Patents by Inventor Walter Alfred Stephan

Walter Alfred Stephan 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: 7258406
    Abstract: A suspension device for a lowerable luggage stowage compartment has at least one spring element for assisting the movement of the compartment into a closed position against the force of gravity, and at least one damping element for damping the movement of the compartment into an opened position. A weight detector detects the weight of the compartment, and at least one additional spring element can be actuated based on the detected weight of the compartment. A retention device is provided for fixing the additional spring element. The suspension device provides a compartment that is easy to handle and easy to close even when fully loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Fischer Advanced Composite Components AG
    Inventors: Walter Alfred Stephan, Hermann Filsegger
  • Patent number: 7097138
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overhead luggage container (1), particularly for airlines, comprising a reinforcing structure (11) which is connected to the container (1) and which is disposed essentially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the container (1), and at least one device (5) for suspension on a carrying structure (2) of the plane. In order to create a container (1) which can be subjected to relatively high static strain without running the risk that the container (1) will fall on the passengers sitting below, while at the same time reducing technical complexity in production and reducing the weight of the container, at least one respective rigid connecting element (17) is arranged to the side of the container (1) between the reinforcing structure (11) and the suspension device (5) in a substantially vertical manner with respect to the longitudinal extension of the container (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Advanced Composite Components AG
    Inventors: Walter Alfred Stephan, Hermann Filsegger, Erich Pamminger
  • Patent number: 7011276
    Abstract: A carrying or guiding device for aircraft components, in particular for landing flaps arranged on an aircraft wing, including a carrier having a substantially U-shaped section with substantially parallel side walls, and a cover plate arranged at the open side. To minimize weight, facilitate manufacture and mounting, and provide sufficient strength, the carrier and the cover plate are made of fiber reinforced plastic, in particular of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced plastic. The connection between the carrier and the cover plate and any possible connecting elements is preferably provided by gluing and, possibly, by additional rivet or screw connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fischer Advanced Composite Components AG
    Inventor: Walter Alfred Stephan
  • Publication number: 20040245897
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension device for lowerable luggage stowage compartments (21) comprising at least one spring element (1) for assisting the movement of the compartment (21) into its closed position contrary to gravity, and at least one damping element (2) for damping the movement of the compartment (21) into its opened position, and comprising a means for detecting the weight of the compartment (21) and at least one additional spring element (25) capable of being activated or switched over in dependence on the detected weight of the compartment (21), a retention device (13, 36) being provided for fixing the at least one additional spring element (25), as well as to a lowerable luggage stowage compartment (21) comprising such a suspension device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Walter Alfred Stephan, Hermann Filsegger