Patents Assigned to FICO Cables, S.A.
  • Patent number: 8967018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the automatic adjustment of the pretension of a pulling element (10, 11) in particular a cable, comprising an elasticity element (50) acting on a first mounting means (20) for a first section (10) of the pulling element for increasing the pre-tension, a second mounting means (30) for a second section (11) of the pulling element, threads (70, 70?, 71) arranged at the first mounting means which interact with a spindle (40, 40?) so that a change of the distance between the first mounting means (20) and the second mounting means (30) causes a rotation of the spindle (40) or the threads (70), and blocking elements (36, 45; 236, 245), which are arranged such that they block a rotation of the spindle or the threads (70), respectively, when the pulling element is under pulling load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terrades, Jordi Jornet Vidal, Albert Planas Girona
  • Patent number: 8757025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shift module 1 for a shift lever of an automatic gear drive, comprising a linearly displaceably supported slider 10, 200, which is engageable with a shift lever and which can be displaced out of its rest position to two opposite switching directions by means of the shift lever, a measuring device 20, 92, 94 connected to the slider 10, 200 for determining of the position of the slider 10, 200, wherein the measuring device 20, 92, 94 is formed such that it can measure the actual position of the slider 10, 200 continuously over its total way of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventor: Jaume Terradas Prat
  • Patent number: 8469158
    Abstract: An operating system for a parking brake, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes an operating element which is manually brought from a release position to a brake position for engaging the parking brake and which can be removed from the brake position without disengaging the parking brake. The operating system includes a follower element which is connected to the operating element such that the follower element follows any movement of the operating element. Further, the operating system includes a releasable locking mechanism with a locking element to lock the follower element in the brake position and a separating element which allows to separate the connection between the operating element and the follower element independently from the releasable locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terradas, Jordi Vidal Jornet
  • Patent number: 8215462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuation system for a parking brake of a motor vehicle, comprising a foot or a hand-actuated manual actuation means (10) for tightening of the parking brake, wherein the parking brake is purely mechanically tightened via the actuation means, a locking mechanism (20) for tightening and releasing of the parking brake, wherein the actuation means (10) and the locking mechanism (20) are arranged at different positions of the motor vehicle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A
    Inventors: Albert Planas Girona, Jordi Jornet Vidal, Jaume Prat Terradas
  • Patent number: 7987949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to parking brake lever system 1 for manually tightening and releasing of at least one brake cable 90, wherein the parking brake lever system 1 comprises at least one rotation arm 10, 12 pivotably supported at a fixed support 50, wherein the rotation arm 10, 12 is connected to the brake cable 90, and at least one actuation lever 20, 22, which at a first end thereof is pivotably connected to the rotation arm 10, 12 and which at a second end thereof is rigidly connected to a hand grip 40, wherein the actuation lever 20, 22 is slidingly supported at the fixed support 50, such that the hand grip 40 defines a curved path during actuation of the parking brake lever system 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A
    Inventors: Guillem Vidal Ferrer, Jaume Prat Terrades, Jordi Jornet Vidal
  • Patent number: 7753287
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a cleaning system for headlamps, windshields or other surfaces, particularly of motor vehicles, comprising a tube system with liquid reservoir and a pump for providing and supplying a cleaning liquid and a nozzle configuration with liquid exit for applying a cleaning liquid of a surface to be cleaned wherein said liquid exit comprises a curved slot and/or a sphere arrangement to apply the cleaning liquid with low liquid pressure onto the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Mota Lopez, Juan Jesus Elvira Peralta
  • Patent number: 7637178
    Abstract: A device for the actuation of vehicle brakes has a pull element which can be brought into a lockable braking position in order to pull at least a part of a vehicle brake, the pull element being capable of being tensioned by a tension element in this braking position, and which can be brought into a released position, in which the pull element is relaxed to an extent such that the at least a part of the vehicle brake is released, the device being provided with a retensioning device which, in the released position, automatically retensions the pull element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Santiago Alberto Ortiz De Pinedo, Jaume Prat Terradas, Enrique Perez Navarro
  • Patent number: 7490699
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an opening mechanism (1) for at least one brake in particular a parking brake comprising an actuator (30), connected to at least one brake cable (60) and a load sensor (40) for determining the mechanical load of the at least one brake cable (60) wherein the mechanical load of the at least one brake cable (60) is determined via the actuator (30) and decoupled from the at least one brake cable (60). By the arrangement according to the present invention, a direct connection between the actuator (30) and the brake cable (60) is provided wherein the load sensor (40) does not work as a load transmission or a coupling component. This arrangement meets high security requirements even in case of a failure of the load sensor (40) since the function of the operating mechanism (1) is not affected or prevented thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Nieto Gil, Jaume Prat Terradas
  • Patent number: 7458293
    Abstract: A pedal security system for pedal mounting, particularly for motor vehicles, includes a pedal rotatably mounted on a pedal axis, an opening for receiving and retaining the pedal axis which is connected with an expandable slot wherein the expandable slot receives the pedal axis by exceeding a mechanical limit load of the pedal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: FICO Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terradas, David A. Gras
  • Publication number: 20080257099
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the automatic adjustment of the pretension of a pulling element (10, 11) in particular a cable, comprising an elasticity element (50) acting on a first mounting means (20) for a first section (10) of the pulling element for increasing the pre-tension, a second mounting means (30) for a second section (11) of the pulling element, threads (70, 70?, 71) arranged at the first mounting means which interact with a spindle (40, 40?) so that a change of the distance between the first mounting means (20) and the second mounting means (30) causes a rotation of the spindle (40) or the threads (70), and blocking elements (36, 45; 236, 245), which are arranged such that they block a rotation of the spindle or the threads (70), respectively, when the pulling element is under pulling load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: FICO CABLES, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terrades, Jordi Jornet Vidal, Albert Planas Girona
  • Patent number: 7421927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ratio regulating mechanism for an manually actuated action lever, like a hand brake lever or a pedal, in particular for the use in a motor vehicle, which comprises a mounting (2), an action lever arm (20) and a rotational shaft (15) for rotably mounting of the action lever arm (20) at the mounting (2), wherein the rotational shaft (15) is relocatably mounted at the action lever arm (20) and relocatably mounted at the mounting (2). Further, the ratio regulating mechanism comprises a first adjustment means (19, 21) for the relocation of the rotational shaft (15) in relation to the action lever arm (20) and a second adjustment means (22, 23) for the relocation of the rotational shaft (15) in relation to the mounting (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terradas, David Gras Alonso, Daniel M. Uribe-Echebarria
  • Patent number: 7396183
    Abstract: A connecting element is illustrated, suited for releasably connecting a first component and a second component, particularly for releasably connecting an actuator with a pedal of a motor vehicle, wherein forces parallel to the assembly direction are transmitted by the connecting element. The connecting element comprises a connecting mechanism which is attached to the second component and a sled, which can receive a fastening end of the first part and which latches in the connecting mechanism in its fastening position. The connecting mechanism is preferably configured in one-piece-form as a housing, wherein the sled, which is connected to the actuator, is connected to the housing in fastened condition and wherein the sled can be released by means of a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Juan M. Dona Contero, David Alonso Gras
  • Patent number: 7383927
    Abstract: An operating mechanism (1) for a parking brake, particularly for motor vehicles, arranged in a housing (60) comprising a threaded rod (20) driven by a motor (10) having a first brake cable fixing (30) guided on said threaded rod (20) for the transformation of said rotation of said motor (10) in a linear movement of said first brake cable fixing (30); and a second brake cable fixing (40) in axial arrangement with said first brake cable fixing (30) and said motor (10) for executing a relative movement of said first (30) and said second brake cable fixing (40) to each other whereby said first (30) and said second brake cable fixing ( 40) can carry out a common relative movement with respect to the housing (60) for a uniform load distribution to the connected brake cables (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terradas, Jordi V. Jornet, Ismael C. Agramunt, Jesus A. Florez
  • Patent number: 7341127
    Abstract: A parking brake which is connected to at least two brake cables, in particular for a parking brake system of motor vehicles, comprising: an actuator with linking devices to which the at least two brake cables are coupled at linking places and an operator configured and connected to the actuator such that it can change the distance between the linking places in a controlled manner whereby a relative movement of the linking places to each other or away from each other is enabled. Preferably, the parking brake comprises a set of gears and an electric motor for generating and transmitting a rotation wherein the rotation is transformed into a linear movement by way of the actuator. The actuator includes a load sensing device for measuring the load applied to the brakes. The parking brake assures a uniform operation of the respective brakes and a comfortable control with reduced efforts for adjustment and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Nieto Gil, Juame Prat Terradas
  • Publication number: 20080006488
    Abstract: An operating system for a parking brake, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes an operating element which is manually brought from a release position to a brake position for engaging the parking brake and which can be removed from the brake position without disengaging the parking brake. The operating system includes a follower element which is connected to the operating element such that the follower element follows any movement of the operating element. Further, the operating system includes a releasable locking mechanism with a locking element to lock the follower element in the brake position and a separating element which allows to separate the connection between the operating element and the follower element independently from the releasable locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: FICO CABLES, S.A.
    Inventors: Jaume Prat Terrades, Jordi Jornet
  • Patent number: 7044018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element for the releasable connection of a first part with a second part, in particular a bowden cable with a lever wherein the connecting element comprises a housing which is rigidly mounted to the first part, an engaging element mounted to the second part and a slide having a receiving element complementary shaped to the engaging element for the releasable connection of the engaging element with the receiving element. The slide can inside the housing slide from a first position into a second position for latching the releasable connection between the engaging element and the receiving element. The connecting element further comprises at least one latching means for fixing the slide in the second position and at least one releasing means for manually acting onto the at least one latching means in order to release the slide from the second position for the unlatching of the releasable connection between the engaging element and the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Fico Cables S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Martin Sanchez, Juan M. Dona Contero
  • Patent number: 7004664
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting element for releasably connecting a first (10) and a second component (20) particularly a lever with another lever or a brake pedal with the plunger rod in a motor vehicle. The connecting element comprises a connecting means (40, 60) which is attached to or part of a second component (20) and a dome shaped sledge (50) attached to a first component (10) wherein the dome shaped sledge (50) is latched in the connecting means (40, 60) by sliding from an assembling in a fastening position. Additionally, a connecting element is provided comprising preferred a two-piece connecting means (40, 60) attached to a pedal (20) and a modulator (10), respectively, wherein a sledge frame (60) is releasable latched in a housing (40). The connecting element enables a load transmission parallel to the assembling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: David Alonso Gras, Juan M. Dona Contero
  • Patent number: 6863162
    Abstract: An electric parking brake for a vehicle, comprising a winch having a rotation axis, an electrical motor for turning the winch, and two braking cables fixed to the circumference of the winch on opposite sides, so that under a rotation of the winch segments of essentially equal length of the braking cables are wrapped onto the winch. The winch is disposed in a housing having oppositely disposed exit openings through which the cables pass, respectively, and tapered side walls for guiding the cables from the circumference of the winch to the exit openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: FICO Cables, S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Gabas
  • Patent number: 6561057
    Abstract: An adjusting device designed to adjust the length of control cables made up of two half-cables which are connected by a linking device having two exterior linking bodies and two interior linking bodies. The adjusting device includes a coaxially arranged stem provided with retaining teeth which forms one of the exterior linking bodies, a sheath terminal body, a fixing jacket and a fixing ring provided with retaining teeth. Upon rotation of the fixing jacket and fixing ring, a locking assembly is disengaged and the length of the cable may be adjusted. The adjusting device may also include a thrust sleeve and a thrust spring designed so that the adjusting device is permanently subjected to a force biased to reduce its length when unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Gabas Cebollero
  • Patent number: 6357826
    Abstract: A spine support comprises at least one bending element (20, 20′) a plurality of supporting elements (30) essentially orthogonal arranged to the at least one bending element (20) and connected with it; and a first operating element (40, 40′) arranged such that its operation leads to a bending of the at least one bending element (20). Two pairs of bowden cables (40, 60) for adjusting the spine support are operated by a control unit (90) comprising two coaxially arranged axles (91, 92). Preferably on at least one of the axles (91, 92) a receiver (96) for the inner steel cables of one of the two pairs of bowden cables and a receptacle (97) for the corresponding covers of the bowden cables are provided. The receiver (96) and the receptacle (97) approach each other or move away from each other under a rotation of the axle, depending on the direction of the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Carlos Gabas, Rui Antionio Cruz de Pinho