Prince Corporation

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Other

Johnson Contols Interiors Technology Corporation

Johnson Controls-saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC

Nels R Smith

Kim L Van Order

Heather Rae Springer

Jason Mathew Hipshier

Thomas J Dougherty

Dale B Trester

David J Spykerman

Gary P Houchin-Miller

Scott Allen Hansen

Bart William Fox

Ronald Anthony Bozio

Jeffrey T Stout

David John McCarthy

Jeffrey A DeYoung

Thomas C VandenBerge

Edward N Mrotek

Steven J Wood

Tony Michael Pokorzynski

Sandra L Smith

Jerry M De Jong

Glenn A Cowelchuk

James S Symanski

Kenneth M Lindberg

Douglas A Fischer

Michael G Andrew

Michael Robert Catlin

Dean T Miller

Elisabet A Anderson

Mark S Jurek

Majid Taghikhani

Rollin E Nothwehr

Ronald C Miles

Matthew A Kalis

James Theodore Wilkinson

James D Allardyce

Rodney J Tindall

David J Phillips

Larry E Mathias

Mark P Kadzban

Jennifer A Werth

Keith A Bonnes

James T Wilkinson

Robert W Grimes, Iii

James D Schichtel

Chad M Baumann

Stephen J Gwinnup

Ruskin J Lhamon

Joerg A Kuempers

Uwe Koehler

Kevin L Wright

Andy Butz

Joseph A Priebe

Steven E Vander Veen

Peter W La Belle

John C Hinken

Kevin M Burke

Michael P Brierty

Jeffery T Stout

Joel L Beezhold

Jon L Miller

Andrew R Butz

Tony M Pokorzynski

Jeffrey A Deyoung

Tony M Pokorzynsky

David John Mccarthy

Ronald A Bozio

Heather R Springer

An airbag deployment system is provided that includes a support structure, and a fabric material configured to form a show surface of a vehicle interior panel. A first portion of the fabric material is coupled to the support structure by a rigid connection, a second portion of the fabric material is coupled to the support structure by a detachable connection, and the detachable connection is configured to release the second portion of the fabric material from the support structure upon contact between an airbag and the fabric material.

Vehicle interior panel

Airbag deployment system for a fabric wrapped vehicle interior panel

An interior vehicle component comprises a base and a panel coupled to the base. The panel is moveable between a first position and a second position. The panel has a first side and an opposite second side. The first side is configured to be visible to a vehicle occupant when the panel is in the first position. The second side cooperates with the base to define a cavity. The panel has an aperture extending through the first side and the second side. The panel also comprises at least one of a solid state switch and a light source supported at the first side of the panel, and a flexible circuit coupled to a backside of the at least one of the solid state switch and the light source through the aperture.

Low profile switching and lighting integration within an interior vehicle component

A user interface assembly () for operating a system within a vehicle () is disclosed that comprises a base () and a user interface () supported at the base () and configured to be selectively actuated for operating the system. The user interface includes a first portion and a second portion. The interface assembly also comprises a light source () configured to provide light into the first portion of user interface (). The user interface () is configured to function as a conduit for the light directed into the first portion so that the light can be emitted from the second portion of the user interface ().

Illuminated component for a vehicle

A lithium battery for use in a vehicle includes a container, a plurality of positive terminals extending from a first end of the lithium battery, and a plurality of negative terminals extending from a second end of the lithium battery. The plurality of positive terminals are provided in a first configuration and the plurality of negative terminals are provided in a second configuration, the first configuration differing from the second configuration. A battery system for use in a vehicle may include a plurality of electrically connected lithium cells or batteries.

Battery system including batteries that have a plurality of positive terminals and a plurality of negative terminals

A trim panel and method of forming a trim panel for a vehicle. The trim panel can include a localized cushioned portion of softness () at pre-selected locations on the panel.

Localized deep soft area of a trim panel

The invention is also directed to a method for forming a component for a vehicle. The method comprises forming a substrate in a mold by injecting a first resin into a first cavity, reconfiguring a portion of the mold to form a second cavity, and injecting a second resin into a second cavity; providing a flexible member adjacent at least a portion of the substrate to form a cavity between the substrate and the flexible member; coupling at least a portion of the flexible member to the substrate; and introducing a material into the cavity after securing at least a portion of the flexible member to the substrate. The flexible member and the material introduced into the cavity form a cushioned region for the vehicle component

Vehicle component and method for making a vehicle component

An apparatus and method for making a trim panel. The method includes providing a preform laminate including a compressible material sandwiched between a flexible skin and a back skin. Positioning the preform laminate in the mold. Placing an insert with the preform laminate in the mold to created a step to establish a seam location and define a secondary area on the preform laminate. Compressing the compressible material by introducing a molten polymeric material to the mold forming a substrate and bonding the substrate to the preform laminate forming the trim component. The preform laminate folds onto itself and creates a crease along the step to simulate the seam and provide a contour change with the appearance of cushioning in the secondary area, and removing the trim panel component from the mold.

Trim panel

A molded article with multi-material or color and soft portions and a method of making the same is disclosed. The molded article comprises a multi injection substrate, and a coverstock or skin. The article is formed by a process wherein the coverstock or skin is secured within the mold, a first material is injected into a first cavity, a retractor member is moved to define a second cavity, and a second material is injected into the second cavity. The first and second materials may be different types of plastic, different colors, or combinations thereof. The first cavity is defined by two mold sections (e.g., a cavity and a core) and the retractor member. The second cavity is also defined by the two mold sections, the retractor member, and the (at least partially) hardened first material. The first material may be configured to couple to the second material by a locking interface provided by recesses and/or projections on the mold sections. A method of forming the flexible skin may include coupling a compressible material to the skin; positioning the skin and compressible material in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate around the skin and compressible material providing a first soft region wherein the compressible material is disposed between the skin and the substrate so that a first soft region is defined by the compressible material.

A lighting system is provided that includes an interior trim component having a light transmissive element. The interior trim component is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The vehicle lighting system also includes a light source optically coupled to the light transmissive element at least while the interior trim component is located in the first position. The light source is configured to illuminate a region of a vehicle interior.

Illuminated interior trim component

A roof system for a vehicle includes a panel assembly having a transparent roof panel (), a privacy panel (), and a transparent display panel (). An image generator () is configured to display an image on the display panel () and a control system operates the image generator () and actuates the privacy panel () between a transparent mode and an opaque mode. The system may also includes a perimeter trim member () having a perimeter ventilation system surrounding the panels. The transparent display panel () may also be provided with a user interface region having instruments, displays and touch-activated switches (). The system may also include ambient lighting bands () adjacent to the perimeter of the panels.

Roof system for a vehicle

A method of forming a panel is disclosed. The method includes forming a flexible skin (); coupling a compressible material () to the skin (); positioning the skin () and compressible material () in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate () around the skin () and compressible material () providing a first soft region () wherein the compressible material () is disposed between the skin () and the substrate () so that a first soft region () is defined by the compressible material ().

Method for making a vehicle panel

A vanity is disclosed having a mirror and a light source adjacent the mirror to illuminate an object to be viewed in the mirror. A cover panel is coupled adjacent to the light source for movement to an open position to reveal the mirror and a closed position to conceal the mirror. The vanity includes a switch device to activate and deactivate the light source and a positioning device to maintain the cover panel in the open or closed position. The switch device and the positioning device cooperate to activate the light source when the cover panel is in the open position and to deactivate the light source when the cover panel is not in the open position. The cover panel is configured for rotational movement between the open and closed position in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.

Vanity for a vehicle

A storage and holding system includes at least one structure forming a cavity having an opening, a first flap and a second component. The first flap is adapted to move between at least a first covering position in which the first flap covers a first portion of the opening and a second open position in which the first flap extends into the cavity to provide access to the cavity. The second component is adapted to be moved between at least a first closed position in which the second component covers a second portion of the opening and a second open self-supported position in which the component is adapted to preform a holding function.

Dual purpose storage and holding system

A window control system including at least one operator actuator and a housing, the operator actuator mounted and movable in the housing, and where the relative position of the operator actuator in the housing generates a position command signal to a window control circuit for moving the window in response to the position command.

Window control apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Nels R Smith