Patents Assigned to Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
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Patent number: 7481481Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof having a roof covering and several lateral frame parts, which at least partially span the roof covering when roof is closed and follow each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in which a rear frame part extends from a window parapet line with an upward extending component. The adjacent frame part, preceding the rear frame part in the direction of travel when the roof is closed, can be moved without a force transfer through the rear frame part by at least one drive provided for roof opening, and the rear frame part is suspended on a gear mechanism that transfers the drive force and can be moved by it.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Nils Kreiling
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Patent number: 7481458Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll-over protection device for a motor vehicle, particularly for a convertible, comprising a roll bar (2). This roll bar is provided with an at least nearly U-shaped design having a transverse yoke (3) and lateral limbs (4A, 4B) while leaving a loading opening (11) unobstructed, and extending such that it essentially spans the width of the vehicle. The lateral limbs (4A, 4B) can be displaced along fixed guiding devices (6, 7) in order to transfer the roll bar (2) out of a lowered non-operational position and into a raised supporting position. To this end, a central retaining and activating device (12) for the roll bar (2), said device being controlled by an actuator (18), is provided and/or a device (17) that synchronizes the displacement of the limbs (4A, 4B) of the roll bar (2) along the guiding devices (6, 7) is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Hoge
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Patent number: 7478874Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular functioning as a rear vehicle seat having a seat element provided at the free end of the backrest, and a vehicle with such a seat are specified in which the seat element is pivotably linked to a backrest structure of the vehicle seat and the seat element acts at the same time as a headrest and as protection against rollover.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Hanno Figenser, Rolf-Peter Baule
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Publication number: 20090008968Abstract: A closure device to close a convertible top of a convertible vehicle onto a body frame part, wherein at least one closure element is connected to the convertible top and at least one mating closure element is connected to the body frame part, which can be engaged by means of a motor drive unit. The convertible top has a handle element, by which the convertible top can be moved manually between a pre-closure position at a spacing from the body-frame part and a catching position, in which the convertible top can be closed. The closure device includes a sensor, by which assumption of the catching position of the convertible top is detectable and which sends signals to a control unit of the drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2005Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventors: Klaus Russke, Heinrich Selle, Birgit Metzner
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Publication number: 20080309117Abstract: A convertible car includes a mobile roof which can be retained on a windshield frame when closed. For retaining the roof, at least two mobile engaging elements and at least one actuating element for the same are provided. The actuating element is operatively coupled with the engaging elements via respective force transmitters which project with one component in the vehicle transverse direction. At least inward pointing ends of the force transmitters, for the purpose of force transmission, are movable in a purely translational manner and in parallel to their projecting component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2005Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventor: Norbert Habacker
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Patent number: 7464987Abstract: A water management system for directing fluid away from a gap defined between adjacent panels of a folding hardtop of a vehicle. The water management system includes first and second seals and a tube. The seals are disposed along respective gaps between adjacent panels. Each seal has a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap. The tube is in fluid communication with the troughs of both seals and directs the fluid to an external location of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Richter, Scott Yaroch
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Patent number: 7464980Abstract: A motor vehicle that is equipped with a movable convertible top comprising control equipment for controlling the convertible top motion and a detection device for recognition of an intervention into the range of motion of a convertible top mechanism, which is equipped with a sensor system with sensors operating with different measurement principles, wherein, when recognizing a malfunction of the detection device or when recognizing an obstruction situation, the convertible top motion is controlled in a safety mode during which the convertible top motion continues with reduced speed and power or is stopped or reversed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Peter Gutendorf, Reiner Hinrichs, Jorg Jahn
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Patent number: 7455347Abstract: A vehicle roof structure (10), which has at least one rear-side convertible top compartment lid (16) and a rigid roof part (12) movable between an opened- and a closed position, which roof part (12) extends in the closed position between a windshield frame (14) of the vehicle and the convertible top compartment lid (16) and in the opened position is stored in a space underneath the convertible top compartment lid (16), is movable between the closed position and the opened position by a linkage mechanism (30, 36) and is additionally provided with at least one guide device (40, 42, 44), with which the roof part (12) is in contact during at least one portion of its movement path between the opened- and closed position and which effects a directional change of the movement path of the roof part (12) when it arrives in contact with the roof part.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Udo Heselhaus, Winfried Bunsmann, Franz Ulrich Brockhoff
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Patent number: 7445266Abstract: The invention relates to a cabriolet vehicle (1), with a roof (2), comprising a flexible cover (3), at least in the rear part thereof, whereby the cover (3) may be held in tension against the chassis (7), by means of a tension stay (11) and the tension stay (11) rests on one or several supports (15) in the open position, embodied such that the support(s) (15) are fixed on one or more bracket(s) (14), connected to a roof frame (5), attached below the cover (3), before assembly thereof on the chassis (7).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Petra Liedmeyer, Sven Hollenbeck
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Publication number: 20080258492Abstract: A convertible vehicle is provided with at least two roof elements that are separated from each other at a joint when the roof is in the closed position and arranged one after the other relative to the direction of travel, and in order to open the roof a rear roof element can move at least essentially rearward and downward, and a front roof element can swivel toward the rear roof element. When the roof is open, the C pillars can be swiveled inward in relation to a center section comprising to mediate the swiveling, at least one shaft, which when the roof is closed has at least one component in the direction of travel and one upwardly directed component, and whose rotary movement in the region of the joint between the roof elements can be translated into a swivel movement between them.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2005Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Publication number: 20080252101Abstract: A vehicle having a B-pillar, a side-sill arrangement into which the B-pillar extends and a transverse reinforcement that extends in the transverse direction to above the side-sill arrangement and adjacent to a lower end of the B-pillar, is characterized in that a plate-like impact element arranged in the longitudinal direction and upright, is connected on an inside side outer end of transverse reinforcement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2005Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventors: Markus Koormann, Markus Exner, Thomas Hessel
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Patent number: 7434866Abstract: A latch actuator assembly for a convertible top assembly is provided having a bell crank pivotable between a first position and a second position and a lever selectively engageable with the bell crank. The lever includes a first arm portion in selective engagement with a switch. Additionally, a second and third arm portion of the lever is in selective engagement with the bell crank. The bell crank is operable to engage the second and third arm portions of the lever when the bell crank is in the first and second positions, respectively, to bias the first arm portion of the lever out of engagement with the switch. Alternately, the first arm portion of the lever is operable to engage the switch when the bell crank pivots between the first position and the second position. A convertible top assembly and vehicle incorporating the latch actuator assembly of the present invention is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Reinhard W. Quindt, William T. White
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Publication number: 20080246302Abstract: A convertible vehicle having a roof moveable between a stored position to a closed position, and method of manufacturing said convertible vehicle. The roof is supported by a pair of lateral main support units fixed to opposite sides of the vehicle body. Each lateral main support unit has a fastening flange movable along a portion thereof for securing the roof to pins disposed on the vehicle body. The convertible roof is manufactured such that the main support units and the linkage parts are assembled upside down on a fixture replicating the vehicle body. Thus alignment of the roof to the vehicle body is ensured. Furthermore manufacturing tolerances are accommodated by moving the fastening flanges along a portion of the lateral main support units such that the fastening flanges are registered to the pins.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Jorg Halker
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Patent number: 7429071Abstract: A convertible vehicle with at least one front roof area, having a flexible covering in the direction of travel, and a rigid roof area, including a rear window. The front roof area includes several lateral frame parts lying one behind the other, which can be folded opposite to each other, at least in the essentially horizontal axes, and can be covered by the rear roof area in the stored position.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Stefan Meinert
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Publication number: 20080231085Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a cabriolet vehicle, with a motor vehicle chassis is provided to whose underbody area at least two reinforcing struts are allocated, each of which trends from a chassis attachment with a component in the direction of a vertical longitudinal mid-plane. A connection support is provided free under the underbody and with a distance to it, at which support two of these struts are held in close distance to each other with respect to the vehicle transverse direction, as well as two further struts, which from there extend away, in each case, with a component in the direction of the vertical longitudinal mid-plane, wherein the connection support is angled about at least one axis extending transverse to the vehicle between the mountings for the two struts and the mountings for the two further struts.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2005Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventors: Franz Westing, Andreas Bente, Vinzenz Partmann
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Patent number: 7425031Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a carbody having a rear top compartment with a top compartment lid. A retractable top is connected to the carbody and stowed in the top compartment when open. Its back bow is placed onto the top compartment lid in a closed position of the top. A locking device secures the back bow and the top compartment lid to one another. The locking device has a connecting member on the back bow and a counter member on the top compartment lid below a through opening of the top compartment lid. At least one flap part is provided at the through opening and movable by the connecting member from a closed position into an open position. A switching member cooperates with the at least one flap part. The connecting member has two support legs that define a receiving slot for the counter member engaging the receiving slot positive-lockingly.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Norbert Habacker, Achim Böhnke, Detlef Wasilewski
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Publication number: 20080217954Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a vehicle body with a passenger compartment defined therein and a rear region with a top storage well defined therein. A retractable roof is movable between a closed position extending over the passenger compartment and a stowed position in the top storage well. The top storage well has a base region that is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The base region covers an intermediate space between the rearward side of the seats and the inner side of the rear roof region when the roof is in the closed position and the base region is in the raised position. A coupling linkage interconnects the base region with the rear roof region such that movement of the retractable roof from the stowed position to the closed position causes movement of the base region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2006Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Olaf Weismuller, Udo Heselhaus
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Patent number: 7422266Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a moving roof having a flexible cover, in which the cover is engaged underneath by at least one strap (9), following essentially the course of the roof when the roof is closed, which is secured on support structure arranged across the roof. The at least one end of the strap passes through a slit recess of the roof support structure and is secured against pulling out from the slit recess by an end thickening.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Heiko Schonhorst, Klaus Licher
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Publication number: 20080203758Abstract: The invention relates to a cabriolet vehicle (1) comprising a roof which can be stowed away in the rear of the vehicle, wherein, when the roof is closed, an area which, in the direction of travel (F), is considered as the rear roof part (7) and an area below a rear window (4) is at least partially covered by a rear-window shelf-type cover (8), said cover being lowered when the roof is opened. According to the invention, the cover (8), relative to the vehicle cross-direction, has an intermediate part (9) and lateral outer parts (10) which are folded in, when the roof is closed, relative to the intermediate part (9) into an at least approximately opposite position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2005Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Publication number: 20080203770Abstract: A motor vehicle with a roof that is at least partially moveable and can be stowed in the body beneath a cover section. The cover section can be moved upward in a pivoting motion, opening up toward the rear to reveal a stowage opening for the roof sections or for the entire roof. A drive element is provided that lies in a longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle. When the drive element is in close proximity to its retracted position, it actuates a moveable power pull-down device for the cover which comprises at least one pivoting control arm disposed on the body by acting on the pivoting control arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2005Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBHInventor: Heinrich Selle
