Davidson Textron Inc.

Textron Automotive Company Inc.

John A Grimes

Reza Kargarzadeh

Ken E Tuttle

Scott M Filion

Maureen M Lein

Marie J Hersman

An automotive seat assembly (,&prime;) including a platform (,&prime;) supported on an automotive vehicle (,&prime;). The platform (,&prime;) is movable through a storage compartment opening (,&prime;) in an exterior shell (,&prime;) of the vehicle (,&prime;) between an interior stowed position and a horizontal exterior use position. A platform support structure (,&prime;) secures the platform (,&prime;) in the use position. The platform support structure (,&prime;) includes a bumper (,&prime;) supported on the vehicle (,&prime;) below the storage compartment opening (,&prime;). The bumper (,&prime;) supports the platform (,&prime;) when the platform (,&prime;) is in the use position. A spacer pad (,) fixed to a bottom surface (,) of the platform (,) protects the finish of the bumper (,).

Storable exterior seat for a vehicle

An arm rest (18, 20, 22) is mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the door panel (14) or center console (16). The arm rest is operably connected to an air spring bladder (32, 46, 54) or an adjustable mechanical mechanism (72). The bladder is controlled by a pump (40) and switch (41). The mechanism (72) is controlled by an electric motor (70).

Adjustable resting surfaces for automotive interior trim

An automobile door having an interior trim panel with air flow control openings at a bottom edge thereof. The air flow control openings direct outside air entering the normal drain holes in the door onto the floor of the passenger compartment to thereby prevent this air from entering the passenger compartment through partially sealed openings in the trim panel in which a door release handle and power door and power window switches are received.

Automobile door having interior trim panel with air flow control opening

The soft interior trim panel (52) includes a substrate (54), a foam layer (56) and a flexible skin (58). An electrical switch (60) is supported by the trim panel (52) adjacent to the flexible skin (58). A contoured area (62) and indicia (64) indicate the location of a switch (60) under the flexible skin (58). A clear coat (65) is applied to protect the flexible skin (58) and the indicia (64). The switch (60) is closed by applying pressure to the flexible skin (58) on the contoured area (62). The contoured area (62) can be a depression or indentation as well as a raised area. The indicia (64) can be provided using luminescent ink.

Armrest electrical switch arrangement with soft interior trim panel

A method for forming a 360 degree integral skin handle in a thermoplastic part for use in automotive trim products includes the steps of forming a mold with a partial recess closed by a removable plug and thereafter selectively directing heat from a first source through the mold and from a second source through the plug to form a completely closed, curved, heated tube surface and thereafter casting thermoplastic material against the curved, heated tube surface to fuse and cure a layer of material thereon in the form of a tube skin segment which is releasable from the mold when the plug is removed. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a mold with a recess therein and a plug is supported on the mold for movement into a position for closing the tube surface and into a demolding position for releasing the molded part. The article formed by the method and apparatus includes a shell of thermoplastic material which is fused and cured and which includes a generally planar segment having an integrally formed tubular segment thereon for defining the outer skin surface of a full 360 degree handle.

Method for forming a 360 degree skin handle

An apparatus for practicing a method for forming a 360 degree integral skin handle in a thermoplastic part for use in automotive trim products. The apparatus includes a mold with a recess therein and a plug being supported on the mold for movement into a position for closing the tube surface and into a demolding position for releasing the molded part. A heater device directs heat from a first source through the mold and from a second source through the plug to form a completely closed, curved, heated tube surface on which thermoplastic material is cast against the curved, heated tube surface to fuse and cure a layer of material thereon in the form of a tube skin segment which is releasable from the mold when the plug is removed.

Apparatus for forming a 360 degree skin handle

A cover for an armrest access opening to the mounting or attachment apparatus for the armrest, wherein the cover is formed of the same vinyl skin which covers the armrest and is integral therewith. The cover is a vinyl skin flap connected by a living hinge to an edge of the vinyl skin covering the armrest adjacent the access opening. A small opening is formed in the top surface of the mounting apparatus, and a plug is formed on the inner surface of the flap, adapted to fit into the small opening and support the flap once the flap is closed over the access opening.

Integral cover for armrest attachment opening

An inner door panel assembly for a vehicle door is adapted to be connected to an outer door panel to form a space therebetween for a window and a window regulator; the inner door panel assembly is an all plastic composite assembly including an inner covering on the inner surface of a molded plastic substrate. The substrate includes first and second integrally formed hollow boxes thereon faced in the direction of the interior space to absorb side impact energy directed against the side of the outer door panel.

Inner panel assembly with integral energy absorber

A method for forming a 360 degree integral skin handle in a thermoplastic part for use in automotive trim products includes the steps of forming a mold with a prtial recess closed by a removable plug and thereafter selectively directing heat from a first source through the mold and from a second source through the plug to form a completely closed, curved, heated tube surface and thereafter casting thermoplastic material against the curved, heated tube surface to fuse and cure a layer of material thereon in the form of a tube skin segment which is releasable from the mold when the plug is removed. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a mold with a recess therein and a plug is supported on the mold for movement into a position for closing the tube surface and into a demolding position for releasing the molded part. The article formed by the method and apparatus includes a shell of thermoplastic material which is fused and cured and which includes a generally planar segment having an integrally formed tubular segment thereon for defining the outer skin surface of a full 360 degree handle.

Method and apparatus for forming a 360 degree skin handle

An armrest for a door of an automotive vehicle, including a molded shell having a substantially flat top wall portion, an interior shelf portion parallel to the flat top wall portion, a plurality of vertical ribs supporting the shelf portion, and a plurality of abutment ribs intermediate an inner edge of the shelf portion and the flat top wall portion. A back plate is integrally connected to the free end of the flat top wall portion via a living hinge. A foam slab or block is slip fitted into the pocket formed by the flat top wall portion, the shelf portion and the abutment ribs, and retained therein by the closure of the back plate against the free end of the shelf portion.

Growing community of inventors

Dover, NH, United States of America

John A Grimes