Patents Assigned to Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
  • Patent number: 6425620
    Abstract: Roof arrangement for a convertible with a rigid roof element (3), a rigid rear element (5) which has a rear window (31), a stowage space (16) for the folding roof located in the rear area of the vehicle for holding the roof arrangement (1), and a forced control mechanism (14) for opening and closing the roof arrangement (1), the rear element (5) having a U-shaped frame (23) with a rear lower cross strut (25) and two lateral C columns (29) and the rear window (31) with its rear lower edge being pivotally connected via the window pivot axis (33) to the bottom cross strut (25) of the rear element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schütt, Stefan Miklosi
  • Patent number: 6425621
    Abstract: The invention relates to a convertible motor vehicle roof having a front roof section and a rear roof section, each roof section being pivotally mounted on the vehicle body by a lever mechanism. The rear roof section is mounted so as to pivot over the front roof section, and can be lowered jointly with the front roof section into a back stowage space or area in the motor vehicle. The rear roof section being supported with a pivoting capacity on at least one of the front roof section and the lever mechanism. Preferably, when the motor vehicle roof is in a closed position, at least one of the lever mechanism and the lever for the front roof section are located substantially vertical in an area of one side front edge of the front rear roof section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Miklosi, Thomas Schütt
  • Patent number: 6425630
    Abstract: A guide rail assembly for guiding drive elements and guide elements of an openable roof part of a motor vehicle, the guide rail assembly including a guide rail of metal with a cut edge on an end of the guide rail, and a protective cap on the end of the guide rail. The protective cap covers the cut edge of the end and has an inside wall which flushes aligns with an inside wall of the guide rail to thereby provide a flush and continuous surface. The protective cap is preferably made of plastic and plugged onto the end of the guide rail. The protective cap preferably includes a locking mechanism and an inwardly pointing face. The protective cap also includes insertion bevels which extends to an outwardly pointing face the protective cap and may further include an integrally molded a centering journal. In another embodiment, the guide rail may also include a lengthwise crosspiece, and the protective cap includes a corresponding extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Mathias, Burkhard Reinsch
  • Patent number: 6423894
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a solar generator which is securely attached on the outside on the solid roof skin for producing solar current for the vehicle. The solar generator can be adjusted between a first spatially compact configuration and a second, less spatially compact configuration in which its active solar surface projected onto the plane of the roof is larger than in the first configuration. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle roof with an attachment element which runs in the lengthwise direction of the roof and which is mounted externally on the solid roof skin and which is made such that a mobile flat solar generator can be pushed into the attachment element and is held in the working configuration by it to produce solar current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Pätz, Thomas Ganz, Helmut Teschner, Reinhard Wecker
  • Publication number: 20020093226
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with at least one cover which selectively closes the roof opening by means of a raising and displacement mechanism (crank path, crank pin, drive carriage) and at least partially clears it by raising or lowering its rear edge and by displacement along a guide rail, with a locking element which locks an element connected to the cover with the guide rail in the closed position and the raised position. For reliable and low-wear interlocking of the cover mechanism in the closed and raised position, with a simple structure, it is provided that, in a sliding and lifting roof with a cover which can be lowered and can be pushed under the fixed vehicle roof, there is a locking element on the locking lever which is pivotally located on a component (cover carrier) which is connected to the cover being disengaged from the guide rail toward the end of the lowering motion of the cover which precedes the displacement motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schleicher, Michael Hanke, Philipp Laux, Martin Pollak
  • Publication number: 20020093217
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a sealing device with a seal for sealing a movable roof part with an adjacent motor vehicle part. The seal is pivoted relative to the movable roof part into a sealing position when the movable roof part is moved to a closed position, and the seal is pivoted relative to the movable roof part into a lowered position when the movable roof part is moved to an open position. The seal is connected to a bearing mechanism that allows the seal to be pivoted relative to the movable roof part, and a drive mechanism connecting the movable roof part to the seal in a manner to pivot the seal relative to the movable roof part based on positioning of the movable roof part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Langguth, Jurgen Stenvers
  • Patent number: 6420843
    Abstract: A control device for an electric motor which drives a motor vehicle part which is displaceable between reference positions, which is provided with a switch unit (12) for controlling the motor, there being a ratchet wheel (14) which, when the motor vehicle part is displaced, is forced to rotate less than 360 degrees between its end positions via an eccentric gearing (10) and actuates the switch unit depending on the rotational position of the ratchet wheel, the eccentric gearing having an externally toothed internal wheel and an internally toothed external wheel (24) which is interdigitally engaged to it, the ratchet wheel being supported for wobble motion with reference to a motor-driven shaft (18) which coupled to move with the motion of the displaceable motor vehicle part and which is pivotally mounted in a gearing housing (26), the ratchet wheel forming either the internal wheel or the external wheel of the eccentric gearing, the ratchet wheel and the switch unit being located within the gearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Pohl
  • Patent number: 6419296
    Abstract: In a roof arrangement for a convertible with a fixed roof part (5), a rigid rear part (4), and a storage compartment (33) for the folding top located in the rear area of the body (2) for holding the roof arrangement (3) and with a forced control mechanism (49) for opening and closing the roof arrangement (3) such that to open the roof arrangement (3), first the rear part (4) is swung over the roof part (5) and then the roof part (5) together with the rear part (4) stacked over it is swung into the storage compartment (33) for the folding roof, the forced control mechanism (49) has a single lever (55) which is located between the rear part (4) and the rear body (2) and which is connected by one end side via the first pivot joint (67) to the rear part (4) and is coupled by the other end side to the body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Dintner, Peter Reihl
  • Publication number: 20020089216
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof, which is provided with a carrier (16) for a cover element (10) for a roof opening (12) which is movably guided in the lengthwise direction of the roof by means of a first slide element (18) and a second slide element (22) which are offset relative to one another and extend in the lengthwise direction of the roof in the roof-mounted guide (40), the first slide element (18) being guided in the vertical direction along a first guideway (20) and the second slide element (22) along a second guideway (24), and the first and the second guideway (20 and 24) being at different vertical levels. In contrast to known motor vehicle roofs, the first guideway (20) and the second guideway (24) are offset relative to one another in the transverse direction of the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Wingen, Wolfgang Seifert
  • Patent number: 6416120
    Abstract: In a device for influencing the air flow in the area of the roof opening of an openable motor vehicle roof (1) with at least one roof frame (7) which runs at least partially along the roof opening (2), at least one flat wind deflector (4, 5, 6) is located in the area of the front edge of the roof opening (2) which is movably guided in a direction essentially parallel to a surface of the wind deflector (4, 5, 6) in slide ways (20, 24) in or on the roof frame (7) which runs along the front edge of the roof opening (2) into and out of a receiving space (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Schütt
  • Patent number: 6416121
    Abstract: A folding top mechanism of a folding roof for a convertible, which has side roof rods with a guide means for movable support of the front bow and of the middle bow and a canvas folding top which is attached to the front bow, and which can be moved into a rear lowered position to open the folding roof, with the front bow being pushed at least partially over or under the middle bow by the guide means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Miklosi
  • Patent number: 6416122
    Abstract: Motor vehicle roof with a roof opening (2) in a fixed roof skin (1) and at least two covers (3, 4) which flush in the roof opening one behind the other in a closed position which closes the roof opening (2), and which can be pushed into an open position in which one at least partially overlaps another to partially expose the roof opening (2), the cover (4) which is the rear cover in the direction of forward vehicle travel resting at least partially under the front cover (3). The covers are individually selectively actuated for displacement by a single mechanism which causes one of the two adjacent covers (3, 4) to be displaced while the other cover (4 and 3) remains stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Schwarz, Burkhard Reinsch, Otto Wienchol
  • Patent number: 6412860
    Abstract: A folding top of a motor vehicle with a roof frame with side roof rails, on which at least one movable roof element is movably supported, and which can be pivoted relative to the main part of the roof frame and can be detached from the windshield apron for lowering the folding top has a locking mechanism (9) for locked fixing of the side roof rails on the apron and with a drive for locking and unlocking the locking mechanism (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Reinsch
  • Patent number: 6412858
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a transparent roof section and at least one ventilator which borders the roof section for clearance of a ventilator opening, a front and/or rear transverse body member of the vehicle roof which borders the transparent roof section containing the at least one ventilator. The transparent roof section is a cover which is attached to the transverse roof members and is preferably a glass cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Walter Schatzler
  • Patent number: 6412847
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, particularly a pickup truck type vehicle, having a rear-side cargo area which is provided with a separate cargo space module displaceably supported on the vehicle body such that it can be moved between a rear position which adjoins the rear of the cargo area and a forward position near the motor vehicle cab. The cargo space module can be supported to swing by means of a lever arrangement attached to the motor vehicle body. Preferably, the cargo space module has a fixed bottom, a fixed right-side wall, and a fixed left-side wall and is further provided with a front wall, a rear wall, and a cover, each of which is movable from an open to a closed position adjacent the cargo space module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6398296
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a least one openable roof part (30) which can be actuated by a drive motor (22) and at least one temporarily stationary roof part (12) which supports the openable roof part (30) in its open position. A motor vehicle roof which makes do without a complex actuation mechanism, which can be easily operated and which can be universally used is formed by a drive motor (222) actuating the locking and/or unlocking of the temporarily stationary roof part (12) with reference to an at least temporarily fixed additional roof part, for example, with reference to the rear side columns (B-columns 20) of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the side members (28), which extend between the rear roof part (12) and a front cross beam (2) which runs above the windshield on either side of the openable roof part (3) and which comprise guides (26) for the openable roof part (30), are detachably joined to the motor vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mayer
  • Patent number: 6390531
    Abstract: A folding roof (1) for a convertible with a canvas top (2) which is attached to a front bow (3) and which can be moved into a rear lowered position with a top mechanism which comprises a side roof rod (11, 12) for opening the folding roof (1), the front bow (3) being guided to be able to move lengthwise on both side of the roof on guides (9, 10) of the side roof rod (11, 12), so that by moving the front bow (3) rearward along the lateral guides (9, 10) from a closed position in which it adjoins the front cross member (4), the folding roof (1) can be partially opened into an intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Schütt
  • Patent number: 6382701
    Abstract: A drive device for a swivelling component that is pivotally mounted, for example, on a motor vehicle. The swivelling component is connected to a drive via a coupler which can be swivelled by the drive. The coupler having a connector which is connected via a connecting rod to the swivelling component. The connector can be driven by the drive and is movably supported along a guideway. To achieve uniform transfer of motion the guideway is a curved guide rail that is circular with the center of the circle lying on the axis of rotation of the swivelling component or is a three-dimensional curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Langguth, Thomas Schütt
  • Patent number: 6382713
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a crank element of a openable motor vehicle roof, with a holding element which engages the crank element such that the crank element and the holding element can be moved relative to one another along a fin-like guideway on the crank element. The fin-like guideway is surrounded by a slide element which is formed on the holding element whereby the slide element can be rotated with respect to the holding element around an axis which is perpendicular to the plane in which the crank element and the holding element move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Färber
  • Patent number: 6378208
    Abstract: A process for producing a motor vehicle body part, especially a motor vehicle roof, which is built in a sandwich construction having layers including an outside shell (10) made of a foam material having an outside skin, and an inside shell (11) that is a prefabricated component. Initially, the foam material is placed into a first mold half (16) of a mold tool, the foam material being applied to the shaped outer skin which is placed in the second mold half (17) of the mold tool. Next, the two mold halves (16, 17) are closed and the foam material is allowed to cure at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kölbl, Francois De Gaillard