Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David S. Safran
  • Patent number: 7083226
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof plate which has a transparent plastic area to which a peripheral plastic edge is molded which is used especially as a cover visor and which extends downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Miriam Schoenauer, Joachim Birkner, Michael Koelbl, Alexander Lang, Rudi Muttenhammer, Martin Pollak, Ralf Schwaighofer, Friedhelm Wulf, Jean-Guy Cocaign
  • Patent number: 7078868
    Abstract: A low cost DC—DC converter which facilitates a reduction of the switching loss in a wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source; an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device; a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device; a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state; a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil; an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device. The main switching device and the auxiliary switching device are controlled such that each are alternatively shifted into the ON state such that the main switching device is shifted into the ON state within a given time after the auxiliary switching device has been shifted into the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Samejima, Masashi Okamoto, Yoshikazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7077462
    Abstract: A modular roof of an automobile (1) comprising a bodyshell roof structure (2) which has a front and rear transverse member (3 or 4) and a right and left side member (5 or 6). The modular roof has at least two modular roof elements (7, 14, 15) which are fixed directly to the roof structure (2). The modular roof elements (7, 14, 15), which extend over the entire breadth of the roof structure, are preferably fixed, especially releasably fixed, to the side members (5, 6) which lie opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 7078867
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter which accomplishes a reduction of the switching loss in the wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source, an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device, a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device, a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state, a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil, an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device, in which the auxiliary coil and the resonant capacitor are series-connected to form a LC series connection. Further, the LC series connection, the main switching device and the fly-wheel diode are also series connected, with the auxiliary switching device being connected in parallel to the LC series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Samejima, Masashi Okamoto, Yoshikazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7073851
    Abstract: A guide rail (10) for the roof opening system of a motor vehicle has several lengthwise guide rail segments (12, 14) which are located in succession in the guidance direction (a), and at least one adapter (16) located in a transition area between adjacent guide rail segments (12, 14). The adapter provides for a continuous guide transition (22) between the coaxial guideways (18, 20) of the adjacent guide rail segments (12, 14). In such a guide rail, viewed over the length of the guide rail, guideways and cable channels can also be arranged nonuniformly and the guide rail segments can be made completely individually, especially optimized for the respective area of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Seifert
  • Patent number: 7070018
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door with a door lock unit located on the edge side with mechanical latching elements such as a latch and ratchet, with a preferably electrical opening drive for triggering the latching elements which is preferably integrated into the door lock unit, with a mechanical inside actuating element for emergency mechanical triggering of the latching elements, which is mechanically connected to the door lock unit, and with an the electrical inside actuating element for normal operational triggering of the opening drive for actuating the latching elements, which is connected by electrical-control technology to the opening drive. It is structurally optimized in that the mechanical inside actuating element is located on the inside of the motor vehicle door in the immediate vicinity of the door lock unit, its preferably being connected directly or only with a minimum intermediate mechanism to the inside actuating lever of the door lock unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Brose Schliessysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Checrallah Kachouh
  • Patent number: 7071583
    Abstract: A uniaxial drive unit is provided with a tiltable pulse generating device having a joystick, which generates a continuous pulse of a frequency corresponding to the tilt angle of the joystick, and a rotary encoder having a knob, which generates a pulse of a frequency corresponding to the turning speed of the knob and generates pulses of the number corresponding to the turning angle of the knob to drive a linear motor. High-speed and medium-speed operations are carried out by using the tiltable pulse generating device, and low-speed fine feed is carried out by using the rotary encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7066518
    Abstract: A cabriolet vehicle with a combined convertible top-luggage stowage space (16), of which one partial volume constitutes a the convertible top stowage volume (14) and another partial volume constitutes a luggage stowage volume which borders the convertible top stowage volume (14), has a checking device (24, 30, 34) for checking the convertible top stowage volume (14). The checking device has a movement element (24) that can be moved along a boundary (22) which separates the convertible top stowage volume (14) from the luggage stowage volume and which can be remotely controlled. The movement element is driven by a drive device (30) and is provided with sensors (34, 36) such that, during the motion of the movement element (24) preparatory to stowage of a hard top convertible roof, the presence of articles which project from the luggage stowage volume into the convertible top stowage volume (14) can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Dintner, Peter Reihl
  • Patent number: 7062950
    Abstract: A measurement device with a cylindrical housing (2), with a sensor element and with an adjustment element (6) made, for example, as a potentiometer, for setting at least one parameter of the measurement device. The measurement device (1) is especially easily and still accurately and reproducibly settable by there being at least one rotary adjustment ring, the adjustment ring being made as a housing sleeve (7) for setting the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Benno Kathan
  • Patent number: 7063139
    Abstract: A system for heating and cooling the interior of a motor vehicle includes a first climate control device designed to heat or cool the front area of the interior, and a second climate control device designed to heat or cool the rear area of the interior. A first evaporator is connectable to a cooling circuit assigned to the first climate control device and a second evaporator is connectable to a second cooling circuit assigned to the second climate control device. The second evaporator is located in a latent storage in order to charge the latent storage with cold and the second climate control device contains a first heat exchanger designed to transfer the cold removed via the heat transfer medium circuit or the second cooling agent circuit from the latent storage for cooling of the rear area of the interior by an air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme International GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Horn, Noureddine Khelifa, Steffen Korfmann
  • Patent number: 7063378
    Abstract: A cover for an opening in the roof surface of a motor vehicle including a glass pane which is provided with peripheral foam at its bottom surface in the edge area at least over a part of the periphery. On the edge of the peripheral foam which points toward the middle of the glass pane, an undercut is formed between the bottom surface of the glass pane and the peripheral foam, the undercut extending at least 3 mm into the peripheral foam. A method for manufacturing such a cover is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Guido Bott, Thomas Schroeferl, Michael Wallisch, Karl Stangl
  • Patent number: 7064293
    Abstract: A heating element for preheating intake air for an internal combustion engine and having a housing for attaching the heating element to an air intake line of the internal combustion engine. At least one heating strip (1), which runs in windings (1a), is held in the housing and is provided with electrical terminals (6) that lead from the housing to the outside. The heating strip (1) is held in the housing by a support (3) running between two housing walls, which runs, electrically insulated, through the windings (1a) of the heating strip (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Steffen Geiger, Thomas Giffels, Martin Eller, Ullrich Stephan, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 7055373
    Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the inner diameter dimension of a work capable of easily and accurately measuring the inner diameter dimension of the work with a simple structure; the method, comprising the steps of feeding compressed air to the inner peripheral part of a master with a known inner diameter dimension to detect a back pressure, calculating back pressure characteristics showing a relation between the inner diameter dimension and the back pressure from the measured result, feeding compressed air to the inner peripheral part of the work based to be measured to detect a back pressure, and measuring the inner diameter characteristics, whereby the inner diameter dimension of the work can be measured without rotating the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsutori
  • Patent number: 7058192
    Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Gerd M Müller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 7055879
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a passenger utility vehicle, e.g., a station wagon or SUV with a cargo space (3) which is located in the rear (2) of the vehicle, a cargo floor (16) which can be extended rearward, a cargo space door (44) for opening and closing the rear cargo space opening, and at least one roof movable panel for opening and closing a roof opening, in which a continuous opening combining the rear cargo space opening and the roof opening is formed when both the at least one rear roof panel and the cargo space door are in their open positions. In one advantageous embodiment, the cargo space door (44) is mounted to the vehicle body by a four bar mechanism for movement outward and downward from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 7057346
    Abstract: An ultra-high pressure mercury lamp is provided in which the disadvantage caused by projections formed on the electrode tips during operation can be eliminated. This is achieved by an arrangement in which a silica glass arc tube, filled with at least 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury, rare gas and halogen in the range from 10?6 ?mole/mm3 to 10?2 ?mole/mm3, includes a pair of opposed electrodes spaced a distance of at most 2 mm. Additionally, at least one of the electrodes includes a part with a greater diameter which is formed on the electrode shaft using a melting process, a projection which is formed by the tip of the electrode shaft, and a part with a decreasing diameter which extends from the part with the greater diameter in the direction toward the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tukamoto, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7055337
    Abstract: A system with an internal combustion engine which has a heat transfer circuit, a fuel cell and a climate control unit which is accommodated in the heat transfer circuit of the internal combustion engine. The system has a heat transfer arrangement for transferring the exhaust heat of the fuel cell to the heat transfer circuit and a bypass for bridging a segment of the heat transfer circuit which runs through the internal combustion engine so that, in the bypassed operating state, an isolated circuit is formed. In stationary operation, this enables an optimized operating mode since the internal combustion engine is no longer heated and the exhaust heat of the fuel cell is fully available for heating purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme International GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Horn, Noureddine Khelifa, Alexander Kolb
  • Patent number: 7057345
    Abstract: A short arc discharge lamp has improved starting properties in which there is no danger of damaging the arc tube that surrounds a discharge space and in which the radiant light from the arc tube is not adversely shielded. This is achieved by providing the short arc discharge lamp with a first electrode having an electrical potential and to which a high voltage is applied, and a second electrode opposite the first at a in spaced relationship. Additionally, in the discharge space, there is positioned at least one conductive component with a tip projecting into the discharge space. The conductive component has an electrical potential which is identical to the electrical potential of the first electrode and has a tip spaced a distance from the second electrode which is greater than the distance between the first and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuro Kikuchi, Yoichiro Higashimoto, Takeo Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7048327
    Abstract: A cover panel for closing a roof opening has a panel body, a support frame for the panel body, and a seal member having a substantially rigid mounting portion mounted on an edge of the support frame and extending around an outer circumferential edge of the panel body, and a resilient hollow seal portion for engaging the outer circumferential edge of the panel body. An arrangement is provided by which water passing between the seal portion and the circumferential edge can pass be drained away. Furthermore, a glass support portion of the seal member is bifurcated, having a flexibly hinged upwardly angled flange portion that is deformed downward upon placement of the glass pane to insure correct Z-axis (vertical) positioning of the glass pane forming the panel body and to prevent adhesive from flowing between the panel body and the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Products North America
    Inventors: Tom Mack, J. Dean Krauss, Kenny J. Minicuci, Daniel Harel, Jean Guy Cocaign, Robert Tad Magruder, Weilou Gao
  • Patent number: 7048571
    Abstract: An electrical terminal has a housing including at least one side wall with two elongated holes, the two elongated holes are positioned spaced apart on a common circular path. The terminal also includes a busbar and at least two insulation piercing elements which produce electrical contact between the inserted conductor and the busbar. The electrical terminal includes at least two actuating elements arranged so as to turn relative to the insulation piercing elements in the electrical terminal. The actuating elements further includes two journals. Each journal is located in a corresponding one of the elongated holes and is restricted so that the actuating element, when pivoted out of a first position in which the insertion of an incoming conductor is possible into a second position in which the conductor makes contact with the insulation piercing element, is guided and restricted by the movement of the journals within the elongated holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Bernd Wilinski