Patents by Inventor Hans-Joachim Frohne
Hans-Joachim Frohne 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: 7617708Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle includes a carrier element for holding an ignition key that is inserted in the ignition lock. The carrier element is movable along a longitudinal axis of the ignition lock. The carrier element pushes a slide bar from a blocking position to an unblocking position when the carrier element moves along the longitudinal axis. A latch bar, when in its latching position, restricts a movement of the carrier element along the longitudinal axis and, when in its unlatching position, allows the carrier element to move along the longitudinal axis. When the latch bar is in its unlatching position and the slide bar is in its blocking position, the slide bar prevents the latch bar from moving from the unlatching position to the latching position.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Marquardt GmbHInventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Ralf Borngräber, Steffen Buhl, Dennis Meβmer, Thomas Schwarz
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Patent number: 7394034Abstract: An electric push-button switch (10) includes a housing (22), a push-button (12). The push-button switch (10) further includes a symbol lighting arrangement to illuminate a transparent region (16) of the push-button (12). The transparent region (16) symbolizes the functional unit to be operated by the push-button switch (10) or an actual function of the functional unit. The push-button switch (10) further includes a function lighting arrangement to indicate the operating status of the functional unit. The symbol lighting arrangement comprises a first light source (32), and the function lighting arrangement comprises a second light source (34) and an off-partitioned light conducting section to a light outlet area (18) which is integrated into the push-button (12). Both lighting arrangements are accommodated in a structural space defined by the housing (22).Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KgInventors: Jens Ostendorf, Juergen Girke, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Publication number: 20080028807Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle includes a carrier element for holding an ignition key that is inserted in the ignition lock. The carrier element is movable along a longitudinal axis of the ignition lock. The carrier element pushes a slide bar from a blocking position to an unblocking position when the carrier element moves along the longitudinal axis. A latch bar, when in its latching position, restricts a movement of the carrier element along the longitudinal axis and, when in its unlatching position, allows the carrier element to move along the longitudinal axis. When the latch bar is in its unlatching position and the slide bar is in its blocking position, the slide bar prevents the latch bar from moving from the unlatching position to the latching position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Ralf Borngraber, Steffen Buhl, Dennis Messmer, Thomas Schwarz
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Patent number: 7297889Abstract: A rotary switch is disclosed which has a central handle (12) which is rotatable about a central axis (Z), a ring-shaped shield (16) surrounding the handle (12), a rotary button (18) which is arranged on the shield (16) and is rotatable about an axis (V) offset from and parallel to said central axis (Z), and a potentiometer (28) which is adjustable by means of the rotary button (18). The potentiometer (28) is radially spaced from the offset axis (V), and is coupled with the rotary button (18) by means of a gear (24, 26). The potentiometer (28) is offset radially inwards from the offset axis (V) towards the central axis (Z).Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Dieter Bornhorst, Klaus Mueller, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Patent number: 7292916Abstract: An engine (9) of a vehicle (1) is started by first inserting an ignition key (3) into an ignition lock (2) of the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) can be started by merely pressing the inserted ignition key, whereby said ignition key (3) is further inserted into the ignition lock (2) and takes in a nearly flush position with a dashboard (4) within which the ignition lock is disposed when the motor runs such that the ignition key (3) does not constitute a potential hazard in the event of an accident. The engine (9) is stopped by once again pressing the ignition key (3). Once the engine (9) has been stopped, the ignition key (3) is brought into a position in which the same can be simply removed from the ignition lock (2) by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Volkswagen AktiengesellschaftInventors: Ralf Borngräber, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Publication number: 20070119694Abstract: A rotary switch is disclosed which has a central handle (12) which is rotatable about a central axis (Z), a ring-shaped shield (16) surrounding the handle (12), a rotary button (18) which is arranged on the shield (16) and is rotatable about an axis (V) offset from and parallel to said central axis (Z), and a potentiometer (28) which is adjustable by means of the rotary button (18). The potentiometer (28) is radially spaced from the offset axis (V), and is coupled with the rotary button (18) by means of a gear (24, 26). The potentiometer (28) is offset radially inwards from the offset axis (V) towards the central axis (Z).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Dieter Bornhorst, Klaus Mueller, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Publication number: 20060201796Abstract: An electric push-button switch (10) includes a housing (22), a push-button (12). The push-button switch (10) further includes a symbol lighting arrangement to illuminate a transparent region (16) of the push-button (12). The transparent region (16) symbolizes the functional unit to be operated by the push-button switch (10) or an actual function of the functional unit. The push-button switch (10) further includes a function lighting arrangement to indicate the operating status of the functional unit. The symbol lighting arrangement comprises a first light source (32), and the function lighting arrangement comprises a second light source (34) and an off-partitioned light conducting section to a light outlet area (18) which is integrated into the push-button (12). Both lighting arrangements are accommodated in a structural space defined by the housing (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2006Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventors: Jens Ostendorf, Juergen Girke, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Publication number: 20060125434Abstract: An automotive frequency converter is connected to at least one load socket. The electrical converter is switched to an operational state by inserting an electrical load plug in the load socket.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2006Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Andreas Klinkig, Ralf Borngraber
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Publication number: 20060071555Abstract: An engine (9) of a vehicle (1) is started by first inserting an ignition key (3) into an ignition lock (2) of the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) can be started by merely pressing the inserted ignition key, whereby said ignition key (3) is further inserted into the ignition lock (2) and takes in a nearly flush position with a dashboard (4) within which the ignition lock is disposed when the motor runs such that the ignition key (3) does not constitute a potential hazard in the event of an accident. The engine (9) is stopped by once again pressing the ignition key (3). Once the engine (9) has been stopped, the ignition key (3) is brought into a position in which the same can be simply removed from the ignition lock (2) by the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2005Publication date: April 6, 2006Inventors: Ralf Borngraber, Hans-Joachim Frohne
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Patent number: 6680450Abstract: An electric switch has a switch housing, a knob mounted in the housing, a guide gate having latching recesses and arranged inside the switch housing, and a spring-loaded cam follower guided by the guide gate. The switching positions of the switch are defined by interaction of the cam follower with the guide gate and with its latching recesses. The guide gate has damping elements made of elastic material and fitted in the latching recesses.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Klaus Müller, Jürgen Girke
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Publication number: 20030075430Abstract: An electric switch has a switch housing, a knob mounted in the housing, a guide gate having latching recesses and arranged inside the switch housing, and a spring-loaded cam follower guided by the guide gate. The switching positions of the switch are defined by interaction of the cam follower with the guide gate and with its latching recesses. The guide gate has damping elements made of elastic material and fitted in the latching recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Klaus Muller, Jurgen Girke
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Patent number: 5565663Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a housing provided with at least one fixed contact part and one switching contact part, which moves in cooperation therewith. At least one actuating element is movably mounted in the housing. The actuating element influences switching positions of the switching contact part. Also disclosed is a camform which defines the switching positions and which interacts with a spring-loaded plunger associated with the actuating element in order to create operating forces. Moreover, a displaceable spring-loaded retaining device is disposed within the housing which enables the electrical switch to be held firmly in a locked position. Finally, at least one actuating element cooperates with a retaining device through a transfer device so that by use of increased force, the actuating element is brought into a functional position which does not correspond with any of the switching positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Kossakowski, Hubert Gerbersmann, Michael Barwanitz, Hans-Joachim Frohne, Stefan Muller
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Patent number: RE36834Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a housing provided with at least one fixed contact part and one switching contact part, which moves in cooperation therewith. At least one actuating element is movably mounted in the housing. The actuating element influences switching positions of the switching contact part. Also disclosed is a camform which defines the switching positions and which interacts with a spring-loaded plunger associated with the actuating element in order to create operating forces. Moreover, a displaceable spring-loaded retaining device is disposed within the housing which enables the electrical switch to be held firmly in a locked position .Iadd.within a receptacle.Iaddend.. Finally, at least one actuating element cooperates with a retaining device through a transfer device so that by use of increased force, the actuating element is brought into a functional position which does not correspond with any of the switching positions. The retaining device is brought into its unlocked position .Iadd.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Kossakowski, Hubert Gerbersmann, Michael Barwanitz, Hans-Joachim Frohne, Stefan Muller