Patents by Inventor Tom Kufner

Tom Kufner 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: 20220255255
    Abstract: A socket for connection to a plug comprises a socket housing with a socket wall and a contact element. The contact element has a contact region which is designed to form a functional contact with the plug. The contact element has, at least in regions, at least one elastic contact section which is designed in such a way that, when the plug is received in a contact element opening of the contact element, it expands radially with respect to a longitudinal direction (L). The socket wall has on the inside a limiting element which is designed in such a way that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section of the contact element is limited, the limiting element being in particular in the region of the contact region of the contact element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: STÄUBLIEL ECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom KUFNER, Philipp Alexander STREHLER, Lucas WIRZ-VITIUK
  • Patent number: 11316293
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces (K1, K2) comprises a support strip (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) as well as a plurality of contact parts (5, 5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Patent number: 10855015
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces (K1, K2) comprises a support strip (2), which extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and is designed in such a way that the length of the support strip (2) changes in the longitudinal direction (L) when a force (F) is applied to the support strip (2), as well as a plurality of contact parts (5, 5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Publication number: 20200328544
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces (K1, K2) comprises a support strip (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) as well as a plurality of contact parts (5, 5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventor: Tom KUFNER
  • Patent number: 10686272
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces comprises a support grip (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) as well as a plurality of contact parts (5,5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2) at a fastening point (3). Each contact part (5, 5a, 5b) comprises at least one plastically deformable connection element (50) for securing the contact part (5, 5a 5b) to the support strip (2). The at least one connection element (50) forms an integral part of the contact part (5, 5a, 5b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Publication number: 20190305458
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces comprises a support grip (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) as well as a plurality of contact parts (5,5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2) at a fastening point (3). Each contact part (5, 5a, 5b) comprises at least one plastically deformable connection element (50) for securing the contact part (5, 5a 5b) to the support strip (2). The at least one connection element (50) forms an integral part of the contact part (5, 5a, 5b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom KUFNER, Philipp Alexander STREHLER, Fabian HILTI, Lucas WIRZ
  • Publication number: 20190207338
    Abstract: A contact element (1) for establishing electric contact between two contact pieces (K1, K2) comprises a support strip (2), which extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and is designed in such a way that the length of the support strip (2) changes in the longitudinal direction (L) when a force (F) is applied to the support strip (2), as well as a plurality of contact parts (5, 5a, 5b), each of which has a first contact section (6) for contacting one of the two contact pieces (K1, K2), a second contact section (7) for contacting the other one of the two contact pieces (K2, K1), and a fastening section (8) for securing the contact part (5, 5a, 5b) to the support strip (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom KUFNER, Philipp Alexander STREHLER, Fabian HILTI, Lucas WIRZ
  • Patent number: D830974
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Patent number: D870676
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Patent number: D871348
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz
  • Patent number: D884653
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: STAUBLI ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AG
    Inventors: Tom Kufner, Philipp Alexander Strehler, Fabian Hilti, Lucas Wirz