Patents by Inventor Matthias Bruning

Matthias Bruning 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: 8701802
    Abstract: A multi-functional transport system is disclosed having a plurality of mobile transport units, which each have a coupling device in a front and a rear region. In this manner the transport units can be coupled to each other and/or to a lead vehicle. In one configuration, the individual transport units equipped with drives follow the lead vehicle defining the path in a directionally stable manner by an independent path control system. The transport units themselves can also be removed or decoupled from the transport system as independent units. At least one handle, in addition to the couplings, can be used by an operator when in the decoupled state, so that the mailings to be transported can remain on the transport unit until delivery without manual transferring or transporting. This manual guiding of the individual transport unit takes place in a virtually force-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Werner Schonewolf, Matthias Bruning, Eckart Uhlmann
  • Publication number: 20120175174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-functional transport system having a plurality of mobile transport units, which each have a coupling device in a front and a rear region, by means of which the transport units can be coupled to each other and/or to a lead vehicle. In one configuration, the individual transport units equipped with drives follow the lead vehicle defining the path in a directionally stable manner by an independent path control system. The transport units themselves can also be removed or decoupled from the transport system as independent units. At least one handle, in addition to the couplings, can be used by an operator when in the decoupled state, so that the mailings to be transported can remain on the transport unit until delivery without manual transferring or transporting. This manual guiding of the individual transport unit takes place in a virtually force-free manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Werner SCHONEWOLF, Matthias Bruning, Eckart Uhlmann