Patents by Inventor Stephen Ernstberger

Stephen Ernstberger 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).

  • Joining device for an actuating lever and supporting element of a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 8434441
    Abstract: A connecting device for the pivotal and loss-prevention joining of an actuating lever (1) and a support element (6) of a valve operating mechanism of a combustion engine. The actuating lever (1) has, in a supporting section (3), a spherical cap-shaped cavity (5) inside of which the spherical end (7) of the supporting element (6) may be placed. A recess and/or undercut (8) is formed underneath the spherical end (7) in the supporting element (6). The actuating lever (1) has, in the supporting section (3), a spherical upper surface (4) above the spherical cap-shaped cavity (5). A securing element (9) joins the actuating lever (1) and the supporting element (6) to one another. This securing element (9) has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an upper and a lower limb (10, 11) that are joined to one another via a joining section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Manfred Günthner, Martin Jäkel, Stephen Ernstberger, Franz-Holger Woitowitz
  • Joining device for an actuating lever and supporting element of a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine
    Publication number: 20070131052
    Abstract: A connecting device for the pivotal and loss-prevention joining of an actuating lever (1) and a support element (6) of a valve operating mechanism of a combustion engine. The actuating lever (1) has, in a supporting section (3), a spherical cap-shaped cavity (5) inside of which the spherical end (7) of the supporting element (6) may be placed. A recess and/or undercut (8) is formed underneath the spherical end (7) in the supporting element (6). The actuating lever (1) has, in the supporting section (3), a spherical upper surface (4) above the spherical cap-shaped cavity (5). A securing element (9) joins the actuating lever (1) and the supporting element (6) to one another. This securing element (9) has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an upper and a lower limb (10, 11) that are joined to one another via a joining section (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Manfred Gunthner, Martin Jakel, Stephen Ernstberger, Franz-Holger Woitowitz