Patents by Inventor Thilo Kirchner

Thilo Kirchner 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: 20100147095
    Abstract: A control element for a motor vehicle, includes a control button retained in the control element so as to be at least rotatable and pressable, where a switching and/or regulating function is assigned to every movement, where the control element can additionally be shifted and where the shifting movement takes place in a plane horizontal relative to the control button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Gerold Eckert, Thilo Kirchner
  • Patent number: 6180904
    Abstract: A keyboard has keys, or buttons, having guide projections which, when the keys are pushed from an operating side, are shoved along guide plates, with motion being restricted by a locator, the locator having two stops which restrict the motion of the keys between the two stops and with a switch being activated being ON and OFF by the key moving within these limits. This provides a very flat keyboard which is economical to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Thilo Kirchner, Joachim Storath
  • Patent number: 6066813
    Abstract: Most prior-art switch inserts for rotary switches of a type including wiped segments and a switch wiper have a tall construction, and are unsuitable for carrying high current loads. In a switch insert of this invention, wiped segments (5) are arranged inside a plastic plate (8) so that they can be contacted from another side by a further switch wiper (9) having contacts (10) arranged in a mirror image of contacts (11) of a first switch wiper (7), with the further switch wiper (9) having positioning lugs (12) that extend through control recesses (13) of the first switch wiper (7) to accept a leaf spring (15) in a locking slot (14) thereof on the other side. The leaf spring supports itself by resiliently bracing on a surface of the first switch wiper (7) facing away from the contacts (11), and thereby loads the contacts (10, 11) of both switch wipers (7, 9) against the wiped segments (5). Generally switch inserts structured according to this invention provide an extremely flat construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Thilo Kirchner