Patents Assigned to Meritor Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 7490438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door, consisting of an interior sheet metal and an exterior sheeting, together which form a hollow interior space of the door, having an opening in the interior sheet metal and having a carrier module that closes said opening, and carries at least one functional part of the motor vehicle door, such as a hinge part, lock part or window lifter part. In order to simplify the assembly of a motor vehicle door it is proposed that the vehicle door (10) features, apart from the opening (18) in the interior sheet metal (12) which may be closed by means of a carrier module, an additional access opening (22) adequately large for inserting the carrier module, including the at least one functional part, into the interior space (16) of the door and that the carrier module consists of a base plate (20) which closes the opening (18) of the interior sheet metal (12) from the side of the hollow interior space (16) of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Maass, Uwe Bergmann, Arnd G. Herwig, Stefan Jutzi, Patrice Cardine, Rainer Grimm, Harald Kollner, Klaus-Dieter Strauss, Georg Wurm, Daniel Drewniok, Patrick Hof, Simon Blair Dobson, Gregory Keyes, Kenneth W. Schang
  • Patent number: 6942286
    Abstract: A retractable roof for vehicles having at least one cover panel, selectively closing a roof opening. The cover panel can be displaced above the roof skin along guides which have extensions that extend beyond the rear edge of the roof opening. These extensions extend essentially below the roof skin of the fixed roof area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6807733
    Abstract: Method of sealing plug-in connection elements of electrical line systems during the foaming in place of such elements that are to be foamed in place in components, in which method the entry point of the electrical lead into the plug-in connection element is sealed by a closure part under the pressure of the foam to be introduced. The closure part preferably includes an elastically deformable material and has either lips which lie against each other and enclose the lead or a form corresponding to the opening in the plug-in connection element that widens outwards for receiving the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Drewniok, Andreas Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20040130189
    Abstract: A retractable roof for vehicles having at least one cover panel selectively closing a roof opening. The cover panel can be displaced above the roof skin along guides which have extensions that extend beyond the rear edge of the roof opening. These extensions extend essentially below the roof skin of the fixed roof area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6571513
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for movable window pane and a fixed window pane of a vehicle, in particular, for a lowerable side window pane and a fixed triangular window pane in a rear door of a passenger car, comprises a profile element, arranged between the movable window pane and the abutting fixed window pane, and a sealing profile, placed inside the profile element, for the guidance and sealing of the movable window pane. In order to reduce air turbulences caused by the profile element, the sealing profile and the profile element are constructed in such a way that the movable window pane rests on a sealing surface of the sealing profile and with the edge area of its interior surface and possibly its lateral face sealed to the sealing surface, and that the fixed window pane is attached on the exterior side of the profile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Maass
  • Patent number: 6553721
    Abstract: In a vehicle door with a door body (10) and a support panel (20) for electrical components, a plug-in connector (22) is provided for electrically connecting said components to an external electrical line. The support panel (20) can be inserted into or can be mounted to cover an opening (18) of the door body (10) in a way which allows that the plug-in connector (22) is accessible from an outer surface of the door body (10) for a plug-in connection to said external electrical line. In order to simplify assembling of the door body and the support panel, the plug-in connector (22) is fastened permanently to the support panel (20) on its inward-facing side and its insertion port or mouth (22A) is oriented toward the outer side of the door body and, therein, toward an entry opening (24) for the plug-in end of the external electrical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Kollner
  • Patent number: 6499797
    Abstract: A sandwich structure includes a deep-drawn outer skin and a plastic layer foamed onto the inner side of the outer skin. The plastic layer provides a decorative plastic film on its upper surface and a frame at its outer edge. An encircling canting about the plastic layer retains a sheathing that is provided over the entire flat area of the outer skin to increase the modulus of elasticity of the plastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Thomas Becher, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6494522
    Abstract: A method of producing components, such as a door modules with electrical wires and connectors, is provided. The door module includes a substrate material with conductor tracks arranged therein. Electrical wires, which preferably have connectors at the ends, are placed into the conductor tracks. The substrate is then placed in a mold and filled with foamed plastic to encase the wires and form the door module. The connectors protrude from the door module to permit electrical components to be attached to the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Drewniok, Andreas Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20020125743
    Abstract: A retractable roof for vehicles having at least one cover panel, selectively closing a roof opening. The cover panel can be displaced above the roof skin along guides which have extensions that extend beyond the rear edge of the roof opening. These extensions extend essentially below the roof skin of the fixed roof area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Meritor Automotive GMBH
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6428093
    Abstract: An apparatus for a sunroof that contains at least one cover part for selectively closing and at least partially opening an opening in a rigid roof surface of an automobile. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a roof opening that contains a base part with side parts that lie opposite one another and define a longitudinal direction. The sunroof includes a cover part that can be tilted as well as slid along the longitudinal direction. The apparatus includes a cover carrying element that is connect to the cover part and can be pivoted about a cam pin which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction and can slide along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Farmont, Eckehard Kelm
  • Patent number: 6419134
    Abstract: A device for a detachable fastening of a load carrier (10) on a vehicle, in particular a roof rack, is disclosed, which has a carrier frame (18), on which two retaining elements (20, 22) are fitted, which are relatively mobile to one another when the load carrier (10) is in unfastened condition. When the load carrier (10) is in fastened condition the retaining elements (20, 22) engage in a gap (24) between a body frame on the vehicle side (26) and a flat body part (12) attached to this, where they interlock on a fastening element (28) on the body frame (26). The result is that the load carrier (10) can be fastened to the vehicle easily and securely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Horst Böhm
  • Patent number: 6409260
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjusting device for a sunroof (11) of a vehicle. Said sunroof (11) is provided with at least two lamellae (12A, 12B, 12C). The roof opening (14) which is to be closed is defined by a base component (13) that is fixedly mounted to the vehicle and that has opposing side parts (18). The adjusting device comprises lamellae support elements (20A, 20B, 20C), a lamellae carrier slide (30A, 30B, 30C) and control means (26A, 28A; 26B, 28B; 26C, 28C). A drive slide (29) is provided which is displaceably arranged in the guiding element (32) in front of the lamellae carrier slide (30A, 30B, 30C). Pivoting means and coupling means are provided for pivoting a lamella and for connecting and separating two slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6409258
    Abstract: A vehicle roof module (2) with integral sunroof unit for mounting on a bodywork frame (16) is proposed, in which the sunroof frame (5) is attached to the inner shell (11) at a plurality of spaced points distributed around the roof opening (3) of the sunroof unit by means of elements (21) provided only at these points and connected firmly therewith. The inner shell (11) may be attached to the bodywork frame (16) in the same way as the sunroof frame (5) is attached to the inner shell (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Horst Böhm
  • Patent number: 6390541
    Abstract: A sun visor arrangement is proposed whose bearing elements, consisting of a swivel/rotary bearing and a removable swivel bearing, are foamed into or onto an inner shell, formed from a foamed plastics material, of a motor vehicle roof module with their component parts on the roof side at the same time as the inner shell is foam molded, so that the sun visors can be preassembled at the inner shell of the roof module, wherein the swivel/rotary bearing is constructed for fastening the sun visors and the inner shell to a body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Horst Böhm
  • Publication number: 20020053817
    Abstract: An apparatus for a sunroof that contains at least one cover part for selectively closing and at least partially opening an opening in a rigid roof surface of an automobile. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a roof opening that contains a base part with side parts that lie opposite one another and define a longitudinal direction. The sunroof includes a cover part that can be tilted as well as slid along the longitudinal direction. The apparatus includes a cover carrying element that is connect to the cover part and can be pivoted about a cam pin which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction and can slide along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Farmont, Eckehard Kelm
  • Patent number: 6378936
    Abstract: A vehicle roof intended in particular for motor vehicles and in particular a roof module (1) to be made separately from the bodywork (5) and to be combined with the bodywork, consisting essentially of a rigid roof skin, where appropriate with an applied foamed inner skin (3) made from plastics foam, and a decorative headliner (12) made from plastics foam. The roof module can be fitted with an integral sliding roof unit. The characteristic feature is that the headliner (12) is made separately from the roof module (1) and can be locked into place on to or released from the inner skin (3) or where appropriate the sliding roof frame of the sliding roof unit by means of complementary exactly fitted interlocking elements (9, 16), i.e. it can be exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Carmelo Mondello
  • Patent number: 6367872
    Abstract: A vehicle roof includes a preformed inner shell forming the roof lining. The lining is larger than the inside dimensions of the body opening bounded by the rails or sections of the closed body frame. The roof lining is flexible or elastic on the protruding areas, so that it is bendable for passage through the body opening bordered by the vehicle frame, with partial folding in the corner areas downward without permanent deformation and is designed to cover the vehicle frame. The protruding areas of the roof lining therefore form the coverings for the roof frame sections so that additional cover strips and cover sections are not required, even in the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher
  • Patent number: 6367871
    Abstract: A roof module for a motor vehicle, with an inner shell molded out of plastic foam which, in the vicinity of its support on the body framework, is divided into an upper layer which can be supported on the body framework and a lower layer that serves to line the body framework. Sun visors and handholds are pre-assembled on the lower layer. In order to improve and simplify assembly of the roof module on the vehicle body, it is envisaged that the upper layer, and thus the roof module as a whole, can be securely fixed to the body framework using just the fixing screws for the sun visors and the handholds. Preferably, captive fixing screws on the bearing elements of the sun visors and the handholds should also be able to be pre-assembled on the lower layer of the inner shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Horst Böhm
  • Patent number: 6318797
    Abstract: For a motor vehicle roof module, preferably of sandwich construction comprising a rigid roof skin and an inner shell of PUR plastic applied as a foam to its inner surface, it is proposed to form recesses in the single layer area of the inner shell when applying the foam, in which functional components, such as loudspeakers, can be placed without a housing and can be secured by catches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Thomas Becher, Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20010026085
    Abstract: An apparatus for a sunroof that contains at least one cover part for selectively closing and at least partially opening an opening in a rigid roof surface of an automobile. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a roof opening that contains a base part with side parts that lie opposite one another and define a longitudinal direction. The sunroof includes a cover part that can be tilted as well as slid along the longitudinal direction. The apparatus includes a cover carrying element that is connected to the cover part and can be pivoted about a cam pin which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction and can slide along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Farmont, Eckehard Kelm