Patents by Inventor Rainer Grimm

Rainer Grimm 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: 6869133
    Abstract: A mountable vehicle body part has a visible outer surface and includes a outer plastic sheet, an inner fiber-reinforced layer made of plastic, and a protective layer disposed between the plastic sheet and the fiber-reinforced layer. The protective layer is made of plastic and prevents direct contact between the fibers fiber-reinforced layer and the plastic sheet. The protective layer prevents the fibers from marring the outer surface of the plastic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6863339
    Abstract: A composite part for use as a vehicle panel comprises an outer wall, a foamed backing and a reinforcement insert embedded in the foamed backing. The foamed backing leaves portions of the reinforcement insert exposed to form at least two fastening regions. The reinforcement insert has at least two fastening regions for fastening the composite part to an adjacent composite part. A first fastening region is located at a first distance from the rear surface of the outer wall, and a second fastening region is located at a second distance from the rear surface of the outer wall that is greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm, Karl Hörmann
  • Patent number: 6860548
    Abstract: A vehicle roof module is interlocked releasably yet securely directly with the body frame (3), which encompasses an upper body opening, or indirectly with a frame covering (13) which is fastened to the frame. The interlocking elements (8) are only accessible from the vehicle interior in order to release the interlock and also only after previously elastically bending over a portion of the inner shell (1) of the roof module, which covers the locking elements (8). The roof module can be easily assembled, dissassembled and also replaced and thus has properties of a hardtop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher
  • Publication number: 20050001457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for a sliding roof system having at least two guide elements, which are movably arranged on two opposite sides of the cover such that the distance between them is variable. The two guide elements are each attached in a sliding guide, which predefines a displacement direction for the guide elements that differs from the displacement direction of the cover, such that the cover is centered with regard to the two guide elements. The invention also relates to a sliding roof system having two guide tracks, which extend along a roof of a motor vehicle at a changing distance, and a cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm, Manfred Rohnke
  • Patent number: 6834914
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a vehicle roof comprises a flexible deflecting element attached between a base element and a raising device. The base element is mountable on a vehicle roof, and the raising device is pivotably connected to the base element to raise and lower the deflecting element. The deflecting element is air-permeable to allow air to flow through it and is flexible enough to be folded when the raising device is lowered. A resilient member biases the raising device in the raised position, stabilizing the flexible deflecting element and holding it taut enough to counteract pressure variations in a vehicle interior near a roof opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm, Karl Hörmann, Hubert Bachmann, Christoph Boss, Carmelo Mondello
  • Publication number: 20040189057
    Abstract: An air deflector for a vehicle roof has a first holding element attached to the vehicle roof, a second holding element that is movable between a lowered position and a raised position, a flexible deflector element secured to the two holding elements, and at least one flexible positioning element that pushes the deflector element in a predetermined direction when the first holding element is moved from the raised to the lowered position. The positioning element urges the deflector element into the predetermined direction to prevent the deflector element from interfering with other vehicle components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher, Horst Bohm
  • Publication number: 20040169302
    Abstract: A roof module comprises an outer shell and a foamed inner shell. The outer shell has a rim including an edge of cut and the inner shell extends as far as on the edge of cut. There is also proposed a method of producing such a roof module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6783174
    Abstract: A cable drive device for moving a vehicle component, such as a vehicle sliding roof, includes a cable that is guided in an endless loop and whose ends of which are wound up on two winding drums that are driven in the same direction. An intermediate section of the cable is looped around a further winding drum, thereby dividing the cable into two branches having entrainment elements provided thereon for engaging the vehicle component to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Böhm, Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20040160082
    Abstract: A sunshade system for a motor vehicle has two guide rails, a front crossbar and a rear crossbar that extend between the two guide rails and are guided therein, and a flexible sunshade that is fastened to the front and rear crossbars and is guided between the two guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Kai Stehning, Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher
  • Publication number: 20040140692
    Abstract: A vehicle bodywork component intended in particular for automotive construction is formed in the manner of a sandwich having an outer layer made from a synthetic sheet or an aluminum sheet and an inner synthetic layer, which is applied by foaming to the outer layer. The outer layer may be formed from a plurality of pieces of different colors. These may abut directly against one another. In another example, a trim or cover strip is between the pieces, which are fixedly connected to one another by the foam applied against them. The trim or cover strip may have a web-like projection which is partly enclosed in foam when the synthetic layer is applied by foaming, in order to secure the trim or cover strip in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Carmello Mondello, Charles B. Hopson
  • Publication number: 20040130189
    Abstract: A retractable roof for vehicles having at least one cover panel selectively closing a roof opening. The cover panel can be displaced above the roof skin along guides which have extensions that extend beyond the rear edge of the roof opening. These extensions extend essentially below the roof skin of the fixed roof area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Meritor Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20040113467
    Abstract: A roller blind system for a vehicle roof includes a rotatable coiling body and a roller blind that is attached at one end to the coiling body and at the other end to a vehicle portion in a stationary manner. The coiling body is shiftable in a translational motion, allowing the roller blind to uncoil and coil up while minimizing frictional forces on the roller blind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher, Hubert Bachmann, Horst Bohm
  • Publication number: 20040094992
    Abstract: A vehicle roof module is interlocked releasably yet securely directly with the body frame (3), which encompasses an upper body opening, or indirectly with a frame covering (13) which is fastened to the frame. The interlocking elements (8) are only accessible from the vehicle interior in order to release the interlock and also only after previously elastically bending over a portion of the inner shell (1) of the roof module, which covers the locking elements (8). The roof module can be easily assembled, disassembled and also replaced and thus has properties of a hardtop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm, Thomas Becher
  • Publication number: 20040066054
    Abstract: An inner shell (10) for vehicle bodies molded from a foam plastic includes at least one flap (14) which can move optionally between a non-usage position to a usage position. Preferably the flap (14) serves as a sun visor, allows access to a function element (44) or a cavity (16), or both. According to the invention the flap (22) is formed as a part of the inner shell (10) and in its non-usage position closes essentially surface-flush with the areas of the inner shell (10) adjacent to the flap (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20030222483
    Abstract: A cable drive device for moving a vehicle component, such as a vehicle sliding roof, includes a cable that is guided in an endless loop and whose ends of which are wound up on two winding drums that are driven in the same direction. An intermediate section of the cable is looped around a further winding drum, thereby dividing the cable into two branches having entrainment elements provided thereon for engaging the vehicle component to be moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20030214158
    Abstract: A displaceable cover of a sliding-tilt roof module closes a vehicle roof opening. The cover includes a large-surface panel and longitudinal slide guide parts for shifting the cover. The slide guide parts are embedded in a foamed backing applied on a rear side of the panel. Two slide guide parts and two transverse braces form a frame that stabilizes the cover. The slide guide parts can also be secured to the panel by an additional securing feature. The guide has a first section embedded in the foamed backing and a second section projecting from the foamed backing. The slide guide parts are received in sliders to allow longitudinal movement of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm
  • Patent number: 6623069
    Abstract: A vehicle roof module with integrated lighting system for the interior lighting has several light-conducting rods, preferably made from glass, and a light source is foam-molded into an inner shell of the roof interior, molded from foamed plastic and forming the roof module, so that only the light outlet surfaces of the light-emitting ends of the light-conducting rods are disposed in the visible surface of the roof interior. By a suitable choice of the number of light-conducting rods and the distribution pattern of the corresponding light outlet surfaces, both a uniform interior lighting and special lighting effects can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Grimm
  • Publication number: 20030173801
    Abstract: A composite part for use as a vehicle panel comprises an outer wall, a foamed backing and a reinforcement insert embedded in the foamed backing. The foamed backing leaves portions of the reinforcement insert exposed to form at least two fastening regions. The reinforcement insert has at least two fastening regions for fastening the composite part to an adjacent composite part. A first fastening region is located at a first distance from the rear surface of the outer wall, and a second fastening region is located at a second distance from the rear surface of the outer wall that is greater than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm, Karl Hormann
  • Publication number: 20030168892
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a vehicle roof comprises a flexible deflecting element attached between a base element and a raising device. The base element is mountable on a vehicle roof, and the raising device is pivotably connected to the base element to raise and lower the deflecting element. The deflecting element is air-permeable to allow air to flow through it and is flexible enough to be folded when the raising device is lowered. A resilient member biases the raising device in the raised position, stabilizing the flexible deflecting element and holding it taut enough to counteract pressure variations in a vehicle interior near a roof opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm, Karl Hormann, Hubert Bachmann, Christoph Boss, Carmelo Mondello
  • Publication number: 20030155792
    Abstract: A mountable vehicle body part has a visible outer surface and includes a outer plastic sheet, an inner fiber-reinforced layer made of plastic, and a protective layer disposed between the plastic sheet and the fiber-reinforced layer. The protective layer is made of plastic and prevents direct contact between the fibers fiber-reinforced layer and the plastic sheet. The protective layer prevents the fibers from marring the outer surface of the plastic sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Bohm, Rainer Grimm