Patents by Inventor Andreas RUDOLF
Andreas RUDOLF 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).
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Patent number: 12209441Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component for movement has a first actuating element, fastenable fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and a second actuating element, fastenable to the component, and rotatable about a first rotational axis, the second actuating element has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to interact with a drive, the second end has a first locking or release geometry, the first actuating element has a second locking or release geometry, the second actuating element can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first and second locking or release geometry are configured to interact such that, in the first orientation, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Andreas Rudolf, Roland Och
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Publication number: 20250020002Abstract: The disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism (1) for actuating a vehicle door, in particular a vehicle exterior door. The actuating mechanism (1) comprises a manually actuatable handle part (2), which can be transferred between a home position in which the handle part (2) is preferably completely recessed in the vehicle shell and an actuating position in which the handle part (2) at least partially or regionally protrudes out of the vehicle shell such that a gripping region is created between the handle part (2) and an exterior of the vehicle, into which the hand of a user can be at least partially inserted; and. The actuating mechanism (1) includes an actuator (3), which is associated with the handle part (2) and is configured so as to transfer the handle part (2) from its home position into its actuating position and vice versa, as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Zsolt WILKE, Erik DILJE, Fritz GÖBEL, Thomas LECHNER-WATZLIK, Sebastian ÖFFNER, Andreas RUDOLF
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Patent number: 12180757Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a door lock of a vehicle door, in particular as part of a door handle arrangement of a vehicle door, wherein the actuating apparatus has a handle part that is grippable by a hand and is configured in order to be transferable between a resting position and a ready position, and wherein the handle part is manually movable from the ready position into an actuating position and is in particular pivotably or linearly extendable, wherein the actuating apparatus is configured in order to actuate the door lock when the handle part reaches or has reached the actuating position. The actuating apparatus has a blocking and/or delay mechanism, which cooperates with the handle part such that the handle part is transferable from the ready position back into the resting position only with a time delay and/or only in an at least partially braked or dampened manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Roland Och
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Publication number: 20240326581Abstract: A covering device for a vehicle, includes: a cover; a drive element formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator has a drive apparatus with a drive element; an output drive element; and a force-decoupling apparatus. The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Inventors: Zsolt WILKE, Andreas RUDOLF, Christian BECK, Matthias HEGWEIN
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Patent number: 12065032Abstract: A covering device (100) for a vehicle, includes: a cover (10); a drive element (40a, 40b) formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus (30a, 30b) which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator (200) has a drive apparatus (210) with a drive element (211); an output drive element (290); and a force-decoupling apparatus (230). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Christian Beck, Matthias Hegwein
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Patent number: 12030375Abstract: A covering device (100) for a vehicle, includes: a cover (10); a drive element (40a, 40b) formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus (30a, 30b) which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator (200) has a drive apparatus (210) with a drive element (211); an output drive element (290); and a force-decoupling apparatus (230). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Christian Beck, Matthias Hegwein
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Publication number: 20240175303Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating, in particular unlocking and opening, vehicle doors. The actuating mechanism includes: an actuator (104), in particular with a handle, for opening vehicle doors (102); a kinematics (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) for transmitting a movement of the actuator to a signal transmitter. The kinematics (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) comprises a cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704); and an elastic biasing element (206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706) biased against the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704). The cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) cooperates with the biasing element (206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706) in order to define a first force threshold for a first rotation of the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) as well as a second, higher force threshold for a second, downstream rotation of the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2023Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Andreas Rudolf, Zsolt Wilke
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Publication number: 20240116433Abstract: An illumination module for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess or a handle assembly, includes a light source support having at least one light source and a housing, in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region, via which light can be decoupled from the housing. The illumination module further includes a light diffuser optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region, via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region, which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region via which signal light can be decoupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Roland OCH, Joachim OBERST, Andreas RUDOLF, Matthias HEGWEIN, Matthias GANS
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Publication number: 20240093537Abstract: Described is a vehicle door actuating apparatus (100). The vehicle door actuating apparatus (100) includes an actuating surface (106), a sensor (140), such as an inductive sensor or switch, and a mechanism for transmitting a compressive force applied by a user to the actuating surface (106) into a movement that is detectable by the sensor. The mechanism includes a first component (111) or a first component group on which the switch (140) is at least partially fixed and a transmission element (120) that is pivotally arranged on the first component (111) or the first component group. The transmission element (120) is pivotable between a home position in which the sensor (140) is not triggered by the transmission element (120) and an actuating position in which the sensor (140) is triggered by the transmission element (120). The transmission element (120) is movable relative to the actuating apparatus (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Zsolt WILKE, Andreas RUDOLF, Fritz GÖBEL, Martin WEID
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Publication number: 20240084836Abstract: An assembly for providing a fastening possibility for a vehicle component to a body component is configured as a torsion clip and includes a connecting element and a retaining element. The assembly is transferable from a pre-assembly or delivery state into a prefixation state, wherein, in order to transfer the assembly from its pre-assembly or delivery state into its pre-fixation state, a torque is exerted on the retaining element in such a way that the retaining element is twisted relative to the connecting element in order to enable passage of a retaining region of the retaining element through a fastening opening of the body component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Marek KUKUCZKA, Zsolt WILKE, Andreas RUDOLF
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Publication number: 20240062973Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle door switch actuating apparatus (100). The apparatus includes an actuating element (104) having an actuating surface (110), a mechanical switch (112), and a mechanism for transferring a compressive force applied by a user to the actuating surface (110) onto the mechanical switch (112) in order to flip the mechanical switch (112). The mechanism includes: a first component (102) on which the mechanical switch (112) is fixed at least in the switching direction; and a lever (120) pivotally supported about a pivot axis (124) relative to the first component (102) or the first component group and connected to the actuating element (104) via a first bearing on a first side (111) of the actuating surface (110). The actuating element (104) is supported on the first component (102) or the first component group via a second bearing on a second side (113) of the actuating surface (110).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Andreas RUDOLF, Zsolt WILKE
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Publication number: 20240025325Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly (1) for providing a fastening possibility for a vehicle component (2), in particular an interior component, on a body component, wherein the assembly includes a connecting element (3), a retaining element (4) and a locking and/or blocking element (13). The locking and/or blocking element (13) includes a land region (31) extending in the insertion direction, wherein the land region (31) preferably includes two opposing finger and/or wing elements (32) that are radially projecting from the land region (31). A base body (5) of the retaining element (4) includes a passage (16) extending in the longitudinal direction of the base body (5), wherein the land region (31) of the locking and/or blocking element (13) is receivable with the finger or wing elements (32) projecting from the land region (31), at least partially or some areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Andreas RUDOLF, Zsolt WILKE
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Patent number: 11878626Abstract: An illumination module (1) for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess (20) or a handle assembly, includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3) and a housing (4), in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region (5), via which light can be decoupled from the housing (4). The illumination module (1) further includes a light diffuser (6) optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region (7), via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region (8), which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region (7) via which signal light can be decoupled.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Roland Och, Joachim Oberst, Andreas Rudolf, Matthias Hegwein, Matthias Gans
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Publication number: 20230417087Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a module (100) for generating signals, in particular signals for opening vehicle doors or flaps. The module (100) includes: a housing (102) having a switch region (104); a switch (108), in particular a microswitch, which is connected, in particular releasably connected, to the switch region of the housing (102); and an actuating flap (120), which is pivotally connected to the housing (102). The actuating flap (120) is configured to be pivoted by a movement of an operating element, such as a door lever, between a first position and a second position in which the switch (108) is activated by the actuating flap (120).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Joachim OBERST, Zsolt WILKE, Erik DILJE, Andreas RUDOLF
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Publication number: 20230420200Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a module (100) for generating signals, in particular signals for opening vehicle doors or flaps. The module (100) includes a housing (102) having a plug-in region (106) and a switch region (104); at least one switch (108), in particular a microswitch, which is connected releasably to the switch region (104) of the housing (102); and electrical contacts (110, 112), which are releasably connectable to the at least one switch (108) and extend from the switch region (104) at least partially into the plug-in region (106). The electrical contacts (110, 112) are configured so as to make electrical contact with an on-board plug for transmitting an electrical signal, wherein the electrical contacts (110, 112) each comprise a first end (116, 118) which, in the installed state, is biased against one of the contacts (126, 128) of the at least one switch (108).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Joachim OBERST, Zsolt WILKE, Erik DILJE, Andreas RUDOLF
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Publication number: 20230420201Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a module (100) for generating signals, in particular signals for opening vehicle doors or flaps. The module (100) includes: a one-piece housing (102) having a plug region (106) and a switch region (104); at least one switch, in particular a microswitch (108), which is connected releasably to the switch region (104) of the housing; and electrical contacts (110, 112), which are releasably connectable to the at least one switch and extend from the switch region (104) at least partially into the plug region (106). The electrical contacts are configured in order to produce an electrical contact with an on-board plug for transmitting an electrical signal, wherein the housing (102) is preferably releasably connectable to a vehicle component, preferably an operator element housing, and particularly preferably a door lever housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Joachim OBERST, Zsolt WILKE, Erik DILJE, Andreas RUDOLF
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Publication number: 20230340810Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism (100) for actuating covers (102) for vehicles, in particular covers for flush door handles, wherein the cover (102) is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the actuating mechanism (100) comprises the following: a drive (108), in particular in the form of an electric motor, having a drive shaft; and a kinematics associated with the drive, which kinematics is configured so as to tap a rotational movement from the drive shaft (160) when the drive is actuated and convert it into a movement, in particular a pivoting, of the cover (102), wherein the kinematics is associated with a coupling (110).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventor: Andreas RUDOLF
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Publication number: 20230340811Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) for aligning covers (102) for vehicles, in particular covers for flush door handles, wherein the cover (102) is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position in which the cover (102) covers a door handle recess (106) and an open position in which the cover releases a door handle recess (106), and wherein the apparatus (100) comprises the following: a kinematics (108) configured so as to reversibly move, and in particular pivot, the cover (102) between the closed position and the open position; and a support assembly (200) configured so as to connect the cover (102) to the kinematics (108) in such a way that the cover (102), in its closed position, is arranged flush with an outer skin (104) of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Zsolt WILKE, Andreas RUDOLF, Joachim OBERST
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Publication number: 20230340812Abstract: An actuating apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) for moving covers (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702), in particular flush covers, for vehicles, wherein the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) is reversibly movable, and in particular pivotable, between a closed position and an open position in which the cover is arranged behind an outer skin of the vehicle, wherein the actuating apparatus (100) comprises the following: a kinematics for reversibly moving, in particular pivoting, the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) between the open position and the closed position; and a first sensor apparatus (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712) for detecting the open position and/or the closed position of the cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Andreas RUDOLF, Fritz GÖBEL
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Publication number: 20230313571Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating, in particular opening, vehicle doors, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the following: a housing having a pivot axis; an actuating element, which is transferable from a home position into an actuating position in order to generate an electrical actuation signal and into an emergency release position for manual unlocking of the vehicle door, wherein the actuating element comprises a curved region, which is pivotally connected to the pivot axis, and wherein the curved region is arranged in the home position of the actuating element in the housing and protrudes from the housing in the emergency release position of the actuating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf