A highly adjustable free spinning positively locking fastener assembly for threaded joints such as automotive or truck wheel assemblies includes a nut having a flange with a retainer washer captured on the nut flange via a locking bolt. The washer includes a tab received in a slot of a wheel spindle to permit the washer to move axially and prevent the washer from rotating. Bolt holes are located at unequally spaced opposed locations in the flange of the nut. A plurality of locking bolts locking the nut to the washer to prevent relative rotation so that neither the nut nor the washer can rotate relative to the spindle. The locking bolts are torsionally inserted into the locking bolt holes located in the nut. At least one locking bolt extends through at least one of the corresponding locking teeth of the washer. When the locking bolts are inserted into the locking bolt holes, the locking bolts engage the teeth of the washer to prevent the nut from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Okabe Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Peterkort
  • Patent number: 6289282
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the distance between an object and a device of varying location, in which a first or second sensor arranged on the device emits a signal which is reflected by the object. The reflected signal is received by the sensor transmitting the signal and by the respective other sensor, and an evaluation device determines the propagation times between the transmission of the signal and the reception of the signal for each sensor and determines therefrom all the possible positions of the objects relative to the device of varying location referred to the sensor. The distance from the motor vehicle being determined from the corresponding positions of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Gregor Hassler, Norbert Fleischhauer
  • Patent number: 6283139
    Abstract: A remote controlled hose valve system for use with a water source and a hose having one end connectable to a fluid activated device and an opposite connector end is disclosed. The hose valve system includes a valve unit and a remote control unit. The valve unit has an inlet coupler connectable to the water source. The valve unit also has a hose coupler coupled to the opposite connector end of the hose. A conduit allows fluid flow between the inlet coupler and the hose coupler. A valve is located in the conduit and permits fluid flow in the conduit. An actuator which may be an electric motor is connected to the valve. A power source is provided for the actuator. A signal receiver is coupled to the power source and the actuator. The receiver allows power flow to the actuator to close or open the valve in response to a unique signal. The remote control unit includes a transmitter which sends a unique signal to open or close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: L. R. Nelson Corporation
    Inventors: Randall R. Symonds, David A. Paul, Scott Jacobs
  • 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: D447217
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventors: Scott W. Jacobs, Lawrence P. Heren
  • Patent number: D447435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: L. R. Nelson Corporation
    Inventor: Joyce Thomas
  • Patent number: D447790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Heren, Scott Jacobs
  • Patent number: D448449
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: L. R. Nelson Corporation
    Inventors: Scott W. Jacobs, Joyce Thomas, G. Ralph Scott, Jr., Lawrence P. Heren
  • Patent number: D448829
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: L. R. Nelson Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Hunt
  • Patent number: D449280
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Aquion Partners Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Peter Piacenza, Daniel Phipps, Stephen Gaynes, D. Amy Cotton