Patents Assigned to ITW Automotive Products GmbH
  • Publication number: 20080197241
    Abstract: A retainer for a conduit, cable or the like, preferably a fluid conduit in an automobile, includes a retainer body having attaching portions to be mounted to an automobile body part, damping portions for dampening conduit vibrations, an insertion portion that constricts from the outside to the inside, and a receiving portion for the conduit. The retainer body is integrally molded of a plastic material. The receiving portion has three or more engaging portions which are arranged circumferentially of and engage the conduit and which are connected by resilient arms to the retainer body in a manner that, in the event of conduit vibrations, the resilient arms shall yield easily and elastically like leaf springs in all axial and radial directions and shall decouple the vibration-induced forces from the automobile body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Christian Willrich Bauer
  • Publication number: 20080199272
    Abstract: A fastener to affix a component in a support fitted with an aperture, comprising an affixation casing of resilient plastic, further a hollow conical shell, and at one end a radial flange that cooperates in sealing manner with the support surface facing it when the affixation casing has been mounted in said aperture, the casing being fitted peripherally with radial bosses, ribs or the like that engage from below the aperture rim when the affixation casing, being temporarily deformed radially at its bosses, ribs or the like is being inserted into said aperture, further comprising a plastic core which is fitted with a head and which can be inserted from the affixation casing's flanged end into the core cavity and which radially expands the casing and prevents it from being removable from the aperture, characterized by at least one radially inwardly pointing boss on the wall of the casing cavity and by the core being fitted at its end with a preferably peripheral groove that is entered by said boss when the core
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Limpert, Udo Henkelmann
  • Publication number: 20080196770
    Abstract: A valve mounted in a circular aperture in an approximately horizontal automobile body part, comprising a valve body fitted with means that shall be in-stalled in sealing manner in said aperture, further a valve element that in its closed position cooperates in sealing manner with the said valve body and that in its open position allows water draining from top to bottom, characterized in that the valve element is rotationally symmetrical and designed in a manner that it shall float up at a water pressure underneath it and be adjusted thereby into the closed position and in that the valve element comprises a conical segment resting in sealing manner against the edge facing it of the cross-sectionally circular passage of the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Ruckel, Frank Eckstein
  • Publication number: 20080193251
    Abstract: A fastener, for connecting a first component having a first hole to a second component having a second hole, includes a cage which is fitted at its end with a radial flange and further a cross-sectionally rectangular or square shank segment. This shank segment is insertable into the second hole of the second component, for resting against the associated side of the second component. A nut is at least partly axially received in the cage and is rotatable from a first rotational position in the cage into a second rotational position. The nut has an axial borehole to receive an affixation screw and also comprises at its outside the diametrically opposite wing elements, where, upon rotation of the nut from the first into the second rotational position, the wing elements will be pulled on account of the affixation screw's rotation in the nut against the other side of the second component, with a head of the affixation screw resting against the first component and compressing latter against the cage flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Albert Sbongk
  • Patent number: 7392769
    Abstract: A cooling system for a combustion engine having a cooling passage system in an engine block comprising a main cooler HWK which is arranged in a cycle with the cooling passage system of the combustion engine, a water pump and a first thermostat TH1 in said cycle, a hot water heat exchanger HWT which is connected to the water pump 12 through a bypass and a bypass valve, a second thermostat TH2 in the bypass passage, the opening temperature of the thermostat valve of the second thermostat TH2 is significantly lower than the opening temperature of the thermostat valve of the first thermostat TH1, the thermostats being arranged such that upon closed thermostat valve B of the second thermostat TH2 below its opening temperature a minimum amount of water flows through the cooling passage system through the heat exchanger HWT, upon opened thermostat valve B of the second thermostat TH2 a larger amount of water flows through the cooling passage system from its opening temperature on and upon the opening temperature of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Carsten Heldberg
  • Publication number: 20080135633
    Abstract: Thermostat valve arrangement for the cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine in which a main valve member of a main valve is movably mounted in a housing which may be pressed against a main valve seat by a spring, in which a bypass valve member of a bypass valve is further provided which co-operates with a bypass valve seat in the housing and in which a first section of an expansion element (DWE) co-operates with an abutment fixed to the housing and a second section co-operates with the main valve member and the bypass valve member such that the main valve or bypass valve is selectively closed and/or opened, in order to produce the cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine by means of a radiator or a bypass, the main valve seat being formed by a conical seat surface in the housing, the main valve member forming a valve unit with an axially spaced piston-shaped bypass valve member, which valve unit receives the expansion element in an axial recess in one direction in an axially secure manner,
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Heldberg, Thomas Bather
  • Patent number: 7380861
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic fuel inlet compartment which can be inserted into an opening in the bodywork of a motor vehicle. The invention is characterized by a two-hole embodiment for bivalent tanking whereby the second through hole can also be selectively covered. A controllable closing device can also be easily inserted in a recess in an outer wall of the housing, thereby enabling the fuel inlet compartment valve to be controlled by a motor and to be manually actuated. The fuel inlet compartment can be inserted into an opening of the bodywork in a self-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignees: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG, Dr. Scheider Kunststoffwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Engel
  • Patent number: 7377559
    Abstract: The tank flap of an automobile is locked via a wire spring with which an extension connected to the tank flap will cooperate. A spring-biased locking body keeps the wire spring in the releasing position when the tank flap initially is forced inwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Gramss, Carsten Albracht
  • Publication number: 20070251055
    Abstract: In a fuel flap, a first fastening element is attached to a hinge arm. The hinge arm has a second fastening element co-acting with the first fastening element in order to attach the fuel flap to the hinge arm at a predetermined position. The first fastening element includes at least two approximately parallel fastening ribs, at least one of the ribs having two spaced holes and the other has at least one hole, with the axes of the holes being parallel. The second fastening element includes at least three projections having a cross-section complementary to that of the holes. A resilient portion is formed to the hinge arm which upon engagement of the projection in holes is temporarily deformed and after the engagement of the projections in the holes is deformed back and cooperates with a locking portion of the fuel flap so that the fuel flap is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Robert GERNER
  • Patent number: 7284793
    Abstract: A neck rest for a seat of an automobile has a neck rest body which includes a neck rest cushion and at least two neck rest rods connected with the neck rest body, the neck rest rods being accommodated in the back rest of the seat. Each of the neck rest rod has a support portion attached thereto. The neck rest body includes a housing which has a front wall and a rear wall, the cushion being attached to an outer side of the front wall and the rear wall, with the support portion being located in the housing between the front and the rear walls. The housing is moveable between a basic position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ronald Klühspies, Gerd Fischer, Carsten Albracht
  • Patent number: 7278810
    Abstract: A grommet for an opening of a sheet member includes a shank, a head and at least a flexible locking tab. The shank includes, in a region adjacent the head and outside the locking tab, a shoulder to be placed below an edge of the opening when the shank is rotated an angle about the axis of the opening after being inserted therein. The shoulder and the locking tab prevent withdrawal of the grommet from the opening. The shank further includes an inclined outer surface section connecting the shoulder and the lower surface of the head. The inclined outer surface section engages the edge of the opening and draws the shank into the opening upon rotation of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Bauer
  • Patent number: 7267307
    Abstract: A retaining member in plastic, suited for retaining at least one line on a support, includes a basic body with a mounting area for mounting on the support and retaining area projecting from at least one side of the mounting area with at least one line seating for at least one line, and a resilient contact area projecting from the side of the mounting area that requires to be placed on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Bauer
  • Patent number: 7258483
    Abstract: A device for measuring at least one of a level and a temperature of a liquid in a container includes a resistor arrangement adapted to be immersed in the liquid. An immersed length of the resistor arrangement in the liquid corresponds to the level of the liquid in the container. The resistor arrangement includes upper, middle and lower temperature-dependent elongated resistor elements connected in series or in parallel. Each resistor element has an uniform resistance per unit length along a length thereof. The upper and lower resistor elements are shorter than the middle resistor element. A power source is connectable to the resistor arrangement. Voltage drops across or currents flowing through the resistor elements are measured. A microprocessor is arranged to calculate the immersed length of the resistor arrangement or the temperature of the liquid from predetermined lengths of the resistor elements and from the measured voltages or currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Carsten Heldberg
  • Patent number: 7213877
    Abstract: A neck rest for the front seats in automobiles, a neck rest body being supported by the back rest of the front seats, characterized in that a support member being integrated in the backside of the neck rest body, the support member being movable in the neck rest body between a closed and an opened position, in the closed position the support member being substantially flush with the backside of the neck rest body and the support member having means for supporting or suspending an article at the backside of the neck rest body in the opened position of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Gramss
  • Publication number: 20070079774
    Abstract: A cooling system for a combustion engine having a cooling passage system in an engine block comprising a main cooler HWK which is arranged in a cycle with the cooling passage system of the combustion engine, a water pump and a first thermostat TH1 in said cycle, a hot water heat exchanger HWT which is connected to the water pump 12 through a bypass and a bypass valve, a second thermostat TH2 in the bypass passage, the opening temperature of the thermostat valve of the second thermostat TH2 is significantly lower than the opening temperature of the thermostat valve of the first thermostat TH1, the thermostats being arranged such that upon closed thermostat valve B of the second thermostat TH2 below its opening temperature a minimum amount of water flows through the cooling passage system through the heat exchanger HWT, upon opened thermostat valve B of the second thermostat TH2 a larger amount of water flows through the cooling passage system from its opening temperature on and upon the opening temperature of
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Carsten HELDBERG
  • Patent number: 7185938
    Abstract: A fuel door housing for the fueling of an automobile including a tub-like body, a flap which is hingely linked to the body, a thrust spring biasing the flap toward an opened position, a locking element having a locking and an unlocking position, and an actuating element for placing the locking element into the unlocking position. The locking element is moved towards the unlocking position through a one-way transmission of the actuating element upon a movement of the flap into its closed position or beyond thereof, respectively, and the locking element completely engages the catching element upon arrival of the flap at its closed position. A casing is formed at the inner side of the body. The locking element and parts of the actuating elements are accommodated by the casing, and a locking portion of the locking element is sealingly extended through a wall portion of the casing facing the catching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Beck
  • Publication number: 20070047247
    Abstract: A door handle for the inner side of a door of an automobile adapted to actuate a locking element for the door, wherein a light source is provided to illuminate the door handle. At least a portion of door handle is formed of a transparent material and coated with a thin colour generating layer which is translucent to a small extent and the light source being located in the area of the transparent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andrew Mines, Heiko Weiner, Uwe Stapf
  • Patent number: 7178206
    Abstract: A fastener element includes a fastener body and a locking part. The body includes a shank having two outer webs interconnected by a transverse web. The outer webs have projections including upper and lower ramp surfaces. The locking part includes an aperture having first and second pairs of opposing edges, and L-shaped holding portions each having a first web portion linked to one of the first opposing edges, and a second web portion extending into the aperture. When the outer webs are introduced into slots between the second opposing edges and the holding portions, the lower ramp surfaces move the holding portions away from each other and the second web portions engage the upper ramp surfaces from above. If the shank is introduced in a fastening hole of a support part while the locking part engages the support part, the holding portions are further pivoted away from each other and the second web portions grip the edge of the fastening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Kuhnle, Markus Ferdinand
  • Patent number: 7165814
    Abstract: A sleeve arrangement for a neck rest, including a sleeve body adapted to be inserted into an opening in a frame of a vehicle seat, the sleeve body having a through going axial passage adapted to accommodate a rod of the neck rest, and the sleeve body having further a head portion which includes internal locking elements to fix the axial position of the rod in the sleeve body and a shank portion joining the head portion, the sleeve body having an external side which includes fixing elements the sleeve body in the opening of the frame, wherein in upper and lower end portions the passage has radially annular enlargements, and a preferably radially expandable sliding bushing of anti-frictional plastic material is accommodated by the enlargements which encircle the rod, and an elastomeric material is accommodated in the intermediate space between the sliding bushing and a wall of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gans, Uwe Stapf
  • Publication number: 20060278032
    Abstract: A connector for joining a plastic, elongated component and a threaded rod insertable into a borehole of the elongated component, which in turn is guided within a stationary bush, includes a locking element for locking the threaded rod in the borehole. The elongated component has a slot between the borehole and its outer surface. The locking element includes a two-arm lever configured within the slot and has a first end which has an engagement portion that can engage in locking manner the thread of the threaded rod, and a second end projecting outward beyond the slot when the engagement portion engages the thread. The lever's first end is prestressed toward the borehole and the lever is dimensioned in a manner that the second end pivots into the slot as the component is being pushed into the bush, as a result of which the engagement portion leaves the borehole, whereas the lever pivots back when the component has been slipped so far into the bush that the second lever end is released from the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerd HOHMANN, Markus FERDINAND, Albert SPONGK