Patents by Inventor Harald Starken

Harald Starken 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: 7856858
    Abstract: A steering lock for locking the steering spindle of a motor vehicle steering system including a blocking element that pivots along a longitudinal axis from a locking to an unlocking position using an electromechanical drive and is maintained in the unlocking position by a spring-loaded lever. In order to enable the lever to maintain the blocking element in the unlocking position when a worm drive generates the displacement of the blocking element, a worm gear representing a first control contour is used. A first cam for pivoting the blocking element to the unlocking position and a second cam for actuating the lever are mounted on the worm gear. Prior to the pivoting of the blocking element from the unlocking to the locking position, the lever is pivoted from a rest into a release position and, only afterwards, the worm gear enables the blocking element to pivot to the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Anthony Laval, Harald Starken
  • Publication number: 20090007612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering lock for locking the steering spindle (2) of a motor vehicle steering system comprising a blocking element (5) displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis (3) thereof from a locking to an unlocking position by means of an electromechanical drive (6) and is maintainable in said unlocking position by a spring-loaded securing element (7) in the form of a lever. In order to enable the securing element (7) to maintain the blocking element (5) in the unlocking position thereof in a simple manner even when the electromechanical drive (6) generating the displacement of said blocking element (5) is embodied in the form of a worm drive, a worm gear (10) representing a first control contour (12) is used and a first cam (11) for displacing the blocking element to the unlocking position is mounted on said worm gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Anthony Laval, Harald Starken
  • Patent number: 6810763
    Abstract: An arrangement for locking the steering shaft of a motor vehicle, includes a blocking device and a toothed ring which is arranged on the steering shaft and in which a blocking element, which is arranged so that it can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position, of the blocking device engages. To allow the blocking device to be attached to the steering device of the vehicle in question and exchanged in a simple manner and to ensure that the blocking device cannot be removed in the locked state of the blocking element, the blocking device, which is provided with a housing, is releasably connected to a flange, which is attached to the steering device, via an adapter part. The flange has a recess which is designed in such a manner that the adapter part, for fitting of the blocking device, can be inserted in a partial area of the recess and can then be displaced along a guide into its limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo GmbH & Co. Scherheitssysteme
    Inventors: Alexander Frick, Andreas Berger, Mario Pieh, Joachim Engelmann, Kurt Lieb, Thomas Quellmalz, Hagen Friedrich, Harald Starken
  • Patent number: 6675673
    Abstract: A compactly constructed locking device with a displaceable securing element fixing a detent element and actuated in a simple way into a detaining position or into a releasing position. The distance between a control cam and the securing element is selected in such a way that, with the detent element in the unlocking position, the control cam is axially displaced with respect to the control contour and is therefore located outside the range of action of the control contour. Only when the electromechanical drive is activated in order to displace the detent element into its locking position does the drive part with the control contour come into engagement with the control cam. The arrangement allows for sudden displacement into the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Starken
  • Patent number: 6439011
    Abstract: A device (1) for locking the steering spindle (2) of a steering gear of a vehicle, having a blocking pin (6) which is arranged in a housing (3) and can be displaced from a release position into a locking position and vice versa. In order to prevent manipulation of the device (1) by an unauthorized third party if the housing (3) of the device (1) has been forcibly opened and the blocking pin (6) is located in its locking position, a spring-actuated securing element (17; 17′) is arranged in a guide part (12; 12′) of the blocking pin (6), said securing element being fixed in its position by a closure element (20) which is fastened on the inside of the housing (3). If the housing (3) is opened by an unauthorized third party, then the closure element (20) is also removed together with the corresponding housing region and the securing element (17; 17′) is at least partially displaced into a recess (21) of the blocking pin (6) and secures the latter in its locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Deutschland GmbH & Co. Sicherheitssysteme
    Inventors: Alexander Frick, Mario Pieh, Etienne Rocheteau, Harald Starken, Kurt Lieb
  • Publication number: 20020108412
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device with a detent element (11) axially displaceable by means of an electromechanical drive (4) from an unlocking position into a locking position, and vice versa, in which drive part (8) rotatable by means of the electromechanical drive (4) and an axially guided driver (10) connected to the detent element (11), which driver is connected to the drive part (8) via a threaded drive (9), and in which the locking device (1; 1′) comprises a securing element (24) which is prestressed by a spring (23) and which, to secure the detent element (11) in the unlocking position, engages by means of the spring (23) into a lateral recess or under a projection (25) of the driver (10) or of the detent element (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: VALEO SICHERHEITSSYSTEME GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Starken
  • Patent number: 6354118
    Abstract: A device for electrically locking the steering shaft of a motor vehicle steering device, which comprises an electric motor with actuator connected downstream, for displacing a blocking element which is arranged so that it can be displaced from its unlocked position into its locked position, and a switching device fore activating the electric motor. To ensure that the arrangement can be of very compact design and can be fitted without major changes in vehicles produced by different manufacturers, the invention proposes that the arrangement be composed of two separate subassemblies: a locking device with a first housing, in which the electric motor with actuator connected downstream and the blocking element is arranged, and manufacturer-specific electronic switching device, which can be attached o the outside of the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo GmbH& Co.Scherheitssysteme
    Inventors: Alexander Frick, Andreas Berger, Mario Pieh, Joachim Engelmann, Kurt Lieb, Thomas Quellmalz, Hagen Friedrich, Harald Starken
  • Publication number: 20020023468
    Abstract: Device for locking the steering spindle of a vehicle The invention relates to a device (1) for locking the steering spindle (2) of a steering gear of a vehicle, having a blocking pin (6) which is arranged in a housing (3) and can be displaced from a release position into a locking position and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Frick, Mario Pieh, Etienne Rocheteau, Harald Starken, Kurt Lieb
  • Publication number: 20010025516
    Abstract: A locking device having at least one blocking element (6) displaced axially by an electromechanical drive (4) from a locking position into an unlocking position and vice versa. The locking device (1) comprising a control element (5) rotated by the electromechanical drive (4) that is positioned toward the blocking element (6) with a thread (11) that engages the control bolts (14), which are arranged in a transversely displaceable manner within the blocking element (6). The axial position of the control-bolt arrangement within the blocking element (6) is determined by the contour of the inner wall (17) of the control element (5). To displace the blocking element (6), the first end (12) of the control bolt (14) engages the thread turn (16) of the thread (11), while the second end (15) is supported on the inner wall (17) of the control element (5) located opposite the thread (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Harald Starken