Patents by Inventor Ludger Graute

Ludger Graute 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).

  • Publication number: 20260098431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock with a lock latch and at least one pawl for locking the lock latch, wherein the pawl is assigned a release lever, wherein an opening drive adjusts the release lever to the release position for lifting the pawl and subsequently returns the release lever to the initial position, wherein an actuating lever can be mechanically coupled to the release lever via a clutch arrangement, wherein the clutch arrangement can be brought into a disengaged state, in which a first actuation stroke of the actuating lever is an idle stroke with respect to the release lever, wherein the clutch arrangement can be transferred via the idle stroke into an engaged state, in which a second actuation stroke of the actuating lever adjusts the release lever to the release position for lifting the pawl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventors: Roman JOSCHKO, Andreas HOFFMANN, Ludger GRAUTE, Nils BIERMANN, Benedikt CHADARAVICIUS
  • Publication number: 20260078617
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock with a lock latch and a pawl, a release lever being provided that can be pivoted from a starting position to a release position during an opening movement with a release direction, the release lever lifting the pawl with the opening movement, an electric opening drive being provided, by means of which the release lever can be pivoted to carry out the opening movement, so that the opening drive lifts the pawl by means of the release lever in a motorized manner, an actuator lever being provided that can be manually pivoted in an actuation stroke from an unactuated position to an actuated position, and by means of which the release lever located in the starting position can be pivoted with the actuation stroke to carry out the opening movement, so that the actuator lever manually lifts the pawl by means of the release lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Ludger GRAUTE, Mi YIZHOU, M. Manoj KRISHNA, Tejas PATIL, Avinash IRLAPALLE
  • Publication number: 20260078615
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock for a locking element of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle lock has a lock latch and a pawl system that locks the lock latch in a closed state and releases the lock latch in an open state, wherein the motor vehicle lock has a functional element that can be pivoted about a functional element axis and to which an adjustment range between a first end position and a second end position is assigned, wherein the motor vehicle lock has a sensor system for determining continuous position values for the functional element within the adjustment range. It is proposed that the sensor system comprises a magnetically sensitive sensor assembly, a magnet assembly and a control unit, that the magnet assembly is arranged on the functional element and the sensor assembly is otherwise arranged separately from the magnet assembly on the motor vehicle lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Ole HÄGER, Ludger GRAUTE, Serkan GÜLKAN, Dirk LEVE, Jai-Kwon YU, Ralf BÜSCHER, Christian LIPPOLD
  • Publication number: 20260071469
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock with a lock latch and with a pawl system, wherein the lock latch can be adjusted into a closed position for the holding engagement with a locking part and into an open position for releasing the locking part, wherein, in a catching state, the pawl system locks the lock latch located in the closed position via a pawl against an adjustment in its opening direction and releases it in a lifting state, wherein an opening drive is provided, which brings the pawl system into the lifting state by means of a pivotable actuating element, by an electric drive motor of the opening drive pivoting the actuating element in a lifting direction from an initial position to an end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Ludger GRAUTE, Thomas KLEMMSTEIN, Carsten BRUCHSTEINER
  • Publication number: 20260028860
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock with a locking latch and at least one locking pawl, wherein the locking latch is adjustable into an open position and into at least one closed position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an operating lever, wherein a coupling arrangement is arranged between the operating lever and the locking pawl, said coupling arrangement being switchable between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an opening device with a motorized opening drive with at least one drive direction which in an opening movement adjusts an actuating arrangement of the opening device, starting from an initial position of the actuating arrangement, such that the actuating arrangement operates an opening lever of the opening device which is pivotable about an opening lever axis, such that the locking pawl can be transferred by an operating stroke of the opening lever into a raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Markus Zillert, Ludger Graute
  • Publication number: 20250333984
    Abstract: Motor vehicle lock having a locking mechanism unit and a functional unit and, in the fastened state, being connected to a bodywork component, the locking mechanism unit having a locking mechanism connection plate in a locking mechanism connection plane and the functional unit having a functional connection plate in a functional connection plane for the purpose of connection to the bodywork component, the motor vehicle lock being L-shaped. The locking mechanism connection plate and the functional connection plate can be configured as separate components and are coupled to one another in such a way that said coupling allows, on the one hand, the transmission of a tearing force in the functional connection plane by way of a form fit between the locking mechanism connection plate and the functional connection plate and, on the other hand, a compensating movement between the locking mechanism connection plate and the functional connection plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Markus Zillert, Ludger Graute, Rainer Cullmann
  • Patent number: 12448821
    Abstract: A lock for a closure element and comprises a locking-mechanism arrangement having a latch, a catch and a catch-switching lever, wherein the latch can be pivoted, about a latch axis, into at least one locking position, in each of which it is retained in engagement with a locking part, and into an open position wherein the catch can be pivoted into an engagement position, in which the latch located in the respective locking position is locked by the catch so that it cannot pivot, about a catch axis, in its opening direction, and a disengagement position, in which the catch frees the latch in its opening direction, and wherein the catch-switching lever can be pivoted, about a catch-pivoting-lever axis, into an actuating position, in which a sensor is activated by the catch-switching lever, and into a neutral position, in which the sensor is not actuated by the catch-switching lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2025
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Thomas Klemmstein, Arkadi Bogorats
  • Patent number: 12398583
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock including a latch pivotable about a latch axis to an opening position and to a closing position. In the assembled state, the latch is in retaining engagement with a striker in the closing position, and in the opening position, the latch releases the striker, a blocking mechanism configured to be brought into a blocking state to block the latch in the closing position, and configured to be brought into a release state to release the latch to the opening position. The blocking mechanism including a pawl assembly including a pawl pivotally mounted via a pivot bearing and configured for blocking engagement with the latch. A crash blocking surface is provided so during a crash, when the pawl or the pivot bearing yields from deformation, an engaging surface of the pawl engages the crash blocking surface, to dissipate crash forces the crash blocking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludger Graute
  • Publication number: 20250257594
    Abstract: Lock for a vehicle, having a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism has a lock latch and a pawl system, wherein the lock has an open state, a main locking state, and optionally a preliminary locking state, wherein the pawl system has a primary pawl that is pivotable between locking and open positions, and a secondary pawl that is pivotable between locking and open positions, wherein the primary pawl, in its locking position, prevents the lock latch from pivoting, in its main locking position and/or its preliminary locking position, into its open position, and wherein the secondary pawl, in its locking position, prevents the primary pawl from pivoting into its open position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an actuating element, which, in order to transfer the lock from the main locking state and/or preliminary locking state into an open state, is able to be engaged with the pawl system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Frantisek Vojkuvka, Jakub Bruzek
  • Patent number: 12359474
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock includes a lock latch, at least one pawl, an electric drive arrangement, and a drive controller. The drive controller controls the drive arrangement to carry out an opening movement that adjusts an adjusting arrangement of the lock from a starting position to a raising position of the adjusting arrangement, in which the adjusting arrangement raises the pawl. A clutch arrangement is arranged between an actuating lever and the pawl, wherein, in an intermediate position, the adjusting arrangement shifts, in the opening movement, the clutch arrangement out of the disengaging state into the engaging state, before the adjusting arrangement raises the pawl when the raising position is reached. In an unlocking routine, the controller controls the drive arrangement to start the opening movement, and, responsive to an intermediate position criterion representative being met, modifies the control such that the adjusting arrangement does not reach the raising position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Markus Zillert, Serkan Gülkan, Andreas Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 12110718
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock including a latch and a pawl assembly associated with the latch including a pawl, the pawl assembly, in a blocking state, blocks the lock latch in a locking position, and a trigger assembly; the trigger assembly configured to actuate the pawl assembly out of the blocking state during an opening process; and a draw-in assembly including a coupling lever pivotable to a coupling position, for coupling to the lock latch to lock the lock latch. The closing assembly including an ejector lever including an ejector contour for ejecting the coupling lever, in an ejection position, out of engagement from the pawl, and a trigger section, in an emergency actuation, configured to engage the ejector lever via at least part of the closing process to eject the coupling lever and disengaged from the ejector lever during at least part of the opening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Roman Joschko, Thomas Klemmstein
  • Patent number: 12110717
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a latch and a pawl, the latch is adjustable between an open position and a locked position, the pawl is adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position, a drive arrangement which, in an opening movement, adjusts an adjusting arrangement such that the adjusting arrangement raises the pawl, an actuating lever and a clutch arrangement arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl, in the disengaging state, the actuating stroke of the actuating lever is an idle stroke with regard to the raising of the pawl and in the engaging state, the pawl is able to be raised via the actuating stroke of the actuating lever, the adjusting arrangement with the opening movement, shifts the clutch arrangement from the disengaging state to the engaging state. An unlocking movement shifts the clutch arrangement from the disengaging state into the engaging state via the adjusting arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuppertal
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Andreas Hoffmann, Markus Zillert
  • Publication number: 20240209657
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism and a lock housing structure, a motorized drive arrangement to actuate a mechanical lock component, a control unit for the actuation of the drive arrangement, and an energy storage arrangement for the electric voltage supply of the drive arrangement and/or the control unit being provided in or on the lock housing structure. The lock housing structure has an inner housing part attached to the locking mechanism and the drive arrangement, a housing cover for closing an upper side of the inner housing part, and, between the inner housing part and the housing cover, a control housing part including a control board of the control unit and the energy storage arrangement, and leadframe lines extending at least in sections along the board plane and connected electrically via the leadframe lines of the leadframe to the control board and drive arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuppertal
    Inventors: Ludger GRAUTE, René BEKENDAM
  • Patent number: 11959314
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism and a lock housing structure, a motorized drive arrangement to actuate a mechanical lock component, a control unit for the actuation of the drive arrangement, and an energy storage arrangement for the electric voltage supply of the drive arrangement and/or the control unit being provided in or on the lock housing structure. The lock housing structure has an inner housing part attached to the locking mechanism and the drive arrangement, a housing cover for closing an upper side of the inner housing part, and, between the inner housing part and the housing cover, a control housing part including a control board of the control unit and the energy storage arrangement, and leadframe lines extending at least in sections along the board plane and connected electrically via the leadframe lines of the leadframe to the control board and drive arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuppertal
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, René Bekendam
  • Publication number: 20240044182
    Abstract: A force-transmission device for an actuation mechanism of a movable vehicle element. The force-transmission device includes a movably held force-transmission element, a Bowden cable element having an end, an end piece fastened to the end of the Bowden cable element, and a stop. The movably held force-transmission element is held in a manner preloaded in a first direction into an end position by a preload force and is movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction in order to transmit an actuating force for the actuation mechanism. The end piece of the Bowden cable element is held against the movably held force-transmission element. The movably held force-transmission element transmits, in the end position, at least a portion of the preload force to the end piece of the Bowden cable element, and the end piece is held so as to be pressed against the stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Ludger GRAUTE
  • Publication number: 20230374827
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock having a striker plate and at least one pawl, wherein the striker plate can be set to an open position and to at least one closed position, wherein the pawl can be set to an engaged position, in which it holds the striker plate in the at least one closed position, and into a raised position, in which it releases the striker plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger GRAUTE, Markus ZILLERT, Serkan GÜLKAN
  • Publication number: 20230295964
    Abstract: A lock for a closure element and comprises a locking-mechanism arrangement having a latch, a catch and a catch-switching lever, wherein the latch can be pivoted, about a latch axis, into at least one locking position, in each of which it is retained in engagement with a locking part, and into an open position wherein the catch can be pivoted into an engagement position, in which the latch located in the respective locking position is locked by the catch so that it cannot pivot, about a catch axis, in its opening direction, and a disengagement position, in which the catch frees the latch in its opening direction, and wherein the catch-switching lever can be pivoted, about a catch-pivoting-lever axis, into an actuating position, in which a sensor is activated by the catch-switching lever, and into a neutral position, in which the sensor is not actuated by the catch-switching lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Thomas Klemmstein, Arkadi Bogorats
  • Publication number: 20230160237
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock including a latch pivotable about a latch axis to an opening position and to a closing position. In the assembled state, the latch is in retaining engagement with a striker in the closing position, and in the opening position, the latch releases the striker, a blocking mechanism configured to be brought into a blocking state to block the latch in the closing position, and configured to be brought into a release state to release the latch to the opening position. The blocking mechanism including a pawl assembly including a pawl pivotally mounted via a pivot bearing and configured for blocking engagement with the latch. A crash blocking surface is provided so during a crash, when the pawl or the pivot bearing yields from deformation, an engaging surface of the pawl engages the crash blocking surface, to dissipate crash forces the crash blocking surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludger GRAUTE
  • Patent number: 11608660
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle lock has a latch mechanism, catch, has and an actuating lever, of which the actuation from a starting position into an actuating position makes it possible to disengage the catch, wherein the motor-vehicle lock has a crash element, which can be adjusted from a normal state into a crash state, in which the crash element blocks the actuating lever in a blocking position or uncouples it from the catch, wherein the crash element is coupled to the actuating lever such that, when the actuating lever is actuated at an actuating speed above a limit actuating speed, the crash element latches in the crash state. With the crash element latched in the crash state, a restoring action of the actuating lever into the starting position causes the latching action to be reversed and the crash element to be adjusted into the normal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Schliessysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludger Graute
  • Patent number: 11555340
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock in a fitted state interacts with a striker. The motor vehicle lock includes an adjustable catch and an adjustable locking pawl. The catch is adjustable into a main locking state and into an opening state, and the locking pawl is adjustable into an entry state, and into a lifted state. The motor vehicle lock includes a tensioning mechanism. When the catch is in the main locking state and the locking pawl is in the entry state, the tensioning mechanism can be brought into a tensioned state in which the tensioning mechanism introduces a mechanical preload into the catch in its opening direction. The tensioning mechanism can be brought into a relaxed state, in which the preload originating from the tensioning mechanism is reduced or cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tatjana Schmidt, Serkan Guelkan, Ludger Graute