Patents by Inventor Claus Töpfer
Claus Töpfer 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: 11686131Abstract: An actuating drive for motor vehicle applications, in particular for a motor vehicle lock comprising an actuating drive, for realizing different functional positions, includes an electromagnetic rotary actuator with a rotor and a stator, in particular a coil carrier, a drive lever, wherein the drive lever can be moved to different functional positions by the rotary actuator, and means for latching the drive lever in the functional position, wherein the drive lever interacts with a switching lever in such a way that, after a functional position of the drive lever is reached, a moment which stabilizes the functional position can be introduced into the drive lever by the switching lever.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer
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Patent number: 11594841Abstract: A locking device for an electrical charging device of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle. The locking device is equipped with a movable bolt element, which is provided for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket of the electrical charging device. In addition, the movable bolt element can be moved at least into the positions “unlocked” and “locked.” Furthermore, a motor-driven drive is realized, which is provided for moving the bolt element. According to the invention, the bolt element can be moved into a third “self-locked” position beyond the “locked” position, which can be reached by means of the drive and in which unlocking is impossible without the drive.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Benjamin Djedovic, Fatih Özdogan
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Patent number: 11566691Abstract: An electromotive drive for motor vehicle applications. In particular, the electromotive drive is part of a locking device of an electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles. For this purpose, an electric motor and a multistage transmission which is arranged downstream of the electric motor are provided as drive elements for acting on an actuating element, and a drive housing which houses drive elements is also provided. The actuating element is a locking element of the locking device for example. The drive housing is equipped with inner and/or edge-side protrusions. The protrusions have direct bearing points for individual drive elements or all of the drive elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Benjamin Djedovic, Tim Sonnenschein, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
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Patent number: 11555539Abstract: An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Benjamin Djedovic
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Patent number: 11536057Abstract: A locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and at least one Bowden cable, which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the help of the Bowden cable and a functional unit, which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, and wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the functional unit at least in an assisting manner or an actuation can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Inga Heinzen
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Patent number: 11479996Abstract: A method for actuating a motor vehicle lock and a locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and a Bowden cable arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the aid of the Bowden cable, and a functional unit arranged on the Bowden cable and comprising an electric drive.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Klaus Götzen, Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer, Thorsten Bendel, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
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Patent number: 11325487Abstract: An electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles, said connection device being equipped with a charging plug socket, a charging plug, a movable locking element for releasably locking the charging plug in the charging plug socket, and a drive for moving the locking element, said drive having an electric motor and a multistage transmission for acting on the locking element. The multistage transmission has individual shafts, each of which is arranged parallel to the output shaft of the electric motor as part of the drive. The device may use gearing to actuate a sensor to determine how far one of the individual shafts has rotated. An emergency unlocking crank may be mounted to a separate shaft that is engageable with one of the individual shafts via a cam.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Benjamin Djedovic, Tim Sonnenschein, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
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Publication number: 20210180674Abstract: An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2018Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Claus TÖPFER, Winfried SCHLABS, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Benjamin DJEDOVIC
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Publication number: 20210075160Abstract: A locking device for an electrical charging device of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle. The locking device is equipped with a movable bolt element, which is provided for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket of the electrical charging device. In addition, the movable bolt element can be moved at least into the positions “unlocked” and “locked.” Furthermore, a motor-driven drive is realized, which is provided for moving the bolt element. According to the invention, the bolt element can be moved into a third “self-locked” position beyond the “locked” position, which can be reached by means of the drive and in which unlocking is impossible without the drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Claus TÖPFER, Winfried SCHLABS, Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Fatih ÖZDOGAN
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Publication number: 20210010572Abstract: An electromotive drive for motor vehicle applications. In particular, the electromotive drive is part of a locking device of an electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles. For this purpose, an electric motor and a multistage transmission which is arranged downstream of the electric motor are provided as drive elements for acting on an actuating element, and a drive housing which houses drive elements is also provided. The actuating element is a locking element of the locking device for example. The drive housing is equipped with inner and/or edge-side protrusions. The protrusions have direct bearing points for individual drive elements or all of the drive elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2018Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Winfried SCHLABS, Claus TÖPFER
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Publication number: 20210008990Abstract: An electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles, said connection device being equipped with a charging plug socket, a charging plug, a movable locking element for releasably locking the charging plug in the charging plug socket, and a drive for moving the locking element, said drive having an electric motor and a multistage transmission for acting on the locking element. The multistage transmission has individual shafts, each of which is arranged parallel to the output shaft of the electric motor as part of the drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2018Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Winfried SCHLABS, Claus TÖPFER
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Publication number: 20200087952Abstract: An actuating drive for motor vehicle applications, in particular for a motor vehicle lock comprising an actuating drive, for realizing different functional positions, includes an electromagnetic rotary actuator with a rotor and a stator, in particular a coil carrier, a drive lever, wherein the drive lever can be moved to different functional positions by the rotary actuator, and means for latching the drive lever in the functional position, wherein the drive lever interacts with a switching lever in such a way that, after a functional position of the drive lever is reached, a moment which stabilizes the functional position can be introduced into the drive lever by the switching lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer
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Patent number: 10508478Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit (1, 12), comprising a control element (4, 15), particularly for a closing drive of a motor vehicle lock. Said control unit comprises a housing (2, 13), a drive unit, and a spindle gear unit having a spindle nut and a spindle (3, 14). Said spindle gear unit can be driven by the drive unit and the control element (4, 15) can be moved by means of the spindle (3, 14), the control element (4, 15) having a means for guiding the control element (4, 15) in the housing (2, 13) so that the control element (4, 15) can be prevented from rotating about an axis of movement.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Claus Töpfer, Andreas Kind, Jan Stötzer
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Publication number: 20190316388Abstract: A method for actuating a motor vehicle lock and a locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and a Bowden cable arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the aid of the Bowden cable, and a functional unit arranged on the Bowden cable and comprising an electric drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Klaus Götzen, Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer, Thorsten Bendel, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
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Publication number: 20190292816Abstract: A locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and at least one Bowden cable, which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the help of the Bowden cable and a functional unit, which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, and wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the functional unit at least in an assisting manner or an actuation can be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Inga Heinzen
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Publication number: 20180128023Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit (1, 12), comprising a control element (4, 15), particularly for a closing drive of a motor vehicle lock. Said control unit comprises a housing (2, 13), a drive unit, and a spindle gear unit having a spindle nut and a spindle (3, 14). Said spindle gear unit can be driven by the drive unit and the control element (4, 15) can be moved by means of the spindle (3, 14), the control element (4, 15) having a means for guiding the control element (4, 15) in the housing (2, 13) so that the control element (4, 15) can be prevented from rotating about an axis of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Andreas Kind, Jan Stötzer
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Patent number: 9637953Abstract: The invention relates to an actuation device for a motor vehicle door lock (1), comprising a handle (7), and a locking lever (10) which renders the handle (7) inactive when accelerating forces of a predetermined magnitude occur, for example, in the event of an accident. In the normal operation, the locking lever (10) is displaced when impinged upon by the handle (7) and the handle (7) is simply rendered inactive in the locked operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Toepfer
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Patent number: 9580938Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 15), an actuation lever unit (3, 4) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 15), and a catch lever (10). The catch lever (10) renders the actuation lever unit (3, 4) ineffective, at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash). According to the invention, the catch lever (10) blocks the actuation lever unit (3, 4) during non-deflected normal operation and in the event of a crash while releasing the actuation lever unit (3, 4) only for deflected normal operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengellshaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
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Patent number: 9541156Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is an actuator unit for motor vehicle applications, in particular motor vehicle door locks (1). This actuator unit has in its basic design a housing (8a, 8b), in addition a drive (2) which is arranged in the housing (8a, 8b), an actuator element (3, 4) which can be acted on by the drive (2), and at least one rubber bearing (10) for the drive (2). According to the invention, the housing (8a, 8b) is equipped with mounting projections (15) which are arranged distributed on the circumference of the rubber bearing (10), in the region of a rubber bearing mount (16).Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Frank Blumenthal, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
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Patent number: 9534424Abstract: The invention relates to an actuation device for a motor vehicle door lock (1), comprising a handle (7), and a locking lever (10) which renders the handle (7) inactive when accelerating forces (a) of a predetermined magnitude occur, for example, in the event of an accident. In the normal operation, the locking lever (10) is displaced when impinged upon by the handle (7) and the handle (7) is simply rendered inactive in the locked operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Toepfer