Patents by Inventor Egbert Boersma

Egbert Boersma 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: 8449025
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a roof assembly for a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof. It comprises a stationary part having longitudinal guides positioned on either side of the roof opening. A closure is movable at least between a closed position closing the roof opening and an open position in which the closure is at least partly opening the roof opening. A closure operating mechanism is provided for opening and closing the closure, and is sliding in said longitudinal guides when opening and closing the closure. The longitudinal guides each comprise at least a drain channel and a water drainage member for draining water from said longitudinal drain channel to a water drainage hose. Each water drainage member communicates with the respective drain channel on one end, and connects to the corresponding water drainage hose on its opposite end to form a drain. A sieve member for catching debris but allowing water to run through is provided in the drain upstream of said water drainage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Egbert Boersma, Michael Cornelis Anthonius Relouw, Danny Wilhelmus Arend Kok, Leonardus Gerardus Maria Verbeek
  • Publication number: 20110181077
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a roof assembly for a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof. It comprises a stationary part having longitudinal guides positioned on either side of the roof opening. A closure is movable at least between a closed position closing the roof opening and an open position in which the closure is at least partly opening the roof opening. A closure operating mechanism is provided for opening and closing the closure, and is sliding in said longitudinal guides when opening and closing the closure. The longitudinal guides each comprise at least a drain channel and a water drainage member for draining water from said longitudinal drain channel to a water drainage hose. Each water drainage member communicates with the respective drain channel on one end, and connects to the corresponding water drainage hose on its opposite end to form a drain. A sieve member for catching debris but allowing water to run through is provided in the drain upstream of said water drainage member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Egbert Boersma, Michael Cornelis Anthonius Relouw, Danny Wilhelmus Arend Kok, Leonardus Gerardus Maria Verbeek
  • Patent number: 7055898
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a vehicle, having an opening (1) in its fixed roof (2), comprises a frame and a closure element (4) which can be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism (5) including a driving slide (6). The closure element is at least movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open position, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. The frame (3) is fitted with at least one longitudinal guide track (7). The closure element (4) is supported near its front side by a front support (11–13) which is movably guided by said longitudinal guide track (7), and which is supported rearwards thereof by a lifting device (8–10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Peter C. L. J. Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Patent number: 6942285
    Abstract: A vehicle has a roof assembly for opening an opening in its fixed roof. The roof assembly includes a frame attached to the vehicle roof and a panel which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism including a driving slide. The panel is movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open, rearward position for being at least partially above the roof behind the roof opening, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. The frame is fitted with at least one front longitudinal guide track extending at least along the roof opening, whereas a rear longitudinal guide track is mounted at least substantially rearward of the roof opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Publication number: 20050116512
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a vehicle, having an opening (1) in its fixed roof (2), comprises a frame and a closure element (4) which can be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism (5) including a driving slide (6). The closure element is at least movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open position, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. The frame (3) is fitted with at least one longitudinal guide track (7). The closure element (4) is supported near its front side by a front support (11-13) which is movably guided by said longitudinal guide track (7), and which is supported rearwards thereof by a lifting device (8-10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems
    Inventors: Peter, Christian, Leonardus, Johannes Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Patent number: 6652023
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening includes a closure element for the roof opening, which is driven by a driving element. The closure element can be locked in at least one position with respect to the vehicle, whilst the driving element can be disconnected from the closure element in that position for the purpose of driving another element. A coupling arm is pivotally connected to the closure element and engages the driving element. The coupling arm, in a first pivoted position thereof, is substantially rigidly connected to the driving element, and in a second pivoted position the closure element is fixed in position with respect to the vehicle the guide, whilst on the other hand the driving element is made movable with respect to the coupling arm and the closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Publication number: 20030141748
    Abstract: A vehicle has a roof assembly for opening an opening in its fixed roof. The roof assembly includes a frame attached to the vehicle roof and a panel which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism including a driving slide. The panel is movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open, rearward position for being at least partially above the roof behind the roof opening, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. The frame is fitted with at least one front longitudinal guide track extending at least along the roof opening, whereas a rear longitudinal guide track is mounted at least substantially rearward of the roof opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Publication number: 20020167204
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening includes a closure element for the roof opening, which is driven by a driving element. The closure element can be locked in at least one position with respect to the vehicle, while the driving element can be disconnected from the closure element in that position for the purpose of driving another element. A coupling arm is pivotally connected to said closure element and engages the driving element. The coupling arm, in a first pivoted position thereof, is substantially rigidly connected to the driving element, and in a second pivoted position the closure element is fixed in position with respect to the vehicle said guide, whilst on the other hand the driving element is made movable with respect to the coupling arm and the closure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Egbert Boersma
  • Patent number: 6273500
    Abstract: A panel assembly for an open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a panel of plastic material, a stiffening frame extending along the circumference of the panel assembly and connecting means for connecting said panel and said stiffening frame to each other. The stiffening frame is positioned substantially externally of the plastic panel. The connecting means consist of an encapsulation formed at least externally around said panel, which consists of a non-transparent material which is softer than the panel material and whose upper side is substantially flush with the upper side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Egbert Boersma, Wilhelm Maria Theresia Hendricus Schrans
  • Patent number: 6257658
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a panel for selectively closing or at least partially releasing the roof opening. An operating mechanism comprises a link formed of a metal plate or the like, which is connected to said closing element and which is fixed at the location of points of attachment. The link is provided with a slot for guiding a pin or the like, which slot is defined by plastic material on at least one side (upper side or underside), which plastic material is at least partially enclosed by metal plate on two sides (left side/right side). The link is formed of a single metal plate, at least at the location of said points of attachment. The plastic material of the link slot may consist of a rubbery base layer and of a sliding layer having a low coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs, Petrus Gerardus Marie Reivers, Egbert Boersma
  • Patent number: 6213544
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof comprises a closing device for selectively closing or at least partially opening the roof opening. A driving element for the closing device comprises an outgoing driving wheel. At least one pull-push cable for providing the connection between the driving element and the closing device is guided in a cable guide and over the circumference of the driving wheel for adjustment of the cable by means of the driving element. The cable guide is provided with adaptation elements for adapting the course of the cable guide to the diameter of the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Egbert Boersma
  • Patent number: 6102456
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manually moving closure an open roof construction for a vehicle between closed and opened positions. This apparatus includes an element which is removably connected to a securing element to be secured to a frame of the open roof construction and which is held in a connected position by a locking device. The locking device includes a locking member which is displaceable between locking and unlocking positions. The locking member is loaded to a locking position by a spring and displacement from the locking position to the unlocking position has the same direction as the releasing movement of the element with respect to the securing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Egbert Boersma