Patents by Inventor Johann Tomforde

Johann Tomforde 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: 4932712
    Abstract: A side body section for motor vehicles is disclosed in a whole surface flush side glazing unit where even the region of the center column is covered by a transparent shield. In the side body section according to the invention, a transparent shield is fastened to a door frame which is prolonged by the width of the center column. This produces only one separating line between the two side doors. The glass or synthetic glass shield is arranged in the plane of the side windows. In the region of the shield, the door frame has recesses which permit the fastening of receiver units for locking systems or the like to the inside of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4927106
    Abstract: A presentation podium is described which is versatile in use and in which the observer's attention is directed entirely to the goods to be displayed. For this purpose it is provided according to the invention that the presentation podium consists of a closed self-supporting, polygonal or circular frame to which inward-pointing horizontal support bolts are fastened in the region beneath its upper edge. Insert elements, such as platforms, plant tubs and the like, are insertable into the frame maintaining a uniform all-round air gap from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Tomforde, Monika Wall
  • Patent number: 4917433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door with a multi-shell door body, into which a door pane running on guides can be lowered. An inner wall of the door body extends essentially with a closed surface over the height of the door body, while an outer wall of the door body is divided along a horizontal joining line and has a removable anti-ram trim as a lower wall portion. A transverse reinforcement which extends in the direction of the depth of the motor vehicle door is arranged in the region near the joining line, and starting from the upper wall portion of the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4826226
    Abstract: A bumper for a motor vehicle with a support part which, supports and separates an impact-near and an impact-remote layer of energy-absorbing form. The supporting part is held by resilient holders on a support fixed to the vehicle. A panelling covers the impact-near layer towards the front and is fixed to the support part. A skirt adjoins toward the bottom. In order to increase the absorbency and retain a pedestrain-protective configuration, the support part is designed as a stiff load distributing support and the panelling is fastened to it and merges integrally with the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Klie, Wolfgang Fischer, Johann Tomforde, Horst Kleiner, Gunther Ellenrieder
  • Patent number: 4778212
    Abstract: The application relates to a front bumper moulding for motor vehicles with an integrated bumper wherein lateral portions of the front bumper moulding are designed so that they can be swung out or extended from a retracted to an extended position, thus providing an unchanged appearance at a retracted position when the vehicle is stopped and at low driving speeds and an especially favorable flow behavior at high vehicle driving speeds, and wherein lateral portion of the front bumper moulding are located in front of the vehicle front wheels and are designed as moveable air spoiler elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4770457
    Abstract: An aerodynamic underfloor panel for the front end region of motor vehicles is disclosed. The panel includes an elastically deformable plate attached at its rear end behind the front wheel casings of the vehicle body and moveably guided at its front end by a guide arrangement disposed at a front bumper skirt. An hydraulically actuated adjusting mechanism is provided which includes a stirrup engaging the top side of the plate to bend the plate downwardly toward the roadway at high vehicle speeds to thereby decrease the aerodynamic lift. During the elastic bending of the plate, the front end of the plate is moved longitudinally of the vehicle along its guide support of the front bumper skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4697843
    Abstract: In an anti-glare device for motor vehicles, a sun visor, which is arranged on the under-side of the front hollow transverse roof beam, can be displaced from a basic position, in which the sun visor is located approximately beneath the transverse roof beam, into an extended position, in which the sun visor projects into the region of the windscreen. In order to displace the sun visor a guide linkage is provided, which influences the sliding path of the sun visor and which is fastened within the cavity of the transverse roof beam. A drive means is further provided within the cavity of the transverse roof beam, which adjusts the sun visor by a corresponding control via the guide linkage or a displacing lever. By virtue of the described anti-glare device, an infinite and automatic adjustment of the sun visor is possible, by means of a switch fitted to the steering wheel, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4616869
    Abstract: An aerodynamic fairing, made of a plastic material, for the outer laterally disposed longitudinally extending members, i.e., rocker panels, of bodies for passenger cars and utility-type motor vehicles, which, in conjunction with the outer wall of the longitudinal members, form a closed hollow body; in order to be able to extend a fairing of this type as far in the downward direction as is necessary for aerodynamic reasons, yet minimize the risk of damage to the fairing, the construction according to the present invention is such that the fairing comprises an upper zone, made of a plastic material which is comparatively dimensionally stable or form-rigid, and of a lower zone which can be elastically deformed and which is fastened to the upper zone in a preferably detachable manner, and in that the lower zone enables a reduction in its height in the event of contact with the ground by including predetermined flexing points or intentional bending places which facilitate such a height reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bruno Sacco, Johann Tomforde, Joachim Paschke, Harald Leschke
  • Patent number: 4591204
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle body having side windows separated by a column is provided with an adjustable cover for the column which is aligned with the outer surfaces of the window. The cover is made from glass, light-permeable synthetic resin, or the like. Transverse adjustment is provided to facilitate alignment with the window surfaces. Gaskets are provided to seal adjoining doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Gallitzendoerfer, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde, Ferdinand Hellhake
  • Patent number: 4541664
    Abstract: A water conduit for water accumulating in lateral areas of the windshield of a motor vehicle. The conduit includes a main water channel formed by a molding extending at a spacing in front of the windshield and by another residual water channel located farther towards an outside. The main water channel leads without substantial deflection in a transverse direction of the vehicle to a trough or interruption, with the channel extending in the roof approximately in parallel to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the vehicle. The residual water channel lies within an envelope line of a contour of the motor vehicle and is continued above lateral door cutouts of the motor vehicle to a rear portion of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Gallitzendorfer, Hans Gotz, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4518197
    Abstract: Water guide channels for motor vehicles are known, which have a continuous profile strip running along the windscreen pillar and the roof, the profile strip having a constant cross-sectional shape over its entire length.In order to optimize an arrangement of this type, it is proposed that in the region of the windscreen pillar, the profile strip form a wall part of a water guide channel open towards the center of the vehicle and, that, in the approximately horizontal roof region, it completely covers up the top of a channel formed by depressions in the external skin of the roof thereby forming the water guide channel by a leg of the profile strip, and the external skin of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Gallitzendorfer, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde, Jochen Parisch, Gerhard Zweigart
  • Patent number: 4482180
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle, especially an automobile, with the bumper arrangement including a bending-resistant support mounted on a part integrally secured with the motor vehicle. A front of the support accommodates a preferably replacable energy absorber composed of at least one component. The energy absorber itself is partially surrounded by a shell made of a viscoelastic material. The shell is connected to a covering part of viscoelastic material having a downwardly projecting skirt segment and an upwardly extending segment which is extended in a direction toward adjoining body portions of the motor vehicle. A front side of the support is made essentially flat and is adapted to receive a middle segment of the covering part. For attachment of the shell to the covering part locally discontinuous guide grooves are provided in an area of the upper segment and skirt segment, the guide grooves being adapted to lockingly accommodate the appropriate projections or ends of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guntram Huber, Wolfgang Fischer, Fritz Haeberle, Horst Kleiner, Daniel Riechers, Wolfgang Klie, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4475148
    Abstract: To largely prevent bodily injury to a pedestrian or cyclist involved in a collision with a passenger motor vehicle with an impact in a headlight area of the vehicle, the headlights are flexibly disposed. For this purpose, a diffusing lens for the headlights is provided with a rearwardly slanted cover plate above a light exit area of the diffusing lens. The cover plate forms a part of the outer contour or shape of the vehicle and essentially maintains the original shape upon an impact load. The cover plate has a length corresponding at least to approximately a half of a height of the light exit area, with a free end of the cover plate being elastically supported by a fixed component of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4473252
    Abstract: A passenger motor vehicle provided with side windows and a convergent roof having a width narrower than a distance between side walls of the vehicle. Each of the side windows includes a first area disposed adjacent to the roof and corner posts, with the first area being inclined relative to other areas of the window. The first window areas are sharply sloped or inclined toward the roof and corner posts with the other areas of the side windows being at most slightly inclined or sloped inward towards the vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Tomforde, Peter Pfeiffer, Harald Leschke
  • Patent number: 4467402
    Abstract: A door lock illuminating system disposed in a handle of a door, and, in particular, a door of a motor vehicle. The illuminating system being switchable by circuit elements connected to the handle, the handle is constructed as a unilaterally pivotable pull handle and a light emitting arrangement is disposed in such a fashion so as to be exposed only when the pull handle is pulled to an operative position. Electrical contacts are disposed in such a manner that with the pull handle being pulled to the operative position the electrical circuit of the illuminating system is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Bauer, Andreas Langenbeck, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4402537
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper which includes a shaped member supporting part that is open toward the front and is braced on fixed vehicle parts. The supporting part exchangeably accepts at least one energy-absorption member and includes at least one skirt that extends downwardly. The shaped member supporting part and at least a middle zone of the skirt are made in one piece and are formed of a filament-reinforced plastic. A filament content of the shaped supporting part is increased by a predetermined multiple with respect to a filament content of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Gallitzendorfer, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4368505
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a lamp arrangement of a motor vehicle such as, for example, a divided headlight arrangement which is disposed so as to be set back with respect to a forward panel frame member of the motor vehicle. A separating web of the panel frame is located between two juxtaposed lamps of the divided headlamp arrangement with at least one nozzle being disposed in two lateral surfaces of the separating web. The nozzle is oriented toward the respective lens of the headlamps and emits a jet of cleaning fluid on the respective lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4353111
    Abstract: A motor vehicle which includes a rearward body end member which is adapted to be swung upwardly about a transverse axis of the vehicle. The body end member consists essentially of a synthetic resinous material and includes a rear window and an end wall. Lighting elements such as, for example, taillights, brake lights, flashers, back-up lights, or the like, are arranged on a side of the body end member facing an interior of the vehicle. The body end member is transparent in an area of the lighting elements so as to enable light to be visible from an exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Gallitzendorfer, Gerard Cardiet, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4268892
    Abstract: A diffusion lens for rear lights of vehicles, especially of motor vehicles, which are drawn far about the vehicle rear section into the area of the side wall whereby the diffusion lens includes step-shaped offsets, as viewed in plan view, such that individual light exit surfaces are formed which are each disposed approximately in a vehicle transverse plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde
  • Patent number: 4088366
    Abstract: A strip-like profile projecting from a windshield column of a motor vehicle which forms a water-collecting channel open in the direction toward the windshield and in which the water rising during the drive is conducted in the direction toward the vehicle roof; the strip-like profile is thereby extended at its upper end around toward the top side of the windshield while the water-collecting channel discharges into a channel extending approximately parallel to the center longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Gallitzendorfer, Peter Pfeiffer, Johann Tomforde, Hans Gotz