Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

William A Schumacher

David R Petrucci

Louis Meli

Harpal Singh

Nancy L Johnson

Adam Franklin Gross

Robert N Saje

Shawn G Quinn

Guangling Song

Matthew Simonin

Janet Christine Robincheck

Milind S Gandhi

David B DeClerck

Brian J Schachermeyer

Donald R Seyerle

Ahmed Khan

An antimicrobial interior component for a vehicle includes an interior component body having a contoured surface. The interior component also includes an antimicrobial jacket assembly having a first piece and a second piece coupled together and disposed over the contoured surface. The antimicrobial jacket assembly defines at least one touch surface disposed over the contoured surface of the interior component body. The first piece and the second piece each includes an antimicrobial metal material configured to prevent or minimize microbes from accumulating on the at least one touch surface.

Antimicrobial metallic touch surfaces and methods for making the same

Disclosed herein is an article comprising a first metal layer; a second metal layer that is chemically different from the first metal layer; and a third metal layer disposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and contacting both the first metal layer and the second metal layer; where the third metal layer is chemically similar to either the first metal layer or the second metal layer; where at least two metal layers that are chemically similar are welded together through a clearance opening located in a metal layer that is not chemically similar to the at least two metal layers.

Method for joining dissimilar metals and articles comprising the same

A grounding element is provided. The grounding element includes a first portion including a first metal; a second portion including a second metal other than the first metal; and a fastening portion configured to receive a fastener to attach the grounding element to a body. The grounding element may be welded to a body of a vehicle and used to ground a vehicle electrical system.

Commonized electrical grounding device

A reduced-corrosion assembly includes a first and a second component joined by a fastener having a head and a body. A coating covers a section of the body. The assembly also includes a washer, a compression limiter, and a nut arranged on the first component and adapted to engage the fastener body to thereby tighten the assembly. When the assembly is tightened, the compression limiter is arranged on the fastener body between the first and second components, while the second component is arranged on the fastener body between the compression limiter and the washer. Furthermore, the washer is arranged on the fastener body between the fastener head and the second component, while the coating covers the body substantially up to where the nut engages the body such that corrosion of the assembly is limited or reduced. A vehicle employing the reduced-corrosion fastening system is also provided.

Reduced-corrosion fastened assembly

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electrical grounding device for dissimilar metals is provided. The device includes a body comprising adjacent first and second plate portions, the body including a first surface formed from a first metal and an opposite second surface formed from a second metal. The first plate portion is folded onto the second plate portion such that a portion of the first surface of the first plate portion contacts a portion of the first surface of the second plate portion. The first surface of the first plate portion is configured to couple to a first component formed from the first metal and the second surface of the second plate portion is configured to couple to a second component formed from the second metal, the body electrically coupling the first component and the second component to facilitate electrically connecting the first and second components.

Electrical grounding and structural device for dissimilar metal components

Methods of providing a corrosion-resistant plating on a steel bumper are provided. A galvanized zinc layer is deposited over a steel substrate. A plurality of nickel layers is deposited over the zinc layer. The plurality of zinc layers has at least a first porosity and a second porosity. A chrome layer is applied over the plurality of nickel layers. The porous nickel layer is immediately adjacent the chrome layer such that a stress applied to the chrome layer is distributed over the porous nickel layer. The porous nickel layer delocalizes a stress applied at an impact area to a dispersed area and the dispersed area is larger than the impact area.

Growing community of inventors

South Lyon, MI, United States of America

William A Schumacher