Patents by Inventor Norbert Heeg
Norbert Heeg 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: 10207603Abstract: A drive system (2) tilt adjusts a back rest (10) of a vehicle seat (1). The back rest (10) is held on a seat base (11) by a fitting (12). An output pinion (24), drivable by a drive motor (20), is provided on the seat back side and interacts with a tooth segment (18) arranged rotationally fixed on the base (11). A pivot movement of the back rest (10) can be carried out by the drive motor (20) while the fitting (12) is unlocked. The output pinion (24) can be uncoupled from the drive motor (20) by a coupling (22). A compensation spring (14) acting between the back rest (10) and the base (11) pre-tensions the back rest (10) in the direction of the non-use position. A vehicle seat (1) with the drive system and a method for operating a drive system (2) are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à.r.l.Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Eckhard Kirch
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Patent number: 10189376Abstract: An actuator (110, 210) for a vehicle seat (1) includes a housing (11), a motor (12) which is fixed to the housing and includes a motor shaft (12a), a transmission (13) connected to the motor shaft, an actuator output drive (14) which is connected to the transmission, and a control unit (21). The actuator output drive includes an output element moveable towards an end position from a starting position by rotating the motor shaft in a first direction and in a reversed direction—in the direction of the starting position from the end position. A carriage (15) is driven, upon movement of the output element. A position sensor detects a position of the carriage. An actuator (210) for a vehicle seat is provided, in which a position sensor (28) detects an effect of gravity on the actuator. A vehicle seat (1) with one such actuator (110, 210) is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & CO. KGInventors: Norbert Heeg, Peter Mueller
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Patent number: 10011190Abstract: An electrically operated backrest adjuster (1, 1?) for a vehicle seat (3) includes a seat part (3.1) and a backrest (3.2) which is adjustable relative to the seat part (3.1). At least one of two fitting sides—of which each includes a fitting upper part (B1) mounted on the backrest and a fitting lower part (B2) mounted on the seat part—includes a fitting (2, 2?) for adjusting the inclination of the backrest (3.2). The fitting (2, 2?) is arranged between the fitting upper part (B1) and the fitting lower part (B2). The fitting sides are coupled to each other by a transmission rod (5). An electric drive unit (6, 6?) is provided on one of the fitting sides. The drive unit is arranged on the outside of the associated fitting lower part (B2) is being coupled to the transmission rod (5) for driving same.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à.r.l.Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Christoffel, Michael Schmidt, Norbert Heeg
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Publication number: 20170334320Abstract: A drive system (2) tilt adjusts a back rest (10) of a vehicle seat (1). The back rest (10) is held on a seat base (11) by a fitting (12). An output pinion (24), drivable by a drive motor (20), is provided on the seat back side and interacts with a tooth segment (18) arranged rotationally fixed on the base (11). A pivot movement of the back rest (10) can be carried out by the drive motor (20) while the fitting (12) is unlocked. The output pinion (24) can be uncoupled from the drive motor (20) by a coupling (22). A compensation spring (14) acting between the back rest (10) and the base (11) pre-tensions the back rest (10) in the direction of the non-use position. A vehicle seat (1) with the drive system and a method for operating a drive system (2) are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Norbert HEEG, Eckhard KIRCH
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Publication number: 20160257223Abstract: An electrically operated backrest adjuster (1, 1?) for a vehicle seat (3) includes a seat part (3.1) and a backrest (3.2) which is adjustable relative to the seat part (3.1). At least one of two fitting sides—of which each includes a fitting upper part (B 1) mounted on the backrest and a fitting lower part (B2) mounted on the seat part—includes a fitting (2, 2?) for adjusting the inclination of the backrest (3.2). The fitting (2, 2?) is arranged between the fitting upper part (B1) and the fitting lower part (B2). The fitting sides are coupled to each other by a transmission rod (5). An electric drive unit (6, 6?) is provided on one of the fitting sides. The drive unit is arranged on the outside of the associated fitting lower part (B2) is being coupled to the transmission rod (5) for driving same.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Christian MARKEL, Thomas CHRISTOFFEL, Michael SCHMIDT, Norbert HEEG
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Publication number: 20160214507Abstract: An actuator (110, 210) for a vehicle seat (1) includes a housing (11), a motor (12) which is fixed to the housing and includes a motor shaft (12a), a transmission (13) connected to the motor shaft, an actuator output drive (14) which is connected to the transmission, and a control unit (21). The actuator output drive includes an output element moveable towards an end position from a starting position by rotating the motor shaft in a first direction and in a reversed direction—in the direction of the starting position from the end position. A carriage (15) is driven, upon movement of the output element. A position sensor detects a position of the carriage. An actuator (210) for a vehicle seat is provided, in which a position sensor (28) detects an effect of gravity on the actuator. A vehicle seat (1) with one such actuator (110, 210) is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Norbert HEEG, Peter MUELLER
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Patent number: 9193283Abstract: An actuator for a vehicle seat has a housing, a motor with a motor shaft which has at least a first direction of rotation, a gear mechanism which is connected at the output end to the motor by the motor shaft, an actuator output drive which is connected at the output end to the gear mechanism, and a control unit. The actuator output drive has an output element which can be moved in the direction of an end position from a starting position by rotation of the motor shaft in the first direction of rotation. The direction of rotation of the motor shaft can be reversed from the first direction of rotation to an opposite second direction of rotation by the control unit, with the result that the output element can be moved in the direction of the starting position from the end position.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Norbert Heeg, Christoph Schuhn, Frank Grossbudde
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Patent number: 8870288Abstract: A locking apparatus for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a locking mechanism (23) for mechanically locking a moveable catch (31) of the locking mechanism (23) with a counter element (B), and an actuator device (24, 50) for actuating the catch (31) via a drive. A housing (20) is provided in which the locking mechanism (23) is arranged and housed. Improved safety against injuries of vehicle passengers that occur due to non-locked backseat backrests is provided with a motor-driven device for creating a lock of the locking mechanism (23).Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG.Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Peter Müller
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Patent number: 8757678Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, is provided with a locking mechanism for the mechanical locking of a movable catch of the locking mechanism with a counter-element, and with an actuator unit for the actuation of the catch via a drive. A hosing is provided in which the locking mechanism is arranged and mounted, with regard to the required installation space. The locking device provides the possibility of the formation of structurally different variants of the locking device. The actuator unit (4) is arranged in the housing as a shared housing (2) together with the locking mechanism (3).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Heeg, Peter Müller, Andreas Diehl
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Patent number: 8708413Abstract: A locking device (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, has a housing (5), a catch (11) mounted in a movable manner on the housing (5) for locking with a mating element (B). At least one safety element (25, 31) is provided for securing the catch (11) in the locked state and can be moved relative to the catch (11) for unlocking the locking device (1). A query device (40) queries the locking state of the locking device (1) and has at least one transducer (41, 42) and at least one sensor (43). The query device (40) is designed in a contactless manner. The transducer (41, 42) and the sensor (43) interact with each other due to the relative positioning and/or movement thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Markus Dein
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Publication number: 20130305857Abstract: An actuator for a vehicle seat has a housing, a motor with a motor shaft which has at least a first direction of rotation, a gear mechanism which is connected at the output end to the motor by the motor shaft, an actuator output drive which is connected at the output end to the gear mechanism, and a control unit. The actuator output drive has an output element which can be moved in the direction of an end position from a starting position by rotation of the motor shaft in the first direction of rotation. The direction of rotation of the motor shaft can be reversed from the first direction of rotation to an opposite second direction of rotation by the control unit, with the result that the output element can be moved in the direction of the starting position from the end position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Christoph Schuhn, Frank Grossbudde
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Patent number: 8398044Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat (3) has a first seat rail (5) fixed to the vehicle structure and arranged on a vehicle floor (10) and a second seat rail (8) fixed to the seat and displaceable in relation to the first seat rail (5) and guided in same. A position detection device (20) is provided with a sensor (24), having a magnet and a Hall element. The sensor (24) is arranged in the interior of the second seat rail (8) and aligned with a flat area associated with the first seat rail (5) in which one end of the flat area corresponds to the end of the rail and the flat area forms a detection area. The sensor (24) is used to detect an end of the detection area. The sensor (24) has a certain detection range and the distance between the sensor (24) and the detection area lies within the certain detection range of the sensor (24). The distance between the sensor (24) and the vehicle floor (10) lies outside of the certain detection range of the sensor (24).Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Thomas Christoffel, Norbert Heeg, Wolfgang Pluta
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Publication number: 20130009438Abstract: In a drive unit for a vehicle seat, having a motor which has a motor shaft as an output, and a multi-stage transmission which is driven by the motor shaft and which has an output shaft as an output, the transmission has at least one spur gear stage in which a drive wheel and an output gear, which are each embodied as spur gear wheels, mesh with one another, and the output shaft is arranged offset in parallel with the motor shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: Keiper GMBH & Co. KGInventors: Jürgen Stemmer, Michael Berres, Norbert Heeg, Jens Schulz, Andreas Diehl
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Publication number: 20120093580Abstract: A locking apparatus for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a locking mechanism (23) for mechanically locking a moveable catch (31) of the locking mechanism (23) with a counter element (B), and an actuator device (24, 50) for actuating the catch (31) via a drive. A housing (20) is provided in which the locking mechanism (23) is arranged and housed. Improved safety against injuries of vehicle passengers that occur due to non-locked backseat backrests is provided with a motor-driven device for creating a lock of the locking mechanism (23).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Peter Müller
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Publication number: 20110238256Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, includes several devices (11) for adjusting and/or locking at least one seat component of the vehicle seat (1). Each device (11) includes a mechanical component (11a), an electric drive (11b) for driving the mechanical component (11a) and an i-component (11c) which serves at least to control the electric drive (11b) and/or for the diagnosis of the mechanical component (11a).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Jens Schulz
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Publication number: 20110169315Abstract: A locking device (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, has a housing (5), a catch (11) mounted in a movable manner on the housing (5) for locking with a mating element (B). At least one safety element (25, 31) is provided for securing the catch (11) in the locked state and can be moved relative to the catch (11) for unlocking the locking device (1). A query device (40) queries the locking state of the locking device (1) and has at least one transducer (41, 42) and at least one sensor (43). The query device (40) is designed in a contactless manner. The transducer (41, 42) and the sensor (43) interact with each other due to the relative positioning and/or movement thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Markus Dein
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Publication number: 20110017897Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat (3) has a first seat rail (5) fixed to the vehicle structure and arranged on a vehicle floor (10) and a second seat rail (8) fixed to the seat and displaceable in relation to the first seat rail (5) and guided in same. A position detection device (20) is provided with a sensor (24), having a magnet and a Hall element. The sensor (24) is arranged in the interior of the second seat rail (8) and aligned with a flat area associated with the first seat rail (5) in which one end of the flat area corresponds to the end of the rail and the flat area forms a detection area. The sensor (24) is used to detect an end of the detection area. The sensor (24) has a certain detection range and the distance between the sensor (24) and the detection area lies within the certain detection range of the sensor (24). The distance between the sensor (24) and the vehicle floor (10) lies outside of the certain detection range of the sensor (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Thomas CHRISTOFFEL, Norbert Heeg, Wolfgang Pluta
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Publication number: 20100189495Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, is provided with a locking mechanism for the mechanical locking of a movable catch of the locking mechanism with a counter-element, and with an actuator unit for the actuation of the catch via a drive. A hosing is provided in which the locking mechanism is arranged and mounted, with regard to the required installation space. The locking device provides the possibility of the formation of structurally different variants of the locking device. The actuator unit (4) is arranged in the housing as a shared housing (2) together with the locking mechanism (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Norbert HEEG, Peter Müller, Andreas Diehl
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Publication number: 20100052394Abstract: An actuating device (50) is provided for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. The actuating device includes a holder (51), a manually drivable actuating handle (52), a shaft (53) mounted rotatably in the holder (51), which is connected to the actuating handle (52) and may be driven thereby, and an output (55) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the shaft (53). The shaft (53) may also be driven by a motor (59). The motor (59) and the shaft (53) are able to be coupled to one another and decoupled from one another by means of a wrap spring (57).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventors: Norbert HEEG, Peter MÜLLER
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Publication number: 20090243355Abstract: In the case of a crash-active system of a vehicle, in particular of a vehicle seat, with a support (5), an impact element (11) which is arranged on said support (5) in a manner such that it is movable relative thereto, in particular is coupled to the support (5) by means of at least one four-bar linkage (14), a drive (15) by means of which the impact element (11) can be extended, at least in the event of a crash, from a starting position in the vicinity of the support (5) into a protective position which, in particular, is placed closer to the occupant, and a latch (21) which normally locks the drive (15) to the support (5), the latch (21) is mounted on the support in a floating manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Wladimir Steinmetz