Patents Assigned to Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
  • Patent number: 6568751
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with a front movable roof element (12) which is movably supported on side roof rails (2) and which in the closed position of the roof can be placed against an apron (8) or the like, the roof element (12) being supported by a guide means (15, 16) on the guide rails (10) of the side roof rails (2), the guide means having a four-bar mechanism (15, 16) by means of which the roof element (12) is supported to be able to pivot on a carriage (17) which can be moved on the guide rail (10), and a control lever (16, 23) of the four-bar mechanism controlling the motion of the four-bar mechanism and of the roof element (12), especially in the opening or closing motion away from or to the apron (8) depending on the position of the carriage (17) relative to the guide rail (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Reinsch
  • Patent number: 6568732
    Abstract: A device for covering the cargo space of a passenger vehicle is provides which includes a cover shade, including flexurally stiff louvers, which is movably guided on lateral guide rails. To open the cargo space, the cover shade can be transferred into a storage position behind a seat arrangement. To facilitate handling, a drive device is connected to the cover shade for opening and closing the cover shade. The drive device may include a drive motor with two synchronously drivable drive cables which drive the cover shade on its two lengthwise sides to allow the cover shade to be easily removed from its storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6568750
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with at least one cover (12) which can be moved above the fixed motor vehicle roof (13) and which can be raised at its rear edge (46), and with a control mechanism for the cover (12) which has a front lifting mechanism and a front displacement mechanism for the front edge (45) of the cover (12) and a rear lifting mechanism and a rear displacement mechanism for the rear edge (46) of the cover (12). The displacement mechanisms have control carriages (18, 19) which are connected to the cover (12) and which are movably guided and can be driven in lateral guide rails (17). The lifting mechanism for the front edge (45) of the cover (12) is integrated into the front control carriage (18) and the front and the rear control carriages (18 and 19) are securely connected on each side of the cover, spaced apart from one another, to a drive cable (21) so as to be driven by the drive cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Stjepan Radmanic, Erwin Kohout
  • Patent number: 6565149
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof having a fixed roof structure with two successive roof openings, a fixed roof section being disposed between the roof openings, displaceable covers which cover the roof openings and are selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof openings, the respective covers being selectively movable longitudinally and being selectively pivotable into a ventilation position about a transverse axis of at least one of a front edge and a rear edge of the cover, and being selectively movable longitudinally so as to be positioned underneath the fixed roof section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Francois De Gaillard, Bernd Schleicher, Walter Schätzler
  • Patent number: 6561565
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Langguth, Jurgen Stenvers
  • Patent number: 6560930
    Abstract: A guide device for a window movable within a motor vehicle between an open position and a closed position for closing an opening in the motor vehicle. The device includes a first guide rail pivotally attached to the motor vehicle for pivotal motion in a plane parallel to a plane in which the window moves. The window includes a journal having a guide shoe for attachment to the first guide rail. The guide device further includes a second guide rail fixedly attached to the motor vehicle. The window further includes a slide element for attaching the window to the second guide rail. The guide device is particularly suited for use with a trapezoidal rear window of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois de Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6561566
    Abstract: A motor vehicle folding top with a roof peak (12) which is movably supported via a driven carriage (17) on the guide rail (10) of the respective side roof rail (2) and which can be placed in the closed position of the folding top against the apron (8) or the like, the drive part (40) which is movably supported on the respective guide rail (10) being coupled to the carriage (17) via a coupling means (42, 43) which during lengthwise displacement of the carriage (17), in the open position of the folding top, forms a rigid coupling, and on the last path of motion when the roof peak (12) is being closed, transfers the closing motion with increased force to the carriage (17) by stepping down the drive motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Dintner, Burghard Reinsch
  • Publication number: 20030085595
    Abstract: A cover (9) for a motor vehicle roof with a cover body (10) which is peripherally injected, especially peripherally foamed, in the area of its outside edge so as to form a plastic frame (31) with a metal insert (14). The metal insert (14) extends frame-like along essentially the entire periphery of the cover (9), but is made in several parts in the peripheral direction of the cover. The metal insert (14) is only partially encompassed by the plastic frame. According to the process for producing the cover (9), for peripheral foaming, the cover body (10) together with the multi-part metal insert (14) is inserted into a foaming tool. Then, the foam compound is introduced, and to limit penetration of the foam compound to the inside, a seal is inserted into the peripheral channel (23) of the metal insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Dunzinger, Thomas Schroferl
  • Publication number: 20030085587
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a front first roof part (3) and a following second roof part (4) which can be displaced between a closed position which covers the motor vehicle interior and a lowered position in a rear roof storage space (10) which exposes the motor vehicle interior. The front roof part (3) is movably supported by a laterally arranged multiple hinge linkage (14, 15) on the second roof part (4) and is raisable over the second roof part (4) when being lowered. In order to devise a stable and still space-saving support for the front roof part (3), the rear connecting rod (15) of the multiple hinge linkage (14, 15) is supported on the second roof part (4) to be able to pivot around a pivot axis (29) which is set back from its front edge (22) and swings upward out of the roof surface (23) of the second roof part (4) when the roof (1) is being lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Reinsch
  • Publication number: 20030080579
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a front roof part (3), a middle roof part (4) and a rear roof part (5), which can be moved between a closed position which covers the motor vehicle interior and a lowered position in a rear convertible top compartment (10) which exposes the motor vehicle interior, the middle roof part (4) being pivotally supported via a first connecting rod arrangement (12, 13) on the body and the front roof part (3) being movably supported by a second connecting rod arrangement (14, 15) on the middle roof part (4) and being displaced over the middle roof part (4) during lowering. For space-saving lowering of the roof parts, it is provided that the rear roof part (5) is pivotally supported by a third connecting rod arrangement (16, 17) on the middle roof part (4), and when the roof (1) is lowered, is displaced over the middle roof part (3 or 4) so that the three roof parts (3, 4, 5) are deposited on top of one another in an identically cambered orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Burkhard Reinsch
  • Publication number: 20030080591
    Abstract: A guide device for guiding the raising and opening of a cover of a vehicle roof to be opened is provided. The guide device includes at least two guide profiles which can be moved against one another to move the cover over a roof surface adjoining behind a roof opening which can be closed by the cover. At least one of the guide profiles of the guide device, or at least a section of one of the guide profiles, having a curvature pointed toward the roof surface in order to lower the cover toward the roof surface as the cover is shifted to the rear by via the guide profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Francois De Gaillard, Martin Pollak, Wolfgang Ettl
  • Publication number: 20030075948
    Abstract: A roof structure of a motor vehicle with a movable front cover mechanism for closing or at least partially clearing a front roof opening and with a rear hatch or rear window which is connected to the front cover mechanism and which can be swiveled up around its front edge for clearing a rear roof opening. The front cover mechanism is supported on a module frame which is assigned to the front roof opening and which is attached to the body-mounted roof frame. On a rear transverse frame part of the module frame is a swivel bearing mechanism for permitting the swiveling up and down of the rear hatch or rear window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6550851
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof module (10) for attachment to the roof frame area of a motor vehicle body, with support edges (15) for the roof module (10) which inwardly adjoin the side rails (14) of the vehicle body, the roof module (10) having an outside roof skin (11) which has side edges (16) which are bent downward toward the support edges (15). On the roof skin (11), in the area of its side edges (16), there are connecting strips (18) which have bottoms for attachment to the support edges (15) of the roof frame area and which are joined to the roof skin (11), preferably by being injection molded or foamed on to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Seifert
  • Patent number: 6550853
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Wingen, Wolfgang Seifert
  • Patent number: 6550852
    Abstract: In a solar cover (14) for a motor vehicle roof (10) with an outside pane (20), an inside cover (18) and a plurality of solar cells (16) which are located between the outside pane and the inside cover, both the outside pane and also the inside cover being made of plastic, the outside pane (20) or the inside cover (18) is formed of an injection molded part (34) which has reinforcement and/or attachment elements (24, 29, 32) which are made in one piece with the outside pane (20) or the inside cover (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Pätz, Helmut Teschner
  • Patent number: 6547320
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof (1) with a sealing system for a support lever (11) in which a pair of seals (14, 15) adjoin one another at their sealing surfaces so as to cover the support lever (11) form above in a lowered position of the lever and are pressed to the side by the support lever (11) when it is moved into a raised support position. The use of a pair of seals instead of a single seal reduces and the seals (14, 15) are preferably hollow chamber seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle System International GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Kohout, Wolfgang Dittrich
  • Patent number: 6547319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for actuating a cover (2) for selectively closing an opening (66) in a surface (3) which surrounds the latter in a first position or for at least partially clearing the opening in a second position, the cover (2) being formed especially by the top in the opening in the roof of a motor vehicle which forms the surface (3), and the device comprising the following means: a swivelling arm which extends from the front end to the back end and which is provided with means for attachment of the cover (2); a lifting device (14) to produce a swivelling motion on the swivelling arm relative to the surface (3), and drive to apply force to the lifting device (14) and to move the cover (2) between the first and the second position in that the swivelling arm has at least two elements (A, C) which are connected to one another to be able to move or telescope, the end (30) of one of the elements (A) being hinged via a fulcrum to the stationary part of the device or the surface (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Nicolaas Huyer
  • Publication number: 20030067192
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof is provided which includes a sliding head liner moveable between a raised position, a closed position and an open position. The sliding head liner is guided on a partially flexible guide element which has a movable end entrained during motion of the cover into its raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Ingrid Wimmer, Martin Kiedl
  • Patent number: 6540289
    Abstract: A process for foaming around a peripheral edge area of a cover (10) for a motor vehicle roof, the cover being placed on or in a foaming tool and the foam mass (18) being fed into the foaming tool such that two foam mass fronts are formed which run around the peripheral edge in the peripheral direction and merge with one another or meet one another in the merging area at a side opposite that at which the foam was introduced. The foaming tool is made such that, in the merging area, the cross section of the foam mass is reduced on the side opposite the ventilation side (40) of the foaming tool that is vented relative to the areas (42, 142) which border the merging area in order to prevent inclusion of gas bubbles in the merging area. Furthermore, a cover for a motor vehicle roof is produced which has a foamed peripheral edge area in which two foam mass fronts, which are formed during the peripheral foaming in a foaming tool, merge with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Bergmiller, Christian Dünzinger
  • Publication number: 20030057738
    Abstract: A sliding roof device for a motor vehicle roof with a movable cover (14) for selectively closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening (15) in the motor vehicle roof, the cover being raisable into a ventilation position at its rear edge, and with a sliding headliner (1) which is movably located underneath the cover (14) and which, when positioned under the cover (14) in its raised position, is raised at its rear section for creating a ventilation gap. A lifting mechanism engages the rear section (25) of the sliding headliner (1), with a lifting force which pretensions the rear section (25) into its folded-up position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Kralik