Patents by Inventor Peter Epe

Peter Epe 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: 10312619
    Abstract: A plug-and-socket device includes a plug pin, and a contact sleeve having a cavity extending in a direction of an insertion axis for receiving the plug pin. The contact sleeve includes at least two contact fingers arranged in parallel relationship to one another around the cavity and configured to move elastically apart while expanding the cavity when the plug pin is inserted. At least one of the at least two contact fingers is formed on an inner side in facing relation to the cavity with at least one depression which lies in a contact surface on the inner side and defines with the contact surface an edge angle of less than approx. 100°. The contact surface represents on the inner side of the contact finger a surface which comes into contact with the plug pin, when the plug pin is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: AMAD Mennekes Holding GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Lubeley, Peter Epe
  • Publication number: 20180316111
    Abstract: A plug-and-socket device includes a plug pin, and a contact sleeve having a cavity extending in a direction of an insertion axis for receiving the plug pin. The contact sleeve includes at least two contact fingers arranged in parallel relationship to one another around the cavity and configured to move elastically apart while expanding the cavity when the plug pin is inserted. At least one of the at least two contact fingers is formed on an inner side in facing relation to the cavity with at least one depression which lies in a contact surface on the inner side and defines with the contact surface an edge angle of less than approx. 100°. The contact surface represents on the inner side of the contact finger a surface which comes into contact with the plug pin, when the plug pin is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: AMAD Mennekes Holding GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: MARKUS LUBELEY, PETER EPE
  • Patent number: 7837485
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes a first connector housing, a slider, and a cap. The slider has slider surfaces insertable into the first housing in a direction transverse to a direction of insertion of a second housing to the first housing at a connecting side of the first housing. The slider is connected to the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing. The cap is on a cap side of the first housing lying opposite to the connecting side of the first housing. The slider surfaces connect with the cap to latch the cap to the cap side of the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kostal Kontakt Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Epe, Thomas Foerster
  • Publication number: 20090263998
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes a first connector housing, a slider, and a cap. The slider has slider surfaces insertable into the first housing in a direction transverse to a direction of insertion of a second housing to the first housing at a connecting side of the first housing. The slider is connected to the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing. The cap is on a cap side of the first housing lying opposite to the connecting side of the first housing. The slider surfaces connect with the cap to latch the cap to the cap side of the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Kostal Kontakt Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Epe, Thomas Foerster
  • Patent number: 7455543
    Abstract: An electric plug connector includes a guide sleeve, a plug connector part attachable to the guide sleeve, a bayonet ring on the connector part for rotatably engaging with the guide sleeve to move between unlocked and locked positions, and a locking button arranged on the bayonet ring to slide with the ring as the ring moves. While the connector part is attached to the guide sleeve the ring locks the attachment by engaging with the guide sleeve when the ring is in its locked position. The button is displaceable relative to the guide sleeve between inactivated and activated positions. The button includes a latching hook and a pin that interact with the sleeve to enable the button to move between its inactivated and activated positions. The latching hook and the pin engage with the sleeve when the button is in its activated position to secure the locking of the attachment with the end of the pin engaged in a receptacle formed on the surface of the sleeve to prevent rotation of the bayonet ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kostal Kontakt Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Brantley Natter, Peter Epe
  • Publication number: 20080200076
    Abstract: An electric plug connector includes a guide sleeve, a plug connector part attachable to the guide sleeve, a bayonet ring on the connector part for rotatably engaging with the guide sleeve to move between unlocked and locked positions, and a locking button arranged on the bayonet ring to slide with the ring as the ring moves. While the connector part is attached to the guide sleeve the ring locks the attachment by engaging with the guide sleeve when the ring is in its locked position. The button is displaceable relative to the guide sleeve between inactivated and activated positions. The button includes a latching hook and a pin that interact with the sleeve to enable the button to move between its inactivated and activated positions. The latching hook and the pin engage with the sleeve when the button is in its activated position to secure the locking of the attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Kostal Kontakt Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Brantley Natter, Peter Epe
  • Patent number: 6626699
    Abstract: A plug-in connector for establishing an electrical connection between two regions separated by a wall having a mounting hole includes a connector part having electrical contacts and located on one side of the wall. A guide bushing is located on the other side of the wall. The lower end of the guide bushing passes through the mounting hole to bear the plug contacts. The connector part and the guide bushing connect when the guide bushing is rotated with respect to the connector part such that connector part and the guide bushing are aligned longitudinally. The connector part is held on the wall such that the connector part is aligned with the mounting hole and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the guide bushing. A stop limits the movement of the connector part away from the guide bushing which is affixed on the wall opposite the connector part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignees: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Epe, Stefan Sommer, Christian Fritzsche
  • Patent number: 6609930
    Abstract: A plug-and-socket connection part for being fastened to a wall includes a contact housing, a guide sleeve extendable through a wall opening, a carrier, and a locking member. The locking member locks the guide sleeve, the contact housing, and the carrier together such that the guide sleeve and the carrier are connected to the contact housing in an axial direction free of play. The guide sleeve and the carrier each include a respective locking stop and the contact housing includes a flange. The locking member includes inner locking sections which are operable with the locking stop of the guide sleeve and the flange to prestress a support arrangement between the guide sleeve and the contact housing. The locking member includes outer locking sections which are operable with the locking stop of the carrier and the flange to prestress a support arrangement between the carrier and the contact housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Epe, Gerhard Birkenmaier, Wolfgang Schmid, Hans-Joachim Martin
  • Patent number: 6422903
    Abstract: An interlocking plug-in connector put for an electrical plug-in connector includes a housing for receiving electrical contacts and a bayonet ring. The bayonet ring is longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing and is movable from an assembled position in which a mounting end of the bayonet ring is arranged on the plane of a mounting surface of the housing or on a plane which is staggered in the direction of connection in relation to the mounting surface of the housing. The bayonet ring tray be longitudinally displaced from the assembled position to a connecting position such that an insertion end of the bayonet ring is positioned in arranged within a region of the mounting surface of the housing. In the insertion position, the bayonet ring is supported on a stop associated with the housing to push the housing into a guide bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rulolf Fekonja, Peter Epe
  • Patent number: 6394814
    Abstract: An electrical plug-in connector for electrically connecting two regions separated by a wall. The wall has an assembly hole with a reinforcement bead on a first wall side around the hole. The connector includes a connector part positioned on a second wall side. A guide bushing is positioned on the first wall side. An extended portion of the bushing penetrates the hole in the wall. The extended portion has a support flange and a lock stop. The support flange is supported on the bead on the first wall side. The lock stop extends through the hole to the second wall side and is connected to the connector part. A locking element is connected to the connector part and is operable to engage the lock stop and exert a fastening pressure directed away from the wall towards the connector part such that the extended portion braces the bushing against the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmid, Gerhard Birkenmaier, Rudolf Fekonja, Peter Epe, Klaus Buhle, Hans-Joachim Martin
  • Publication number: 20010021607
    Abstract: An electrical plug-in connector for electrically connecting two regions separated by a wall. The wall has an assembly hole with a reinforcement bead on a first wall side around the hole. The connector includes a connector part positioned on a second wall side. A guide bushing is positioned on the first wall side. An extended portion of the bushing penetrates the hole in the wall. The extended portion has a support flange and a lock stop. The support flange is supported on the bead on the first wall side. The lock stop extends through the hole to the second wall side and is connected to the connector part. A locking element is connected to the connector part and is operable to engage the lock stop and exert a fastening pressure directed away from the wall towards the connector part such that the extended portion braces the bushing against the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmid, Gerhard Birkenmaier, Rudolf Fekonja, Peter Epe, Klaus Buhle, Hans-Joachim Martin
  • Patent number: 5947776
    Abstract: An electric connector includes a housing having chambers for receiving contact elements of a mating connector. A locking element is on a plug side of the housing to be connected to a mating connector. The locking element is shiftable between unlocked and locked positions to release and secure the contact elements in the chambers. The locking element is held in the unlocked position by interlocking engaging elements of the locking element and the housing. The locking element has locking pins extending radially into the frame opening. The engaging elements hold and guide the locking element in a slidable manner such that the locking element can be moved from the unlocked position to latch into the locked position by a sliding motion. The locking pins grip through openings in the chambers when the locking element is in the locked position and rest directly against the contact elements inserted into the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Epe
  • Patent number: 5658169
    Abstract: An electrical connector consisting principally of a housing of synthetic material with a plurality of receiving chambers provided therein for receiving an associated electrical connector contact element. In at least one outer housing wall of the housing is located one orifice per receiving chamber, with a locking arm disposed therein, which is integrally formed as a single piece on this outer wall of the housing. In order for it to be possible with a single operating step to release both the primary and the secondary locking and therefore to remove the electrical connector contact elements quickly and easily from their receiving chambers, a return slope is integrally formed on the free end region of each of the locking arms. In the housing at least one further access point is provided per receiving chamber and leads from the mouth region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Buhle, Wolfgang Mohs, Wilfried Heringhaus, Peter Epe, Georg Schroder