Patents by Inventor Uwe Stapf

Uwe Stapf 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: 10479287
    Abstract: A heater system for clearing moisture (frozen and liquid) from a windshield (14) around a through-windshield vehicle sensor (18) provides a chamber between the sensor and the windshield containing air that may be heated by a chamber supported heating element (30, 51). The warm air within the chamber applies heat over the windshield in the critical viewing area (26) without obstructing the sensor (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Piotr Sliwa, John F. Healey, Edward F. Bulgajewski, Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 10236544
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly interleaves pouch cells with thin flexible heater elements to provide for distributed low-power heating with reduced thermal resistance between the heater elements and the cells. The heater elements may include terminals for direct attachment to pouch cell electrodes and to each other to facilitate power distribution among the heater elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Bulgajewski, Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20170355352
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly (18) for a windshield washer system or the like provides an elongate heater element (30) that can extend along a supply tube connected to the washer nozzle (20) to better transfer heat energy into the washer fluid and the nozzle for preventing nozzle clogging caused by low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Edward Bulgajewski, Martin Kluge, Uwe Stapf, Florian Duell
  • Publication number: 20170025722
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly interleaves pouch cells with thin flexible heater elements to provide for distributed low-power heating with reduced thermal resistance between the heater elements and the cells. The heater elements may include terminals for direct attachment to pouch cell electrodes and to each other to facilitate power distribution among the heater elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Edward F. BULGAJEWSKI, Uwe STAPF
  • Publication number: 20100171324
    Abstract: An automobile inside door-actuation device comprising a housing which can be assembled to the door's frame and a drive lever pivotably supported inside the housing on pivot pins, characterized in that the drive lever, the pivot pins and the housing are molded from plastic(s) by two-component injection molding into one unit, the properties of the selected plastics being such that the mutually displaceable parts do not bond to each other during injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20070047247
    Abstract: A door handle for the inner side of a door of an automobile adapted to actuate a locking element for the door, wherein a light source is provided to illuminate the door handle. At least a portion of door handle is formed of a transparent material and coated with a thin colour generating layer which is translucent to a small extent and the light source being located in the area of the transparent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andrew Mines, Heiko Weiner, Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 7165814
    Abstract: A sleeve arrangement for a neck rest, including a sleeve body adapted to be inserted into an opening in a frame of a vehicle seat, the sleeve body having a through going axial passage adapted to accommodate a rod of the neck rest, and the sleeve body having further a head portion which includes internal locking elements to fix the axial position of the rod in the sleeve body and a shank portion joining the head portion, the sleeve body having an external side which includes fixing elements the sleeve body in the opening of the frame, wherein in upper and lower end portions the passage has radially annular enlargements, and a preferably radially expandable sliding bushing of anti-frictional plastic material is accommodated by the enlargements which encircle the rod, and an elastomeric material is accommodated in the intermediate space between the sliding bushing and a wall of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gans, Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20060119163
    Abstract: A sleeve arrangement for a neck rest, including a sleeve body adapted to be inserted into an opening in a frame of a vehicle seat, the sleeve body having a through going axial passage adapted to accommodate a rod of the neck rest, and the sleeve body having further a head portion which includes internal locking elements to fix the axial position of the rod in the sleeve body and a shank portion joining the head portion, the sleeve body having an external side which includes fixing elements the sleeve body in the opening of the frame, wherein in upper and lower end portions the passage has radially annular enlargements, and a preferably radially expandable sliding bushing of anti-frictional plastic material is accommodated by the enlargements which encircle the rod, and an elastomeric material is accommodated in the intermediate space between the sliding bushing and a wall of the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gans, Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 6991006
    Abstract: A closing mechanism for a filling tube of a fuel tank in an automobile, including: a first housing portion adapted to be fastened in an opening of the body of the automobile, a closing slide member which supported for linear or pivotal, movement transverse to the axis of the opening, the closing slide member and a portion of the housing portion together form a funnel-like guide means such that upon a movement of a fuel nozzle towards the guide means the closing slide member is moved into an open position whereby the nozzle can be moved further into the opening, a second housing portion having a first end connectable to the first housing portion and a second end attachable to the end of the filling tube, the second housing portion having a second opening aligned with the first opening, and a closing flap for the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rainer Gramss, Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20040163732
    Abstract: Closing means for a filling tube of a fuel tank in an automobile, comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Rainer Gramss, Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 6561667
    Abstract: Actuation means for actuating a functional part in an automobile by means of a handle portion or the like, whereby at least a portion, e.g. a stripe of an electro luminescence sheet is applied to a surface of the handle portion or adjacent to the handle portion and connected to an electric source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 6460904
    Abstract: Inner door lock actuator for automobiles comprises a lever-like handle which is pivotally supported in a housing about an approximately vertical shaft. The housing is attached to the door. A linkage or an actuation cord connects the handle to the door lock. A spring is arranged on the shaft for biasing the handle toward a non-actuated position. A portion of the handle is provided with a gear segment. A rotary damper is located in the housing and has a rotor shaft, a pinion being attached to the rotor shaft and meshing with the gear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: ITW-ATECO GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20020030988
    Abstract: Actuation means for actuating a functional part in an automobile by means of a handle portion or the like, whereby at least a portion, e.g. a stripe of an electro luminescence sheet is applied to a surface of said handle portion or adjacent to said handle portion and connected to an electric source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 6230768
    Abstract: An automotive fuel filler pipe valve assembly includes a valve receptacle adapted to be attached to an automotive body panel or receptacle at the body panel, the valve having a spherical or cylindrical inner space and a larger opening and a smaller second opening diametrically opposed to the larger opening, an annular seal seat being associated with the second opening, a spherical or cylindrical valve member which is fittingly accommodated by the inner space and pivotally supported about an axis to be moved between a closed and an opened position, the valve member having a funnel shaped through passage which in the opened position of the valve member interconnects the openings of the receptacle and in an angular offset position separates the openings, a closing member which is biased against the sealing seat by a spring and which may be opened by a filler pipe by a fuel-filling gun introduced through the passage, a locking member adapted to be moved between a locking and a releasing position and, when in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Itw-Ateco G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Uwe Stapf, Rainer Gramss
  • Patent number: 5924757
    Abstract: A refueling flap for a refueling trough on a vehicle body, wherein a damper is in operating connection with the refueling flap via a gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Itw-Ateco GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Stapf