Patents by Inventor Michael T Willard
Michael T Willard 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).
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Publication number: 20100253112Abstract: A retractable hardtop assembly is provided for a vehicle. A retractable hardtop assembly includes a front section that is connected by a linkage to a vehicle and a rearward portion that is connected by a separate linkage to a decklid of the vehicle. A package shelf/tonneau is secured by a linkage to the back section of the linkage. The package shelf/tonneau is moved from a package/shelf position below the rearward portion of the roof to a tonneau position above the retractable roof when the retractable roof is disposed in the storage compartment. The package shelf/tonneau is moved between the front portion of the roof and rearward portion of the roof during the extension and retraction cycles. The package shelf/tonneau may be rotated 360° as it is moved between the package shelf and tonneau positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Jan Just
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Publication number: 20100230998Abstract: A convertible top for a vehicle that is provided with a dynamic roll bar or dynamic occupant head protection system. The convertible top has a skylight that is retained in a skylight opening formed in the flexible cover of the convertible top. The skylight may be supported on one of the bows of the convertible top or may be supported on a skylight linkage that cooperates with the top stack linkage. In the event that a need for the roll bar is sensed by the vehicle resulting in the actuation of the roll bar assembly, the roll bar assembly may break the skylight in the course of deployment to assure fully deployment of the roll bar assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Robert E. Fallis, III, Jan Just
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Publication number: 20100187854Abstract: A convertible top and method of operating the convertible top is disclosed. The top has a power cylinder that is mounted to the top stack linkage that lifts the one bow from the windshield header on a four bar link and also simultaneously releases the pressure applied by a pressure link to the rear bow. The pressure link includes an upper link and a lower link that are locked together in an over-center relationship when the top is extended to eliminate vibration of the rear bow or lifting the rear bow off of the rear deck.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventor: Michael T. Willard
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Patent number: 7758100Abstract: A retractable hardtop assembly is provided for a vehicle. A retractable hardtop assembly includes a front section that is connected by a linkage to a vehicle and a rearward portion that is connected by a separate linkage to a decklid of the vehicle. A package shelf/tonneau is secured by a linkage to the back section of the linkage. The package shelf/tonneau is moved from a package/shelf position below the rearward portion of the roof to a tonneau position above the retractable roof when the retractable roof is disposed in the storage compartment. The package shelf/tonneau is moved between the front portion of the roof and rearward portion of the roof during the extension and retraction cycles. The package shelf/tonneau may be rotated 360° as it is moved between the package shelf and tonneau positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Jan Just
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Publication number: 20100013264Abstract: A retractable hardtop assembly is provided for a vehicle. A retractable hardtop assembly includes a front section that is connected by a linkage to a vehicle and a rearward portion that is connected by a separate linkage to a decklid of the vehicle. A package shelf/tonneau is secured by a linkage to the back section of the linkage. The package shelf/tonneau is moved from a package/shelf position below the rearward portion of the roof to a tonneau position above the retractable roof when the retractable roof is disposed in the storage compartment. The package shelf/tonneau is moved between the front portion of the roof and rearward portion of the roof during the extension and retraction cycles. The package shelf/tonneau may be rotated 360° as it is moved between the package shelf and tonneau positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2006Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: CTS FAHRZEUG DACHSYSTEME GMBHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Jan Just
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Publication number: 20100007179Abstract: A roof system for a vehicle that has a roof support structure to which a hardtop roof (34) or a retractable soft top roof (62) may be latched. The roof support structure includes a transverse reel that extends transversely relative to the vehicle direction and is connected to a panel that is also connected to the rear rail. The hardtop includes a rigid panel and a frame. The soft top is supported on attached bows with which the soft top is stored in a cassette after removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
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Patent number: 7621583Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a unitary roof panel, an active rear window and a four bar link. The four bar link includes a pair of buttress panels and a pair of rear rails that are connected to the roof panel and the vehicle. No structural members of the retractable hard top interconnect the lower portion of the buttress panels or the rear rails between the pivot connections to the roof and the pivot connections to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
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Patent number: 7523977Abstract: A removable top system for a vehicle having a front removable roof section and a rear removable roof section. Different removable roof coverings may be interchangeably combined to provide a complete roof for a sport utility vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the front and rear roof sections. Soft top and hard top roof coverings are selectively provided. Different retraction mechanisms are disclosed for retracting and storing the removable roof sections.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard
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Publication number: 20090102229Abstract: A top for a vehicle that has a stationary support disposed between removable panels forward of the support and a multiple section retractable hardtop rearward of the support. The detachable roof panels are provided in front of the stationary support and extend across the vehicle laterally and to the windshield header when installed. A two piece retractable hardtop is provided rearward of the stationary support that has a back light that is disposed to cover a back light opening in an extended position and is detached from the back light opening in a retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Robert D. Wiechowski, Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard
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Publication number: 20090085369Abstract: A tri-fold convertible top is disclosed that is stowed in a storage compartment with a five bow oriented at an angle of between 30° and 60° relative to the vehicle belt line. The top may be tensioned by a power cylinder and linkage that raises both a one bow and the five bow when the top is initially retracted. A main power cylinder is connected to the top stack and a main pivot bracket that lifts a rear rail above the belt line during the extension and retraction cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GmbHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Jan Just
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Publication number: 20090045655Abstract: A retractable roof for a vehicle having a passenger compartment that is selectively covered by the retractable roof. A pair of roof rails define a plurality of tracks that support a plurality of rigid roof panels on opposite lateral sides of the rigid panels. An upper tailgate extends between a rear portion of the roof rails and is pivoted on a lower edge of the upper tailgate from a forward and upper orientation in a closed position to a horizontal position in the open position. In the closed position, the rigid panels are aligned to form a continuous roof and in the open position, the panels are vertically stacked below the upper tailgate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Michael T. Willard, Robert E. Fallis, III, Jan Just
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Patent number: 7469954Abstract: A removable top assembly for a vehicle and method of providing a removable top cover for a vehicle is provided. The removable top assembly includes a fabric cover over a frame. The frame includes a rear bow that is pivotally connected on opposite sides to side rails and a C-pillar. A one bow is latched to a fixed transverse beam. A two bow is detachably secured to right and left side rails that are in turn attached to right and left fixed side beams of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
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Publication number: 20080296925Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a unitary roof panel, an active rear window and a four bar link. The four bar link includes a pair of buttress panels and a pair of rear rails that are connected to the roof panel and the vehicle. No structural members of the retractable hard top interconnect the lower portion of the buttress panels or the rear rails between the pivot connections to the roof and the pivot connections to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMSInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
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Patent number: 7367615Abstract: A retractable roof assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes relatively movable rigid panels that are positioned to cover a passenger/cargo compartment of the vehicle in an extended position and that are stacked one above another in a retracted position. A telescoping track is provided on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle to guide movement of the roof panels. D-pillars of the roof assembly are slidable between a position wherein they are spaced from the C-pillars to a retracted position in which the D-pillars are adjacent to the C-pillars. Side windows of the vehicle are retracted into the rear quarter panel area of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard, Robert D. Wiechowski
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Patent number: 7240960Abstract: A removable top system for a vehicle having a front removable roof section and a rear removable roof section. Different removable roof coverings may be interchangeably combined to provide a complete roof for a sport utility vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the front and rear roof sections. Soft top and hard top roof coverings are selectively provided. Different retraction mechanisms are disclosed for retracting and storing the removable roof sections.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Robert E. Fallis, III, Michael T. Willard
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Patent number: 7118160Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle includes a convertible roof that covers the vehicle essentially from a front header to a rearmost body panel. A further aspect of the present invention provides a forward top stack linkage mechanism, which when actuated, moves a forwardmost roof bow in such a manner that a surface of the roof bow faces upwardly when the top stack is positioned in an extended position and in a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: Michael T Willard
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Patent number: 7063371Abstract: A hardtop convertible roof for a vehicle includes rigid panels that are interconnected to one another to selectively cover the passenger compartment. The roof panels rearward of a forwardmost roof panel are directly pivotally connected to a single pair of brackets which are fixedly connected to opposite sides of the vehicle. An interior surface of a third roof panel faces a majority of an exterior surface of a second roof panel when the roof panels are in a stowed position. The rearmost two roof panels form an at least four-bar linkage and a moveable link interconnecting the two panels is positioned between the majority of portions of the rearmost panels and the pivotal connections of these panels to a fixed location.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: Michael T. Willard
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Patent number: 6866325Abstract: A convertible roof system includes a front roof section, a rear roof section, an automatically power actuator and a linkage mechanism. In another aspect of the present invention, the front and/or rear roof sections are rigid, hard-top roofs. A further aspect of the present invention provides that the outside surfaces of the roofs have a generally vertical orientation when in their open and retracted positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: Michael T. Willard
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Patent number: 6866322Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an automotive vehicle roof system includes a detachable convertible roof that covers a rear storage compartment and at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, the retracted convertible roof may be removed entirely from the vehicle by disengaging quick release attachment devices. Yet another aspect of the present invention provides the ability to operate the convertible roof independently of the vehicle's rear backlite. In a further aspect of the present invention, an adjustable tensioning device is employed.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: Michael T Willard
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Patent number: 6789836Abstract: A backlite control system is provided for an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof. In another aspect of the present invention, a backlite control link uses a living hinge to aid in controlling the travel of the backlite during expansion and retraction of the convertible roof. A further aspect of the present invention employs a backlite control link directly connected to the number four roof bow of the convertible roof assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: Michael T. Willard