Patents Assigned to Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
  • Patent number: 6347827
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be stowed in the rear region of the vehicle and comprises at least one front roof part, which faces a windshield frame in the closed position, and a rear roof part, which extends backward and downward at the rear and has, at its side edge regions, frame parts, which are held at their rear end regions so that they can be swiveled about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6322131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be folded up and is provided with a rear window, it being possible, in the closed position of the roof, to lower the rear window at least regionally from a normal position into a lowered position below a window parapet line forming the upper boundary of the car body. In order to simplify the installation of a movable rear window for such an embodiment, provisions are made so that the rear window, in the lowered position as well as in the normal position, is held in a frame, which is firmly connected with the roof, as a result of which special adjustment of the rear window or of a different component with respect to the roof is superfluous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Maass, Frank Lehnig
  • Patent number: 6302470
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be folded up, is provided with a rear window, can be stowed in a rear region of the vehicle and is braced over at least one tension bracket in the closed state with respect to the car body, the tension bracket being pivotable in the forwards direction for opening the roof and hereby bringing about a forward displacement of the rear window. In the case of such a construction, in order to be able to carry out the forward shifting of the rear region of the folding top, comprising the rear window, without being obstructed by upright parts, such as the rear head supports or roll bars, provisions are made so that the rear window is held in a frame which, on the folding top side, is opened downward and, during the opening and closing of the roof, can be swiveled up with respect to this frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Maass, Frank Lehnig
  • Patent number: 6270143
    Abstract: A folding top for a convertible has a lateral folding linkage with linkage legs lying opposite to one another in pairs, symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle. The parallelogram links of the linkage legs form a front and a rear four-bar chain, which is supported in the region of a common connecting leg with at least three hinge points. In the case of the inventive folding top, the connector between the two four-bar chains is constructed as a cantilever girder supporting a rear guiding leg of the front four-bar chain as well as a front main guide bar of the rear four-bar chain with a height distance in in each case one of its hinge points and the front four-bar chain with the front link forming the third hinge point is assigned to this cantilever girder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Heselhaus, Wolfgang Richter
  • Patent number: 6206460
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, particularly a convertible, with a vehicle body to which longitudinally moving struts are assigned and with a supporting frame which includes a longitudinally moving strut, is constructed so that at least one of the struts is constructed so that its length can be varied and has assigned to it an absorbing unit for determining a longitudinal stress, a control element for bringing about a counterforce as well as a control unit for the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Wolfgang Seeliger, Winfried Bunsmann, Werner Gausmann, Siegfried Licher, Elmar Breitenbach, Holger Hanselka, Joerg Melcher, Roger Wimmel
  • Patent number: 6193301
    Abstract: For a convertible vehicle with a top, which can be locked to the windshield frame, for which at least one movable handle is provided for carrying out the locking and unlocking, the handle can be transferred from its operating position, in which it is accessible to a movement, which brings about the locking or unlocking of the top, into an inoperative position, which is located essentially vertically upwards from the operating position, in which it is in an area, which does not limit the head freedom. When the handle in the inoperative position is lowered into a recess formed between lining parts, a flush closure of the handle with the lining parts can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Baumeier, Melanie Eitermann
  • Patent number: 6189952
    Abstract: A passenger car, such as a coupe or a convertible includes a car body having a B column and side walls which limit the occupants' space below a window breast and within the vertical extent of which in each case the B column is disposed. Essentially vertically aligned reinforcing profiles are assigned to the car body walls in the region of the B columns for absorbing forces acting laterally on the vehicle, which reinforcing profiles in each case are provided with at least one cantilever arm extending therefrom, and which is supported in each case at least at its end averted from the reinforcing profile at a part of the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Schmidt, Franz-Josef Brockhoff, Holger Alsago
  • Patent number: 6135542
    Abstract: A contoured frame member or other car body parts for car bodies of motor vehicles, particularly convertibles, for which the contoured frame member or the car body part bounds a cavity reinforced with a foamed metallic foam material, is formed in such a manner that a structural component is disposed in the interior of the cavity extending in the longitudinal direction of the latter, and in that the foamed metallic foam material occupies the space between the inner wall of the contoured frame member and the structural component lying therein. The internal cavity in the longitudinal direction, has partial regions filled with reinforcing parts of a metallic foam material and, between individual, reinforced regions, remaining hollow regions, the reinforcing parts being connected with the inner walls of the chassis part by way of metallic bonding. A method is also provided for reinforcing regions of car body parts, particularly of components of the type named above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Emmelmann, Hans-Wolfgang Seeliger
  • Patent number: 6094798
    Abstract: A component, particularly for land vehicles, preferably a car body component for motor vehicles, consists of a metallic foam material with a foamed porous layer comprising a metal powder and a blowing agent and possibly at least one solid metal sheet, there being metallic bonds between the solid metal sheet and the foamed porous layer. The component has at least one stamped contour which is raised from its surface, the angles, occurring in the region of the transitions between the three-dimensionally molded contour and the surface region being of the order of 100.degree. to 180.degree.. To produce the component, an essentially flat, metallic foam material, which is provided with solid metal sheets as covering layers, is initially shaped into a semi-finished molded product, which is end-contoured on one side, and the semi-finished molded product, so formed, is placed into a foaming mold, one wall of which is adapted to the end-contoured side of the semi-finished molded product, and foamed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Wolfgang Seeliger, Winfried Bunsmann
  • Patent number: 6090232
    Abstract: A component, particularly for land vehicles, preferably a car body component for motor vehicles, consists of a metallic foam material with a foamed porous layer comprising a metal powder and a blowing agent and possibly at least one solid metal sheet, there being metallic bonds between the solid metal sheet and the foamed porous layer. The component has at least one stamped contour which is raised from its surface, the angles, occurring in the region of the transitions between the three-dimensionally molded contour and the surface region being of the order of 100.degree. to 180.degree.. To produce the component, an essentially flat, metallic foam material, which is provided with solid metal sheets as covering layers, is initially shaped into a semi-finished molded product, which is end-contoured on one side, and the semi-finished molded product, so formed, is placed into a foaming mold, one wall of which is adapted to the end-contoured side of the semi-finished molded product, and foamed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Wolfgang Seeliger, Winfried Bunsmann
  • Patent number: 6053560
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a central roof part which, in the closed position, is supported at the front windshield frame and extends essentially horizontally to a rear roof region with a rear window and which can be shifted into an open position, which frees regions of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The rear roof region is constructed as a roof shell part, which remains above the vehicle parapet line even when the central roof part is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Rothe
  • Patent number: 6033012
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a motor vehicle body having side frames which support a roof area, the roof area including at least two roof panels which lie flat and parallel in the closed position and can be moved to an open position. The roof panels are constructed so that they can be moved by a guiding mechanism from the flat, parallel closed position into a packed open position completely in the interior of the vehicle body at a distance from the roof region and disposed essentially vertically and parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Russke, Winfried Bunsmann, Frank Hoffmeister
  • Patent number: 5979970
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a convertible vehicle includes a roof shell, which, in the closed position, is connected with a front windshield frame and runs essentially horizontally to a rear roof region and which can be shifted into an open position which opens the interior of the vehicle regionally. The roof shell is formed by two roof parts which are divided in the transverse direction of the vehicle and are connected over joint connections at the edge and which, by means of a driving unit engaging the rear roof part, can initially be swiveled up jointly during the opening process counter to the driving direction into an approximately vertical position and, after that, lowered into a packed position behind the rear seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothe, Siegfried Licher
  • Patent number: 5833300
    Abstract: A vehicle with mutually moving parts, such as doors and hinged lids or hinged covers, particularly with a foldable roof, has at least one front roof part and one rear roof part. These roof parts are provided with at least one joint connection, which makes an open and a closed position possible, and is constructed as a hinged device, which can be actuated directly from a controllable driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Russke
  • Patent number: 5816644
    Abstract: A foldable top for a convertible includes a vehicle body, a windshield frame on the vehicle body, a rear region on the vehicle body disposed rearwardly of the windshield frame, a foldable-rod linkage supportable on the windshield frame, a main power operated device mounted on the vehicle body for moving the foldable-rod linkage between closed and open positions, and a rear roof clamping member at the rear region of the vehicle body. Rail members are pivotably connected to each other and are also pivotably connected to the foldable-rod linkage and to the clamping member. A tensioning linkage is pivotably connected to one of the rail members and pivotably connected to the vehicle body. A drive mechanism mounted on the vehicle body is pivotably connected to the tensioning linkage and is operable to pivot the tensioning linkage which in turn pivots the rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothe, Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 5803533
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body, particularly for a convertible, is configured as a self-supporting unit, which is provided with a bottom having integrated longitudinal and transverse beams. The bottom of the body has at least one stiffening segment extending substantially parallel to the bottom from its mid-section to the front and/or rear area of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Schulz, Winfried Bunsmann
  • Patent number: 5788316
    Abstract: A folding top for a convertible has a roofing which is taken up between rod linkage legs of a hinged rod linkage, which lie opposite one another on either side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, it being possible to fix the hinged rod linkage in the region of the windshield frame and the hinged rod linkage being supported in the rear region of the vehicle on the body over main supports lying opposite one another. A rear window is provided in the rear region of the roofing between a rear tensioning bracket and a corner hoop disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the outer wall regions of the rear window being connected in each case at the edges over holding parts with the hinged rod linkage. The rear window is guided by the holding parts on a path of motion, which has an arched region over the rear region of the vehicle with an arch height providing head space for passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Rothe
  • Patent number: 5765905
    Abstract: A wind-deflecting covering for a convertible shields the rear region behind the front seats against drafts in the in-use position and, in the not-in-use position, can be brought into a position freeing the rear region. The covering can be transferred along two lateral, curved guideways from the essentially horizontal in-use position into a not-in-use position, located in the rear region behind the front seat and deposited there in a packed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignees: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludger Hemmis, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 5667269
    Abstract: A top for convertibles includes a frame, the side parts of which are disposed symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and comprise front and rear pieces which are pivotably braced over a main column and a main guide rod at a rear main bearing of the chassis frame. The roof peak of the frame lies in a closed position against an upper cross-tie of a windshield frame. The frame is constructed in the front region as a one-piece, shaped carrying part with a U-shaped contour at the basic cross-member of which, forming the roof peak, the front frame parts, which have at their free ends at least one joint connecting element directed towards the main column, are integrally molded over a respective connecting zone as profiled legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Prenger, Uwe Nissen
  • Patent number: 5558390
    Abstract: A rear-window pane of solid glass is insertable in the folding top cover of a convertible. The solid glass pane is provided with a plastic connecting element which is applied on the edge region of the solid glass pane and can be connected with the cover of the folding top by means of high frequency welding. With this arrangement, an additional reinforcing is no longer required and, accordingly, the advantages of a plastic window pane are combined with the longevity and stability of the glass material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Ludger Hemmis, Matthias Overberg, Burkhard Schroder