Patents by Inventor Roderick C. Fischbach

Roderick C. Fischbach 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: 5489146
    Abstract: A substitute top is provided to close the passenger compartment of a convertible vehicle when the folding soft top is lowered. The soft top has a pair of J-hook latches for engaging the windshield header to latch the top in sealing engagement with the windshield header. The substitute top comprises a rigid shell that has a front edge which engages the windshield header when the shell is installed. The substitute top mounts a pair of J-hook latches for engaging the header in the same manner as the soft top when the substitute top is installed to latch the substitute top in sealing engagement with the windshield header. The substitute top includes a bottom portion having a rear edge that mounts a seal strip which engages the vehicle body adjacent the top storage compartment. A C-shaped clip engages the storage well rear edge to secure the bottom portion to the vehicle body and compress the seal strip. Side flanges engage the soft top storage well side edges to locate the substitute top laterally of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Dura Convertible Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roderick C. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 5110175
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a body with a passenger compartment, a pair of passenger access doors each having a window and a pair of rear quarter windows, all mounted on the body for movement between raised and lowered positions. A folding top is mounted on the body for movement between a raised position covering the passenger compartment and a lowered position opening the passenger compartment. A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump, two hydraulic top actuators for raising and lowering the top, and a pair of hydraulic window actuators operatively connected to the quarter windows for raising and lowering the windows with less pressure than required to raise and lower the top. A hydraulic circuit connects all of the cylinders in parallel which enables sequential operation of the windows and then the top. A three-position control switch enables the windows to be lowered and raised when the top is in raised or lowered position by moving the control to respective "down" and "up" positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roderick C. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 5067768
    Abstract: A power actuating system automatically moves a convertible top and a tonneau in a sequence in which the tonneau is closed both when the top is raised and lowered and wherein the power actuating system includes plural power cylinders and a linkage mechanism for moving the convertible top and tonneau in a sequence including moving the tonneau from its closed position to a raised open position, thereafter moving the top from lowered position to raised position with the top rear bow partially raised, then moving the rear bow to fully raised position to provide clearance for movement of the tonneau to its closed position, moving the tonneau to its closed position, and finally moving the rear bow to its lowered position for engagement with the car body adjacent the tonneau.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roderick C. Fischbach