Abstract: In order to improve a carrier device for motor vehicles which is designed to support loads such that the loads acting on it can be detected, it is suggested that the carrier device be provided at the least with a first sensor at a first installation point and with a second sensor at a second installation point, that a section of the carrier device be located between the installation points, its deformations caused by a load being detected by the sensors at least in part and that an evaluation unit be provided which records measurement values of the sensors and determines a borne load from them.

Abstract: For a trailer coupling, the fixing unit has a stationary first toothed segment which is fixedly connected to the pivot bearing base. A first toothed segment which in the working position is connected to the pivot element in a rotationally fixed manner and pivots together with same and is engageable by displacing the pivot element from the pivot position into the fixed position, and is disengageable by displacing the pivot element from the fixed position into the pivot position.

Abstract: In order to improve a support unit for motor vehicles comprising a supporting structure mounted on a rear end portion of the motor vehicle a sensor unit is provided for detecting forces acting on the supporting structure and elastically deforming the same. The sensor unit is provided with a sensor base, comprising two fixation regions which are spaced apart and can be fixed to mounting regions of an elastically deformable supporting structure portion. A transformation region disposed between the fixation regions mechanically converts the movements of the mounting regions, and thus also of the fixation regions relative to one another. Movements are generated by the elastic deformation of the supporting structure portion, into a movement of measuring points of the transformation region relative to one another. The movement of the measuring points can be detected by the sensor unit.

Abstract: In a wind deflector for installation in a vehicle roof in a front area, comprising a wind deflector body which extends in a direction of extension transversely to a direction of travel, a lifting device, with which the wind deflector body can be moved between a position retracted into the vehicle roof and a position extended out of the vehicle roof and projecting beyond a contour of the upper side of the vehicle roof and thus deflecting wind, wherein the lifting device has at least one lifting unit with a mounting base and a lifting arm which is mounted with a lifting arm bearing for pivoting about a first pivot axis relative to the mounting base and engages on the wind deflector body at an end located opposite the lifting arm bearing, in order to achieve a reliable movability of the wind deflector body with devices which are as mechanically simple as possible it is suggested that an actuating unit which is supported on the mounting base and engages on the lifting arm be provided for moving the lifting arm an

Abstract: In a wind deflector for installation in a vehicle roof in a front area, comprising a wind deflector body which extends in a direction of extension transversely to a direction of travel, a lifting device, with which the wind deflector body can be moved between a position retracted into the vehicle roof and a position extended out of the vehicle roof and projecting beyond a contour of the upper side of the vehicle roof and thus deflecting wind, wherein the lifting device has at least one lifting unit with a mounting base and a lifting arm which is mounted with a lifting arm bearing for pivoting about a first pivot axis relative to the mounting base and engages on the wind deflector body at an end located opposite the lifting arm bearing, in order to achieve a reliable movability of the wind deflector body with devices which are as mechanically simple as possible it is suggested that an actuating unit which is supported on the mounting base and engages on the lifting arm be provided for moving the lifting arm an

Abstract: A carrier device for mounting at a rear side of a body of a vehicle, said carrier device comprising, a receiving element, adapted to be fixed to the body of said vehicle, said receiving element comprising a receiving channel with an insert opening, a carrier element, adapted to be releaseably received in said receiving element in a mounted position, said carrier element being insertable into said receiving channel to arrive at its mounted position by movement through said insert opening in direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said receiving channel, a locking unit for locking said carrier element in said mounted position in said receiving element, a key unit comprising a first key element arranged on said receiving element and a second key element arranged on said carrier element said first and second key elements cooperating in a keying position of said carrier element in order to only allow said carrier element provided with said second key element to arrive at the mounted position when inserte

Abstract: In order for a trailer hitch comprising a cross-member, which has its longitudinal direction extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and which can be connected to a body of a vehicle, a ball neck, which at a first end region is connected to the cross-member by means of a bearing unit and at a second end region carries a coupling ball, to be improved such that it has a lower weight, it is proposed that the cross-member is in the form of a hollow shaped body which varies in cross-sectional shape and has a central region and outer regions which adjoin the central region on both sides and extend as far as outer ends of the hollow shaped body, and that, starting from the outer ends, a cross-sectional shape of the outer regions has a cross-sectional area that increases progressively in the direction of the central region.

Abstract: In order to improve a support unit for motor vehicles comprising a supporting structure mounted on a rear end portion of the motor vehicle a sensor unit is provided for detecting forces acting on the supporting structure and elastically deforming the same. The sensor unit is provided with a sensor base, comprising two fixation regions which are spaced apart and can be fixed to mounting regions of an elastically deformable supporting structure portion. A transformation region disposed between the fixation regions mechanically converts the movements of the mounting regions, and thus also of the fixation regions relative to one another. Movements are generated by the elastic deformation of the supporting structure portion, into a movement of measuring points of the transformation region relative to one another. The movement of the measuring points can be detected by the sensor unit.

Abstract: For a trailer coupling, the fixing unit has a stationary first toothed segment which is fixedly connected to the pivot bearing base. A first toothed segment which in the working position is connected to the pivot element in a rotationally fixed manner and pivots together with same and is engageable by displacing the pivot element from the pivot position into the fixed position, and is disengageable by displacing the pivot element from the fixed position into the pivot position.

Abstract: A carrier device for mounting at a rear side of a body of a vehicle, said carrier device comprising, a receiving element, adapted to be fixed to the body of said vehicle, said receiving element comprising a receiving channel with an insert opening, a carrier element, adapted to be releaseably received in said receiving element in a mounted position, said carrier element being insertable into said receiving channel to arrive at its mounted position by movement through said insert opening in direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said receiving channel, a locking unit for locking said carrier element in said mounted position in said receiving element, a key unit comprising a first key element arranged on said receiving element and a second key element arranged on said carrier element said first and second key elements cooperating in a keying position of said carrier element in order to only allow said carrier element provided with said second key element to arrive at the mounted position when inserte

Abstract: In order to improve a carrier device for motor vehicles which is designed to support loads such that the loads acting on it can be detected, it is suggested that the carrier device be provided at the least with a first sensor at a first installation point and with a second sensor at a second installation point, that a section of the carrier device be located between the installation points, its deformations caused by a load being detected by the sensors at least in part and that an evaluation unit be provided which records measurement values of the sensors and determines a borne load from them.

Abstract: In order to improve a trailer coupling for motor vehicles comprising a towing element for the attachment of a vehicle trailer or mounting of a rear load carrier, a cross member, with which a holding unit bearing the towing element is connected, and side members connecting the cross member to a vehicle body at its end areas, in such a manner that it can be produced as simply as possible and so as to save on material as far as possible it is suggested that the cross member comprise a cross member pipe, that the holding unit be held releasably on the cross member, that the holding unit be designed to engage around the cross member in circumferential direction and have at least two holding elements which abut with supporting surfaces on casing surface areas of the cross member pipe and that the holding unit be adapted to be fixed to the cross member by way of a force locking clamping.

Abstract: In order to improve a drive unit for a wind stop device for convertible vehicles, comprising a base part which can be mounted on a vehicle body and a wind blocker which can be pivoted relative to the base part between an active upright position and an inactive position folded towards the back, wherein the drive unit serves the purpose of pivoting the wind blocker between the active position and the inactive position, in such a manner that it can be fitted to the wind stop device without any alteration to the constructional design of the wind stop device it is suggested that the drive unit comprise a displacing device and a displacing element which is tensilely rigid in its direction of extension and movable transversely to the direction of extension and which couples the displacing device to the wind blocker for pivoting the wind blocker between the active position and the inactive position and, for this purpose, has a section extending in a curved manner at least in one position of the wind blocker.

Abstract: In order to design a protection device for motor vehicles, comprising a protection element protecting again draft and/or radiation, wherein for the mounting on a motor vehicle body the protection device has two fixing devices which are arranged on oppositely located sides and in which at least one locking element movable back and forth between an operative position and an inoperative position is mounted, so that it is easier to mount it is suggested that the fixing devices be coupled by means of a coupling device in such a manner that the at least one locking element of the one fixing device and the at least one locking element of the other, oppositely located fixing device can be transferred together from the operative into the inoperative position.

Abstract: A windbreak device for motor vehicles, in particular cabriolet vehicles, is provided, comprising a windbreak base which is disposed level with a beltline of a vehicle body, and a wind deflector which is connected to the windbreak base in an articulated manner and can be pivoted from an inactive position, which extends approximately level with the beltline of the vehicle body, into an active position which rises above the beltline and runs transverse with respect to said beltline, and an electric drive unit by which the wind deflector can be moved between the inactive and the active position relative to the windbreak base. The windbreak device is provided with a rechargeable battery which provides electrical energy for operating the electric drive unit.

Abstract: In order for a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck which can be moved between an operating position and a rest position and has a coupling ball, also comprising a vehicle-mounted pivot-bearing unit, in which the pivot-bearing body is accommodated such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and further comprising a rotation-blocking device which can be driven by a drive, to be improved such that it can absorb, in constructional terms, the highest possible load moments, it is proposed that the rotation-blocking device has at least one rotation-blocking body, that the rotation-blocking body can be engaged with, and disengaged from, a holder by movement in a guide direction, that there is provided an actuating body which has a pressure-exerting surface and the movement of which allows the at least one rotation-blocking body to be moved and acted on, and that the drive is an actuating drive by means of which the actuating body can be moved between at least one rotation-blocking position and a freewheeling

Abstract: In order to improve a windbreak device for motor vehicles, in particular for cabriolet vehicles, comprising a windbreak base which can be mounted such that it is fixed to the vehicle and on which a wind deflector which extends in a wind deflector surface can be mounted so as to move between an active position and an inactive position, and a drive device for moving the wind deflector between the inactive and the active position and vice versa, in such a way that the said windbreak device can be operated in as optimum a manner as possible, it is proposed that the drive device can be supplied with power from an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle by means of a power transmission device, and that the power transmission device comprises a first element which is disposed on the windbreak base, and a second element which is disposed on a side wall of the body of the motor vehicle, the said elements transferring power from the on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle to the drive device which is di

Abstract: In order for a trailer hitch comprising a cross-member, which has its longitudinal direction extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and which can be connected to a body of a vehicle, a ball neck, which at a first end region is connected to the cross-member by means of a bearing unit and at a second end region carries a coupling ball, to be improved such that it has a lower weight, it is proposed that the cross-member is in the form of a hollow shaped body which varies in cross-sectional shape and has a central region and outer regions which adjoin the central region on both sides and extend as far as outer ends of the hollow shaped body, and that, starting from the outer ends, a cross-sectional shape of the outer regions has a cross-sectional area that increases progressively in the direction of the central region.

Abstract: In order to provide, as straightforwardly as possible, a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck which can be moved between an operating position and a rest position and has a pivot-bearing body disposed at a first end and a coupling ball disposed at a second end, also comprising a vehicle-mounted pivot-bearing unit in which the pivot-bearing body is accommodated such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis between the operating position and the rest position, and further comprising a rotation-blocking device having at least one rotation-blocking body, which can be moved in a guide direction with at least one component in the radial direction in relation to the pivot axis, it being possible for the rotation-blocking body to be engaged with, and disengaged from, a receiving space by movement in the guide direction, and having an actuating body which has a wedge surface running transversely to the guide direction, can be moved in an actuating direction and the movement of which in the actuating direction can

Abstract: In order, in the case of a wind stop device for motor vehicles, in particular, convertible vehicles, comprising a cover for a section of a passenger compartment opening of a vehicle body, this cover being arranged at the level of a belt line of the vehicle body, and a wind blocker which is connected to the cover via joints and which is pivotable from an inactive position resting on the cover into an active position raised above the belt line of the vehicle body, in which the wind blocker extends transversely to the cover, to increase the ease, with which a wind blocker of this type can be handled, it is suggested that a drive be provided, with which the wind blocker is movable at least from the inactive position into the active position.