The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 25, 1997
William J Ellis, Belmont, MI (US);
John Peter Vander Wal, Belmont, MI (US);
Randolph H Barnard, III, Rockford, MI (US);
Paul Berklich, Belmont, MI (US);
Cascade Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A dash mat assembly (10) for installation in a vehicle includes an acoustic barrier layer (12) attached to an absorber layer (14). The acoustic barrier layer (12) is formed of relatively stiff material while the absorber layer (14) is formed of relatively flexible material. The inner surface of the acoustic, barrier layer (12) is in direct contact with the outer surface of the absorber layer. Fasteners (16) are provided for attaching the layers together. Each fastener has an elongate pin (22) with opposite ends and a flexible holding flange (24, 26) integrally molded at each end of the pin (22). The flanges (24, 26) normally extend generally transverse to a central axis of the pin and the length of each flange is greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the pin. The fasteners (16) extend completely through the acoustic barrier layer (12) and can, extend either partially or completely through the absorber layer (14). The length of the pin (22) is shorter than the combined thickness of the layers such that the layers are held together under compression. A method of attaching the layers together is also disclosed.