Patents by Inventor Joachim Maass

Joachim Maass 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: 11904670
    Abstract: A sliding soft-top convertible roof is provided. In another aspect, a convertible roof apparatus including rollers which sandwich a fore-and-aft elongated guide rail therebetween. A further aspect includes roof bow mounted brackets extending between an elongated and stationary guide rail and channels within which move cables for raising and lowering a roof cover, with the brackets being moveably coupled to the guide rail. Still another aspect includes a sport utility vehicle having a passenger compartment and a rear cargo compartment, where a sliding soft-top convertible roof is retractable to a position rear of the passenger compartment, lower than a nominal closed roof surface and above only a forward portion of the cargo compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MyTop IP, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Koslowski, Joachim Maass
  • Publication number: 20220242207
    Abstract: A sliding soft-top convertible roof is provided. In another aspect, a convertible roof apparatus including rollers which sandwich a fore-and-aft elongated guide rail therebetween. A further aspect includes roof bow mounted brackets extending between an elongated and stationary guide rail and channels within which move cables for raising and lowering a roof cover, with the brackets being moveably coupled to the guide rail. Still another aspect includes a sport utility vehicle having a passenger compartment and a rear cargo compartment, where a sliding soft-top convertible roof is retractable to a position rear of the passenger compartment, lower than a nominal closed roof surface and above only a forward portion of the cargo compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: MyTop IP, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph KOSLOWSKI, Joachim MAASS
  • Patent number: 9097438
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to build central receiver solar power plants in which the heliostat fields can be used more efficiently. To achieve said aim, a heliostat field consisting of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ? of more than 60% is preferably combined with a far field whose reflector surface density ? decreases as the distance from the receiver increases. The invention also comprises central receiver solar power plants which consist exclusively of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ? of more than 60%. The high reflector surface density ? in the near field and in areas of the far field is achieved by the use of heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid horizontal axle suspension (FHA) or, alternatively, by heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid quasipolar axle suspension (FQA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventors: Philipp Schramek, Joachim Maass
  • Publication number: 20130220303
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to build central receiver solar power plants in which the heliostat fields can be used more efficiently. To achieve said aim, a heliostat field consisting of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ? of more than 60% is preferably combined with a far field whose reflector surface density ? decreases as the distance from the receiver increases. The invention also comprises central receiver solar power plants which consist exclusively of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ? of more than 60%. The high reflector surface density ? in the near field and in areas of the far field is achieved by the use of heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid horizontal axle suspension (FHA) or, alternatively, by heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid quasipolar axle suspension (FQA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Philipp Schramek, Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 7559595
    Abstract: A convertible device of a vehicle comprises a convertible top (10) movable between a closed position and a folded-together, lowered open position and a separating wall (22, 24) separating the convertible top at least in its folded-together open position at least partially from the interior of a luggage space (19) of the vehicle when the convertible device is mounted thereon. At least a portion of the separating wall is formed by a rear shelf part (24) that separates the passenger compartment from the luggage space in the closed position of the convertible top and during movement of the folding top into its open position moves downwardly together with the lower, rear edge portion of the convertible top, so that the folded-together convertible top is disposed above the rear shelf part. A sensor apparatus detects an object located in the luggage space and hindering a lowering of the rear shelf part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Joachim Maass, Heiko Schonhorst
  • Publication number: 20080067832
    Abstract: A convertible device of a vehicle comprises a convertible top (10) movable between a closed position and a folded-together, lowered open position and a separating wall (22, 24) separating the convertible top at least in its folded-together open position at least partially from the interior of a luggage space (19) of the vehicle when the convertible device is mounted thereon. At least a portion of the separating wall is formed by a rear shelf part (24) that separates the passenger compartment from the luggage space in the closed position of the convertible top and during movement of the folding top into its open position moves downwardly together with the lower, rear edge portion of the convertible top, so that the folded-together convertible top is disposed above the rear shelf part. A sensor apparatus detects an object located in the luggage space and hindering a lowering of the rear shelf part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Joachim Maass, Heiko Schonhorst
  • Publication number: 20070216191
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) comprising a moving roof (2) that includes a main pillar (6) which projects upwardly from a window breast line (5) and is movable rearwardly and downwardly around a bearing (7) on the opening of the roof is configured such that the bearing (7) is transposed upwardly with respect to the closed position at least during a part of the roof opening movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Sven Hollenbeck, Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6902223
    Abstract: Apparatus suitable for use in convertible vehicles may include a convertible top comprising a substantially rigid front portion that moves downwardly towards and releaseably engages a windshield frame of the vehicle in order to close the convertible vehicle. At least one dampening device may be disposed at a rear portion of the convertible top and may be operably coupled to the front portion in order to slow downward movement of the front portion during a final phase of a convertible top closing operation. Further, the dampening device may be operably coupled between two pivotably connected linkages provided within the rear portion of the convertible top. The two pivotably connected linkages are preferably arranged and constructed so that the opening distance between the two linkages increases when the front portion is moving downwardly towards the windshield frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Hollenbeck, Joachim Maass
  • Publication number: 20040012222
    Abstract: Apparatus suitable for use in convertible vehicles may include a convertible top comprising a substantially rigid front portion that moves downwardly towards and releaseably engages a windshield frame of the vehicle in order to close the convertible vehicle. At least one dampening device may be disposed at a rear portion of the convertible top and may be operably coupled to the front portion in order to slow downward movement of the front portion during a final phase of a convertible top closing operation. Further, the dampening device may be operably coupled between two pivotably connected linkages provided within the rear portion of the convertible top. The two pivotably connected linkages are preferably arranged and constructed so that the opening distance between the two linkages increases when the front portion is moving downwardly towards the windshield frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Hollenbeck, Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6431637
    Abstract: Convertible vehicle with a roof which can be folded up and is provided with a rear window and two lateral clamping collars at the rear. The rear window is movably in a guideway defined by a roof frame part on the roof and a car body frame part on the car body. In a closed position of the roof, the rear window is movable from a closed normal position into a lowered position. The roof is constructed so that the clamping collars are connected firmly with one another over a transverse connecting part and, between the roof frame part and the car body frame part, a space is provided in the guideway for the passage of the transverse connecting part during the folding up of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6409247
    Abstract: For a convertible vehicle with a foldable at least partially flexible roof where longitudinal side support components and between these, cross-connecting supports are arranged for the support of at least the flexible roof section, at least one bow is arranged in a longitudinally moveable fashion with regard to the longitudinal side support components and in a movable fashion subject to the opening or closing of the roof via at least one control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6390530
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) with an unfoldable roof (2), which can be placed under a cover (5) in the open position and has at least one rear bracket (4), which rests on the cover (5) in the closed position of the roof (2), and is constructed in such a way that the opening motion of the roof (2) includes a combined lift/rotation motion (13) of the bracket (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Publication number: 20020027374
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) with an unfoldable roof (2), which can be placed under a cover (5) in the open position and has at least one rear bracket (4), which rests on the cover (5) in the closed position of the roof (2), and is constructed in such a way that the opening motion of the roof (2) includes a combined lift/rotation motion (13) of the bracket (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6347827
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be stowed in the rear region of the vehicle and comprises at least one front roof part, which faces a windshield frame in the closed position, and a rear roof part, which extends backward and downward at the rear and has, at its side edge regions, frame parts, which are held at their rear end regions so that they can be swiveled about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6322131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be folded up and is provided with a rear window, it being possible, in the closed position of the roof, to lower the rear window at least regionally from a normal position into a lowered position below a window parapet line forming the upper boundary of the car body. In order to simplify the installation of a movable rear window for such an embodiment, provisions are made so that the rear window, in the lowered position as well as in the normal position, is held in a frame, which is firmly connected with the roof, as a result of which special adjustment of the rear window or of a different component with respect to the roof is superfluous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Maass, Frank Lehnig
  • Publication number: 20010033089
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) with a roof (2), which can be folded up and is provided with a rear window (8) and has, at the rear, two lateral clamping collars (5; 6) which are essentially triangular in plan view, the rear window (8) being held movably in a guideway (10) with a roof frame part (11), assigned to the roof (2) and a car body frame part (12), which is assigned to the car body and, in the closed position of the roof (2) being movable at least regionally from a closed normal position into a lowered position, is constructed so that the clamping collars (5; 6) are connected firmly with one another over a transverse connecting part (13) and, between the roof frame part (11) and the car body frame part (12), an interruption (10c) is provided in the guideway (10) for the passage of the transverse connecting part (13) during the folding up of the roof (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 6302470
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof, which can be folded up, is provided with a rear window, can be stowed in a rear region of the vehicle and is braced over at least one tension bracket in the closed state with respect to the car body, the tension bracket being pivotable in the forwards direction for opening the roof and hereby bringing about a forward displacement of the rear window. In the case of such a construction, in order to be able to carry out the forward shifting of the rear region of the folding top, comprising the rear window, without being obstructed by upright parts, such as the rear head supports or roll bars, provisions are made so that the rear window is held in a frame which, on the folding top side, is opened downward and, during the opening and closing of the roof, can be swiveled up with respect to this frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Maass, Frank Lehnig
  • Patent number: 5816644
    Abstract: A foldable top for a convertible includes a vehicle body, a windshield frame on the vehicle body, a rear region on the vehicle body disposed rearwardly of the windshield frame, a foldable-rod linkage supportable on the windshield frame, a main power operated device mounted on the vehicle body for moving the foldable-rod linkage between closed and open positions, and a rear roof clamping member at the rear region of the vehicle body. Rail members are pivotably connected to each other and are also pivotably connected to the foldable-rod linkage and to the clamping member. A tensioning linkage is pivotably connected to one of the rail members and pivotably connected to the vehicle body. A drive mechanism mounted on the vehicle body is pivotably connected to the tensioning linkage and is operable to pivot the tensioning linkage which in turn pivots the rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothe, Joachim Maass
  • Patent number: 4783799
    Abstract: A fully distributed, disposable, self-organizing, independently powered communications system is described capable of providing a radio-communications channel in environments that may prove dangerous or inacessible to humans and may be hostile to communications systems by exposing them to electromagnetic interference, obstacles to line-of-sight operation and threats to survival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Inventor: Joachim A. Maass