Prince Corporation

Jeffrey D Gras

Alan L Kindig

Kenneth M Lindberg

Dale J Frye

Joseph B Buonodono

Lee Garvelink

Robert J Stander

David A Ozios

Thomas L Boerema

A fastener for securing panels together has a body made of spring steel member having a rosette fastener and at least one mounting flange. The rosette fastener is secured within a first polymeric panel with the mounting flange engaging the opposite surface of an abutting substrate panel for lockably engaging the substrate and panel thereby holding the two panels together. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastener includes a pair of flanges which are offset from a central platform of the body in which the rosette fastener is formed.

Panel fastener

A torque control for providing a desired frictional resistance to a pivotally mounted vehicle accessory, such as an armrest or headrest, which includes a resilient member having an irregular arcuate slot. A resistance element extends in the slot to move along the length thereof as the pivoted component pivots about the pivot axis. In one modification, the shape of the slot provides a desired predetermined frictional resistance and in another modification a cutout is made in one of the walls of the slot permitting such wall to flex.

Armrest torque control

An upholstery system for a vehicle accessory includes a substrate with a U-shaped channel adjacent an edge and including alternately staggered apertures and slots in its floor. A trim member with alternately staggered pins and locking tabs compressibly holds an edge of upholstery material in the channel with the pins extending through the material and into the apertures and the tabs lockably holding the trim member by fitting into the slots.

Upholstery system

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey D Gras