Patents by Inventor Rolf Schuler

Rolf Schuler 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).

  • Publication number: 20120086254
    Abstract: A fitting (10), in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), on which a gear rim (17) is formed and a second fitting part (12) on which a gearwheel (16) is formed. The gearwheel meshes with the gear rim (17), whereby the two fitting parts (11, 12) are in geared connection with each other. The fitting also has a rotatably mounted, revolving eccentric driven by a driving element for driving a relative rolling motion of gearwheel (16) and gear rim (17). During this rolling motion a tooth flank (16d) of a tooth (16a) of the gearwheel (16) rests against a tooth flank (17d) of a tooth (17a) of the gear rim (17) at a contact point (K). The tooth flanks (16d, 17d) of the teeth (16a, 17a) of the gearwheel (16) and gear rim (17) resting against each other at the contact point (K) each follow the course of a portion of a respective logarithmic spiral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO.KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus, Peter Thiel
  • Publication number: 20120001468
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular a utility vehicle seat, has a seat frame which can be pivoted by a pneumatic spring and which can be adjusted in terms of height. An adjuster (20) establishes the actual value of the height of the seat frame. The adjuster (20) has a cable roll (22) which is supported on a first portion of the seat frame so as to be able to be rotated about an axis (A), and a cable (24), which can be at least partially wound on the cable roll (22), unwound therefrom and is secured to a second portion of the seat frame that can be moved relative to the first portion, and which controls at least one control valve (36) of the pneumatic spring in accordance with a desired value of the height of the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Christoph Schuhn, Heinz Voss
  • Publication number: 20110319216
    Abstract: A gear stage (10), in particular of a vehicle seat (3), is embodied as a friction wheel gear stage. The gear stage includes a housing (5), a drive (12), an output (14) that is set off from the drive (12) by an excentricity (e) and at least one sphere (15) or another rolling body for the transmission of force between the drive (12) and the output (14). The position of the excentricity (e) relative to the housing (5) is arranged in a spatially fixed manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus
  • Publication number: 20110272988
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle seat (1) has a mount (22), a drive (24) which is mounted to the mount (22), so as to be pivoted about a first axis (A), an output (25) which is mounted to the mount (22), so as to be rotated about a second axis (B), and a transmission. The transmission transmits a driving pivot movement of the drive (24), which moves the drive (24) from an initial position into a deflected position, to the output (25) and causes a rotating movement of the output (25). At least one rolling body (26) is provided as the transmission. The rolling body (26), in the initial position and during the driving pivot movement of the drive (24), is in friction contact both with the drive (24) and simultaneously with the output (25) and rolls along same, and releases during the pivot movement back into the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Rolf Schüler
  • Publication number: 20110221248
    Abstract: In a drive device for a vehicle seat (1), having a frame (10) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), an output (14a, 14b) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), is hinged to the frame (10) and is pivotable relative to the latter about an axis (A), and a geared fitting (16), the two fitting parts (16a, 16b) of which perform a relative rotational movement with superposed tumbling movement in a drive situation. One fitting part (16a) acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the other fitting part (16b) is supported on the frame (10). A transmission element (25, 35, 37) is provided between the fitting part (16a) which acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the output (14a, 14b). The transmission element (25, 35, 37) is torsionally rigid in the circumferential direction of the axis (A) and simultaneously flexible in the radial direction of the axis (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns
  • Publication number: 20110101752
    Abstract: An adjuster for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, includes a drive, a gear stage (8) driven by the drive. The gear stage (8) includes a drive wheel (81) rotatable about a first rotational axis (A1) and drive teeth (81a) and a driven wheel (82) rotatable about a second rotational axis (A2) and including driven teeth (82a). Driven wheel (82) meshes with the drive wheel (81) with a fluctuating gear ratio and at least one load bearing gear driven by the gear stage, in particular a geared fitting. The fitting parts thereof performing a relative rotation with a superimposed wobble motion. At least two drive teeth (81a) and/or at least two driven teeth (82a) in the circumferential direction of the associated rotational axis (A1, A2) have different dimensions and/or different spacings from the adjacent teeth, and/or in the axial direction of the associated rotational axis (A1, A2), different dimensions and/or different axial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Elmar Deegener, Heinz Voss, Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns
  • Publication number: 20110037306
    Abstract: A gear stage (10), in particular of a vehicle seat (3), is embodied as a friction wheel gear stage. The gear stage (10) includes a housing (5), a drive (12), an output (14) that is set off from the drive (12) by an excentricity (e) and at least one sphere or another rolling body (15) for the transmission of force between the drive (12) and t he output (14). According to the invention, the position of the excentricity (e) relative to the housing (5) is arranged in a spatially fixed manner and the gear stage has at least two different direction-dependent and/or shiftable gear ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus
  • Publication number: 20110037355
    Abstract: A drive unit (10) for an adjuster in a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle seat, has at least one motor (12) which has a stator (16) with at least one coil (24). At least one rotor (18) which interacts with the stator (16) in a magnetic manner, rotates about an axis (A) and is fitted with permanent magnets. A commutation module (20) is provided for supplying current to the coil (24) as a function of the rotation of the rotor (18). An electrical connection (22) is provided for an at least two-pole supply voltage (+Ub, ?Ub). The commutation module (20) is selected from a set of brush-commutating and brushless commutation modules (20), with the structure of the motor (12) otherwise remaining the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Keiper GMBH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Christoph Schuhn
  • Patent number: 7726744
    Abstract: A motor-driven actuator for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle seat, is for being situated between two components of the vehicle or vehicle seat that can be displaced in relation to one another. The motor-driven actuator comprises a motor, at least one first gear stage that is located on the output side of the motor, a second gear stage that acts as a load-bearing gear and is located on the output side of the first gear stage, and at least one sealing element. The motor, gear stages and sealing element are integrated into the motor-driven actuator. The sealing element is adapted for being in a predetermined sealing configuration for protecting the motor and/or its electrical contact and/or at least one of the gear stages during manufacturing. The sealing element is adapted for not being in the predetermined sealing configuration when the motor-driven actuator is installed and ready to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Schüler
  • Patent number: 7631578
    Abstract: In the case of a gear stage (1) of an actuating drive, in particular for a vehicle seat, having a bearing (12) which defines an axis (A12) and having an oscillatory body (11) which is mounted in a rotatable manner by the bearing (12), defines a further axis (A11) and, upon rotation of a driving mechanism (21), executes a rolling movement on the bearing (12), the axis (A11) of the oscillatory body (11) is inclined obliquely at an angle (?) relative to the axis (A12) of the bearing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Karsten Kalmus
  • Patent number: 7585245
    Abstract: A gear step (1) for an actuator in a motor vehicle, in particular for a vehicle seat, comprises a housing (3) provided with a drive (1) mounted thereon in such a way that it is rotatable around an axis (A), and a driven output (21) rotatable about a second axis (B) differing from the axes (A). The drive (11) is used for receiving the driven output (21) by way of at least one rolling body (31), so that the axes (A, B) are parallelly offset by an eccentricity (E) and the driven output is driven by rotating the thus obtained rolling eccentricity, wherein the driven output (21) carries out a tumbling rolling movement on the housing (3) by way of a friction oscillating gear (33, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Michael Berres, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus
  • Patent number: 7544143
    Abstract: In a drive unit (10) of an adjuster (80) in a vehicle, having at least one particularly electronically commutated motor (12) and at least one gear stage (14) provided on the output side of the motor (12), the gear stage (14) is designed as a differential gear, which by making use of two different speeds and/or directions of rotation causes a movement of an output (54) around an axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Michael Berres, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus, Christoph Schuhn, Heinz Voss
  • Patent number: 7544142
    Abstract: In an adjuster (80) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having at least two components (81, 82) forming a load-bearing gear, which are movable relative to each other by way of a drive unit (10), wherein the drive unit (10) has a particularly electronically commutated motor (12) and a gear stage (14), the drive unit (10) is integrated into the load-bearing gear, and the motor (12) has at least one rotor (22, 24) borne in the load-bearing gear and rotating around an axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Michael Berres, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus, Christoph Schuhn, Heinz Voss
  • Patent number: 7511479
    Abstract: In the case of a longitudinal adjuster (1) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with at least one first seat rail (5), at least one second seat rail (8) which is displaceable relative to the first seat rail (5) and is guided therein, at least one locking device (11) for locking the first seat rail (5) to the second seat rail (8), wherein a locking row (19) of the first seat rail (5) is assigned to the locking device (11), and a position recognition device (20) with a sensor (24), the sensor (24) interacts with the locking row (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Joachim Flick
  • Publication number: 20090078066
    Abstract: In a gear train (10, 30) for an actuator, in particular of a vehicle seat (2), the gear train comprises a drive (11) that can be rotated about a rotational axis (A), at least one eccentric cam (12, 13) that is driven by the drive (11), a pinion (14, 15) that is driven by the eccentric cam (12, 13), a gear ring (16), which meshes with the pinion (14, 15) and in relation to which the pinion (14, 15) executes a rolling motion that defines a point of rolling contact (W), and a take-off drive (18) that taps the relative rolling motion. At least some sections of the material of the pinion (14, 15) and/or the ring gear (16) in the vicinity of the point of rolling contact (W) are elastically deformable, in order to produce surface contact at the point of rolling contact (W).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Schuler
  • Publication number: 20090072602
    Abstract: A motor-driven actuator for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle seat, is for being situated between two components of the vehicle or vehicle seat that can be displaced in relation to one another. The motor-driven actuator comprises a motor, at least one first gear stage that is located on the output side of the motor, a second gear stage that acts as a load-bearing gear and is located on the output side of the first gear stage, and at least one sealing element. The motor, gear stages and sealing element are integrated into the motor-driven actuator. The sealing element is adapted for being in a predetermined sealing configuration for protecting the motor and/or its electrical contact and/or at least one of the gear stages during manufacturing. The sealing element is adapted for not being in the predetermined sealing configuration when the motor-driven actuator is installed and ready to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Schuler
  • Publication number: 20090005207
    Abstract: In the case of a gear stage (1) of an actuating drive, in particular for a vehicle seat, having a bearing (12) which defines an axis (A12) and having an oscillatory body (11) which is mounted in a rotatable manner by the bearing (12), defines a further axis (A11) and, upon rotation of a driving mechanism (21), executes a rolling movement on the bearing (12), the axis (A11) of the oscillatory body (11) is inclined obliquely at an angle (?) relative to the axis (A12) of the bearing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schuler, Karsten Kalmus
  • Patent number: 7467827
    Abstract: A gear stage (14) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, has a driving shaft (16) and a driven shaft (18). The gear stage (14) reduces the rotational speed of the driving shaft (16) to a lower rotational speed of the driven shaft (18). The gear stage (14) comprises at least one row (24) of transmission balls upon which tangentially lie at least one, and in particular two driving surfaces (22) of the driving shaft (16), at least one driven surface (26) of the driven shaft (18) and at least one housing surface (28) of a housing (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Bossmanns, Michael Berres, Karsten Kalmus, Rolf Schüler
  • Publication number: 20080146394
    Abstract: A gear step (1) for an actuator in a motor vehicle, in particular for a vehicle seat, comprises a housing (3) provided with a drive (1) mounted thereon in such a way that it is rotatable around an axis (A), and a driven output (21) rotatable about a second axis (B) differing from the axes (A). The drive (11) is used for receiving the driven output (21) by way of at least one rolling body (31), so that the axes (A, B) are parallelly offset by an eccentricity (E) and the driven output is driven by rotating the thus obtained rolling eccentricity, wherein the driven output (21) carries out a tumbling rolling movement on the housing (3) by way of a friction oscillating gear (33, 35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Michael Berres, Bernd Bossmanns, Karsten Kalmus
  • Patent number: 7360460
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, a sensor device (11) is arranged between the superstructure of the vehicle seat and the seat rail (3) of the vehicle seat, in order to measure forces transmitted from the superstructure into the seat rail (3). The sensor device (11) can be positioned at least partially inside the seat rail (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Diehl, Hans Edrich, Daniel Hippel, Michael Borbe, Rolf Schüler, Frank Grossbudde