IP Library Granted Patent US 8,356,832
Granted Patent B2
US 8,356,832 · App. 12/721,675 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Method for folding in or folding out an electrically operated trailer coupling, and electrically operated trailer coupling

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,356,832
App. No.
12/721,675
Granted
Jan 22, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for folding in or folding out an electrically operated trailer coupling for vehicles which can be moved electrically between a folded-out use position and a folded-in rest position with excess force limitation, an actuating device is provided for activating the trailer coupling. A brief actuation of the actuating device results in an automatic adjusting movement of the trailer coupling in the folding-in or folding-out direction. In the method, in the event of a continuous actuation of the actuating device, the excess force limitation threshold is increased during the automatic adjusting process of the trailer coupling, and after the actuating device is released, the automatic adjusting process is continued with the original excess force limitation threshold until the trailer coupling has reached its use or rest position.

Claims (5)

1. A method for one of folding in and folding out an electrically operated trailer coupling for vehicles which can be moved electrically between a folded-out use position and a folded-in rest position with excess force limitation, the method comprising:

performing an automatic adjusting movement of the trailer coupling in one of a folding-in direction and a folding-out direction with a first excess force limitation threshold during an automatic adjusting process in response to a tapping actuation of an actuating device;

increasing the excess force limitation threshold during the automatic adjusting process of the trailer coupling in response to a continuous actuation of the actuating device; and

continuing the automatic adjusting process with the first excess force limitation threshold until the trailer coupling has reached one of a use position and a rest position, after the actuating device is released.

2. The method according to claim 1 , in response to the continuous actuation of the actuating device, the excess force limitation threshold is raised continuously and, in response to the release of the actuating device the excess force limitation threshold is reduced to the first excess force limitation threshold.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
Reel/Frame 025346/0895 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 10, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 025339/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: ZELZ, MARTIN
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
Reel/Frame 025332/0860 →