Patents by Inventor Thomas Schreiter

Thomas Schreiter 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: 5971472
    Abstract: A wind deflector for reducing noise at a vehicle roof opening has a wind deflector blade (1) which is pivotally mounted by at least one pivot bearing to pivot about a pivot axis C extending crosswise to the direction of travel. The pivot bearing has two partial bearing shafts (6, 7) which are spaced apart axially on a longitudinal edge (8) of the wind deflector blade and are mounted in bearing blocks (12, 13) on the roof which, for axial insertion of the partial shaft (6, 7), are open at their respective axial ends and are closed at the opposite ends (14, 15) for axial supporting of an end of the partial shafts (6, 7). Between the two partial shafts (6, 7) there is a coil spring (16) which is biased at one end on a first spring housing (17) fixed to the roof in the region of a first partial shaft (6) and at the other end on a second spring housing (18, 19) on the wind deflector blade side in the region of the second partial shaft (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Michael Hanke
  • Patent number: 5421635
    Abstract: Vehicle roof with a series of plates for selectively closing and at least partially opening a roof opening in a fixed roof surface. The plates abut one another in the closed position and form a flat interlocking system of plates within which each plate is guided on each side on two guide points, that are spaced from each other in a sliding direction, along a guiding device that is connected with the fixed roof surface so that, when the plates are displaced, the flat interlocking system of plates performs a translatory movement during which the interlocking system is separated in a plate-by-plate manner when the roof is opened and is reestablished when the roof is closed. At least the forward guide points of the plates interact with the same guideway, and both guide points of the plates are maintained in engagement with the guiding devices over their entire path of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Reinsch, Peter Reihl, Thomas Schreiter, Hans Jardin
  • Patent number: 5248278
    Abstract: Ventilator roof for use in motor vehicles with a roof opening in a fixed roof surface which can be closed by a cover. The cover can be swung by pivoting around a pivoting axis, at, or near its rear edge, into a ventilation position in which the cover front edge is below the roof surface, while the cover rear edge is kept at the height of the roof surface, and a ventilation gap is formed between the cover front edge and the front edge of the roof opening. At least one electrically powered blower is built into a ventilation channel leading from the ventilation gap into the vehicle interior. The blower can be powered by solar cells or the on-board vehicle power unit (battery) with safeguards to prevent use when the vehicle power unit lacks sufficient charge. In some embodiments, arrangements are also provided to enable the blower to provide ventilation of the interior space of the vehicle even when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Arpad Fuerst, Thomas Schreiter, Burkhard Reinsch, Werner Paetz
  • Patent number: 5090767
    Abstract: A sliding roof and/or a sliding lifting roof and/or a lifting sliding roof for motor vehicles has a safety device for preventing detachment from the motor vehicle of the cover which is displaceable for closing and at least partially unblocking a roof opening and which optionally can also be vented. The safety device has at least one flexible safety element, which is connected to the cover and at least indirectly to a part which is integral with the body of the motor vehicle. The flexible safety element can be designed as a catch band or catch cloth, and with the design as a catch cloth it can, at the same time, serve as a making screen. Further the flexible safety element can be physically or operatively connected to the sliding device and/or the vent device. This means at least one end of the flexible safety element can be movably guided, optionally in separate channels, on the guide rail which is fastened to the roof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Arpad Fuerst, Werner Paetz
  • Patent number: 5069500
    Abstract: Ventilation roof for vehicles with a roof opening made in a roof skin, a roof opening that can be closed by a cover that is connected to an adjustment mechanism having front and rear height adjustment devices. The cover can be swung by the front height adjustment devices, starting from a closed position, around a pivot axis, lying near its rear edge, into a ventilation position in which the cover front edge lies below the height of roof skin, while the cover rear edge is kept at approximately the height of the roof skin. The rear of the cover can be lowered below the roof skin by the rear height adjustment devices, and the lowered cover can be slid rearward underneath the roof skin into an open position. The front height adjustment devices each have a positively adjustable pivoted lever that is rotatable about an axis that is fixed relative to the roof and with which the cover is detachably coupled only when it is shifted fully forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Peter Reihl, Arpad Fuerst, Bernhard Wingen, Alfred Schmid, Thomas Schreiter, Erich Haendler
  • Patent number: 4998771
    Abstract: A vehicle roof with a two-part cover that has a front and a rear cover part which, in a closed position, together close a roof opening made in a stationary roof skin. The rear cover part can be slid rearward along longitudinal guide mechanisms running on both sides of the roof opening into an open position that at least partially opens the roof opening. The front cover part can be pivoted relative to the rear cover part into a ventilation position. In the ventilation position, the front edge of the front cover part is lowered under the stationary roof skin, forming a ventilation gap lying in the area of the front edge of the roof opening, while the rear edge of the front cover part is kept at least approximately at the height of the front edge of the rear cover part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Peter Reihl, Stefan Miklosi, Burkhard Reinsch, Bernhard Wingen, Werner Patz, Arpad Furst
  • Patent number: 4978165
    Abstract: Motor vehicle roof with a roof opening made in a fixed roof skin which can be closed or at least partially opened as desired by a cover. The cover can be pushed out into a raised ventilation position, in which its rear edge is located above the fixed roof skin, by being pivoted around an axis lying at or near its front edge and can, then, be slid rearward above the roof skin into a slid-back position. Additionally, the cover can be pivoted around an axis lying at or near its rear edge into a lowered ventilation position in which the cover front edge is lowered below the roof skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Arpad Fuerst, Bernhard Wingen
  • Patent number: 4911497
    Abstract: A ventilator roof for use in motor vehicles with a roof opening made in a front part of a fixed roof skin. The roof opening can be closed by a single cover that can be swung, by pivoting around a pivoting axis at or near its rear edge, into a ventilation position in which the cover front edge is at a distance below the fixed roof surface, while the cover rear edge is kept approximately at the height of the fixed roof skin. Starting from the ventilation position, the cover can be lowered at its rear edge below the fixed roof surface and can then be slid as a whole rearwardly under the roof skin into an open position that at least partially opens the roof opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Arpad Fuerst, Werner Paetz