Patents by Inventor Andreas Giefer

Andreas Giefer 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).

  • Publication number: 20040194567
    Abstract: A shifting device is provided for the preferably powerless transmission of shift commands to a fully automatic or semi-automatic transmission of a motor vehicle and a frame and/or housing and a gearshift lever mounted pivotably along a shift gate. A first shift stop and a second shift stop are provided for the gearshift lever which each define a shift position for the said gearshift lever. At least one detection device is provided for detecting the shift position(s). An inoperative position is provided into which the gearshift lever pivots back by itself from the deflected shift position, driven by a restoring force. The shifting device has an actuating device, which can countermand a shift stop, so that the gearshift lever can be pivoted beyond the shift position(s) defined by this shift stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20040162185
    Abstract: A shifting device (1) is provided for transmitting shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, with a housing (2) and/or a frame, a selector lever (4), which transmits shift commands to the transmission of the motor vehicle and can be moved at least in an automatic gate and preferably also in a Tiptronic gate. The selector lever (4) can be fixed in a parking position P by an axially displaceable locking bar (5) that can be actuated manually, and with a locking device, which is coupled with the ignition lock and prevents the unlocking of the selector lever (4) from the parking position when the ignition key has been removed and the removal of the ignition key when the selector lever (4) is outside the parking position. The locking device is formed by a stopper (8), which is displaceable in the direction of the automatic gate and through which the selector lever (4) passes, and a locking lever (9), which acts on the stopper (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Dietmar Otto
  • Patent number: 6708581
    Abstract: A shifting device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided with a shifting device body or housing, a selector axis and a said shift axis, which are arranged at right angles to one another, and with a gearshift lever. The gear shift lever is mounted pivotably in relation to its neutral position within at least one outer right-hand shift gate and an outer left-hand shift gate. A device for transmitting shift commands based on a movement of the gearshift lever to the automatic transmission is also provided. At least two separate locking levers are provided, pivotable around an auxiliary axis each, which is a rigid part of the housing. The at least two separate locking levers can be engaged by the gearshift lever indirectly or directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20040025613
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a signal transmitter for setting the operating states of an automatic shifting device of a gear change mechanism, having a selection means 1, which can be deflected in at least three directions, automatically returns into a normal position X at least for certain shift positions, and by means of which at least a shift position R for engaging a reverse gear, a shift position N for the interruption of the torque transmission in the gear change mechanism, and a shift position D for engaging a forward gear can be selected, wherein the selection means 1 can be deflected in a first direction for selecting the shift position N; N1, N2 for the interruption of the torque transmission in the gear change mechanism starting from the normal position X, and the selection means 1 can be deflected in another direction that is different from the first direction and is not the opposite direction to the first direction for selecting one of the other shift positions R, D starting from the shift pos
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jorg Meyer, Andreas Giefer
  • Patent number: 6688448
    Abstract: A device is provided for shifting a mechanical shifter between a first shifting state and at least one second shifting state, especially for engaging and disengaging a parking brake for an automatic transmission. An adjusting member (4) is coupled with the shifter for shifting between the shifting states. A control member (5) is provided that can be coupled with the adjusting member (4). A coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) can be actuated by an electric signal By this coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) can be coupled with one another. The coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) is designed such that the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) are uncoupled from one another in case of loss of the electric signal. A drive (8, 9, 10, 11) is coupled with the control member (5) for driving the control member (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer, Reimund Börgerding, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 6684730
    Abstract: A shifting device for an automatic transmission is provided with a shifting mechanism, which is mounted in a housing pivotably around a axis within at least one shift gate. The shift mechanism detects the shift signals electrically, electromagnetically or optically and transmits them. The shift mechanism has a locking device, which is guided with the gearshift lever along a contour of a gate. The contour is associated with the shift positions (P, R, N, D, . . . ). A device is controlled as a function of the speed and can be pivoted between at least two positions (active/inactive) around an axis and can be pivoted against the locking device in at least one shift position, so that the gearshift lever remains in the preselected shift position or is automatically returned into that shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6662924
    Abstract: A shifting device for a powerless or non mechanical transmission of shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a shift gate, a gearshift lever mounted pivotably with respect to the shift gate, a detection device for detecting the position of said gearshift lever, and a powerless or non mechanical i.e., by wire) signal transmission device for transmitting shift commands to the automatic transmission. The detection device and/or the transmission device are operated at least partially electrically/electromagnetically. A brake unlocking device is provided for unlocking the parking brake of the automatic transmission. The brake unlocking device includes a mechanical coupling between said gearshift lever and said automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6601469
    Abstract: A shifting device with a gearshift lever for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided with an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the gearshift lever with a manual actuating element. The gearshift lever can be moved, in at least one shift gate, between two different shift positions and can be locked at least partially in these shift positions as a function of different vehicle configurations. A spring-tensioned force transmission element is provided in the unlocking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6598494
    Abstract: A shifting device of a motor vehicle automatic transmission has a selector lever (3) and a kinematics (4-9) for transmitting the selection movements to an automatic transmission. The selector lever (3) can be moved around a first shift axis (7) in an automatic shift gate AG for selecting automatic gears and around a second shift axis (8) in a sequence shift gate SG1, SG2 for manually upshifting and downshifting gears. A central carrier (6) is pivotable around a selector axis (9). An inner bridge (4) is mounted pivotably on the central carrier (6) and is pivotable around the first shift axis (7) extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis (9). An outer bridge (5) is mounted on the inner bridge (4) in the sequence shift gate pivotably around the second shift axis (8) and is connected to the selector lever (3). The shift selector for selecting the shift axes by a pivoting movement of the selector lever (3) is indirectly or directly fastened to the central carrier (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Andreas Giefer
  • Patent number: 6533705
    Abstract: A shifting device is disclosed for automatic transmissions of motor vehicles with a selector lever, which is pivotable around at least one axis and by which the gears defined by the transmission of the motor vehicle can be selected. A shift position of the selector lever is associated with each gear. An actuator cooperates with a locking member, which is pivotable around an axis. The locking member is pivotable by the actuator around the axis and has an engaging contour corresponding to the particular shift position of the selector lever on the side facing the selector lever. The selector lever can thus be locked in each shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignees: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Roland Neughbauer, Peter Schiberna
  • Publication number: 20020178855
    Abstract: The invention concerns a gear shift device for an automatic transmission, comprising a shift lever (1) that is pivotally mounted about an axis (2) in a housing (3) and inside at least one shift path and that detects and transmits the shift signals electrically, electromagnetically or optically. The shift lever also comprises a locking device (4) that is guided together with the shift lever along one contour of a block guide (5) assigned to the gear shift position P, R, N, D and means (7) that is controlled depending on the speed between at least two positions (active/inactive) and which pivots around an axis (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20020170376
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shifting device (1) for transmitting, without force, shifting commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The inventive shifting device comprises a gear shift lever (2) which is pivotally mounted in at least one shifting path, and comprises a detection device for detecting the gear shift lever position (P, R, N, D ), as well as a transmitting device for transmitting, without force, shifting commands to the automatic transmission, whereby the detection device and/or the transmission device are/is operated in an at least partially electrical/electromagnetic manner. The invention is characterized in that a means (5-14) for mechanical coupling between the gear shift lever (2) and the automatic transmission is provided which can effect the release of the parking position of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20020148318
    Abstract: A device is provided for shifting a mechanical shifter between a first shifting state and at least one second shifting state, especially for engaging and disengaging a parking brake for an automatic transmission. An adjusting member (4) is coupled with the shifter for shifting between the shifting states. A control member (5) is provided that can be coupled with the adjusting member (4). A coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) can be actuated by an electric signal. By this coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) can be coupled with one another. The coupling device (5, 6, 7, 12) is designed such that the adjusting member (4) and the control member (5) are uncoupled from one another in case of loss of the electric signal. A drive (8, 9, 10, 11) is coupled with the control member (5) for driving the control member (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Reimund Borgerding, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 6386061
    Abstract: A shifting device of a motor vehicle transmission with a selector lever (3) and a kinematic elements (4-9) for transmitting the selection movements to the automatic transmission, wherein the selector lever can be moved in an automatic shift gate for selecting automatic gears and in a sequence shift gate for manually upshifting and downshifting gears. The shifting device (1) has three movement spaces (I, II, III), which are located next to one another and are preferably directed essentially in parallel to one another, and two adjacent movement spaces (I, II and/or II, III) each are provided for different functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Andreas Giefer