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. 09, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Brian L. Erickson, Holland, MI (US);
Johnson Controls Technology Company, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A thermoformable laminate including a rigid thermoplastic foam sheet and a fiber reinforcing layer adhered to each of two opposite faces of the rigid thermoplastic foam sheet is heated to the thermoforming softening temperature of the rigid thermoplastic foam sheet, and shaped and compressed to form a headliner having varying thicknesses, including a major portion of the headliner which is relatively thin and highly compressed, and at least one relatively thick, lightly compressed or non-compressed impact absorption area. The thermoformable laminate and method make it possible to form a headliner with integral impact absorption areas from a laminate of uniform thickness and density, using a single thermoforming operation.