Patents by Inventor Roland Och

Roland Och 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: 12209441
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component for movement has a first actuating element, fastenable fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and a second actuating element, fastenable to the component, and rotatable about a first rotational axis, the second actuating element has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to interact with a drive, the second end has a first locking or release geometry, the first actuating element has a second locking or release geometry, the second actuating element can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first and second locking or release geometry are configured to interact such that, in the first orientation, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Rudolf, Roland Och
  • Patent number: 12180757
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a door lock of a vehicle door, in particular as part of a door handle arrangement of a vehicle door, wherein the actuating apparatus has a handle part that is grippable by a hand and is configured in order to be transferable between a resting position and a ready position, and wherein the handle part is manually movable from the ready position into an actuating position and is in particular pivotably or linearly extendable, wherein the actuating apparatus is configured in order to actuate the door lock when the handle part reaches or has reached the actuating position. The actuating apparatus has a blocking and/or delay mechanism, which cooperates with the handle part such that the handle part is transferable from the ready position back into the resting position only with a time delay and/or only in an at least partially braked or dampened manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Roland Och
  • Patent number: 12152421
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism for actuating a charging or fueling flap on a charging or fueling compartment received on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging or fueling flap is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a flap lock is provided for locking the charging or fueling flap in its closed position. The actuating mechanism includes a drive having a drive shaft, which is operatively connectable to the charging or fueling flap such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft, the charging or fueling flap is movable relative to the charging or fueling compartment. The actuating mechanism further includes a mechanical control or switching mechanism, which is configured such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft to manipulate the flap lock, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be tapped with the aid of the mechanical control or switching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Matthias Hegwein, Joachim Oberst, Maximiliane Merkert, Stefan Kämmer, Günter Hins, Roland Och
  • Publication number: 20240337144
    Abstract: An actuation device for moving a charging port socket cover of a charging port socket from a closed position to an access position, where the charging port socket is received or receivable on a body component of a vehicle, includes a movable actuation structure associated with the charging port socket cover and configured such that movement of a charging gun into contact with the actuation structure and toward the charging port causes the actuation structure to shift the charging port socket cover from the closed position toward the access position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Roland OCH, Thomas LECHNER-WATZLIK, Gunther MAIERHOFER
  • Publication number: 20240271474
    Abstract: Disclosure is an actuating mechanism (1) for actuating a cover or flap (2) of a vehicle. The cover or flap (2) is manually reversibly movable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the cover or flap (2) is arranged flush with a vehicle outer shell (3), and in the open position the cover or flap (2) is arranged at least partially or regionally behind the vehicle outer shell (3). The actuating mechanism (1) includes a movement mechanism (3) operatively connected to the cover or flap (2) that, when transferring the cover or flap (2) from its closed position into its open position, first transfer the cover or flap (2) into an intermediate position in which the cover or flap (2) is located at least partially or regionally behind the vehicle outer shell (3) and then transfer the cover or flap (2) into its open position in an at least substantially and preferably purely rotational movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Roland OCH, Matthias HEGWEIN, Lubomír KOZEL
  • Patent number: 11993960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door handle for a car, wherein the door handle has a handle section to be gripped manually and a pivoting bearing section, by way of which the door handle can be mounted on a car door such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position which unlocks the car door, wherein a metal ball, in particular a steel ball, or a metal cylinder, in particular a steel cylinder, is fastened to the door handle, wherein, if a predefined transverse acceleration which acts on the door handle occurs, the metal ball or the metal cylinder counteracts, as a counterweight, an opening force which acts on the handle section on account of the transverse acceleration. Moreover, the invention relates to a corresponding method for producing a door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Roland Och, Elmar Fries, Massimo Trisorio
  • Publication number: 20240116433
    Abstract: An illumination module for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess or a handle assembly, includes a light source support having at least one light source and a housing, in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region, via which light can be decoupled from the housing. The illumination module further includes a light diffuser optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region, via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region, which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region via which signal light can be decoupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Roland OCH, Joachim OBERST, Andreas RUDOLF, Matthias HEGWEIN, Matthias GANS
  • Patent number: 11952809
    Abstract: An actuating device (1) for a lock of a vehicle, which is arranged, or can be arranged, on a vehicle, wherein the actuating device (1) has an actuating component (10), which is to be grasped manually and which can be brought from a stowed position into a standby position, wherein the stowed position is a position in which the actuating component (10) to be grasped is stowed and wherein the standby position is a position in which the actuating component can be grasped by a user, wherein the actuating component (10) is operatively connected, or can be operatively connected, to at least the lock of the vehicle in such a way that the lock can be opened by actuating the actuating component. A vehicle door having such an actuating device and a vehicle having such a vehicle door are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Joachim Oberst
  • Publication number: 20240110427
    Abstract: Described is an actuating mechanism for actuating a cover of a vehicle. The cover is reversibly movable between a closed position where the cover is arranged flush with a vehicle outer shell and an open position where the cover is arranged at least partially or regionally behind the vehicle outer shell. The actuating mechanism comprises a movement mechanism operatively connected to the rear side of the cover. In order to transition the cover from the closed position into the open position proceeding from the closed position of the cover, the movement mechanism moves the cover initially into an intermediate position in a rotational and translational movement in which intermediate position the cover is pivoted relative to the closed position of the cover about a first axis of rotation and is at least partially or regionally offset in comparison to the closed position backwards towards the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Tobias GÖPFERT, Matthias HEGWEIN, Thomas LECHNER-WATZLIK, Joachim OBERST, Roland OCH
  • Publication number: 20240060343
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism (100) for actuating covers (102) for vehicles. The actuation mechanism (110) includes: a drive having a drive shaft; and at least one lever arm (101), which is connectable to the cover (102) and is configured so as to tap a rotational movement from the drive shaft when the drive is actuated and convert it into a movement of the cover (102). The lever arm (101) includes a drive surface (111), which communicates with the drive shaft such that a rotation of the drive shaft via the drive surface (111) is transferred to the lever arm (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Tobias GÖPFERT, Matthias HEGWEIN, Thomas LECHNER-WATZLIK, Joachim OBERST, Roland OCH
  • Patent number: 11878626
    Abstract: An illumination module (1) for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess (20) or a handle assembly, includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3) and a housing (4), in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region (5), via which light can be decoupled from the housing (4). The illumination module (1) further includes a light diffuser (6) optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region (7), via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region (8), which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region (7) via which signal light can be decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Joachim Oberst, Andreas Rudolf, Matthias Hegwein, Matthias Gans
  • Patent number: 11866964
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a vehicle includes a housing which is fastenable to a body part of a vehicle body, and a handle lever which is mounted in a handle cutout of the housing so as to be movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position in order to unlock and/or open a vehicle door. The handle lever is mounted with play in the housing. At least one compensating element is provided which is designed to be fastened to at least one fastening portion of the body part. The compensating element forms at least one contact portion for the handle lever. The handle lever is pretensioned into its inoperative position against the at least one contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Matthias Seubert, Roland Och, Brian Svec
  • Publication number: 20230374842
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an overload coupling for an actuating mechanism for actuating a charging, fueling, or service flap on a charging, fueling, or service compartment that is or can be received on or in a body component of a vehicle. The overload coupling includes a drive-side coupling element and an output-side coupling element and, in an engaged state by means of a form-fit and/or force-fit lock, transfer a torque and thus a drive movement from the drive-side coupling element to the output-side coupling element. When a critical torque to be transferred is reached or exceeded in the event of an overload, to lift the form-fit and/or force-fit lock between the drive-side coupling element and the output-side coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Roland OCH
  • Publication number: 20230347732
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging, fueling, or service compartment system for a vehicle. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system having a compartment body, at least one terminal or connection region for a charging plug or an equipment gun, and a movable compartment body cover. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system further includes a movable cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region. The cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region associated with a mechanism, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected to the compartment body cover such that when the compartment body cover is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region is moved along in such a way that the cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region is preferably moved synchronously from movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Roland OCH, Jürgen HERZIG
  • Publication number: 20230151651
    Abstract: A locking device enables locking a charging, fueling, or service flap on a compartment. The flap is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position. The locking device includes a flap lock for locking the flap in its closed position. The flap lock has a locking position, in which the flap lock locks the flap, and a release position in which the flap is moveable in relation to the flap lock. A first transfer shaft is connected to the flap lock such that the flap lock is moveable by a movement of the first transfer shaft between the locking position and the release position. A pushing element is connected to the first transfer shaft and configured so as to push the flap out of its closed position away from the charging compartment after the flap lock is transferred into its release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Matthias HEGWEIN, Zsolt WILKE, Andreas RUDOLF, Roland OCH, Thomas LECHNER-WATZLIK, Matthias KAPAUN
  • Patent number: 11643855
    Abstract: Door handle assembly for a vehicle has a handle (10) mounted on a handle support (60) and one or more rest positions and at least one release position. The assembly has at least three different positions, —a flush or retracted position, in which the handle (10) is flush or retracted with respect to an outer door surface, —a deployed position, in which the handle (10) protrudes or protrudes to a greater extent than in the retracted position, —and the at least one release position. The handle (10) is connected to the handle support (60) via two links (21, 22) and rotational joints wherein one joint (22.1) also has a translational degree of freedom wherein a movement of the joint (22.1) along the translational degree of freedom is configured to mechanically actuate the door lock (120) or door lock (120) function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Zsolt Wilke, Matthias Seubert, Joachim Oberst
  • Patent number: 11572909
    Abstract: A tolerance compensation fastening apparatus (1) for fastening a first vehicle component (200) to a second vehicle component (300) by way of a bolt (100), the fastening apparatus being set up to compensate for a tolerance within a tolerance compensation range. A fastening system including such a fastening apparatus, as well as to a method for fastening a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component by way of a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Roland Och, Matthias Seubert, Johannes Karlein, Andreas Rudolf
  • Patent number: 11560739
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a vehicle, includes a housing and a handle lever which is mounted on the housing such that it can be moved between a rest position and an actuating position for unlocking and/or opening a vehicle door, it being possible for the housing to be oriented on a vehicle body outer part which forms a part of the outer surface of a vehicle body and has a handle cut-out for the handle lever, first positioning projections being provided on the housing, which first positioning projections are configured to bear against an angled-over edge of the vehicle body outer part, which angled-over edge delimits the handle cut-out of the vehicle body outer part at least in regions, and, as a result, to position the handle lever with the housing in at least one spatial direction in relation to the handle cut-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf
  • Publication number: 20220290476
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism for actuating a charging or fueling flap on a charging or fueling compartment received on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging or fueling flap is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a flap lock is provided for locking the charging or fueling flap in its closed position. The actuating mechanism includes a drive having a drive shaft, which is operatively connectable to the charging or fueling flap such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft, the charging or fueling flap is movable relative to the charging or fueling compartment. The actuating mechanism further includes a mechanical control or switching mechanism, which is configured such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft to manipulate the flap lock, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be tapped with the aid of the mechanical control or switching mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias HEGWEIN, Joachim OBERST, Maximiliane MERKERT, Stefan KÄMMER, Günter HINS, Roland OCH
  • Publication number: 20220268077
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component for movement has a first actuating element, fastenable fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and a second actuating element, fastenable to the component, and rotatable about a first rotational axis, the second actuating element has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to interact with a drive, the second end has a first locking or release geometry, the first actuating element has a second locking or release geometry, the second actuating element can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first and second locking or release geometry are configured to interact such that, in the first orientation, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas RUDOLF, Roland OCH