Patents by Inventor Udo Heselhaus

Udo Heselhaus 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: 8056956
    Abstract: A convertible roof includes an outer cover with a recess defined therein. The roof has a front roof edge which joins the windshield frame when the convertible roof is in a closed position. The front region of the roof includes a rigid assembly disposed under the cover. The rigid assembly includes a frame part. A sun roof part is received in the recess defined by the cover and is openable to a position raised out of a plane defined by the roof cover. The recess defined by the cover is open to the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 8038200
    Abstract: A cabriolet includes a displaceable roof that can be secured in its closed position on a windscreen frame. To secure the roof, the cabriolet is equipped with at least two displaceable engagement bodies and at least one associated drive, which interacts with the engagement bodies to transmit the drive force via intermediary elements having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The drive includes a drive member, which is generally parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle on the plane of the intermediary elements and which is used to displace a gear that controls the displacement of one or more intermediary elements by means of a coupling member that lies on the plane of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Plassmeyer, Heinrich Selle, Ralf Buecker, Dirk Flaspöhler, Hermann Heidtmann, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7922232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) provided with a roof (2) comprising at least one part (3) which is fully movable for the opening thereof and extends from an area adjacent to a windscreen frame (4) to the rear particularly rigid part (5) of the roof. The inventive motor vehicle is characterized in that the movable part (3) of the roof, which is otherwise in a closed position, can be raised in the back area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7806459
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a vehicle body with a passenger compartment defined therein and a rearward body region with a top storage well defined therein. A movable roof has a closed position extending over the passenger compartment and a stowed position in the top storage well. The top storage well has a base element that is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The base element covers an intermediate space between the rearward side of the seats and the inner side of the rear roof region when the roof is in the closed position and the base element is in the raised position. A coupling linkage interconnects the base element with the rear roof region such that movement of the roof from the stowed position to the closed position causes movement of the base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Weismüller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7740302
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a movable roof with a cover and whose front end can be secured indirectly or directly to the windshield frame. The roof, in its open position, can be stowed in the rear vehicle region. The roof has a rear region in the closed position with at least one rigid cross member and can be turned upside down and disposed on top of a part of the movable roof region adjoining it to the front in the direction of travel (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7703827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) having a hatchback (h1) that is movable in at least one position of a rear window (H4), wherein the rear window (H4) can be separately moved from its closed position in the areas (H2, H3) surrounding the hatchback (H1) and opposite thereto into a release position, wherein the rear window (H4) can be stored in an area in the vehicle body (6) that is spaced from the hatchback (H1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmüller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7594689
    Abstract: A top for a convertible vehicle with a flexible roof panel, which is attached to an arrangement of convertible-top rods and, in its rear area, to an attachment device of the vehicle body, in which a clamping device, acting on the flexible roof panel in the region of its attachment to the vehicle body in the closed state of the convertible top, is provided. The clamping device is designed with at least one bracket that forces the flexible roof panel in the closed state of the convertible top against an auto-body closure seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7591500
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with an automobile body having two rigid body regions located on both sides above side window regions. At least two panel-shaped roof sections lay behind one another between the two body regions, which roof sections can move relative to the lateral body sections, and can move out of the closed position into an open position further below in the automobile body. From the closed position of the roof sections, a front roof section can be moved over a rear roof section by guiding it laterally like a sliding sunroof. The front end regions of the roof sections can be raised from this position so that the roof sections can be lowered into the automobile body. In the closed position of the roof sections, a rear window, which can be separately moved between an open position and a closed position, borders directly on the rear roof section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmüller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7506915
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) with a hatchback (H1) comprising lateral frame parts (H3) rising in the direction of travel, between which in a rear window (H4) is received in at least one position and which rest on a rear section (8) of lateral members of the bodywork of the vehicle (6) when the hatchback (H1) is in a closed position, forming part of the outer surface of the vehicle. According to the invention, when the hatchback (H1) is opened, it can be moved with the most forward-lying area (HF) thereof counter to the direction of travel (F) and a passageway (D1) enabling the roof parts (P1;P2;H4) to move inside the bodywork of the vehicle (6) is opened up in the overlapping area when the hatchback (H1) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann, GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmüller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7500709
    Abstract: A folding top for a convertible vehicle comprises a rigid rear window assembly (24) and a top framework with side frame parts (10, 12, 14, 40) for supporting a roof covering (16), which parts are at least partially retractable into a rear portion (29) of the vehicle. At least a rear area of the roof covering, which is affixed to the rear window (26) and to the rearmost side frame part (40), is made of a flexible material. The rearmost side frame part is connected via a linkage (44, 50, 54, 56) with the rear window assembly such that the distance between the rearmost side frame part and the side edge of the rear window passes through a maximum shortly before reaching the fully closed position of the folding top, whereby the tensioning of the flexible material counteracts against an opening of the folding top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7455347
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure (10), which has at least one rear-side convertible top compartment lid (16) and a rigid roof part (12) movable between an opened- and a closed position, which roof part (12) extends in the closed position between a windshield frame (14) of the vehicle and the convertible top compartment lid (16) and in the opened position is stored in a space underneath the convertible top compartment lid (16), is movable between the closed position and the opened position by a linkage mechanism (30, 36) and is additionally provided with at least one guide device (40, 42, 44), with which the roof part (12) is in contact during at least one portion of its movement path between the opened- and closed position and which effects a directional change of the movement path of the roof part (12) when it arrives in contact with the roof part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Heselhaus, Winfried Bunsmann, Franz Ulrich Brockhoff
  • Publication number: 20080272626
    Abstract: A convertible roof includes an outer cover with a recess defined therein. The roof has a front roof edge which joins the windshield frame when the convertible roof is in a closed position. The front region of the roof includes a rigid assembly disposed under the cover. The rigid assembly includes a frame part. A sun roof part is received in the recess defined by the cover and is openable to a position raised out of a plane defined by the roof cover. The recess defined by the cover is open to the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Publication number: 20080258511
    Abstract: A cabriolet includes a displaceable roof that can be secured in its closed position on a windscreen frame. To secure the roof, the cabriolet is equipped with at least two displaceable engagement bodies and at least one associated drive, which interacts with the engagement bodies to transmit the drive force via intermediary elements having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The drive includes a drive member, which is generally parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle on the plane of the intermediary elements and which is used to displace a gear that controls the displacement of one or more intermediary elements by means of a coupling member that lies on the plane of the drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Jorg Plassmeyer, Heinrich Selle, Ralf Buecker, Dirk Flaspohler, Hermann Heidtmann, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7438343
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) with at least one flexible roof area (10) supported by way of transverse hoops (12; 13; 14; 15; 16) lying in succession over its longitudinal course that can be shortened for opening it by displacement of transverse hoops (12; 13; 14; 15) with a movement component in vehicle longitudinal direction is designed in such a way that one longitudinal guiding aid (23; 24; 25) is assigned to a transverse hoop (13; 14; 15) for cooperation with a longitudinal guiding projection (30; 27; 28) of another transverse hoop (12; 13; 14) pointing in its direction (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Publication number: 20080217954
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a vehicle body with a passenger compartment defined therein and a rear region with a top storage well defined therein. A retractable roof is movable between a closed position extending over the passenger compartment and a stowed position in the top storage well. The top storage well has a base region that is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The base region covers an intermediate space between the rearward side of the seats and the inner side of the rear roof region when the roof is in the closed position and the base region is in the raised position. A coupling linkage interconnects the base region with the rear roof region such that movement of the retractable roof from the stowed position to the closed position causes movement of the base region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Weismuller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Publication number: 20080054671
    Abstract: A top for a convertible vehicle with a flexible roof panel, which is attached to an arrangement of convertible-top rods and, in its rear area, to an attachment device of the vehicle body, in which a clamping device, acting on the flexible roof panel in the region of its attachment to the vehicle body in the closed state of the convertible top, is provided. The clamping device is designed with at least one bracket that forces the flexible roof panel in the closed state of the convertible top against an auto-body closure seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 7303225
    Abstract: A Targa roof system for a vehicle includes a roof part (10) for spanning a compartment between a cross member (4), including the upper side of a windshield, and a traverse cross beam (8), which traversely spans a vehicle inner compartment and is spaced from the cross member (4). Guide elements (20, 22) are affixed in the rear area of the roof part (10) on both sides thereof, the guide elements being spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the roof part. The roof part (10) is pivotable from its closed position about the two guide elements (20, 22), which oppose each other with reference to the vehicle width, and subsequently is lowerable downwardly guided along the guide rails (24) into a stowed position by the forward guide element (20) and the rear guide element (22) without pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Heselhaus, Winfried Bunsmann
  • Publication number: 20070273175
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) with a hatchback (H1) comprising lateral frame parts (H3) rising in the direction of travel, between which in a rear window (H4) is received in at least one position and which rest on a rear section (8) of lateral members of the bodywork of the vehicle (6) when the hatchback (H1) is in a closed position, forming part of the outer surface of the vehicle. According to the invention, when the hatchback (H1) is opened, it can be moved with the most forward-lying area (HF) thereof counter to the direction of travel (F) and a passageway (D1) enabling the roof parts (P1;P2;H4) to move inside the bodywork of the vehicle (6) is opened up in the overlapping area when the hatchback (H1) is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmuller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Publication number: 20070262610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorvehicle (1) having a hatchback (h1) that is movable in at least one position of a rear window (H4), wherein the rear window (H4) can be separately moved from its closed position in the areas (H2, H3) surrounding the hatchback (H1) and opposite thereto into a release position, wherein the rear window (H4) can be stored in an area in the vehicle body (6) that is spaced from the hatchback (H1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmuller, Udo Heselhaus
  • Publication number: 20070210610
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor vehicle (1) comprising a vehicle body (6) which is provided with rigid body zones (3) that are located on both sides above lateral window areas (2). At least two plate-shaped roof parts (P1; P2) which can be moved from a closed position into an open position located further down in the body (6) are disposed one behind another between said rigid body zones (3) in a closed roof position. The inventive motor vehicle (1) is embodied such that at least one forward roof part (P1) can be moved from the closed position of the roof parts (P1; P2) over the rear roof part (P2) in a laterally guided manner similar to a sun-roof while the final forward areas (P11) of the roof parts (P1; P2) can be lifted from said position and can be lowered into the body in the frontally raised position. A rear window (H4) that can be separately moved between an open and a closed position is placed immediately next to the rear roof part (P2) in the closed state of the roof parts (P1; P2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Olaf Weissmuller, Udo Heselhaus