Patents by Inventor Erwin Himmelhuber

Erwin Himmelhuber 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: 11412856
    Abstract: Armrest (10) comprising a base (19) and an arm (13) that can be moved by a mount (17) between at least one use position and a non-use position, wherein the arm (13) is movable by the mount (17) axially of a pivot axis (a) between a proximal and a distal position, and is pivotable about the pivot axis (a) between a primary and a secondary position, wherein the armrest (10) has an actuator (30) comprising a motor drive having a drive part (29) that is movable between a first and a second position in order to displace the arm (13) in a first direction (y1) between the non-use position and the use position, at least in part, wherein the actuator (30) has at least one spring (21) that can be tensioned upon movement of the drive part (29) or an additional drive part (29) of the actuator (30), wherein the arm (13) can be moved axially, in a second direction (y2) by the spring (21), which second direction is directed opposite the first direction (y1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Erwin Himmelhuber
  • Patent number: 11084407
    Abstract: The invention relates primarily to an armrest with an arm support (11) pivotable about an axis (a) between an upper end position and a lower end position, with a locking mechanism (13) movable between a locked position and a released position, comprising first detent (14) on the arm support (11) and second detent (15) on a structure (12) with fixed position, wherein the first detent (14) and the second detent (15) are engaged when the locking mechanism (13) is in a locked position and are disengaged when the locking mechanism is in a released position. The special feature thereof consists in that at least a partial range of the movement of the locking mechanism (13) in at least one direction between the released position and the locked position takes place in damped manner by a damping element (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Hubert Keller, Erwin Himmelhuber
  • Publication number: 20200345146
    Abstract: Armrest (10) comprising a base (19) and an arm (13) that can be moved by a mount (17) between at least one use position and a non-use position, wherein the arm (13) is movable by the mount (17) axially of a pivot axis (a) between a proximal and a distal position, and is pivotable about the pivot axis (a) between a primary and a secondary position, wherein the armrest (10) has an actuator (30) comprising a motor drive having a drive part (29) that is movable between a first and a second position in order to displace the arm (13) in a first direction (y1) between the non-use position and the use position, at least in part, wherein the actuator (30) has at least one spring (21) that can be tensioned upon movement of the drive part (29) or an additional drive part (29) of the actuator (30), wherein the arm (13) can be moved axially, in a second direction (y2) by the spring (21), which second direction is directed opposite the first direction (y1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Erwin HIMMELHUBER
  • Patent number: 10821866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headrest, in particular for a vehicle seat, with a head contact part (11), with a support (12) for mounting the headrest (10) on a fixed structure, with at least one parallelogrammatic linkage (23) between the head contact part (11) and the support (12) that carries the head contact part (11) for movement relative to the support (12) between a first position and a second position, wherein the parallelogrammatic linkage (23) comprises at least two links (16, 17), and each link (16, 17) forms at least one pivot joint (G1A, G2A, G1C, G2C) with the support (12) and at least one pivot joint (G1B, G2B, G1D, G2D) with the head contact part (11), with a latch (19), with a first latch formation on the support (12) and a second latch formation on the head contact part (11), wherein the first latch formation and the second latch formation are in engagement in a locked position and are disengaged in a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Ralph Nuss, Gerhard Delling, Manuel Boesl, Erwin Himmelhuber, Hubert Keller
  • Publication number: 20200039406
    Abstract: A headrest has a mount fixable on a vehicle seat, a head support, first and second links each having one end pivoted on the mount and an opposite end pivoted on the head support for movement of the head support relative to the mount forward toward a head of a user in the seat and rearward away from the head of the user. First latch formations on the links and second latch formations fittable with the first latch formations and either on the head support or on the mount are movable between a latching position engaged with each other to arrest pivoting of the links and forward and rearward movement of the headrest relative to the mount, and a release position disengaging the first and second latch formations from each other to permit such pivoting and movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Nuss, Gerhard Delling, Erwin Himmelhuber, Manuel Boesl, Hubert Keller
  • Publication number: 20190322200
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headrest, in particular for a vehicle seat, with a head contact part (11), with a support (12) for mounting the headrest (10) on a fixed structure, with at least one parallelogrammatic linkage (23) between the head contact part (11) and the support (12) that carries the head contact part (11) for movement relative to the support (12) between a first position and a second position, wherein the parallelogrammatic linkage (23) comprises at least two links (16, 17), and each link (16, 17) forms at least one pivot joint (G1A, G2A, G1C, G2C) with the support (12) and at least one pivot joint (G1B, G2B, G1D, G2D) with the head contact part (11), with a latch (19), with a first latch formation on the support (12) and a second latch formation on the head contact part (11), wherein the first latch formation and the second latch formation are in engagement in a locked position and are disengaged in a release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Ralph NUSS, Gerhard DELLING, Manuel BOESL, Erwin HIMMELHUBER, Hubert KELLER
  • Publication number: 20180339627
    Abstract: The invention relates primarily to an armrest with an arm support (11) pivotable about an axis (a) between an upper end position and a lower end position, with a locking mechanism (13) movable between a locked position and a released position, comprising first detent (14) on the arm support (11) and second detent (15) on a structure (12) with fixed position, wherein the first detent (14) and the second detent (15) are engaged when the locking mechanism (13) is in a locked position and are disengaged when the locking mechanism is in a released position. The special feature thereof consists in that at least a partial range of the movement of the locking mechanism (13) in at least one direction between the released position and the locked position takes place in damped manner by a damping element (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Hubert KELLER, Erwin Himmelhuber
  • Patent number: 9950651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle accessory, comprising a first part and at least one second part pivotal about an axis (a) relative to the first part in at least one bearing assembly (20a, 20b), and the bearing assembly (20a, 20b) comprises a bearing pin (14) on which a bearing sleeve (22) is coaxial to the bearing axis (a), and the bearing pin (14) forms a head (19) with an axial retaining face (30). The particularity is that of the bearing pin (14) having first coupling formation that engages in a second coupling formation of the bearing sleeve (22) and prevents relative rotation in a pivot direction (u1, u2) between the bearing sleeve (22) and the bearing pin (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Delling, Erwin Himmelhuber, Hubert Keller
  • Publication number: 20170136923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle accessory, comprising a first part and at least one second part pivotal about an axis (a) relative to the first part in at least one bearing assembly (20a, 20b), and the bearing assembly (20a, 20b) comprises a bearing pin (14) on which a bearing sleeve (22) is coaxial to the bearing axis (a), and the bearing pin (14) forms a head (19) with an axial retaining face (30). The particularity is that of the bearing pin (14) having first coupling formation that engages in a second coupling formation of the bearing sleeve (22) and prevents relative rotation in a pivot direction (u1, u2) between the bearing sleeve (22) and the bearing pin (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Gerhard DELLING, Erwin HIMMELHUBER, Hubert KELLER
  • Patent number: 9610864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a utility motor vehicle seat, having a seat part, having a backrest comprising a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part, and having a holding device, by means of which the upper backrest part is mounted displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part, the holding device comprising a guide roller device, by means of which the upper backrest part is arranged laterally displaceably with respect to the lower backrest part along a displacement curve so as to mount the upper backrest part displaceably at least in part past the side edge of the lower backrest part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Grammar AG
    Inventors: Roland Uebelacker, Erwin Himmelhuber, Gerhard Delling
  • Patent number: 9227538
    Abstract: The invention relates to an armrest for a vehicle seat, comprising an armrest body (11) that together with a base (15) forms a pivot joint and can be pivoted through a pivot angle (?) between a stowed position and a use position, wherein at least one damper (17a, 17b) is provided to damp the motion of the armrest body (11). The invention characterized in that the armrest (10) has a control device (18a, 18b) that actuates the damper (17a, 17b) within at least one portion (?, y) of the pivot angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Joerg Girbinger, Erwin Himmelhuber, Gerhard Delling
  • Patent number: 8944512
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of a component part of a vehicle, in particular a pivotable vehicle armrest, pivotable about a pivot axle. The apparatus is configured to lock various angles of inclination in a first pivoting direction and unlock them when a pre-settable angle of inclination is reached and/or exceeded. This allows the pivotable component part of the vehicle to be moved back into a starting position contrary to the first pivoting direction. The continuous inclination adjustment apparatus has a sleeve freewheel device for setting the continuous inclination, a coupling device for coupling and uncoupling the sleeve freewheel device and a control device for actuating the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Joerg Girbinger, Erwin Himmelhuber
  • Publication number: 20140368017
    Abstract: The invention relates to an armrest for a vehicle seat, comprising an armrest body (11) that together with a base (15) forms a pivot joint and can be pivoted through a pivot angle (?) between a stowed position and a use position, wherein at least one damper (17a, 17b) is provided to damp the motion of the armrest body (11). The invention characterized in that the armrest (10) has a control device (18a, 18b) that actuates the damper (17a, 17b) within at least one portion (?, y) of the pivot angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Joerg GIRBINGER, Erwin HIMMELHUBER, Gerhard DELLING
  • Patent number: 8550505
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle armrest has a base fixed on the vehicle and defining an axis and an armrest part pivotal on the base about the axis and having a first concave surface turned radially inward toward a second convex surface of the base. A wedge-shaped sprag is slidable between the surfaces generally angularly of the axis between a locking position in which the armrest part is arrested relative to the base and a release position in which pivoting of the armrest part with respect to the base is possible. The sprag has a first contact face cooperating with the first surface of the armrest part and a second nonparallel contact face cooperating with the second surface of the base. The sprag is biased into the locking position and can be moved into the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Ralph Nuss, Erwin Himmelhuber, Daniel Zeitler
  • Publication number: 20120261970
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of a component part of a vehicle, in particular a pivotable vehicle armrest, pivotable about a pivot axle. The apparatus is configured to lock various angles of inclination in a first pivoting direction and unlock them when a pre-settable angle of inclination is reached and/or exceeded. This allows the pivotable component part of the vehicle to be moved back into a starting position contrary to the first pivoting direction. The continuous inclination adjustment apparatus has a sleeve freewheel device for setting the continuous inclination, a coupling device for coupling and uncoupling the sleeve freewheel device and a control device for actuating the coupling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Joerg Girbinger, Erwin Himmelhuber
  • Publication number: 20090284034
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accessory for a motor-vehicle interior, in particular an armrest (10) for vehicle seats, wherein an accessory (11) is pivotal on a base element (19) solid with the vehicle by means of a pivot, wherein the accessory comprises a freewheel (18) with at least one sprag (24) that can be moved between a locking position, in which the accessory (11) is stopped relative to the base element (19), and a release position in which a pivoting movement of the accessory (11) with respect to the base element (19) is possible, wherein at least one sprag (24) with at least two contact faces (25, 26) is provided, whereof a first contact face (25) cooperates with a first counter-surface (22) associated with the accessory (11) and a second contact face (26) cooperates with a second counter-surface (23) associated with the base element (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Ralf NUSS, Erwin HIMMELHUBER, Daniel ZEITLER
  • Patent number: 7108318
    Abstract: A vehicular arm has a fixed axle, an arm-rest body pivotable on the axle about its axis between a raised position and a lowered position, an abutment axially fixed on the axle and rotationally coupled to the arm-rest body, and a pusher rotationally fixed and axially shiftable on the axle. The abutment lies between the pusher and the arm-rest body. Coupling projections on the pusher and on the abutment extend toward each other and have mutually engaging faces lying in planes extending at an acute angle to the axis. A spring presses the pusher axially toward the abutment, such that, when the arm-rest body is pressed toward the lowered position with a force exceeding a predetermined limit, the faces cam the pusher axially away from the abutment and permit limited rotation of the abutment and arm-rest body on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Grammar AG
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu, Gerhard Delling
  • Patent number: 7108328
    Abstract: A vehicular arm rest has a fixed axle carrying primary and secondary parts formed with meshing arrays of sawteeth angled to inhibit movement of the arm-rest body in a downward direction between a raised position and the lowered position but permit movement of the arm-rest body in the upward direction between the lowered position to the raised position. A spring braced between an abutment and the secondary part urging the secondary-part teeth into mesh with the primary-part teeth. Cam formations push the secondary part away from the primary part on pivoting of the primary part in the downward direction from the raised position of the arm-rest body toward the lowered position for decoupling the primary-part teeth from the secondary-part teeth and couple the primary-part teeth with the secondary-part teeth and prevent further movement in the downward direction on reaching the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Grammar AG
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu
  • Publication number: 20050242649
    Abstract: The invention relates to an armrest, such as a middle armrest, comprising an armrest body (17) which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis (12), between an upright and a lowered position, provided with a ratchet lock (P, S), only operating on a downwards pivoting movement (N), which comprises a primary section (P), arranged to rotate about the axis (12) in connection with the armrest body (17), with a secondary piece (S), mounted such as to be stationary, at least relative to the axis (12), cooperating therewith. The ratchet lock (P, S) separates the primary piece (P) and the secondary piece (S) from each other in the upright position and on beginning an upwards pivoting movement (N), by means of a control device (R) and returns the above to engagement in a lowered position. The primary piece (P) and the secondary piece (S) form facing planes of ratchet teeth (Z1, Z2), which are coaxial to the axis (12). The secondary piece (S) may be axially displaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu
  • Publication number: 20050161983
    Abstract: The invention relates to an armrest, such as a middle armrest, comprising an armrest body (17) which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis (12) between an upright and a lowered position, provided with an overload protection (W, D, T, E), which, when the armrest body (17) is in the lowered position, releases the armrest body (17) on an overload occurring and permits a down-ward pivoting of the armrest body (17). An abutting piece (W) mounted to rotate about the axis (12) has one side thereof connected to the armrest body (17) with a rotating connection and is axially fixed on the axis (12) in order to form the overload protection (W, D, T, E). On the other side of the abutting piece (W), a pressure piece (D), moving axially, but not rotating on the axis (12), is supported by a return force of a spring element (T).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu, Gerhard Delling