Patents by Inventor Tobias KONRAD

Tobias KONRAD 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: 12203295
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a moveable component of a vehicle includes a control device for checking the permissibility of the operating speed of a handle body of the door handle arrangement to determine whether a permissible operating situation of the vehicle or a critical situation of the vehicle exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 12196014
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with an electromotive drive for an actuation lever chain and in particular locking lever chain. An emergency energy store for providing electrical power to the drive in the event of emergency activation and in particular emergency unlocking is also provided. In accordance with the invention, the drive, for emergency actuation and in particular emergency unlocking, acts on the actuation lever chain or locking lever chain against the force of a restoring spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Christian Sturm, Martin Lindmayer, Tobias Konrad
  • Patent number: 12146351
    Abstract: A motor vehicle locking device for a vehicle door includes a door lock that can be released electrically released and, parallel thereto, mechanically released via a mechanical operative connection to a first actuatable door handle. A coupling is arranged in the mechanical operative connection between the door handle and the door lock, which coupling can be engaged and disengaged via a coupling motor. A control unit is connected to a crash sensor for detecting an accident. In the normal operating state, the coupling is always in the disengaged state irrespective of opening requirements and, in addition to the coupling motor, can be engaged and disengaged by an electromagnetic actuating device that engages the coupling when the power is switched off. A first timer can be triggered by the signal of the crash sensor, such that the control unit, after the first timer elapses after receiving a crash signal, activates the coupling motor to engage the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 12060736
    Abstract: A vehicle door for a motor vehicle has a support part arranged on an inside of a covering of the vehicle door. An outer door handle is arranged on an outside of the covering for actuating the vehicle door. The outer door handle is fixed on the support part. An elevation is provided on the support part on a fixing side of the support part facing towards the covering for forming a positioning aid. The elevation is received in the vehicle door in an aperture in the covering tailored to the elevation. Here, the support part and the covering are tailored to each other in such a way that they are connected to each other in a form fit manner in at least one form fit zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 12000172
    Abstract: A vehicle door handle includes an external visible surface having a display element. The display element includes a surface having a plurality of individually controllable pixels that are controllable via a control unit depending on a user interface. Displaying content on the display element of such a vehicle door handle involves the display content being predetermined or pre-stored display content retrieved via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11987127
    Abstract: An actuating device for controlling a functional component of a motor vehicle is arranged on the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a functional component for providing a vehicle function and a display actuation device arranged on the motor vehicle for controlling a functional component. The display actuation device has a display providing visually detectable function actuation elements. In order to activate a vehicle function the display actuation device has a release device so that the display can be actuated between a blocking position blocking the actuation of the function actuation elements and an active position releasing the actuation of the function actuation elements. The display actuation device has a key element that cooperates with the release device and, when cooperating with the release device, actuates the display means into the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11952805
    Abstract: A door lock arrangement of a vehicle door of a vehicle includes a first closing element arranged in a lock mouth of the vehicle door and a second closing element arranged on a body of the vehicle. The first and second closing elements can be brought into positive-locking engagement with each other to hold the door on the body. A damping device absorbs kinetic energy of the door during a closing movement of the door within a predetermined limit opening angle of the vehicle door relative to the body and slows down the closing movement of the door. The damping device has an impact element arranged on the door in a displaceable manner relative to the door or on the body in a displaceable manner relative to the body. The impact element is connected to an actuator, which applies a pre-tensioning force of the door directed in an opening direction of the door while the first and second closing elements are engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Martin Lindmayer, Tobias Konrad, Stefan Ebersohn
  • Patent number: 11952807
    Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement includes a first closing element arranged on a vehicle door and a second closing element arranged on a bodywork of the vehicle. The first and closing elements can be connected to each other in a positive looking manner to hold the door on the bodywork. A door handle is connected to a sensor for detecting a pressure input or a pulling input of a user on the door handle. The sensor is connected to a control unit, which controls a locking actuator and a door opening actuator. The locking actuator separates the first and second closing elements, and the door opening actuator opens the vehicle door relative to the bodywork. The control unit controls the locking actuator to separate the first closing element and the second closing element in response to a detected pressure input or pulling input, and to control the door opening actuator to open the door relative to the bodywork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Jan Heyduck, Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11951936
    Abstract: A door handle for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a carrier plate, a handle cavity, and an extendable handle part. At least one lighting device arranged in/on the carrier plate or on the handle part is provided with at least one lighting element and/or a light guide element. The handle part is adjustable between a retracted non-use position, a partially extended intermediate position, and an extended use position. The at least one lighting element and/or the at least one light guide element, when the handle part is in its partially extended intermediate position, at least partially illuminates a gap present between the handle part and the handle cavity. When the handle part is extended, at least one lighting element and/or the at least one light guide element illuminates at least parts of the handle part, of the handle cavity, and/or of an area surrounding the handle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11813976
    Abstract: A door handle for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a carrier plate, a handle part, and at least one lighting device arranged in/on the carrier plate with at least one lighting element and/or a light guide element. The lighting element and/or the light guide element are adjustable between an extended position of use and a retracted non-use position. The at least one lighting element and/or the at least one light guide element projects, in its extended position of use, into a recess of the handle part and thus illuminates at least parts of the handle part and/or of an area surrounding the handle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11794637
    Abstract: A door system for a vehicle includes a vehicle door, a closing unit, an operating element arranged on the vehicle door for a vehicle user, a first light source, and a control unit. The first light source is arranged such that the first light source illuminates segments of the vehicle door and/or body in the region of the door gap. The control unit receives signals of an electronic key for the vehicle and controls the closing unit depending on signals of the electronic key, and the first light source depending on the closure state of the vehicle door and/or depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit of the vehicle. For a defined closure state of the vehicle door or a defined communication state of the electronic key with the control unit, the control unit illuminates a location of the segments of the vehicle door assigned to the operating element and/or the segments of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11795739
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door has a shell and a door handle that can be moved laterally in relation to a vehicle longitudinal axis between a retracted and an extended position. In the retracted position the door handle is in a recess adjusted to the contour of the door handle, the recess being arranged in the shell of the vehicle door with a door handle surface substantially flush with the shell. In the extended position, the door handle is moved laterally outwards so that it is actuatable from outside for opening the vehicle door. In the extended position, the door handle is firstly in active connection with a switch, which is coupled to the electrical unlocking device of a door lock, and secondly is mechanically coupled to the door lock, such that an actuation of the door handle with a minimal actuation path effectuates the switch and an electrical unlocking device of the door lock and an actuation of the door handle with a greater actuation path effectuates a mechanical unlocking of the door lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Jan Heyduck, Juergen Jooss, Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Publication number: 20230241975
    Abstract: An actuating device for controlling a functional component of a motor vehicle is arranged on the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a functional component for providing a vehicle function and a display actuation device arranged on the motor vehicle for controlling a functional component. The display actuation device has a display providing visually detectable function actuation elements. In order to activate a vehicle function the display actuation device has a release device so that the display can be actuated between a blocking position blocking the actuation of the function actuation elements and an active position releasing the actuation of the function actuation elements. The display actuation device has a key element that cooperates with the release device and, when cooperating with the release device, actuates the display means into the active position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER
  • Publication number: 20230243192
    Abstract: A door handle arrangement for a moveable component of a vehicle includes a control device for checking the permissibility of the operating speed of a handle body of the door handle arrangement to determine whether a permissible operating situation of the vehicle or a critical situation of the vehicle exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER
  • Patent number: 11643857
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door includes a door handle unit fixed on the inside on the door edge opposite a door hinge. The door handle unit is motorically pivotable between a folded-in and a folded-out position. In the folded-in position when the vehicle door is closed the door handle unit is arranged behind the vehicle door. In the folded-out position, the door handle unit protrudes laterally outwards by surrounding the door edge and is grippable to open the door. A door mover unit is configured to move the vehicle door in a closed state out of a closed position into a stand-by position, in which the door handle unit can be moved from the folded-in position into the folded-out position. A control unit has a signal input which, upon obtaining the opening signal, controls the door mover unit to move into the stand-by position and controls the door handle unit to pivot into the folded-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11572716
    Abstract: A device and a method for opening and closing a motor vehicle door having a door lock. The device includes an electric opening actuator and an electric closing actuator, by means of which the door lock can be brought from a pre-locking position into a final-locking position. A control device controls the opening and closing actuators. The control device, in the event of a door opening request during operation of the closing actuator, first switches the closing actuator into a reversing mode, in which the door lock can be moved again in the opening direction and the opening actuator is triggered after a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Jan Heyduck, Juergen Jooss, Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Publication number: 20220333413
    Abstract: An arrangement of a motor vehicle includes a first component and a second component where the first component and the second component are disposed at a spacing vertically offset with respect to one another. The first component has a first edge with a first outer radius in a first border region and the second component has a second edge with a second outer radius in a second border region. The first and second border regions are adjacent, the first outer radius equals the second outer radius, and the first outer radius and the second outer radius correspond to at least, or exactly, the spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Jan HEYDUCK, Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER
  • Publication number: 20220316242
    Abstract: A vehicle door for a motor vehicle has a support part arranged on an inside of a covering of the vehicle door. An outer door handle is arranged on an outside of the covering for actuating the vehicle door. The outer door handle is fixed on the support part. An elevation is provided on the support part on a fixing side of the support part facing towards the covering for forming a positioning aid. The elevation is received in the vehicle door in an aperture in the covering tailored to the elevation. Here, the support part and the covering are tailored to each other in such a way that they are connected to each other in a form fit manner in at least one form fit zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER
  • Publication number: 20220314874
    Abstract: A door handle for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a carrier plate, a handle part, and at least one lighting device arranged in/on the carrier plate with at least one lighting element and/or a light guide element. The lighting element and/or the light guide element are adjustable between an extended position of use and a retracted non-use position. The at least one lighting element and/or the at least one light guide element projects, in its extended position of use, into a recess of the handle part and thus illuminates at least parts of the handle part and/or of an area surrounding the handle part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER
  • Publication number: 20220307287
    Abstract: A door system for a vehicle includes a vehicle door, a closing unit, an operating element arranged on the vehicle door for a vehicle user, a first light source, and a control unit. The first light source is arranged such that the first light source illuminates segments of the vehicle door and/or body in the region of the door gap. The control unit receives signals of an electronic key for the vehicle and controls the closing unit depending on signals of the electronic key, and the first light source depending on the closure state of the vehicle door and/or depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit of the vehicle. For a defined closure state of the vehicle door or a defined communication state of the electronic key with the control unit, the control unit illuminates a location of the segments of the vehicle door assigned to the operating element and/or the segments of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias KONRAD, Martin LINDMAYER