Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kenneth S Laird

Linh Ngoc Doan

Yudong Zhou

Robert William McCoy

Mangala Ambalangodage Jayasuriya

Anthony Ligi, Jr

Warwick J Smith

James P Holland

Stacy L Swank

Jeffrey B Crist

Aileen N Barraza

Zhibing Deng

Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati

Gary D Mullen

Bhavani Thota

Krishnakanth E Aekbote

Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott

Yun Shin Lee

Michael G Orlowsky

Nitesh Jadhav

Kenneth Alan Stoner

Paul Schryer

Katherine Ann Buck

Kevin Murphy

Karen Judge

Chris Richardson

A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit.

Fully collapsing armrest insert with tunable tensioning elements

An inductive charging station is provided for an electronic device. The inductive charging station includes a housing, an inductive charging feature and a device latch that is carried on the housing. The device latch is displaceable between a charging position wherein the electronic device is held in position for efficient charging, and a presenting position wherein the electronic device is tilted forward for easy access and removal from the inductive charging station.

Inductive charging station for an electronic device

A manufacturing method for a plastic-molded automotive interior trim component produces a curvilinear finished surface with a relatively flat portion and a relatively curved portion. A decorative film subcomponent is molded with a substantially smooth outer surface that is pigmented with a desired color of the finished surface. The decorative film subcomponent is placed into a mold having a film-receiving surface with a three-dimensional texture at both the relatively flat portion and the relatively curved portion. A structural backing member is in-mold laminated with the decorative film subcomponent by injecting molten plastic material against the inner surface of the decorative film subcomponent in the mold, wherein pressure of the molten plastic material expands the decorative film subcomponent to form an embossed pattern which is substantially uniform and undistorted covering at least part of the relatively flat portion and at least part of the relatively curved portion.

Method of manufacturing in-mold decorative appliqu&#xe9; with textured surface

A push clip assembly includes a clip tower and a retention clip carried on the clip tower. The retention clip includes a first set of retaining ribs projecting in a first direction and a second set of retaining ribs projecting in a second direction.

Multi-engagement push clip assembly

A vehicle armrest including a fabric member tensioned across a gap defined between inner and outer armrest substrates that are formed around a portion of the fabric member. At least one buckling member extends across the gap between the inner and outer armrest substrates and a cover member extends over and vertically supported by the fabric member.

Door trim armrest substrate structure

A vehicular armrest assembly includes a laterally collapsible substrate having a gap defined between inner and outer substrate portions. A tunable stiffening feature is disposed on the collapsible substrate and has an aperture positioned over the gap, and engagement tabs that engage the inner and outer substrate portions. The stiffening feature provides lateral support to the collapsible substrate to selectively allow the inner and outer substrate portions to deflect toward each other after a predetermined lateral load is placed on the collapsible substrate and an elastic bed disposed on the tunable stiffening feature and covering the aperture. The elastic bed vertically supports a cover member at the aperture and the lateral support provided to the collapsible substrate is solely provided by the stiffening feature.

Energy absorbing collapsible armrest with tunable stiffening feature

A vehicle armrest includes an inner armrest substrate having at least one buckling member extending to an outer armrest substrate. A gap is defined by the inner and outer armrest substrates and the at least one buckling member. A fabric member extends across the gap and is attached to the inner and outer armrest substrates. A cover member extends over and is vertically supported by the fabric member.

Vehicle armrest with structural fabric substrate

A plastic-molded automotive interior trim component has a curvilinear finished surface with a relatively flat portion and a relatively curved portion. A decorative film subcomponent has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein at least the outer surface is pigmented with a desired color of the finished surface. Prior to incorporation into the plastic molded component, the decorative film subcomponent has a shape generally conforming to the curvilinear finished surface and is substantially smooth. A structural backing member is in-mold laminated with the decorative film subcomponent, wherein the structural backing member is formed by injection molding a backing material against the inner surface of the decorative film subcomponent in a mold having a film-receiving surface with a three-dimensional texture that receives the decorative film subcomponent. The texture shapes the decorative film subcomponent with an embossed pattern having a substantially uniform, undistorted appearance on at least part of the relatively flat portion and at least part of the relatively curved portion.

In-mold decorative applique with textured surface

A trim panel retention assembly for a vehicle includes a retention bracket mounted to an inner door panel and a trim panel bracket mounted to a door trim panel. The trim panel bracket is proximate and spaced from the retention bracket such that the retention bracket deters the trim panel bracket and door trim panel from detaching from the inner door panel during a side impact collision.

Trim panel retention assembly

A storage compartment such as a map pocket is provided over a recess in the door panel of a transportation vehicle. A frame includes a U-shaped member and a flexible spring piece coupled between the ends of the U-shaped member. The flexible spring piece has a length greater than the distance between the ends so that it tends to assume either a closed position proximate the recess or an open position away from the recess. A pocket cover has a front portion concealing the frame and has a folding side portion disposed between side and bottom edges of the frame and the door panel along corresponding edges of the recess. A tether is coupled to the frame for urging the frame toward the door panel while permitting the frame to be moved away from the door panel.

Flexible storage compartment for vehicle interior trim

A sliding door panel for covering an opening in a trim panel of a sliding door includes a bracket having a first guiding member. The sliding door panel includes is a sliding appliqu&#xe9; having a second guiding member capable of associating with the first guiding member, and wherein the sliding appliqu&#xe9; includes a first end having a protruding configuration extending away from the trim panel.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Kenneth S Laird