Patents by Inventor Francois de Gaillard
Francois de Gaillard 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).
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Publication number: 20040090092Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a passenger car (1), with an alterable rear structure (2), the rear structure (2) comprising at least one roof element (3), two opposing side elements (12, 13) and one rear element (4), the roof element (3) being located in the open position of the rear structure (2) in the rear floor area (21) of the motor vehicle. In the open position, the rear area of the vehicle has an open-bed, pickup truck configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Francois de Gaillard, Martin de Waal, Jean-Luc Guicheteau, Izumi Kimoto, Michael Koelbl, Alain Leroy, Martin Pollak, Claudio Ivano Righetti, Thomas Rudolph, Sigeru Ueki, Bernhard Vecchioni
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Publication number: 20040075305Abstract: An openable roof for a motor vehicle having a driver's compartment (10) with a roof cover (12) which can be moved between a closed position and an open position, and a rear wall (14) that can be pivot with respect to the driver's compartment around an axis (24) which runs in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and with a cargo bed (16) which is located behind the driver's compartment. The roof cover (12) and the rear wall (14) are joined to one another to be able to fold in the manner of a hinge, the roof cover being folded in the open position onto the rear wall and the roof cover, and the rear wall being deposited in this position in the area of the cargo bed (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: WEBASTO VEHICLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GmbHInventors: Francois De Gaillard, Martin De Waal, Jean-Luc Guicheteau, Izumi Kimoto, Michael Kolbl, Peter Mitterbauer, Martin Pollak, Claudio Ivano Righetti, Miriam Schonauer, Sigeru Ueki, Bernhard Vecchioni
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Publication number: 20040056464Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle with a vehicle roof (2), comprising roof longitudinal side members (3), fixed to the car body, a roof opening (6) between the roof longitudinal side members (3) and a cover assembly (7,8), movably mounted on the roof longitudinal side members (3). Said cover assembly (7,8), adapted for optionally closing or at least partially releasing the roof opening (6), can be folded on the rear part when the roof opening (6) is released. According to the invention, a rollover protection system (13) is arranged at the rear end of the passenger compartment behind the seats or rear seats (12). Said rollover protection system preferably comprises a roll bar (18), which is firmly secured to the corresponding roof longitudinal side member (3) at both ends (19, 20) thereof and which is fixed to the car body structure (16) with the cranked middle section (21) thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Francois De Gaillard, Goetz Mussbach
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Publication number: 20040051348Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with a set (20) of several raisable louvers (22) which are arranged in succession in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle, which lie flat side-by-side next to one another in the closed position in order to close the roof opening (10), and which can be pushed into the form of a packet in which they lay parallel to, and on top of, one another in the raised state in order to at least partially clear the roof opening. The roof opening (10) extends to underneath the equator (18) of the motor vehicle in the rear area of the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Francois De Gaillard, Martin De Waal, Jean-Luc Guicheteau, Izumi Kimoto, Michael Kolbl, Peter Mitterbauer, Martin Pollak, Claudio Ivano Righetti, Miriam Schonauer, Sigeru Ueki, Bernhard Vecchioni
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Publication number: 20040051339Abstract: A covering for the cargo area (3) of a motor vehicle (1), especially for the cargo area (3) of a pick-up truck, having a roll-up element (2) which is opened for loading the cargo area (3) and which can be partially or completely closed when it is desired that the cargo area (3) be covered. The roll-up element (2) has interconnected louvers (4) which are outwardly arched and can be guided at its lateral sides by guide elements (10, 11) with recesses (12) for receiving the roll-up element (2). Additionally, the guide elements (10, 11) can have contact elements (15) for applying outwardly directed pressure to the roll-up element (2), the contact elements having a low friction top surface (16) to facilitate sliding or rolling of the roll-up element over it.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Applicant: WEBASTO VEHICLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GmbHInventors: Francois De Gaillard, Michael Kolbl, Peter Mitterbauer, Martin Pollak, Thomas Rudolph
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Publication number: 20040017097Abstract: A motor vehicle with a roof which can be opened, with a body (12) which forms a vehicle passenger compartment (14) which is bordered on its front and back end by a front window (16) and a rear window element (18), respectively, and on the sides of which body-mounted lengthwise roof members (20) extend from the front to back, the lengthwise roof members (20), the top edge (38) of the front window (16) and the top edge (34) of the rear window element (18) surrounding a roof opening (26), and with a folding convertible top (28) for selectively opening and closing the roof opening (26), has the top edge (34) of the rear window element (18) connected to the folding convertible top (28) and its bottom edge (36) attached to the body (12) to be able to swing around this edge (36) into the passenger compartment (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Jean Paul Albert, Francois De Gaillard, Sergio Viter Pocchiola, Koii Sumida, Sigeru Ueki
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Patent number: 6682134Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Francois De Gaillard, Martin Pollak, Wofgang Ettl
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Patent number: 6672658Abstract: A motor vehicle, with a motor vehicle roof (4) with body-mounted lengthwise roof beams (5), with a roof opening (8) in the motor vehicle roof (4), with a movable cover (9) for selectively closing or at least partially clearing the roof opening (8), and with a rear window (11) which adjoins the motor vehicle roof (4), and a trunk lid (2), and the cover (9) and rear window (11) can be moved by a guide mechanism into the open position in which they are located on top of one another on the trunk lid (2). In another embodiment, the roof opening extends essentially over the entire vehicle interior and can be closed by a cover arrangement which has at least two cover elements, the cover elements being guided on lateral guides, and when the roof opening is cleared, being moved along the lengthwise roof beams into a rear storage space in a packed position and especially in an essentially upright position.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Publication number: 20030234560Abstract: A wind deflector arrangement for a motor vehicle roof (2) with a roof opening (3) which can be selectively closed by at least one movable closure (7) and can be at least partially cleared by moving the closure (7) in a forward direction, has a wind deflector (9) which runs in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle roof, with the closure (7) opened, and which is located at the rear edge (16) of the closure (7) in the active position. In order to devise an improved lowered position, it is provided that the wind deflector (9) has a rest position which is located under the fixed roof part (5) of the motor vehicle roof (2) which borders the rear of the roof opening (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2003Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: WEBASTO VEHICLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GmbHInventor: Francois de Gaillard
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Publication number: 20030227188Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a sedan or a station wagon, with a tailgate (9) which is movably supported on the motor vehicle by a bearing means for closing and for clearing a rear loading opening (14) of the vehicle interior or trunk (3), and the tailgate (9) can be moved by the bearing means (16, 26) in a lowering or raising motion between its closed position and a lowered open position, in which it is located in essentially vertical alignment with the motor vehicle rear end of the motor vehicle (2). The tailgate (9) can be swung out to the rear around its bottom edge (24) in order to form a load-bearing surface. The swung-out tailgate (9) in the essentially horizontal swung-out position can be moved by the bearing means (16, 26) in lowering and raising motions as a means for raising and lowering cargo.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2003Publication date: December 11, 2003Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Publication number: 20030214157Abstract: Motor vehicle, especially a limousine, sedan or coupe, with a vehicle roof (2) with body-mounted side roof members (3), with a movable cover (9) which adjoins the front window (7) for closing and clearing a roof opening (6) which is formed in the vehicle roof (2), and with a rear window (8) which borders the roof opening, the cover (9). The cover is movably guided by a front bearing mechanism (17) and a rear bearing mechanism (19) on the front and the rear roof-mounted longitudinal guides (10 and 11) and can be raised for clearing the roof opening (6) at least at its rear edge and can be pushed over the rear window (8). The front and the rear roof-mounted longitudinal guides (10 or 11) are located countersunk with respect to the roof surface in the area of the two roof side members (3) and the rear longitudinal guides (11) run along the side edges of the rear window (9).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Publication number: 20030197401Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) with a vehicle roof (2) with a sequence of cover elements (8) which are guided on roof-mounted guides for selective closing or at least partial clearance of a roof opening (6) in the vehicle roof (2), and the cover elements (8) can be swung out and are located stacked in their swung out position on the back end of the roof opening (6) for complete clearance of the roof opening (6). In accordance with the invention it is provided that the roof opening (6) extends as far as the rear trunk lid (9). The cover elements are louvers (8) of a louvered roof (7) and at least the rear louvers which in their rear closed position are located in the rear window area are transparent louvers or glass louvers. In this configuration the cover elements or louvers (8) are located in a compact stacked arrangement in the area above the hat rack (11).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventor: Francois de Gaillard
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Patent number: 6634703Abstract: A drive device for at least one sunshade intended to darken a surface of a motor vehicle roof. The drive device having a pull element to which the free end of at least one sunshade is attached such that each sunshade can be wound onto a winding roller and also having at least one mounting rod which is mounted with a capacity to swivel with respect to the pull element and to which the free end of at least one sunshade is connected.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Publication number: 20030184128Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof, which is provided with at least one cover (10, 110) which, in the closed position, closes at least part of a roof opening (46), with a carriage (36, 136) which can be moved in the lengthwise direction of the roof in a first roof-mounted guide (38) by a drive, and with a cover-mounted cover carrier (12, 112) which is movably guided in the lengthwise direction of the roof by a first sliding element (16, 116) in a second roof-mounted guide (20) and by a second sliding element (18, 118) which is offset to the rear relative to the first sliding element in the third roof-mounted guide (22). The cover can be raised at its rear edge by displacement of the carriage to the rear and can be pushed to the rear with the rear edge of the cover raised to clear the roof opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Seifert, Francois De Gaillard, Bernhard Wingen
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Publication number: 20030164622Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a passenger utility vehicle, e.g., a station wagon or SUV with a cargo space (3) which is located in the rear (2) of the vehicle, a cargo floor (16) which can be extended rearward, a cargo space door (4) for opening and closing the rear cargo space opening, and at least one roof movable panel for opening and closing a roof opening, in which a continuous opening combining the rear cargo space opening and the roof opening is formed when both the at least one rear roof panel and the cargo space door are in their open positions. In one advantageous embodiment, the cargo space door (4) is supported to be able to pivot around a vertical axis (20) on a side wall (18) of the cargo floor (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Patent number: 6604782Abstract: A openable motor vehicle roof with at least one cover (10, 12) which can be moved out of a closed position in which it closes a roof opening along a roof guideway (14) to the rear into a deposited position in a rear gate (16) of the motor vehicle. The rear gate is provided with a guideway (22) for the at least one cover and is coupled to the vehicle body to swing about a transverse pivot axis that is located on or near its upper end in order to be swung out of the closed position into an open position. The guideways (14, 22) and the rear gate (16) are made such that the transfer of the at least one cover to the rear gate takes place in a transfer position of the rear gate which lies between the closed position and the open position of the rear gate (16).Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Francois De Gaillard, Wolfgang Seifert
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Publication number: 20030111871Abstract: A roof unit (3) for installation in an opening formed in a motor vehicle roof (3) and which has a transparent area and/or a roof opening which can be closed with an openable cover. At least one screen (11) is integrated into the bottom part (7) of the roof unit (3) facing the motor vehicle interior, in the installed state, and the at least one screen can be moved, especially swung down, into a position of use out of a rest position in which the screen lies flat in the bottom part (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Patent number: 6568732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois De Gaillard
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Patent number: 6565149Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Manfred Pfalzgraf, Francois De Gaillard, Bernd Schleicher, Walter Schätzler
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Patent number: 6560930Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventor: Francois de Gaillard