Patents by Inventor Hans-Gunter Weiss

Hans-Gunter Weiss 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: 6326566
    Abstract: A contact unit for a lever actuated arrangement for activating brake lights and the flashing turn signal light function. A single contact bridge moved by the lever has three contacts, a first and second contact for closing respectively on left or right brake light circuit contacts and left or right turn signal light circuit contacts and a third contact for closing on a flasher circuit contact upon further lever movement in the same direction. Upon initial lever movement from a neutral position, a second bridge contact is operable to close a brake switch circuit contact with the opposite brake light circuit contact from the lever actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: MDH Company, Inc., Eaton Controls GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Hans-Günter Weiss
  • Patent number: 6147315
    Abstract: The invention herein relates to an automobile steering wheel switch assembly with several individual switches (3) and a support housing (1) located inside the steering wheel for the accommodation of an airbag module, by means of which at least one horn switch (15) can be activated. Inside the steering wheel is a stationary support plate (7), which supports the support housing (1) in a spring-biased, wobbling manner, whereby the support housing (1) has mounted on its side (12) facing the support plate (7) a contact unit (10) with connector contacts (32), the unit having switch guides (20) that contact individual switches (3) by way of connecting lines (35) and the horn switch (15) located on the connecting lines (35, 35a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Rudolph, Hans-Gunter Weiss
  • Patent number: 6121558
    Abstract: A steering column switch (1) comprises a carrier (2) with coordinated plug-in fastening (3), which is secured on a holder of the casing tube of the steering column of a motor vehicle, surrounded by a steering column housing, and keys (26, 30, 39) provided with switch elements. On the carrier (2) a plurality of keys (26, 30, 39) acting in different directions of activation are mounted, and these act on contact elements (13, 14) arranged in the carrier (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Leng, Hans-Gunter Weiss, Thomas Reuter, Paul Junker
  • Patent number: 6069329
    Abstract: A lever switch, in particular a steering column switch for a motor vehicle, comprises a housing (1) with connector contacts (5), a switch lever (10) supported in the housing (1), a switch element (30 and 32, respectively) actuated by the switch lever (10) and acting on switch contact paths (24), and comprises a switch gate (14), which resets the switch lever (10) or locks it in position. In order to provide a lever switch offering variable switching functions while permitting an economical and cost-effective manufacture at the same time, a predetermined layout of switch contact paths (14) is used for the implementation of different lever switching functions in that the division of the switch contact paths (24) is different, that the association and/or values of the resistors (25) relative to the switch contact paths (24) is different, and that different, interchangeable switch gates (14) are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Hans-Gunter Weiss, Holger Besier