Patents by Inventor Alfons Lutz

Alfons Lutz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6513865
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof opening (12) and a body-mounted carrier frame (38) to which a roof module (14) which fills the roof opening is attached, the roof module having a module frame (20) by means of which it is attached to the carrier frame, a cover (22) which can be pushed in the module frame in the lengthwise direction of the roof, and a rear window (24) which directly adjoins the cover to the rear in the closed position of the cover, and the module frame is made such that the cover and the rear window in their closed state adjoin the module frame, forming a seal. The rear window (24) can be raised with its rear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Thomas Ulbrich, Stephan Wolfrum
  • Patent number: 4969681
    Abstract: A frame arrangement for a vehicle roof that has a roof opening that is closable by a displaceable cover panel that, along with driving and guiding components thereof, is supported on a frame bounding the roof opening which has only the function of a support, i.e., does not form a necessary part of a fully functional installation unit, comprising a guide insert and a covering. The guide insert and the covering form the tracks for a slidable guide element and the cable guide channels for actuating cables, which interact with an appropriately suitable actuation device for displacing the cover panel. The guide insert can be made of plastic or metal, and the covering is advantageously divided into a front side section and side sections. These sections of the covering can be uniformly produced of plastic or metal or individual sections can be produced of plastic and others, in turn, of metal. Also, the guide insert as well as the covering can be produced entirely of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Bernd Schleicher, Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin, Karl Dworschak, Peter Wolf
  • Patent number: 4968090
    Abstract: A frame arrangement for a vehicle roof of the type having a roof opening which can be closed and selectively at least partially opened by displacement of a cover panel by actuating cables, the cover being guided by guide element tracks on the side parts of a support frame. According to the invention, the frame arrangement is provided with a guide part, which is set on the frame and which contains guide channels for the actuating cables and forms an upper sliding surface of the lateral tracks for the guide element. Advantageously, the guide part is constructed of a U shape that extends over the side parts and the front side of the frame. Preferably, this guide part is produced of plastic, while the frame consists of a sheet metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Bernd Schleicher, Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin, Karl Dworschak, Peter Wolf
  • Patent number: 4749225
    Abstract: Vehicle roof, particularly for passenger vehicles, connected to whose roof there are side panels forming roof struts. The connection areas between the roof panel and side panels are downwardly offset and are respectively covered by a molded strip. The roof has a roof opening which extends approximately up to the connecting areas. A tiltable cover which can be moved rearwardly is provided for selectively closing and at least partially uncovering of the roof opening. The outer edge of the cover in its closed position is pressed against a cover gasket from above. The gasket at the side of the roof opening, at least supplements the respective molding strip by replacing the molding strips in the area of the roof opening, or by extending along the side of the molding strip facing the roof opening, or by forming a portion of the molding strip itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Arpad Fuerst, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4702518
    Abstract: Sliding and lifting roof for vehicles with a cover for closing an opening in a fixed roof surface, the cover being selectively liftable so as to raise its rear edge above the fixed roof surface or, after lowering of its rear edge, rearwardly slidable below the fixed roof surface. A sliding liner panel is provided that is slidable jointly with the cover and, at least partially, is also liftable together with the cover. For covering up of a gap between each lateral edge of the liftable liner panel part and a guide part which participates in the sliding movement but not in the lifting movement of the cover, there is provided a flexible screen. The screen is led around the lateral edge of the liftable liner panel part and is held taut in every position of the liner panel part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignees: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co., Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Paerisch, Werner Herlemann, Gerhard Sweigart, Hans Jardin, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4684169
    Abstract: A sliding and lifting roof for vehicles with a rigid cover that is guided by way of forward and rear guide sleds on guide rails and is tiltable around an axis running transversely to the sliding direction has a locking arrangement for preventing sliding of the cover during tilting thereof. This locking arrangement includes at least one of the guide rails being provided with a recess into which a resiliently pretensed, swivelable locking lever engages except when the cover is fully lowered to its sliding position. The locking lever is articulated to the forward guide sled and is swivelable to a released position by contact with the lowered cover or an adjusting member participating in the lowering movement of the cover. In its released position the locking lever is out of engagement with the respectively guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Richard Igel, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4630860
    Abstract: A vehicle roof having a cover which, in a closed position, closes an opening in the roof and is rearwardly slidable along guide rails from the closed position toward the rear into an open position and provided with a wind deflector which is raised and lowered automatically as a function of the position of the cover. The wind deflector forms a part of the roofing located in front of the cover and is pivotable about an axis extending transversely relative to the sliding direction of the cover. The cover can be tilted out into a ventilating position in which it forms a continuous extension of the wind deflector, which is at least partially raised in conjunction with the tilting of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co
    Inventors: Arpad Fuerst, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4626023
    Abstract: A sliding roof for motor vehicles having a transparent rigid sliding cover by means of which an opening in the roof can be selectively closed or can be exposed at least partially. A frameless sliding inside cover lining is provided that can be displaced at least in the cover sliding direction independently from the sliding cover and is guided at its lateral edges. The sliding inside cover lining is formed of a sandwich panel having a core layer and a cover layer that is applied to said core layer at least on one side. In the area of its lateral edges, the sandwich panel is squeezed together reducing the core thickness and increasing its density to form sliding guide edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4531777
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof arrangement having a cover that can be slid and/or tilted out with respect to an opening in the roof. The cover is movable by means of an electric motor through at least one incompressible driving cable. The electric motor is mounted at a front side of the opening in the roof on a stationary part of the roof, and by means of a secondary drive wheel of an intermediate drive, drives a pinion that is engaged in the driving cable. The pinion is arranged in a front rain groove of a roof frame essentially on the center longitudinal axis of the roof of the motor vehicle. The intermediate drive is located in a gear housing to which the electric motor is flanged to form a drive unit. A secondary drive gear of the intermediate drive is detachably connected with a shaft of the pinion by mating internal and external gear elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Horst Bienert, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4487449
    Abstract: A vehicle roof provided with an opening closable by a cover and a frame of substantially U-shaped cross section extending along the edge of the roof opening. One side of the substantially U-shaped frame is higher than the other side thereof, and the higher side extends outside of the vehicle in the form of a flange for covering the edge of the vehicle roof defining the opening. A clamping arrangement for pressing the flange against the outer surface of the roof is provided, near the higher side, inside of the vehicle. To facilitate the installation of such a vehicle cover, especially in the case of a used vehicle, the clamping arrangement comprises a plurality of retaining plates which are pressed against the vehicle roof by screws. When the screws have been loosened, the retaining plates can be pivoted so that the frame can be introduced from outside of the vehicle into the roof opening without removing the retaining plates and screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Richard Igel, Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin, Klaus-Peter Srdinko
  • Patent number: 4473253
    Abstract: A vehicle sunroof with a cover closing a roof hatch, said cover being slidable rearward under the roof to open the roof hatch, and having two laterally directed, lengthwise displaceable brake rods, as well as two first guide parts running lengthwise of the vehicle along both sides of the cover. A roof frame extends rearward on both sides of the roof hatch, to which frame second guide parts, complementary to the first guide parts, are fastened, said parts meshing with the first guide parts and locating them in the vertical direction. In order to facilitate manufacture and installation of a vehicle sunroof of this type, provision is made for the roof frame to have a sloping surface on each side, opposite the ends of the brake rods in each intermediate open position, and an approximately horizontal support surface abutting said areas laterally and externally, for coacting with the brake rods despite variations in their lengthwise adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin
  • Patent number: 4428614
    Abstract: A vehicle roof with a roof opening and a removable cover for closing the opening of the type wherein the cover is attachable to a roof frame in the vicinity of its forward edge by means of a releasable swivel connection about an axis running at right angles to a lengthwise axis of the vehicle roof and having a rear edge pivotable out of the roof plane, upward and outward, by means of a tilting device that is releasable from the cover is improved by the provision of a safety device for releasing the tilting device from the cover only when the cover is in its closed position. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the safety device includes an unlocking element for releasing the tilting device from the cover which is constructed in the range so as only to be accessible when the cover is closed. In the closed position the unlocking element can be operated by means of a coin or like object so as to be shifted from an engaged or disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH and Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Vogel, Alfons Lutz, Richard Igel, August Hirschberger
  • Patent number: 4390203
    Abstract: An automobile roof with an aperture and a closure panel that is displaceable for opening and closing the aperture by means of a crank handle mechanism or a motorized drive mechanism and a roof headliner for use therewith of the type comprised of a rigid, resilient material are constructed so that the same roof headliner can be utilized for covering the underside of the roof regardless of whether the crank handle mechanism or the motorized drive mechanism are utilized as the drive for the displaceable panel. According to a preferred embodiment, the headliner is provided with a cutout through means of which a foldable crank arm mechanism is attachable to a shaft of a gear box of the panel displacement mechanism. Furthermore, a cover shield is provided for covering the perforation when a motorized drive mechanism is utilized instead of a crank handle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Georg Kohlpainter
  • Patent number: 4363515
    Abstract: A sliding roof panel arrangement for opening and closing an opening in the roof of a motor vehicle is provided with a crash protection construction for preventing the unintentional closing of an open sliding cover due to the influence of high inertial forces as occur from strong deceleration during a collision. In accordance with a first embodiment, a flyweight is pivotally connected to the sliding cover and is arranged so as to engage a notched bar mounted on a fixed roof portion under the influence of said high inertial forces. According to a modified embodiment, a safety belt arrangement is secured to the sliding cover at one end and is wound upon an automatic blocking roll-up mechanism secured to a fixed roof portion at its other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH and Co.
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin
  • Patent number: 4332416
    Abstract: A vehicle roof with a roof aperture of the type having a parametric frame and a displaceable closure panel for opening and closing the aperture is formed through the use of a pre-assembled installation unit which is attachable to the frame and upon which the closure panel is mounted. The installation unit comprises all of the parts necessary for guiding and displacing the closure panel operationally associated with each other in a manner enabling complete testing of the drive for the displaceable closure panel without attachment of the installation unit to the aperture frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Walter Schatzler, Hans Jardin, Werner Sielk, Julius Frank
  • Patent number: 4323277
    Abstract: A vehicle roof with a cutout to accept a cover and a method for its manufacture including, according to a preferred embodiment, the use of a rubber gasket surrounding an edge of the body panel so as to cover attachment elements securing a frame of angular cross-section with an adjoining body panel defining the cutouts. The gasket includes, according to preferred arrangements, teeth for securely retaining the gasket upon the edge of the body panel and flocking and/or an air chamber to enable sealing engagement with the removable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Johann Rengstl, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4293161
    Abstract: A vehicle roof having an aperture surrounded by a frame and a sliding top displaceable by drive cables and guided by means of sliding blocks in the frame as well as provided with a headliner covering the vehicle roof on an interior side thereof. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the frame is formed with a synthetic resin and comprises sliding surfaces for the sliding blocks as well as guide ducts for the drive cables. Additionally, the preferred embodiments utilize an underside of the frame which faces the interior of the vehicle as at least part of the headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4164692
    Abstract: Control apparatus is provided for an electromechanically operated closure panel such as used for sun roofs of automobiles and the like. The control apparatus includes a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to move the closure panel between a closed position and respective slidably retracted and pivoted open positions. In order to accommodate for the differences in relative movement between the electric motor and the closure panel during movement between the closed position and the tilted position, as compared to the movement between the closed position and the slidably retracted position, the invention provides a control mechanism for controlling the speed of the electric motor so as to reduce the same during tilting movement of the closure panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Erik Mitterer, Alfons Lutz
  • Patent number: 4142761
    Abstract: A passenger body roof opening and detachable tiltable cover is provided. To accommodate tilting movement of the cover, a telescoping device is provided at the rear end thereof which is detachable attachable to the cover. The telescopic device includes a first threaded portion fixed to a body frame at the opening, a second threaded portion detachable connected directly to the cover, and at least one further threaded portion threadably engaging with the first and second threaded portions. To accommodate retraction of the telescopic jack when the cover member is detached from the second threaded portion, the second threaded portion is non-rotatably connected to the frame by way of a rectangular sleeve arrangement which permits telescoping axial movement of the threaded member, while preventing rotative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Webasto Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin, Horst Bienert, Georg Kohlpaintner
  • Patent number: RE34098
    Abstract: A frame arrangement for a vehicle roof that has a roof opening that is closable by a displaceable cover panel that, along with driving and guiding components thereof, is supported on a frame bounding the roof opening which has only the function of a support, i.e., does not form a necessary part of a fully functional installation unit, comprising a guide insert and a covering. The guide insert and the covering form the tracks for a slidable guide element and the cable guide channels for actuating cables, which interact with an appropriately suitable actuation device for displacing the cover panel. The guide insert can be made of plastic or metal, and the covering is advantageously divided into a front side section and side sections. These sections of the covering can be uniformly produced of plastic or metal or individual sections can be produced of plastic and others, in turn, of metal. Also, the guide insert as well as the covering can be produced entirely of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Bernd Schleicher, Alfons Lutz, Hans Jardin, Karl Dworschak, Peter Wolf