Patents by Inventor Franz Mack

Franz Mack 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: 8028599
    Abstract: 1. Vehicle (10), in particular tracked vehicle (10). 2.1 The invention relates to a vehicle (10), in particular a tracked vehicle (10), having a manual controller (40) for controlling driving functions of the vehicle (10) and/or additional functions of the vehicle (10), the manual controller (40) having a base (42) and a handle which can move in relation to the base (44) and is designed such that it can pivot at least about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (44a, 44b) for control purposes. 2.2 According to the invention, the handle (44) has a contact zone (46) which is to be held by the inner surface of a hand, the manual controller (40) having at least one touch sensor (50, 52) which is designed to detect that a user is touching the handle (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
    Inventor: Franz Mack
  • Patent number: 7511236
    Abstract: A manual control unit having a handle body in which is integrated at least one manually operable control element. The handle body has a housing with a spherically bulged central section for ergonomically supporting an inner surface of a hand, the central section forming an upper apex surface of the handle body, and in that the at least one control element is arranged at a distance from the apex surface in such a way that, when the inner surface of a hand is being supported, the control element can be operated by one finger of the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
    Inventor: Franz Mack
  • Publication number: 20080250889
    Abstract: 1. Vehicle (10), in particular tracked vehicle (10). 2.1 The invention relates to a vehicle (10), in particular a tracked vehicle (10), having a manual controller (40) for controlling driving functions of the vehicle (10) and/or additional functions of the vehicle (10), the manual controller (40) having a base (42) and a handle which can move in relation to the base (44) and is designed such that it can pivot at least about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (44a, 44b) for control purposes. 2.2 According to the invention, the handle (44) has a contact zone (46) which is to be held by the inner surface of a hand, the manual controller (40) having at least one touch sensor (50, 52) which is designed to detect that a user is touching the handle (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Franz Mack
  • Publication number: 20080128253
    Abstract: 1. Manual control unit. 2.1. A manual control unit having a handle body in which is integrated at least one manually operable control element is known. 2.2. According to the invention, the handle body has a housing with a spherically bulged central section for ergonomically supporting an inner surface of a hand, said central section forming an upper apex surface of the handle body, and in that the at least one control element is arranged at a distance from the apex surface in such a way that, when the inner surface of a hand is being supported, said control element can be operated by one finger of the hand. 2.3. Use for controlling vehicle functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Franz Mack
  • Publication number: 20060090587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular a tracked vehicle, with a steering wheel, assigned to which are means for the electrical or electronic transmission of steering movements of the steering wheel to a vehicle control system, and the steering wheel being arranged in a rotationally movable manner on an upper steering column part, which is held adjustably in relation to a lower steering column part arranged fixedly on the vehicle. Means for vertical adjustment and means for longitudinal adjustment are provided between the lower steering column part and the upper steering column part, in order to adjust the upper steering column part in its height and in its length in relation to the position of the driver's seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Helmut Kanzler, Franz Mack, Andreas Weidenkopf
  • Patent number: D566132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
    Inventor: Franz Mack