Patents by Inventor Ralph Schmitz

Ralph Schmitz 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).

  • Fitting for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 7775598
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (26, 27) driven by a driver (21, 26) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a third fitting part (54) can be both pivoted freely relative to the first fitting part (11) in an unlocked state and locked with respect to the first fitting part (11) in a locked state, wherein a disengagement mechanism (80) is provided for maintaining the unlocked state of the third fitting (11) part during pivoting freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralph Schmitz, Michael Eblenkamp
  • Fitting for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 7726743
    Abstract: A fitting (10) for a vehicle seat comprises a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which may rotate relative to each other in a circumferential direction, and which form a disc-shaped unit; a clamping ring (13) that holds the disc-shaped unit together by engaging radially outwardly over the first fitting part (11) and by being fixed to the second fitting part (12); and a group of internal stopper elements (51, 53) which limit the relative rotation between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12). Each of the first fitting part (11) and the clamping ring (13) has at least one internal stopper element of the group of internal stopper elements (51, 53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Don Smith, Gunter Feickert, Joseph Gallatin, Keith B. Cooper, Ralph Schmitz, Ralf Flesch, Dirk Brassat, Martin Stilleke
  • Fitting for a vehicle seat
    Publication number: 20100072802
    Abstract: A fitting (10) for a vehicle seat comprises a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which may rotate relative to each other in a circumferential direction, and which form a disc-shaped unit; a clamping ring (13) that holds the disc-shaped unit together by engaging radially outwardly over the first fitting part (11) and by being fixed to the second fitting part (12); and a group of internal stopper elements (51, 53) which limit the relative rotation between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12). Each of the first fitting part (11) and the clamping ring (13) has at least one internal stopper element of the group of internal stopper elements (51, 53).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Don Smith, Gunter Feickert, Joseph Gallatin, Keith B. Cooper, Ralph Schmitz, Ralf Flesch, Dirk Brassat, Martin Stilleke
  • Fitting for a vehicle seat
    Publication number: 20090008980
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (26, 27) driven by a driver (21, 26) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a third fitting part (54) can be both pivoted freely relative to the first fitting part (11) in an unlocked state and locked with respect to the first fitting part (11) in a locked state, wherein a disengagement mechanism (80) is provided for maintaining the unlocked state of the third fitting (11) part during pivoting freely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Schmitz, Michael Eblenkamp