Patents by Inventor Ralf Heinze

Ralf Heinze 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: 6797898
    Abstract: A switching device having a housing, an indexing bolt, a spring, and guiding ribs. The bolt is mounted in a longitudinal direction in a guide channel of the housing to move axially through the guide channel. The bolt has a tip at a front end. The spring is connected between the housing and a rear end of the bolt to axially bias the bolt tip against a switch plate. The ribs are distributed along the periphery of the front end of the bolt. The ribs radially project outward from the bolt to abut the surface of the guide channel such that the ribs are radially biased against the surface of the guide channel. The ribs are distributed along the periphery of the front end of the bolt in the longitudinal direction. The ribs guide the front end of the bolt as the bolt moves axially through the guide channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Heinze, Klaus Hirschfeld, Diethelm Ladwig
  • Publication number: 20040144630
    Abstract: A switching device having a housing, an indexing bolt, a spring, and guiding ribs. The bolt is mounted in a longitudinal direction in a guide channel of the housing to move axially through the guide channel. The bolt has a tip at a front end. The spring is connected between the housing and a rear end of the bolt to axially bias the bolt tip against a switch plate. The ribs are distributed along the periphery of the front end of the bolt. The ribs radially project outward from the bolt to abut the surface of the guide channel such that the ribs are radially biased against the surface of the guide channel. The ribs are distributed along the periphery of the front end of the bolt in the longitudinal direction. The ribs guide the front end of the bolt as the bolt moves axially through the guide channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventors: Ralf Heinze, Klaus Hirschfeld, Diethelm Ladwig
  • Patent number: 5813699
    Abstract: A steering device for motor vehicles having a steering column positionable in the axial and/or radial direction, in each case over a preset displacement range, via at least one positioning device actuated by external force. Locking of the steering column is implementable by a positioning device such that, when the motor vehicle is switched off, the steering column is positioned thereby into a position lying outside the displacement range(s) in which a torsional force exerted on the steering column via the steering wheel is not transmittable to the steering gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Donner, Ralf Heinze, Meinolf Kathol, Jorg Welschholz