Patents by Inventor Robert Birndorfer

Robert Birndorfer 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: 8388051
    Abstract: A vehicle roof comprising at least one cover element, which selectively closes or at least partially exposes a roof opening and which, with respect to the vehicle longitudinal center plane, comprises a carrier element on either side, said carrier element being provided with a gate and interacting with an adjusting device, which is guided in a guide rail arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction and comprises a carriage element, which interacts with the gate of the respective carrier element at least in order to pivot the cover element and comprises a guide section on which the carrier element rests. The guide section is formed by a wall of a plastic component, which can be elastically deformed and give way in a hollow space formed by the plastic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Manfred Faerber, Robert Birndorfer, Martin Pollak
  • Patent number: 8246111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening, which can be closed and opened, in a roof panel of a vehicle. According to the invention it is contemplated that an elastic element, which is fixed with respect to the frame of the roof opening, engages on the wind deflector arm and applies a force thereon in of the longitudinal direction, and an arm, which at one end is connected to the wind deflector arm rotatably about the transverse direction, is mounted at the other end rotatably with respect to the frame of the roof opening in of the transverse direction. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a wind deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Webasto SE
    Inventors: Erwin Kohout, Robert Birndorfer, Norbert Elbs
  • Publication number: 20110285180
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening, which can be closed and opened, in a roof panel of a vehicle. According to the invention it is contemplated that an elastic element, which is fixed with respect to the frame of the roof opening, engages on the wind deflector arm and applies a force thereon in of the longitudinal direction, and an arm, which at one end is connected to the wind deflector arm rotatably about the transverse direction, is mounted at the other end rotatably with respect to the frame of the roof opening in of the transverse direction. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a wind deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Erwin Kohout, Robert Birndorfer, Norbert Elbs
  • Publication number: 20110260504
    Abstract: A vehicle roof comprising at least one cover element, which selectively closes or at least partially exposes a roof opening and which, with respect to the vehicle longitudinal center plane, comprises a carrier element on either side, said carrier element being provided with a gate and interacting with an adjusting device, which is guided in a guide rail arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction and comprises a carriage element, which interacts with the gate of the respective carrier element at least in order to pivot the cover element and comprises a guide section on which the carrier element rests. The guide section is formed by a wall of a plastic component, which can be elastically deformed and give way in a hollow space formed by the plastic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Manfred Faerber, Robert Birndorfer, Martin Pollak
  • Patent number: 7731275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a roof opening with a flange surrounding the roof opening, on which a roof module with a roof frame comprising at least one frame member can be inserted through the roof opening from above, with guide rails arranged on the roof frame and with at least one roof section supported on these guide rails can be attached. The invention teaches that the roof frame is provided with a sealing frame which surrounds all sides of the roof opening which can be attached onto the flange from above, on which the guide rails and the frame members are attached, and which is sealed by means of at least one seal against the flange, and that furthermore mounting elements are provided through which the guide rails on the underside of the flange can be connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Stockdorf
    Inventors: Alexander Bergmiller, Walter Schätzler, Dominik Hölzel, Robert Birndorfer
  • Publication number: 20090085382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a roof opening with a flange surrounding the roof opening, on which a roof module with a roof frame comprising at least one frame member can be inserted through the roof opening from above, with guide rails arranged on the roof frame and with at least one roof section supported on these guide rails can be attached. The invention teaches that the roof frame is provided with a sealing frame which surrounds all sides of the roof opening which can be attached onto the flange from above, on which the guide rails and the frame members are attached, and which is sealed by means of at least one seal against the flange, and that furthermore mounting elements are provided through which the guide rails on the underside of the flange can be connected to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Alexander BERGMILLER, Walter Schatzler, Dominik Holzel, Robert Birndorfer
  • Patent number: 6523889
    Abstract: In a device for influencing the air flow in the area of the roof opening (10) of an openable motor vehicle roof with at least one wind deflector (14) which is located to be vertically displaceable in the area of the front edge of the roof opening between a neutral position in which the top of the wind deflector does not project over the fixed roof surface, and an extended position in which the top of the wind deflector does project over the fixed roof surface, the wind deflector can be selectively moved into at least one first extended position in which an air flow streaming over the motor vehicle roof (20) is routed exclusively over the top of the wind deflector, and into at least one second extended position in which an air flow streaming over the motor vehicle roof is routed at least partially under the wind deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Birndorfer, Helmut Höckmayr, Saman Hekmat, Stephan Schreiter
  • Patent number: 6357823
    Abstract: In a device for influencing the air flow in the area of the roof opening (12) of an openable motor vehicle roof with a wind deflector (18) which is located in the area of the front edge of the roof opening and which is pivotably mounted on a roof-mounted frame (16) and can be raised into an operating position under the influence of a spring force (20), there is at least one stop (28) which is independent of the adjustment mechanism of other movable roof components (14) in order to limit the raising motion of the wind deflector (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Birndorfer, Helmut Höckmayr, Michael Hanke
  • Publication number: 20010017479
    Abstract: In a device for influencing the air flow in the area of the roof opening (10) of an openable motor vehicle roof with at least one wind deflector (14) which is located to be vertically displaceable in the area of the front edge of the roof opening between a neutral position in which the top of the wind deflector does not project over the fixed roof surface, and an extended position in which the top of the wind deflector does project over the fixed roof surface, the wind deflector can be selectively moved into at least one first extended position in which an air flow streaming over the motor vehicle roof (20) is routed exclusively over the top of the wind deflector, and into at least one second extended position in which an air flow streaming over the motor vehicle roof is routed at least partially under the wind deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Birndorfer, Helmut Hockmayr, Saman Hekmat, Stephan Schreiter