Patents by Inventor Andre Fehling

Andre Fehling 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: 11830686
    Abstract: An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Kristian Lanzon
  • Patent number: 11801775
    Abstract: A seat adjustment switch includes a multidirectional force sensor, a carrier plate, and a button cap. The multidirectional force sensor is arranged on the carrier plate and includes a sensor pin. The sensor pin is pivotable via which the multidirectional force sensor is actuatable. The button cap is connected to the sensor pin. The button cap serves as an actuating element operable by an operator for pivoting the sensor pin in order to actuate the multidirectional force sensor. The carrier plate includes a receiving sleeve that is integrally formed with the carrier plate and is connected to other portions of the carrier plate via flexible regions, the sensor pin is guided through the receiving sleeve for the multidirectional force sensor to be arranged on the carrier plate. The button cap forms a form-fit connection with the receiving sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Kai Brensel, Hubert Hille
  • Patent number: 11747221
    Abstract: An electrical multidirectional force sensor includes a sensor element having a sensor pin and a sensor plate and a circuit board. The sensor pin is movable in at least two actuation directions. The sensor plate is integrally connected to multiple strip-shaped support elements. Each strip-shaped support element has an end portion with an opening. The sensor plate and the strip-shaped support elements are cut free in one piece from a metal plate. The sensor plate is connected to the sensor pin to move relative to the circuit board in correspondence with movement of the sensor pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kostal Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Matthias Seifert, Alexander Kaul, Michael Bleckmann, Kai Brensel, Guido Huperz
  • Patent number: 11735381
    Abstract: An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Kristian Lanzon
  • Publication number: 20220165518
    Abstract: An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Kristian Lanzon
  • Publication number: 20210364373
    Abstract: An electrical multidirectional force sensor includes a sensor element having a sensor pin and a sensor plate and a circuit board. The sensor pin is movable in at least two actuation directions. The sensor plate is integrally connected to multiple strip-shaped support elements. Each strip-shaped support element has an end portion with an opening. The sensor plate and the strip-shaped support elements are cut free in one piece from a metal plate. The sensor plate is connected to the sensor pin to move relative to the circuit board in correspondence with movement of the sensor pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Matthias Seifert, Alexander Kaul, Michael Bleckmann, Kai Brensel, Guido Huperz
  • Publication number: 20210354596
    Abstract: A seat adjustment switch includes a multidirectional force sensor, a carrier plate, and a button cap. The multidirectional force sensor is arranged on the carrier plate and includes a sensor pin. The sensor pin is pivotable via which the multidirectional force sensor is actuatable. The button cap is connected to the sensor pin. The button cap serves as an actuating element operable by an operator for pivoting the sensor pin in order to actuate the multidirectional force sensor. The carrier plate includes a receiving sleeve that is integrally formed with the carrier plate and is connected to other portions of the carrier plate via flexible regions, the sensor pin is guided through the receiving sleeve for the multidirectional force sensor to be arranged on the carrier plate. The button cap forms a form-fit connection with the receiving sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Fehling, Kai Brensel, Hubert Hille
  • Publication number: 20190009692
    Abstract: An operating device for an actuator-adjustable motor vehicle seat includes a control element and multiple force sensors. The control element has a contour which simulates the outline shape of the motor vehicle seat. Pressing actuations directed to various locations on the contour of the control element trigger different adjustment movements of the vehicle seat. The pressing actuations are detected by the force sensors which can measure horizontal and vertical forces. The actuation position and the actuation direction of a finger on the control element may be detected from the reaction forces of the force sensors. The force sensors are designed as three force sensors that measure in one dimension; two of the force sensors are situated in parallel to one another; and a third force sensor is situated perpendicularly with respect to the other two force sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Bleckmann, Philipp Ciolek, Andre Fehling, Alexander Kaul
  • Patent number: 9233387
    Abstract: A functional head for a fragrance container includes a housing wall section and a spring-loaded valve plate. The housing wall section has an inlet opening for admitting air into an inlet channel, an outlet opening for discharging a mixture of fragrance and air from an outlet channel, and a recess. The valve plate is biased to close the openings and is displaceable by a plunger inserted into the recess to thereby open the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andre Fehling
  • Publication number: 20130277456
    Abstract: A functional head for a fragrance container includes a housing wall section and a spring-loaded valve plate. The housing wall section has an inlet opening for admitting air into an inlet channel, an outlet opening for discharging a mixture of fragrance and air from an outlet channel, and a recess. The valve plate is biased to close the openings and is displaceable by a plunger inserted into the recess to thereby open the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Andre Fehling