Patents by Inventor Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff 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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Patent number: 9669686Abstract: A support structure for a motor vehicle with a first connecting section, a second connecting section and a deformation section, which is arranged between the first connecting section and the second connecting section. The deformation section is provided in its lengthwise dimension with a recess formed from a middle web and legs joined to it by connecting regions. The deformation section is fashioned as a single piece and a) the wall thickness in the connecting regions is at least partly along the lengthwise dimension of the deformation section at least 20% larger than the wall thickness of the middle web and/or the legs and/or b) the ends of the legs have a wall thickness which for at least a portion of the lengthwise dimension of the deformation section is at least 20% greater than the wall thickness of the middle web and/or the legs.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILETECHNIK GMBHInventor: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff
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Publication number: 20160121930Abstract: A support structure for a motor vehicle with a first connecting section, a second connecting section and a deformation section, which is arranged between the first connecting section and the second connecting section. The deformation section is provided in its lengthwise dimension with a recess formed from a middle web and legs joined to it by connecting regions. The deformation section is fashioned as a single piece and a) the wall thickness in the connecting regions is at least partly along the lengthwise dimension of the deformation section at least 20% larger than the wall thickness of the middle web and/or the legs and/or b) the ends of the legs have a wall thickness which for at least a portion of the lengthwise dimension of the deformation section is at least 20% greater than the wall thickness of the middle web and/or the legs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventor: Franz Ulrich BROCKHOFF
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Patent number: 9045173Abstract: A front-end structure of a motor vehicle includes a transverse member and two crash boxes. In addition a transverse reinforcement member is arranged according to the invention, wherein the transverse reinforcement member is supported via coupling beams on a subframe.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
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Patent number: 8857869Abstract: Bumper system for a motor vehicle with a cross member which is arranged cross to longitudinal members and having a top side, a bottom side, a front side and a back side and with at least one means to ensure adequate energy impact into the cross member 2 characterized in that at least one means on the top side and/or on the bottom side of the cross member is arranged in that way that it is pointing away from the cross member wherein air can stream at least partially through a region above and/or beneath the cross member during driving of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Frode Paulsen, Havard Sorlie
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Publication number: 20140216839Abstract: A front-end structure of a motor vehicle includes a transverse member and two crash boxes. In addition a transverse reinforcement member is arranged according to the invention, wherein the transverse reinforcement member is supported via coupling beams on a subframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Benteler Automobiletechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
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Patent number: 8733823Abstract: A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes a bumper cross member which is arranged transversely to a travel direction and has two attachment zones for connection to two side rails arranged in parallel relationship to the travel direction. The bumper cross member has a center portion extending between the attachment zones and two end zones to close off the bumper cross member to vehicle sides. A deformation element is arranged behind each of the end zones and constructed to support in the event of a head-on collision with slight overlap the end zone which undergoes a buckling as a result of the head-on collision. At least one belt element at least partly surrounds a circumference of the deformation element and is secured to at least one of the side rails.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz, Holger Diersmann
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Publication number: 20130234456Abstract: A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes a bumper cross member which is arranged transversely to a travel direction and has two attachment zones for connection to two side rails arranged in parallel relationship to the travel direction. The bumper cross member has a center portion extending between the attachment zones and two end zones to close off the bumper cross member to vehicle sides. A deformation element is arranged behind each of the end zones and constructed to support in the event of a head-on collision with slight overlap the end zone which undergoes a buckling as a result of the head-on collision. At least one belt element at least partly surrounds a circumference of the deformation element and is secured to at least one of the side rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz, Holger Diersmann
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Publication number: 20130187396Abstract: In a method for producing a motor vehicle bending cross member bending a double-U-profile is initially formed from a metal plank. The double-U-profile has two U-shaped longitudinal sections which are connected by a web. The outer legs of the double-U-profile are longer than the inner legs which are connected by the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz, Holger Diersmann
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Patent number: 7762612Abstract: A convertible vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body with a windshield frame with an upper transverse frame part. A convertible roof for the vehicle has a front end. At least one hook part is disposed in the upper transverse frame part and is linearly movable in the upper transverse frame part.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2006Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Patent number: 7686377Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a roof that is movable between a closed position extending over the passenger compartment and an opened position stowed in a rearward storage region. A movable cover has a closed position wherein the cover covers the rearward storage area and is movable to a first opened position to provide a passage opening for the roof and to a second opened position to provide a loading opening for baggage. A cover extension has an extended position wherein the cover extension at least partially covers an opening between the movable cover and the passenger.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Patent number: 7677635Abstract: A convertible vehicle is provided with a rear windshield and a rear roof element that laterally comprises C pillars that are at least substantially located next to the rear windshield, adjoining which is at least one front roof element, arranged upstream thereof in the direction of travel when the roof is closed. In order to open the roof the rear roof element can move rearward and downward, and the 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 the windshield about axes into a position lying above the center position when the roof is open, and the axes when the roof is closed have at least one component in the direction of travel and one upwardly directed component.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Patent number: 7677633Abstract: In a convertible vehicle having a folding convertible top (16), whose rear side is affixed to a tensioning bow (20) laterally supported relative to the vehicle, and a rear trunk lid (14) laterally supported relative to the vehicle, wherein its front side is arranged in the vicinity of the tensioning bow in its closed state, the tensioning bow (20) can be brought into an upwardly pivoted position during the opening of the rear trunk lid (14) or when the rear trunk lid is opened, so that an opening for loading of a luggage compartment, which is arranged underneath the rear trunk lid and underneath the tensioning bow at least when the folding convertible top is closed, is enlarged.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff, Winfried Bunsmann, Siegfried Licher
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Patent number: 7673927Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a tail gate (10) affixed to a lateral, rear pillar of the vehicle structure by means of at least one hinge so as to be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis (A-A), a hinge part that swings out together with the tail gate is located in an area of a lateral tail light (18) of the vehicle when the tail gate (10) is closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff, Winfried Bunsmann, Jochen Klein, Wolfgang Nentwig, Markus Grave
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Patent number: 7669912Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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Patent number: 7604283Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof can be folded down under a cover part in a rear section of the vehicle. The cover part can be opened in a first direction to release an opening for luggage and in a second direction to release an opening for the roof. The vehicle includes a movement mechanism to hold the cover part and further includes at least one multi-link chain. The multi-link chain includes a plurality of hinges for the movement of the cover part. At least one of the plurality of hinges is held in an idle state when the cover part is opened in the first direction and the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Meinert
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Patent number: 7594685Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof that can be stowed in the rear area of the vehicle, wherein when the roof is closed, an area in front of the rear roof seal relative to the direction of travel and below a rear window can be at least partially covered by a cover in the manner of a rear shelf, the cover being recessed when the roof is opened. The cover comprises a center section and outer sections situated to its sides in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which, when the roof is open, are folded in relative to the center section in an at least nearly opposite orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Wilheim Karmann GmbHInventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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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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Publication number: 20080290688Abstract: A convertible vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body with a windshield frame with an upper transverse frame part. A convertible roof for the vehicle has a front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2006Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventor: Franz-Ulrich Brockhoff
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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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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