Patents by Inventor Josef Appel

Josef Appel 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: 11879284
    Abstract: A device for configuring a jamming detection system having an adjusting device including an electric motor for closing at least one opening in a vehicle, such as a sliding roof. The device is provided with a processor which reads measured parameters of the electric motor and parameters of the jamming detection system, calculates individual correlation variables from the measured parameters of the electric motor and of the jamming detection system, and stores the calculated individual correlation variables in a motor controller of the adjusting device, wherein the calculated individual correlation variables are used to configure the jamming detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventor: Josef Appel
  • Patent number: 11660938
    Abstract: A shading device for a vehicle roof includes at least one shading length that can be rolled up for shading a light-permeable and/or open area of the vehicle roof, a tension bow that is movably mounted in a direction of travel (V), to which the shading length-is fastened, a drive mechanism that can be operated by a drive motor to move the tension and a control unit for activating the drive motor. The shading device includes at least one opposing force element for restricting a traveling movement of the tension bow, and the control unit is designed to activate the drive motor based on an opposing force when the tension bow reaches an end position (P1, P2) defined by the stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventor: Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20210170836
    Abstract: A shading device for a vehicle roof includes at least one shading length that can be rolled up for shading a light-permeable and/or open area of the vehicle roof, a tension bow that is movably mounted in a direction of travel (V), to which the shading length-is fastened, a drive mechanism that can be operated by a drive motor to move the tension and a control unit for activating the drive motor. The shading device includes at least one opposing force element for restricting a traveling movement of the tension bow, and the control unit is designed to activate the drive motor based on an opposing force when the tension bow reaches an end position (P1, P2) defined by the stop element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20200392777
    Abstract: A device for configuring a jamming detection system having an adjusting device comprising an electric motor for closing at least one opening in a vehicle, such as a sliding roof. The device is provided with means for measuring parameters of the electric motor and parameters of the jamming detection system, means for calculating individual correlation variables from the measured parameters of the electric motor and of the jamming detection system, and means for storing the calculated individual correlation variables in a motor controller of the adjusting device, wherein the calculated individual correlation variables are used to configure the jamming detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventor: Josef APPEL
  • Patent number: 8033052
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-jamming device in the field of motor vehicles, which is used for preventing an object from getting caught. Said anti-jamming device comprises an actuating means (1) which can be coupled to a body part (3) of a vehicle and can be moved relative to said body part (3) by resting the same against the object, and an apparatus for detecting a relative movement between the actuating means (1) and the body part (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kraus, Jurgen Klingenberg, Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20090265989
    Abstract: A device for opening and/or closing a pivoting body piece (14), especially a rear hatch, of a motor vehicle (10). The device has an electric motor drive (20) which drives a motor shaft which drives the pivotable body piece (14) via a gearing (22). In order to enable the device to have a clutch-free structure, the electric motor drive (20) is provided, in accordance with the invention, with an electronic isolation means (24) which can be activated depending on a signal from a sensor means (30) which recognizes manual actuation of the pivoting body piece (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Tobias Mueller, Anton Joehl, Josef Appel, Thomas Kraus
  • Publication number: 20090211156
    Abstract: Anti-pinching means for vehicles with at least two sensor arrangements (16, 16n, 17, 17n) for detecting the danger of pinching by at least one vehicle part (10, 10a, 10b) which can be moved by a driving means (12, 13, 14, 14a, 14b), and for delivery of pinching danger signals to an evaluation means (18) which is assigned jointly to the two sensor arrangements. The evaluation device (18) is designed such that it switches the driving means into an operating mode which prevents pinching via a drive control (15) when the pinching danger signals of the two sensor arrangements differ by a predetermined minimum value from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20090171537
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor-controlled anti jamming device for preventing jamming of an object, in particular in or for a motor vehicle. Said device comprises a body part and a motor-actuatable component which is connected in a pivotable manner to the body part, at least one support element which, when the component is in the open state, supports the component against the body part, and at least one capacitive sensor element which is arranged, when the component is open, between said component and the body part, and is configured such that in a closing step, an object can be detected in a predefined jamming area between the component and the body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Kraus, Josef Appel, Anton Dietmar Jöhl
  • Patent number: 7552965
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with a movable roof element which at least partially clears a roof opening bounded by a body-mounted frame component in the area of which a seal element is located and against which the roof element rests when the roof opening is closed. An electric motor drive for moving the roof element is monitored and which is turned off and optionally reversed, when a interfering body is detected between the roof element and the edge area of the roof opening. A stop surface is provided on the roof element for detecting an interfering body, and the motor vehicle roof is made such that, if there is a interfering body between the edge area of the roof opening and the roof element when the roof opening is being closed, the stop surface comes into contact with the interfering body before the roof element engages the seal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Stjepan Radmanic, Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20090044449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor-operated component, in particular in or for a motor vehicle, which comprises at least in regions a material which is permeable to an electric field, and which comprises a sensor-controlled anti-trapping apparatus which contains at least one electrically conductive first sensor electrode which is arranged in the interior of the component in a region which comprises the material which is permeable to electric fields, and which is inaccessible from outside the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Josef Appel, Anton Dietmar Johl
  • Publication number: 20080236044
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-jamming device in the field of motor vehicles, which is used for preventing an object from getting caught. Said anti-jamming device comprises an actuating means (1) which can be coupled to a body part (3) of a vehicle and can be moved relative to said body part (3) by resting the same against the object, and an apparatus for detecting a relative movement between the actuating means (1) and the body part (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Kraus, Jurgen Klingenberg, Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20070200394
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with a movable roof element which at least partially clears a roof opening bounded by a body-mounted frame component in the area of which a seal element is located and against which the roof element rests when the roof opening is closed. An electric motor drive for moving the roof element is monitored and which is turned off and optionally reversed, when a interfering body is detected between the roof element and the edge area of the roof opening. A stop surface is provided on the roof element for detecting an interfering body, and the motor vehicle roof is made such that, if there is a interfering body between the edge area of the roof opening and the roof element when the roof opening is being closed, the stop surface comes into contact with the interfering body before the roof element engages the seal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Stjepan Radmante, Josef Appel
  • Patent number: 7026930
    Abstract: In a process for adjusting a movable motor vehicle part (33) between at least two positions by means of a drive (42), the monitoring area (13, 30, 31) outside and/or inside the motor vehicle (10) is checked for at least one perturbing object (32). When a perturbing object (32) is detected within the monitoring area (13, 30, 31), the drive (42) is turned off or reversed. In this way, perturbing objects can be detected without contact and can be protected against pinching even before they are actually pinched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Appel, Lucas Tragelehn
  • Publication number: 20040090203
    Abstract: In a process for adjusting a movable motor vehicle part (33) between at least two positions by means of a drive (42), the monitoring area (13, 30, 31) outside and/or inside the motor vehicle (10) is checked for at least one perturbing object (32). When a perturbing object (32) is detected within the monitoring area (13, 30, 31), the drive (42) is turned off or reversed. In this way, perturbing objects can be detected without contact and can be protected against pinching even before they are actually pinched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Appel, Lucas Tragelehn
  • Patent number: 6592178
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof including a closing element adapted for movement into a position that closes or at least partially clears an opening in a fixed roof skin of the motor vehicle, and a cover element adapted to be positioned underneath the roof opening for movement into a position that conceals or at least partially clears the closing element or the roof opening with respect to an interior area of the motor vehicle. At least one drive mechanism is provided for selectively and adjustably moving the closing element and the closing mechanism. Also provided is a controller for controlling the drive mechanism, the controller adapted to control the drive mechanism such that movement of the closing element into a closed position is not initiated until the cover element is moved at least into a position which covers an area of the roof opening that is not covered by the closing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Schober, Josef Appel, Ferdinand Hahn
  • Patent number: 6541500
    Abstract: Fungicidal mixtures, comprising as active components a) a compound of the formula I  its N-oxide or one of its salts where: R1, R2, R3, R4 independently of one another are: hydrogen, hydroxyl, nitro, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, C1-C4-haloalkylthio; R5, R6, R7 independently of one another are: hydrogen, hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, halogen, C1-C7-alkyl, C1-C7-haloalkyl, C1-C7-alkoxy, C1-C7-haloalkoxy, C1-C7-alkylthio, C1-C7-haloalkylthio, C1-C7-hydroxyalkyl, C2-C4-acyl, aryl, aryloxy, where the radicals with aryl may for their part carry one to three of the following groups: cyano, nitro, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio and C1-C4-haloalkylthio, and b) carbamates of the formula II, in which T is CH or N, n is 0, 1 or 2 and R is halogen, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-haloalkyl, where the radicals R may be different if n is 2, in a synergistically effective amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Schelberger, Maria Scherer, Reinhold Saur, Josef Appel, Joachim Leyendecker, Eberhard Ammermann, Thomas Grote, Gisela Lorenz, Siegfried Strathmann
  • Publication number: 20020101098
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof including a closing element adapted for movement into a position that closes or at least partially clears an opening in a fixed roof skin of the motor vehicle, and a cover element adapted to be positioned underneath the roof opening for movement into a position that conceals or at least partially clears the closing element or the roof opening with respect to an interior area of the motor vehicle. At least one drive mechanism is provided for selectively and adjustably moving the closing element and the closing mechanism. Also provided is a controller for controlling the drive mechanism, the controller adapted to control the drive mechanism such that movement of the closing element into a closed position is not initiated until the cover element is moved at least into a position which covers an area of the roof opening that is not covered by the closing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Schober, Josef Appel, Ferdinand Hahn
  • Patent number: 6252382
    Abstract: An arrangement for supplying power to a motor vehicle electrical system (3) by means of a motor driven vehicle generator (1) and a solar generator (2). To efficiently save fuel, for power generation the arrangement compares the output or energy balance of the solar generator (2) relative to the vehicle generator (1) and reduces the vehicle generator output in proportion to the solar current supplied when a positive energy balance exist in favor of the vehicle generator (1) and separates the vehicle generator (1) from the vehicle engine (13) when a positive energy balance exists in favor of the solar generator (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ganz, Josef Appel
  • Patent number: 5456408
    Abstract: A motor vehicle heating device which is operable independent of an engine of the motor vehicle and has a burner, a pump or other fuel delivery device for supplying fuel to the burner and an electric motor driven blower by which combustion air is delivered to the burner. In contrast to conventional heating devices in which the fuel-air ratio is set and corrected via a mechanically adjustable bypass screw on the combustion air blower, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a correction value is sent to a control device which contains a nonvolatile data storage and a microprocessor; the correction value is stored in the data storage and changes the output signals of the control device to the fuel feed means and/or to the combustion air blower. Thus, adjustment and correction are easily enabled via an electronic change of the speed or cycle frequency of these assemblies, so that mechanical adjustment devices can be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Appel