Patents by Inventor Michael Panozzo

Michael Panozzo 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: 8297403
    Abstract: A panel mounting structure for a vehicle is provided having a substrate; a panel; and a separable sound reduction member disposed between the panel and the substrate and being configured to separate into at least two pieces that each remain in substantially fixed relation to a different one of the panel and the substrate, and having a material selected so that the impact of the pieces with each other causes relatively little sound. The material can be configured to separate to form the at least two pieces due to relative motion between the substrate and panel. In specific embodiments, the sound reduction member can be comprised of a sound reduction member, such as felt, or a sound reduction member layer and an adherent backing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Webasto Roof Systems
    Inventors: Michael Panozzo, Marcus Christensen, Thomas Mack
  • Publication number: 20120110912
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a vehicle movable panel is provided having a drive cable coupled to a slide mechanism disposed within a guide track by a coupling interface. The coupling interface can include a rigid support structure connected to the drive cable, a composite over-mold, and at least one load bearing zone to spread the load from a high force event from the slide mechanism. A first load bearing zone can have a foot on the rigid support structure extended into a slot on the drive mechanism, but preferably can include a second load bearing zone having a pair of fore and aft tabs extending from the rigid support structure configured to generally abut internal edges a pair of fore and after sliding pads on the sliding mechanism, the fore and after tabs connected by an over-molded continuous load bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Webasto Roof Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michael PANOZZO, Evan KING, Jolaine PRICE, Thomas MACK
  • Publication number: 20120111661
    Abstract: A panel mounting structure for a vehicle is provided having a substrate; a panel; and a separable sound reduction member disposed between the panel and the substrate and being configured to separate into at least two pieces that each remain in substantially fixed relation to a different one of the panel and the substrate, and having a material selected so that the impact of the pieces with each other causes relatively little sound. The material can be configured to separate to form the at least two pieces due to relative motion between the substrate and panel. In specific embodiments, the sound reduction member can be comprised of a sound reduction member, such as felt, or a sound reduction member layer and an adherent backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Webasto Roof Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michael PANOZZO, Marcus Christensen, Thomas Mack