Patents by Inventor Kurt R. Heidmann

Kurt R. Heidmann 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: 5282670
    Abstract: An adjustable chair includes a base, a back and a chair control for pivotally connecting the back to the base for movement between a fully upright position and an inclined position. A cable actuated variable back stop mechanism includes a generally U-shaped bail or stop lever pivoted to the back. The bail is engageable with a stop on the chair base. A lock member is slideably mounted on the back. The lock member includes a front face defining a plurality of vertically spaced, generally parallel grooves. The grooves are dimensioned to receive the bail and hold the bail in one of a plurality of selected positions when the lock member is moved from an inoperative to an operative position. When in the operative position, the lock member prevents pivoting of the bail when it engages the stop on the base, hence, limiting tilting of the chair back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Karsten, Gregg R. Spoolstra, Kurt R. Heidmann, John C. Fuhs
  • Patent number: 4651851
    Abstract: A rotor for a disc brake assembly is provided with a first portion (52) adapted for attachment to a wheel assembly (28), a second portion (54) engageable with at least a pair of friction elements and a connecting portion (56) extending between the first and second portions. The second portion (54) defines an inboard surface (60) and an outboard surface (64) facing the first portion (52). The connecting portion (56) cooperates with the second portion (54) to define a heat sink (78) at the radially inner edge of the inboard surface (60) to substantially offset tilting of the second portion toward the first portion in response to temperature expansion of the rotor second portion (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Latvala, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Patent number: 4522287
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly (10) includes a rotor (12) having a pair of friction faces (14, 16) and a pair of friction elements (18, 20) disposed adjacent the friction faces. A caliper (32) is slidably mounted on a support member (22) by mounting mechanism (40). Mounting mechanism (40) includes a camming member (66) supported by the support member (22) and slidably engaged by the caliper (32) and a torsion spring (82) which yieldably rotates the camming member (66) into camming engagement with the caliper (32) and support member (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: The Bendix Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Jon S. Canale, Hans Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 4503948
    Abstract: A disc brake is actuated through a mechanical linkage comprising a power screw (54) which is rotatably mounted within the housing (22) and a piston or power nut (38) which is threadedly engaged with the power screw (54) and which also is engaged with the friction element (32). An annular thrust collar (70) is installed within the housing (22) and defines a thrust receiving surface (73) which faces a surface (62) on the power screw (54). Brake reaction forces are transmitted to the wall of the housing (22) without loading the bolts (86) in tension by way of the surfaces (62, 73) of the thrust collar (70), the surface (108) and the retaining ring (66). A take-up ring (84) made of a deformable material is carried in the groove (82) of the thrust collar (70) so that, when a brake is manufactured, the thrust collar (70) is first installed in the bore and the retaining ring (66) is then installed in the groove (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Donald A. Vorwerk
  • Patent number: 4503947
    Abstract: The open bore of a disc brake caliper assembly is protected by a resilient boot and retainer assembly (92). The piston (38) which forces the friction elements (26, 32) against the friction faces (14, 16) of the rotor (12) is provided with a circumferentially extending groove (118) which receives the bead (96) circumscribing one end of the boot (94). The bead (98) circumscribing the other end of the boot (94) is clamped against a land (122) of the piston 38 by a boot retainer (110). The boot retainer (110) is provided with a radially projecting portion (112) which is held against a circumferentially extending face (108) on the wall of the caliper housing (22) by the oil seal (116). Accordingly, the boot (94) may be removed and a new one installed when the brake is serviced without disassembly of the caliper assembly by withdrawing the piston (38) until the groove (118) is brought into registry with the projection (106), thereby permitting removal of the old boot and installation of a new one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Andrew Marsh