Patents by Inventor Claus Topfer
Claus Topfer 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: 9828792Abstract: Actuating unit for automotive applications, especially motor vehicle door locks (1), comprising a drive (2) and with a linear actuator (3, 4) which can be pressurised by the drive (2), wherein the drive (2) and the linear actuator (3, 4) are arranged at an angle, and especially at a right angle, to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
-
Patent number: 9725931Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor element and a drive for moving the motor element, a Bowden cable connected to the motor element and a connecting element for the Bowden cable. The invention further relates to a method of production. The aim of the invention is to simplify production of an actuating unit having a Bowden cable. According to the invention, the connecting element for the Bowden cable is angular, especially L-shaped, and a leg thereof, in the case of an L shape preferably the long leg thereof, is connected to the remainder of the housing. The angular form or L shape and the connection of one leg of such a shape to the remainder of the housing of the motor element results in a large surface or a large peripheral edge of the connecting part which can be connected to the remainder of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
-
Patent number: 9695618Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising an actuation/locking lever mechanism, with a first lever and a second lever, both levers being couplable with each other in at least two different relative positions. At least the one, first lever comprises a detent spring connected thereto for engagement with at least one detent recess on the other, second lever.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Topfer
-
Publication number: 20170114574Abstract: The invention relates to an activation device for a door or flap of a motor vehicle, comprising an external actuation lever (1), an actuation lever (10) for opening a lock, and a coupling lever (13) enabling the external actuation lever (1) and actuation lever (10) to be coupled together, and a control lever (10) which controls the coupling of the coupling lever (13) in accordance with the acceleration of the external actuation lever (1). An undesired opening of a door or flap can be prevented in the event of a crash, without the actuation device accepting excessive stresses.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Claus Topfer, Tim Sonnenschein
-
Publication number: 20170107743Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device for opening a door or flap, comprising a movably supported inertial mass (7, 9) for avoiding unintentional opening of the door or flap in the event that a specified acceleration is exceeded. Levers are provided for moving the inertial mass (7, 9). When the inertial mass (7, 9) is moved out of an initial position of the inertial mass, the lever ratios change in such a way that the force progression is thereby promoted. In the event of a crash, the opening of a door or flap is avoided by means of the actuating device. The actuating device can nevertheless be actuated relatively comfortably with low expenditure of energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Claus Topfer, Tim Sonnenschein
-
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
-
Publication number: 20170037664Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle lock, in particular a motor-vehicle door lock. In order to provide a reliable assembly and a reliable operation for said lock, the drive housing 6 of the servo closing function 2 is designed to function simultaneously as a Bowden cable bearing 8 and as a receiving chamber or shaft 14 for the micro-switch 15. The drive housing 6 has a robust, compact design and allows the micro-switch 15 to be sited securely in the drive housing 6 always in the same place. This also remains the case as the securing cover 10 is fixed in the drive housing 6 by means of a clip 11.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2015Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Claus Topfer, Christian Sentzke, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
-
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
-
Patent number: 9528301Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), an actuation lever unit (6, 7) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), and a catch lever (12). The catch lever (12) blocks the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash), rendering the locking mechanism ineffective. According to the invention, the catch lever (12) acts upon a pawl (3) of the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the direction of the blocking position of the pawl during normal operation and in the event of a crash while allowing the pawl (3) and thus the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) to be in the releasing position only during normal opening operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
-
Patent number: 9316027Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism, an actuation lever unit acting on the locking mechanism, and a catch lever. The catch lever blocks the locking mechanism at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash), rendering the locking mechanism ineffective. According to the invention, the catch lever acts upon a rotary latch of the locking mechanism in the direction of the blocking position of the rotary latch during normal operation and in the event of a crash while allowing the rotary latch and thus the locking mechanism to be in the releasing position only during normal opening operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
-
Patent number: 9243429Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), an actuation lever unit that acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) and includes a release lever (4), and a catch lever (10). The catch lever (10) blocks the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) 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 locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the event of a crash while releasing the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) only for normal opening operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
-
Publication number: 20160003331Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door closure which is equipped with a pulling-shut/opening device with a drive and transmission element. In addition, a locking mechanism is realized. The drive operates, with the interconnection of the transmission element, on the locking mechanism in order to open the latter or pull the latter shut. According to the invention, the drive is designed to have a variable torque and act upon the transmission element with a torque which is dependent on the drive travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Claus Topfer, Uwe Reddmann, Michael Scholz, Christian Sturm
-
Publication number: 20150267440Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor element and a drive for moving the motor element, a Bowden cable connected to the motor element and a connecting element for the Bowden cable. The invention further relates to a method of production. The aim of the invention is to simplify production of an actuating unit having a Bowden cable. According to the invention, the connecting element for the Bowden cable is angular, especially L-shaped, and a leg thereof, in the case of an L shape preferably the long leg thereof, is connected to the remainder of the housing. The angular form or L shape and the connection of one leg of such a shape to the remainder of the housing of the motor element results in a large surface or a large peripheral edge of the connecting part which can be connected to the remainder of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
-
Publication number: 20150263584Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for an actuating unit, especially for a power closing mechanism, preferably for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor housing part for accommodating an electric motor and a housing cover part for covering the motor housing part, a cable for electrically conducting current being electrically connected to a motor contact of the electric motor in the motor housing part and the cable comprising a diversion zone. The diversion zone of the cable is arranged outside or at least partially outside the housing. In this manner, the cable is not unduly bent during assembly when the housing is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventor: Claus Topfer
-
Patent number: 9106114Abstract: A drive component for a motor vehicle unit, in particular a motor vehicle door unit, especially a closing/opening device (1) in or on a motor vehicle door lock (2), comprising at least one motor (3) and at least one rubber-elastic bearing (4) for fixing the motor (3) on a base (5), wherein the bearing (4) has different spring rates (D1, D2) in the axial direction (A) and/or the radial direction (R).Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
-
Publication number: 20150048624Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising an actuation/locking lever mechanism (1, 2), with a first lever (1) and a second lever (2), both levers (1, 2) being couplable with each other in at least two different relative positions. At least the one, first lever (1) comprises a detent spring (5) connected thereto for engagement with at least one detent recess (6) on the other, second lever (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Topfer
-
Patent number: 8955889Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism including a catch and a pawl. The object of the invention is to simplify the locking of a lock of the type mentioned above. To achieve the object of the invention, a catch of the claimed lock comprises a stop projecting upwards, e.g., in the form of a pin extending from the catch. Furthermore, a bracket is provided, which can be moved against the stop by means of a motor such that the catch is moved in this way from the first position and into the primary position. It is thus possible to move from the first position to the primary position in a motorized manner, which makes it easier to close the vehicle door.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Kiekert AGInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Karsten Barth, Serkan Gülkan, Ulrich Weichsel, Claus Töpfer
-
Publication number: 20140217748Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Frank Blumenthal, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
-
Publication number: 20140132008Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), an actuation lever unit (6, 7) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), and a catch lever (12). The catch lever (12) blocks the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash), rendering the locking mechanism ineffective. According to the invention, the catch lever (12) acts upon a pawl (3) of the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the direction of the blocking position of the pawl during normal operation and in the event of a crash while allowing the pawl (3) and thus the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) to be in the releasing position only during normal opening operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Inventors: Thorsten BENDEL, Claus TÖPFER
-
Publication number: 20140035295Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), an actuation lever unit that acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) and includes a release lever (4), and a catch lever (10). The catch lever (10) blocks the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) 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 locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the event of a crash while releasing the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) only for normal opening operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Kiekert AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer