Patents by Inventor Stephan Enders

Stephan Enders 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: 20240083527
    Abstract: An alignment system for approaching a vehicle to a target object spatially spaced therefrom, including an object detection device attached to the vehicle and a coupling element, which in an end position detachably holds the target object, the object detection device being aligned in the direction of the target object and the data from the object detection device being used to generate an image in which the target object together with a guide marker can be seen during the approach of the vehicle. The guide marker is applied to at least one component of the vehicle arranged in an entry area of the coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mark MÜLLER, Benjamin KAUFHOLD, Steffen HABER, Stephan GITZEN, Yurtsever ENDER, Daniel JACOBS
  • Publication number: 20230039706
    Abstract: A fluid damper is provided including a cylinder filled with a damping fluid, a piston base body shiftably guided in the cylinder along a stroke axis, and a valve disk spaced apart from a shell wall of the cylinder. The piston base body divides an inner space of the cylinder into a front space and a rear space along the stroke axis. In the piston base body, there is at least one channel connecting the front space to the rear space in a fluid-conducting manner. The valve disk is shiftably guided along the stroke axis between an opening position unblocking the at least one channel and a closing position closing the at least one channel. The valve disk has a central area extending radially outward from the stroke axis, the central area being free of apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Stephan Enders, Andreas Seus-Kapellen, Christoph Lischetzki, Michael Schneider
  • Patent number: 7628255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Publication number: 20080315470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger ANSEL, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Patent number: 7431134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: STABILUS GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Patent number: 7188819
    Abstract: Object-support column includes an end unit, a guide tube which has a nominal diameter, and end having an end diameter which is smaller than the nominal diameter, and a transition-length portion extending from the nominal diameter to the end diameter, the end being connected to the end unit. A pneumatic tube surrounds the guide tube and the end unit, the pneumatic tube having a conical section with a diameter reduction surrounding the end unit. Alternatively, a guide portion of the guide tube may be supported radially on the inner wall of the pneumatic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Thurmann, Stephan Enders
  • Publication number: 20070045916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Patent number: 6866238
    Abstract: A furniture pillar includes an upright tube and a guide bushing which is inserted into one end of the upright tube and has an inner circumferential surface which is a guide for a supporting tube of the furniture pillar. The guide bushing has a radially inner guide tube, the tube passage of which forms a guide. An annular insertion region extends radially outwards on an end region of the guide tube and is inserted with its outer circumferential surface into the upright tube. A plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs of the guide bushing adjoin the annular insertion region axially, and extend radially outwards from the guide tube to outer end surfaces which bear against the inner wall of the upright tube, forming open chambers between them towards the side facing away from the annular insertion region. The upright tube has a color coating which completely covers its outer circumferential surface. Continuous openings pass from the chambers through the guide tube to the interior of the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Enders, Holger Maus
  • Patent number: 6705201
    Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit, in particular a gas spring, includes a valve device for the operational motion of a piston rod. The valve device is activatable by an activation device, the activation device being connected near an actuation device and being connected to a load contact device, which influences the function of the valve device. The load contact device connects the actuation device to the valve device for the purpose of changing the adjustability of the valve device when the gas spring is loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Knopp, Stephan Enders, Manfred Metzdorf
  • Publication number: 20040041063
    Abstract: A furniture pillar includes an upright tube and a guide bushing which is inserted into one end of the upright tube and has an inner circumferential surface which is a guide for a supporting tube of the furniture pillar. The guide bushing has a radially inner guide tube, the tube passage of which forms a guide. An annular insertion region extends radially outwards on an end region of the guide tube and is inserted with its outer circumferential surface into the upright tube. A plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs of the guide bushing adjoin the annular insertion region axially, and extend radially outwards from the guide tube to outer end surfaces which bear against the inner wall of the upright tube, forming open chambers between them towards the side facing away from the annular insertion region. The upright tube has a color coating which completely covers its outer circumferential surface. Continuous openings pass from the chambers through the guide tube to the interior of the guide tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Enders, Holger Maus
  • Publication number: 20030062662
    Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit, in particular a gas spring, includes a valve device for the operational motion of a piston rod. The valve device is activatable by an activation device, the activation device being connected near an actuation device and being connected to a load contact device, which influences the function of the valve device. The load contact device connects the actuation device to the valve device for the purpose of changing the adjustability of the valve device when the gas spring is loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Knopp, Stephan Enders, Manfred Metzdorf
  • Publication number: 20030006358
    Abstract: Object-support column includes an end unit, a guide tube which has a nominal diameter, and end having an end diameter which is smaller than the nominal diameter, and a transition-length portion extending from the nominal diameter to the end diameter, the end being connected to the end unit. A pneumatic tube surrounds the guide tube and the end unit, the pneumatic tube having a conical section with a diameter reduction surrounding the end unit. Alternatively, a guide portion of the guide tube may be supported radially on the inner wall of the pneumatic tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Thurmann, Stephan Enders
  • Patent number: 5468042
    Abstract: A compartment confining construction comprises an opening and a closure unit movably mounted on the compartment confining construction for movement between a closing position and a fully opened position with respect to the opening. A fluid-based positioning unit is connected to both the compartment confining construction and the closure unit, the fluid-based positioning unit having two working chambers interconnected by at least one flow path, a movement of the closure unit corresponding to a flow of fluid from one chamber to another through the at least one flow path. A fluid flow control device is provided for controlling the flow of fluid through the at least one flow path and thereby controlling the movement of the closure unit. The fluid flow control device is actuatable by an electric actuating device. The flow of liquid occurs in response to movement of the closure unit when the closure unit is moved by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich-Josef Heinrichs, Stephan Enders, Klaus Koch
  • Patent number: 5097928
    Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the present invention a hydropneumatic positioning device comprises a tubular container. A hollow piston rod is guided through one end of the tubular container. A piston is connected with the piston rod within a cavity of the tubular container. The piston divides the cavity into two working chambers. The working chambers contain a liquid. Adjacent one of the working chambers, namely the working chamber remote from the piston rod, a compensating chamber is provided. This compensating chamber contains a pressurized gas and is separated from the adjacent working chamber by a floating separating wall. A flow passage extends through the piston between the two working chambers. A valve is allocated to the flow passage. The valve can be opened by an actuating rod extending through an axial bore of the hollow piston rod. The actuating rod extends beyond an outer end of the piston rod. An actuating signal transformer is fastened to the outer end of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Enders, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 5090770
    Abstract: In the case of an item of seating furniture, particularly an office chair, comprising at least one seat adjusting device, for example for adjusting the height of the seat, with a spring element engaging the two parts of the seat which are to be adjusted in respect of each other, particularly a pressurized fluid filled spring, and with a locking device for the separable fixing of the two seat parts in whatever is the desired and selected adjusted position, the use of an electrical actuating element for the locking device is proposed, which is connected to a manually operable control means for the at least one seat adjustment, this allowing simplified operation with minimal structural expenditure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Josef Heinrichs, Stephan Enders, Udo Wagner, Alfred Dirksen