Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8092733 | In mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns m... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8083979 | In mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns m... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8071000 | In mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns m... | 12/06/2011 |
| 7997964 | Air vent providing diffusion An adjustable air vent assembly has a frame and a plurality of louvers pivotally mounted to the frame. The plurality of louvers is movable between a closed position and a diffuse position. In the closed position, each louver has an edge contacting an edge of at leas... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7981342 | In-mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns m... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7971903 | Plastic bracket countermeasure for door side impact An automobile door bracket includes an attachment section and a corrugated section. The door bracket is placed within an automobile door assembly to function as a side impact countermeasure. ... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7954663 | Vehicle console A console assembly for a vehicle includes a console body defining an opening communicating with a storage bin. The storage bin has opposing side walls each having a groove formed therein. A sliding member is slidably mounted within the grooves of each of the side wa... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7871119 | Door trim panel with dual density bolster armrest and integrated components A door trim panel including a cover stock, an armrest coupled to the cover stock and having a first density, an upper energy absorber disposed above the armrest and having a second density higher than the first density, and a lower energy absorber disposed below the... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7854875 | Method of making a trim panel having a narrow transition radius and apparatus In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a trim panel and an apparatus and method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the trim panel comprises a first portion and a second portion with a transition portion extending therebetween ... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7833623 | Modified slush moldable TPU for instrument panels with seamless airbag deployment capability A vehicle instrument panel skin comprises residues of a thermoplastic urethane elastomer and a propylene-ethylene copolymer. The thermoplastic urethane elastomer includes a polyol, an organic diisocyanate, an optional chain extender, and an optional hindered amine l... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7806430 | Airbag assembly In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates an airbag assembly comprising a panel having a tear seam forming at least one airbag door, and a door chute assembly comprising a laterally extending flange connected to the panel proximate the airbag door. T... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7776422 | Floor mat having a retention feature A floor mat having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface; and a V-shaped retention feature. The V-shaped retention feature extends from the second surface and has first and second ramp surfaces disposed at an angle relative to the sec... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7736721 | Hollow structural member with reinforced bulwark and process for producing same A hollow structural member including a top wall having an inner surface and a substantially planar outer surface. A bottom wall opposes the top wall so as to define a void therebetween and has at least one bulwark formed therein. Each bulwark has a leading face whic... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7708313 | Plastic basket countermeasure for door side impact An automobile door bracket includes an attachment section and a corrugated section. The door bracket is placed within an automobile door assembly to function as a side impact countermeasure. ... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7700176 | Porous carpeting for vehicles and methods of producing same Porous carpeting for use within vehicles, and methods of making same, are provided. A carpet backing is heated to achieve a fluid or semi-fluid state and then subjected to intense vacuum to draw air through the carpet backing to create a porous structure. A layer of... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7698817 | Methods of forming vehicle interior components which include a decoupler layer A method of manufacturing an article such as vehicle interior trim component including a decoupler layer is disclosed. The method comprises the conveying of materials into an enclosure to form a preform having a shape of the enclosure, heating the preform to a tempe... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7690677 | Trim panel having foam bridge supported hidden tear seam In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a trim panel for concealing an air bag. The panel comprises a substrate and a cover over the substrate. The cover includes a cover skin. The panel also comprises a tear seam having at least a portion compr... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7690318 | Method of sewing a decorative seam and trim component made by that method A method of sewing a decorative seam includes providing a material suitable for receiving stitches, folding a first portion of the material onto a second portion of the material to form a bend, sewing a first stitch to join the first portion to the second portion, t... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7682681 | Sound absorbing/sound blocking automotive trim products Sound absorbing/sound blocking products, including trim products formed from a porous fibrous layer backed by a sound absorbing layer and a sound blocking layer for use within vehicles, and methods of making same, are provided. A porous fibrous layer structure inclu... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7674414 | In mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns m... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7673932 | System to establish a trim edge for a vehicle roof window A headliner and bracket cooperate to define a trim edge around a vehicle sunroof. The bracket may include a lip the wraps around an edge of the headliner and trim associated with the headliner. ... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7658984 | Lightweight acoustic automotive carpet Light weight acoustic carpet including porous carpeting backed by a primary sound reducing layer and localized secondary insulators for use within vehicles, and methods of making same, are provided. A porous carpet structure including a carpet backing is heated to a... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7572401 | Insert molded bolster in two-shot door panel In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to automobile interior door panel having an insert molded bolster. In at least one embodiment, the automobile interior door panel is made by providing a bolster within a first mold cavity, introducing a ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7571927 | Headliner assembly having a tether A headliner assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having an inflatable air bag disposed proximate a roof of the vehicle. The headliner assembly includes a headliner configured to extend underneath the air bag and having a front portion and a rear portion. The ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7566475 | Acoustic insulator with controlled airflow resistance and method of making same A method of making an acoustic insulator includes depositing thermoplastic particulate on a first surface of a base layer. The method further includes heating the particulate such that the particulate at least partially melts and penetrates the first surface of the ... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7550103 | Plastic skin forming process An apparatus and method of producing plastic articles comprising preheating a metal mold having a mold contour using infrared heating elements formed to match said mold contour to establish a casting temperature, casting plastic material onto the preheated metal mol... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7537818 | Sound absorptive multilayer articles and methods of producing same Acoustically absorptive carpeting includes a primary layer of fibrous material with yarn tufts extending outwardly therefrom and a secondary layer of thermoplastic material that forms a carpet backing. The carpet backing is rendered porous. A substrate of porous mat... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7527224 | Radio bin spacer Disclosed is a radio bin spacer that allows for a standard sized radio to be mounting in an instrument panel mounting area sized for the larger style radio. ... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7517002 | Pocketed panel assembly A pocketed panel assembly for a vehicle door is disclosed herein. The pocketed panel assembly includes a trim panel, a partial pocket structure, and a living hinge. The trim panel has a pivotal edge, and the partial pocket structure also has a pivotal edge. The livi... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7478854 | Automotive handle with soft feel and method of making the same The present invention provides for an improved trim part, such as an automotive handle, with a soft feel, for use in a trim assembly, and to a continuous two-shot molding operation that may be continuously performed utilizing a single mold assembly. In an exemplary ... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7475933 | Snap-in decorative articles for vehicle interiors A vehicle floor covering includes a layer of material having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, and a plurality of decorative articles releasably secured within the respective plurality of apertures. The decorative articles are configured to alter the aes... | 01/13/2009 |
| RE40617 | Overhead console for a vehicle An overhead console assembly for a vehicle includes accessory module compartments selectively positioned and removably secured to the overhead console for storing materials within the compartments. The overhead console includes a first console housing disposed to an... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7462024 | Apparatus for molding a trim panel assembly having a narrow transition radius In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a trim panel and an apparatus and method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the trim panel comprises a first portion and a second portion with a transition portion extending therebetween ... | 12/09/2008 |
| 7458631 | Automotive armrest with soft feel and method of making the same The present invention provides for an improved armrest with a soft feel for use in a trim assembly, and to a continuous two-shot molding operation that may be continuously performed utilizing a single mold assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a trim assembly includ... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7458604 | Automotive trim assembly having an integrated airbag door An automotive trim assembly adapted to have an airbag deploy through the trim assembly includes a substrate with a deployment door integrally molded with the substrate and having a front surface adapted to face the interior of the automobile and a back surface oppos... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7445233 | Guiding pillar trim for a side-curtain airbag system A guiding pillar trim (14) for a side-curtain airbag system (12) of a vehicle (10) is provided. The guiding pillar trim (14) includes a panel (44) for covering a vehicle body structure (10). This panel (44) has a guid... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7445261 | Console assembly for a vehicle A console assembly configured for use in a passenger seating of a vehicle includes a lower console module extending generally horizontally adjacent a floor of the passenger seating area and an upper console module disposed adjacent and operatively connected to the l... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7434859 | Nesting console system A console for a vehicle includes a console housing defining a storage compartment. The console housing also defines an indented area in an outer surface thereof. A bin is sized to fit within the indented area such that an entire internal surface area of the bin is c... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7431379 | Method of making an interior panel for a door and an article made thereby An interior trim panel for a vehicle door is provided according to alternative methods. The interior trim panel includes a bolster to which a polyurethane skin is molded by a spraying operation. Expanded polyurethane foam is sprayed over the polyurethane skin and a ... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7431365 | Console assembly for a vehicle A console assembly for use in a passenger seating area of a vehicle includes a console housing having a storage area defined therein. An armrest is pivotally connected to the console housing and is movable between a first position extending at least partially over a... | 10/07/2008 |
