Patents by Inventor Ralf Kroener

Ralf Kroener 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: 7445540
    Abstract: A guide mechanism for a track-guided toy vehicle which is equipped with an electric motor and can be operated on a road surface with a guide groove, engaging with a guide plate in the guide groove via a vertical axis of rotation on a chassis of the toy vehicle by means of a guide mechanism mounted on a chassis of the toy vehicle and being equipped with current collector elements for the electric motor, said collector elements cooperate with current rails in the road surface. A swing arm that is pivotable about a horizontal axis is arranged on the chassis of the toy vehicle which is placed upright on the road surface with the front wheels and rear wheels. The swing arm comprises the guide mechanism with the rotation axis, the guide plate and the current collector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan
  • Patent number: 7429204
    Abstract: A toy vehicle with an electric drive is provided that is suitable for operation on a racetrack, and has a chassis with a rear-axle unit, including an electric motor, and a front-axle unit. In order to optimize the toy vehicle with respect to the type of construction and driving characteristics, the chassis has a center frame device extending between the rear-axle unit carrying the electric motor and the front-axle unit, on which center frame part, the rear-axle unit and the front-axle unit constructed in the manner of modules are held in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan
  • Patent number: 7311582
    Abstract: A current collecting device for a toy vehicle for use on an electrified track. The toy vehicle is for operation on a road surface, and is driven by an electric motor installed in a chassis and having a chassis frame that carries the electric motor, whereby the current collecting device has strip-like contact elements which cooperate with current rails of the road surface. The contact elements which are in contact with the current rails of the road surface are carried by a replaceable unit which is connected to the current collecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Kroener, Uwe Reuter
  • Publication number: 20050215173
    Abstract: A guide mechanism for a track-guided toy vehicle which is equipped with an electric motor and can be operated on a road surface with a guide groove, engaging with a guide plate in the guide groove via a vertical axis of rotation on a chassis of the toy vehicle by means of a guide mechanism mounted on a chassis of the toy vehicle and being equipped with current collector elements for the electric motor, said collector elements cooperate with current rails in the road surface. A swing arm that is pivotable about a horizontal axis is arranged on the chassis of the toy vehicle which is placed upright on the road surface with the front wheels and rear wheels. The swing arm comprises the guide mechanism with the rotation axis, the guide plate and the current collector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan
  • Publication number: 20050208872
    Abstract: A current collecting device for a toy vehicle for use on an electrified track. The toy vehicle is for operation on a road surface, and is driven by an electric motor installed in a chassis and having a chassis frame that carries the electric motor, whereby the current collecting device has strip-like contact elements which cooperate with current rails of the road surface. The contact elements which are in contact with the current rails of the road surface are carried by a replaceable unit which is connected to the current collecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Ralf Kroener, Uwe Reuter
  • Publication number: 20050208871
    Abstract: A toy vehicle, in particular for track-guided racetracks, is driven by an electric motor which cooperates via a first gear wheel provided on a drive shaft, with a second gear wheel connected to an axle shaft carrying wheels, where the distance between the drive shaft of the electric motor and the axle shaft is variable for the use of different first and second gear wheels such that different transmission ratios can be implemented. In a preferred embodiment, the axle shaft is supported in offset apertures in support bearings located in a receptacle frame, and the distance between the drive shaft and the axle shaft can be varied by rotating the bearings relative to the receptacle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan
  • Publication number: 20050208869
    Abstract: A toy vehicle with an electric drive is provided that is suitable for operation on a racetrack, and has a chassis with a rear-axle unit, including an electric motor, and a front-axle unit. In order to optimize the toy vehicle with respect to the type of construction and driving characteristics, the chassis has a center frame device extending between the rear-axle unit carrying the electric motor and the front-axle unit, on which center frame part, the rear-axle unit and the front-axle unit constructed in the manner of modules are held in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan
  • Publication number: 20050202747
    Abstract: This front axle unit is suitable for a toy vehicle for operation on a racetrack, for example, comprising a chassis for accommodating the rear axle unit as well as the front axle unit having the front wheels. To optimize this front axle unit, an adjustment device for the wheel base of the front wheels is provided between the front wheels of the front axle unit of the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Thomas Weidner, Ralf Kroener, Cong-Uan Doan