Patents by Inventor Dieter Protze

Dieter Protze 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: 4407166
    Abstract: A longitudinally and angularly adjustable vehicle steering column has two telescopically coupled steering column parts. One part is secured to a vehicle frame for swinging motion about a horizontal axis while the other part carries the steering wheel. The steering column is supported by a two-part strut. One strut part is in engagement with the steering column and the other strut part is secured to the vehicle frame for swinging motion about a horizontal axis. The strut parts are bar-like components articulated to one another. One of the strut parts extends parallel to the steering column axis. A locking bar mounted on only one of the two said steering column parts extends substantially parallel to the column axis and projects into a clamping sleeve mounted on the other of the two steering column parts. The clamping sleeve also receives one of the strut parts. A tightening mechanism cooperates with the clamping sleeve for simultaneously immobilizing the locking bar and the strut part in the clamping sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk AG
    Inventors: Dieter Protze, Udo Voigt
  • Patent number: 4385549
    Abstract: A ventilating device for an automobile is provided in combination with the hood and the front fenders. An air inlet gap is disposed between the hood and the fender on each side of the automobile and extends laterally therealong. Conduits are disposed above the wheel arches of the automobile and support the hood. Air inlet openings in the conduits provide fluid communication with the air gaps. A transverse conduit joins the lateral conduits and is connected to air outlets disposed in the dashboard in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengessellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Bauer, Dieter Protze
  • Patent number: 4285545
    Abstract: An automobile driver or passenger seat which is adjustable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle and has a backrest and headrest supported on the backrest and vertically adjustable in relation thereto. The position of the headrest is adjusted automatically to its optimum position in response to the back and forth movement of the seat, for moving the headrest upwardly away from the backrest when the seat is moved backward, and for moving the headrest downwardly when the seat is moved forwardly. Thus, the headrest will automatically be adjusted to the correct height of the passenger occupying the seat, as he adjusts the position of the seat itself. In one form of the invention, the adjustment mechanism is hydraulic and includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders, one cylinder actuated in response to movement of the seat, and the other cylinder, attached to the headrest, actuated in response to movement of the piston in the first piston and cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Protze
  • Patent number: 4156408
    Abstract: A motor vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine. A radiator is provided, the same having first and second regions which themselves have aligned edges that form an edge of the radiator. Conduits are provided for allowing the flow of coolant through the two regions of the radiator in opposite directions. A coolant chamber extends along the edge of the radiator, this coolant chamber being divided into first and second sub-chambers by a partition which extends transversely to the edge and which defines the demarcation between the first and second regions of the radiator. The first and second sub-chambers of the coolant chamber communicate with the first and second regions of the radiator, respectively. A thermostatic valve arrangement is provided which allows the flow of coolant from the first sub-chamber to the second sub-chamber, and hence through both the first and second radiator regions, only when the temperature of the coolant is above a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1979
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Protze