Patents by Inventor Winfried Schlabs

Winfried Schlabs 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: 11594841
    Abstract: A locking device for an electrical charging device of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle. The locking device is equipped with a movable bolt element, which is provided for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket of the electrical charging device. In addition, the movable bolt element can be moved at least into the positions “unlocked” and “locked.” Furthermore, a motor-driven drive is realized, which is provided for moving the bolt element. According to the invention, the bolt element can be moved into a third “self-locked” position beyond the “locked” position, which can be reached by means of the drive and in which unlocking is impossible without the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Benjamin Djedovic, Fatih Özdogan
  • Patent number: 11566691
    Abstract: An electromotive drive for motor vehicle applications. In particular, the electromotive drive is part of a locking device of an electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles. For this purpose, an electric motor and a multistage transmission which is arranged downstream of the electric motor are provided as drive elements for acting on an actuating element, and a drive housing which houses drive elements is also provided. The actuating element is a locking element of the locking device for example. The drive housing is equipped with inner and/or edge-side protrusions. The protrusions have direct bearing points for individual drive elements or all of the drive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Djedovic, Tim Sonnenschein, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 11555539
    Abstract: An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Benjamin Djedovic
  • Patent number: 11536057
    Abstract: A locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and at least one Bowden cable, which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the help of the Bowden cable and a functional unit, which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, and wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the functional unit at least in an assisting manner or an actuation can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Inga Heinzen
  • Patent number: 11479996
    Abstract: A method for actuating a motor vehicle lock and a locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and a Bowden cable arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the aid of the Bowden cable, and a functional unit arranged on the Bowden cable and comprising an electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Klaus Götzen, Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer, Thorsten Bendel, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
  • Patent number: 11325487
    Abstract: An electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles, said connection device being equipped with a charging plug socket, a charging plug, a movable locking element for releasably locking the charging plug in the charging plug socket, and a drive for moving the locking element, said drive having an electric motor and a multistage transmission for acting on the locking element. The multistage transmission has individual shafts, each of which is arranged parallel to the output shaft of the electric motor as part of the drive. The device may use gearing to actuate a sensor to determine how far one of the individual shafts has rotated. An emergency unlocking crank may be mounted to a separate shaft that is engageable with one of the individual shafts via a cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Djedovic, Tim Sonnenschein, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
  • Publication number: 20210180674
    Abstract: An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Claus TÖPFER, Winfried SCHLABS, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Benjamin DJEDOVIC
  • Publication number: 20210075160
    Abstract: A locking device for an electrical charging device of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle. The locking device is equipped with a movable bolt element, which is provided for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket of the electrical charging device. In addition, the movable bolt element can be moved at least into the positions “unlocked” and “locked.” Furthermore, a motor-driven drive is realized, which is provided for moving the bolt element. According to the invention, the bolt element can be moved into a third “self-locked” position beyond the “locked” position, which can be reached by means of the drive and in which unlocking is impossible without the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Claus TÖPFER, Winfried SCHLABS, Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Fatih ÖZDOGAN
  • Publication number: 20210010572
    Abstract: An electromotive drive for motor vehicle applications. In particular, the electromotive drive is part of a locking device of an electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles. For this purpose, an electric motor and a multistage transmission which is arranged downstream of the electric motor are provided as drive elements for acting on an actuating element, and a drive housing which houses drive elements is also provided. The actuating element is a locking element of the locking device for example. The drive housing is equipped with inner and/or edge-side protrusions. The protrusions have direct bearing points for individual drive elements or all of the drive elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Winfried SCHLABS, Claus TÖPFER
  • Publication number: 20210008990
    Abstract: An electric connection device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles, said connection device being equipped with a charging plug socket, a charging plug, a movable locking element for releasably locking the charging plug in the charging plug socket, and a drive for moving the locking element, said drive having an electric motor and a multistage transmission for acting on the locking element. The multistage transmission has individual shafts, each of which is arranged parallel to the output shaft of the electric motor as part of the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin DJEDOVIC, Tim SONNENSCHEIN, Winfried SCHLABS, Claus TÖPFER
  • Patent number: 10829968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle lock, in particular a motor-vehicle door lock. In order to provide a reliable assembly and a reliable operation for said lock, the drive housing 6 of the servo closing function 2 is designed to function simultaneously as a Bowden cable bearing 8 and as a receiving chamber or shaft 14 for the micro-switch 15. The drive housing 6 has a robust, compact design and allows the micro-switch 15 to be sited securely in the drive housing 6 always in the same place. This also remains the case as the securing cover 10 is fixed in the drive housing 6 by means of a clip 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Claus Topfer, Christian Sentzke, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
  • Publication number: 20190316388
    Abstract: A method for actuating a motor vehicle lock and a locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and a Bowden cable arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the aid of the Bowden cable, and a functional unit arranged on the Bowden cable and comprising an electric drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Klaus Götzen, Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer, Thorsten Bendel, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
  • Publication number: 20190292816
    Abstract: A locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and at least one Bowden cable, which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the help of the Bowden cable and a functional unit, which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, and wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the functional unit at least in an assisting manner or an actuation can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Claus Töpfer, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein, Inga Heinzen
  • Patent number: 9828792
    Abstract: Actuating unit for automotive applications, especially motor vehicle door locks (1), comprising a drive (2) and with a linear actuator (3, 4) which can be pressurised by the drive (2), wherein the drive (2) and the linear actuator (3, 4) are arranged at an angle, and especially at a right angle, to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
  • Patent number: 9725931
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor element and a drive for moving the motor element, a Bowden cable connected to the motor element and a connecting element for the Bowden cable. The invention further relates to a method of production. The aim of the invention is to simplify production of an actuating unit having a Bowden cable. According to the invention, the connecting element for the Bowden cable is angular, especially L-shaped, and a leg thereof, in the case of an L shape preferably the long leg thereof, is connected to the remainder of the housing. The angular form or L shape and the connection of one leg of such a shape to the remainder of the housing of the motor element results in a large surface or a large peripheral edge of the connecting part which can be connected to the remainder of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
  • Publication number: 20170037664
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle lock, in particular a motor-vehicle door lock. In order to provide a reliable assembly and a reliable operation for said lock, the drive housing 6 of the servo closing function 2 is designed to function simultaneously as a Bowden cable bearing 8 and as a receiving chamber or shaft 14 for the micro-switch 15. The drive housing 6 has a robust, compact design and allows the micro-switch 15 to be sited securely in the drive housing 6 always in the same place. This also remains the case as the securing cover 10 is fixed in the drive housing 6 by means of a clip 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Claus Topfer, Christian Sentzke, Winfried Schlabs, Tim Sonnenschein
  • Patent number: 9541156
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is an actuator unit for motor vehicle applications, in particular motor vehicle door locks (1). This actuator unit has in its basic design a housing (8a, 8b), in addition a drive (2) which is arranged in the housing (8a, 8b), an actuator element (3, 4) which can be acted on by the drive (2), and at least one rubber bearing (10) for the drive (2). According to the invention, the housing (8a, 8b) is equipped with mounting projections (15) which are arranged distributed on the circumference of the rubber bearing (10), in the region of a rubber bearing mount (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Blumenthal, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
  • Publication number: 20150267440
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating unit for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a motor element and a drive for moving the motor element, a Bowden cable connected to the motor element and a connecting element for the Bowden cable. The invention further relates to a method of production. The aim of the invention is to simplify production of an actuating unit having a Bowden cable. According to the invention, the connecting element for the Bowden cable is angular, especially L-shaped, and a leg thereof, in the case of an L shape preferably the long leg thereof, is connected to the remainder of the housing. The angular form or L shape and the connection of one leg of such a shape to the remainder of the housing of the motor element results in a large surface or a large peripheral edge of the connecting part which can be connected to the remainder of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs
  • Publication number: 20140217748
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is an actuator unit for motor vehicle applications, in particular motor vehicle door locks (1). This actuator unit has in its basic design a housing (8a, 8b), in addition a drive (2) which is arranged in the housing (8a, 8b), an actuator element (3, 4) which can be acted on by the drive (2), and at least one rubber bearing (10) for the drive (2). According to the invention, the housing (8a, 8b) is equipped with mounting projections (15) which are arranged distributed on the circumference of the rubber bearing (10), in the region of a rubber bearing mount (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Frank Blumenthal, Winfried Schlabs, Claus Töpfer
  • Publication number: 20130152645
    Abstract: Actuating unit for automotive applications, especially motor vehicle door locks (1), comprising a drive (2) and with an actuator (3, 4) which can be pressurised by the drive (2), wherein the actuator (3, 4) is wholly or partially made of plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Topfer, Winfried Schlabs