Patents by Inventor Ralf Schwan

Ralf Schwan 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: 12609482
    Abstract: A housing includes a first partial housing and a second partial housing which complement each other in an assembled state to form the housing. The first partial housing has a first conductor receptacle that receives a first electrical conductor and a first connection assembly for connecting the first electrical conductor to a first contact element, and is provided with a passage opening for a second contact element. The second partial housing has a second conductor receptacle that receives a second electrical conductor and a second connection assembly for connecting the second electrical conductor to the second contact element. The second partial housing is configured to abut against the first partial housing in the region of the passage opening. In the assembled state, the second conductor receptacle forms a common cavity with the passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schwan, Dominik Heiss, Mike Iskra
  • Patent number: 12600250
    Abstract: A plug cover hinge of a charging connection of an electric vehicle includes a cover or cover flap for selectively covering a socket or plug of the charging connection, and a four-joint hinge. The four-joint hinge defines two flap-side joints attached to the cover flap, and two fastening-side joints attachable to a frame. The four-joint hinge includes two joint elements, with each joint element connecting one of the flap-side joints to one of the fastening-side joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schwan, Dominik Heiss, Mike Iskra, Talat Salman
  • Publication number: 20250226608
    Abstract: A high-voltage connector protective flap device for an electrical high-voltage connector, in particular a high-voltage charging connector for a vehicle having an electric traction motor or a charging station, having a holder, an actuator, and a protective flap, wherein the protective flap is configured to be pivotable between a closed position and an open position of the protective flap device on the holder to open and close a mating face of the high-voltage connector, and the protective flap device is designed such that the protective flap is pivotable as intended electromechanically by the actuator and furthermore the protective flap can alternatively be pivoted as intended manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2025
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf SCHWAN, Dominik HEISS, Andreas BURKHARD
  • Patent number: 12334668
    Abstract: A housing cap for closing an opening of a housing part includes a cover section covering the opening, a stop projecting away from the cover section, and a fastening element affixing the housing cap to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Patent number: 12266875
    Abstract: Shown is an assembly or securing a printed circuit board to a plug body, having a contact element with a holding face facing against a plugging direction of the contact element, and a securing member, that can be transferred into a securing position, in which the printed circuit board is secured by the securing member in a positive fit manner against the plug direction at the holding face. Further shown is a method of securing a printed circuit board at the plug body, wherein a holding face of a contact element facing against a plug direction is inserted through an opening in the printed circuit board and subsequently a securing member is transferred to a securing position, in which the printed circuit board is secured by the securing member in a positive fit manner against the plug direction at the holding face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Patent number: 12107363
    Abstract: A seal for an electrical plug connector includes a passage opening receiving a contact element, a contact sealing section extending along the passage opening in a sleeve-shaped manner, and a creepage distance increase section disposed opposite the contact sealing section. The creepage distance increase section continues the passage opening in a tubular manner and/or extends away from the passage opening in a plate-shaped manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20240079815
    Abstract: A housing includes a first partial housing and a second partial housing which complement each other in an assembled state to form the housing. The first partial housing has a first conductor receptacle that receives a first electrical conductor and a first connection assembly for connecting the first electrical conductor to a first contact element, and is provided with a passage opening for a second contact element. The second partial housing has a second conductor receptacle that receives a second electrical conductor and a second connection assembly for connecting the second electrical conductor to the second contact element. The second partial housing is configured to abut against the first partial housing in the region of the passage opening. In the assembled state, the second conductor receptacle forms a common cavity with the passage opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Ralf Schwan, Dominik Heiss, Mike Iskra
  • Publication number: 20240034162
    Abstract: A charging socket of an electric or hybrid vehicle is adapted to connect to a charging plug. The charging socket comprises a socket wall, and at least one heating module shaft extending into the socket wall and adapted to receive a heating module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Iskra, Ralf Schwan, Dominik Heiss
  • Publication number: 20230356610
    Abstract: A plug cover hinge of a charging connection of an electric vehicle includes a cover or cover flap for selectively covering a socket or plug of the charging connection, and a four-joint hinge. The four-joint hinge defines two flap-side joints attached to the cover flap, and two fastening-side joints attachable to a frame. The four-joint hinge includes two joint elements, with each joint element connecting one of the flap-side joints to one of the fastening-side joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schwan, Dominik Heiss, Mike Iskra, Talat Salman
  • Publication number: 20230012994
    Abstract: A housing cap for closing an opening of a housing part includes a cover section covering the opening, a stop projecting away from the cover section, and a fastening element affixing the housing cap to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20220352659
    Abstract: Shown is an assembly or securing a printed circuit board to a plug body, having a contact element with a holding face facing against a plugging direction of the contact element, and a securing member, that can be transferred into a securing position, in which the printed circuit board is secured by the securing member in a positive fit manner against the plug direction at the holding face. Further shown is a method of securing a printed circuit board at the plug body, wherein a holding face of a contact element facing against a plug direction is inserted through an opening in the printed circuit board and subsequently a securing member is transferred to a securing position, in which the printed circuit board is secured by the securing member in a positive fit manner against the plug direction at the holding face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20220294153
    Abstract: A seal for an electrical plug connector includes a passage opening receiving a contact element, a contact sealing section extending along the passage opening in a sleeve-shaped manner, and a creepage distance increase section disposed opposite the contact sealing section. The creepage distance increase section continues the passage opening in a tubular manner and/or extends away from the passage opening in a plate-shaped manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Patent number: 10946755
    Abstract: A plug socket includes a recess receiving a charging plug in a plug-in direction and a locking element movable from a plug-in position into a blocking position. The recess terminates in an insertion opening in the plug-in direction and has an undercut acting in the plug-in direction to latch a latching element of the charging plug. The locking element in the plug-in position is located in the recess and overlaps the undercut transverse to the plug-in direction. The blocking position is spaced apart from the plug-in position in the plug-in direction and the locking element is located closer to the insertion opening in the blocking position than in the plug-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Patent number: 10910775
    Abstract: A drive element for an electrical connector comprises a gear wheel and an overload coupler. The overload coupler is between the gear wheel and a hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Listing, Dominik Heiss, Ralf Schwan, Thomas Mueller, Michael Schecker
  • Publication number: 20200198485
    Abstract: A plug socket includes a recess receiving a charging plug in a plug-in direction and a locking element movable from a plug-in position into a blocking position. The recess terminates in an insertion opening in the plug-in direction and has an undercut acting in the plug-in direction to latch a latching element of the charging plug. The locking element in the plug-in position is located in the recess and overlaps the undercut transverse to the plug-in direction. The blocking position is spaced apart from the plug-in position in the plug-in direction and the locking element is located closer to the insertion opening in the blocking position than in the plug-in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20190341726
    Abstract: A drive element for an electrical connector comprises a gear wheel and an overload coupler. The overload coupler is between the gear wheel and a hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Listing, Dominik Heiss, Ralf Schwan, Thomas Mueller, Michael Schecker
  • Patent number: 10050396
    Abstract: A connector that includes a contact, a connection piece, and a cooling unit. The connection piece is received by the contact, and the cooling unit is connected to the connection piece. The cooling unit includes a heat sink spaced from the contact, a first heat exchanger section between the contact and the connection piece, a second heat exchanger section positioned in the heat sink and in communication with the first heat exchanger section, and a heat transfer medium that circulates between the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20180013249
    Abstract: A connector that includes a contact, a connection piece, and a cooling unit. The connection piece is received by the contact, and the cooling unit is connected to the connection piece. The cooling unit includes a heat sink spaced from the contact, a first heat exchanger section between the contact and the connection piece, a second heat exchanger section positioned in the heat sink and in communication with the first heat exchanger section, and a heat transfer medium that circulates between the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Patent number: 9368897
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided and includes a contact cavity, a contact receiving passageway, and a contact lock. The contact cavity includes a cavity body with a base plate provided at a longitudinal end of the cavity body and a lock receiving space provided on an opposite surface of the base plate. The contact receiving passageway extends through the cavity body and into an aperture of the base plate. The contact lock is fittable with the lock receiving space and includes a contact securing element and a lug provided on a side of the contact lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan
  • Publication number: 20150087190
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided and includes a contact cavity, a contact receiving passageway, and a contact lock. The contact cavity includes a cavity body with a base plate provided at a longitudinal end of the cavity body and a lock receiving space provided on an opposite surface of the base plate. The contact receiving passageway extends through the cavity body and into an aperture of the base plate. The contact lock is fittable with the lock receiving space and includes a contact securing element and a lug provided on a side of the contact lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP GMBH
    Inventor: Ralf Schwan