Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6931901 | Method and apparatus for forming a threaded hole in a hydroformed part Method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a required threaded hole is formed in a hydroformed part with a single tool while the part remains in a hydroforming die cavity. In forming the threaded hole, a hole is first pierced in the wall of the part and then an annu... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6732560 | Hydroforming apparatus with retractable part locators Hydroforming apparatus is provided with retractable part locators that are adapted when extended to receive and hold end portions of a tubular part to be hydroformed and thereby support and hold the part between the hydroforming dies when the dies are open. Seal uni... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6672120 | In-die hydropiercing apparatus with prepiercing adjustment Hydroforming apparatus includes in-die hydropiercing apparatus with easy and precise adjustment of the positioning of a backup plunger that is received in a die button and is positioned in a hydroforming position, a prepiercing position, a piercing positi... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6658908 | Punch for piercing and sealing hydroformed parts A punch for piercing and sealing hydroforming parts has a roll forming surface that produces an internal rolled edge portion in a formed part immediately following the punch piercing the part wherein the rolled edge portion acts to effect a tight high pre... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6637246 | Tubular part locator for hydroforming apparatus The seal units that form part of a hydroforming apparatus that further includes dies for hydroforming parts are each provided with a tubular part locator for locating and clamping a tubular part in alignment with the seal unit. The part locator basically ... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6584821 | Self-aligning non-pinching hydroforming dies A pair of self-aligning non-pinching hydroforming dies have fingers and slots which are operable during closure of the dies on a tubular part to effect precise alignment of the dies as they are pressed together to form a hydroforming cavity about the part... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6532785 | Method and apparatus for prefilling and hydroforming parts Method and apparatus are disclosed wherein seal units sealingly connect a hydroforming fluid pressure source with the ends of a part to be hydroformed while the part is outside an intended die cavity and wherein the seal units are then conditioned with a ... | 03/18/2003 |
| 6446476 | Hydroforming method and apparatus Hydroforming method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing or minimizing thinning of a tubular part during its hydroforming in a die cavity. Seal units are employed which each have a docking rod that sealing docks at one end with the tubular part and ... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6401507 | Hydroforming, in-die hydropiercing and slug-ejecting method and apparatus A die button flush mounted in the cavity surface of a lower one of two hydroforming dies has a backup plunger received therein that forms a part of this surface when the plunger is in a hydroforming position. A slug ejector received in the lower die also ... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6348172 | Method of making a hidden tear seam in a vehicle body panel A method of making a thermoplastic skin comprises the steps of providing a mold having a mold surface with first and second mold surface portions which intersect at a sharp corner coincident with the desired location of the tear seam in the molded skin. T... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6305201 | Method and apparatus for forming unobstructed holes in hollow hydroformed metal parts Method and apparatus for forming unobstructed holes in a hydroformed metal part employs a punch having a peripheral side conforming to the desired hole shape and an end face having a central cutting edge with a high point that contacts on closure of a hyd... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6276185 | Flow lock bead control apparatus and method for drawing high strength steel Forming apparatus includes a binder with novel flow lock beads that engage edge portions of a sheet metal blank during metal drawing. In an initial step, the beads draw inner portions of the edge portions into a die cavity to partially form a component. I... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6276109 | Motor vehicle trim panel assembly and method A motor vehicle trim panel assembly and method including a molded plastic trim panel having a facia portion, an integral skirt portion, a plurality of flat cantilever platforms on an inside surface of the facia portion, and a plurality of pairs of raised ... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6247732 | Vehicle compartment latch A vehicle closure has a compartment latch and a handle for operating the compartment latch. The compartment latch includes a reset member that is automatically engaged to disable the compartment latch when the compartment latch is unlatched. The reset mem... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6234565 | Dual action bifold door assembly A bifold door assembly includes two foldable door panels disposed in edge adjacent relation in a door closed position and including vertically spaced hinges connected adjacent center edges of the two panels and allowing folding motion of the panels betwee... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6231103 | Seat for motor vehicle A foldable motor vehicle seat including a horizontal seat cushion and a vertical seat back joined at a horizontal hinge for pivotal movement of the seat cushion from a horizontal position to a vertical position folded against the seat back. The seat back ... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6224143 | Cowl panel with water resistant HVAC air inlets A cowl panel for an automotive vehicle has a plurality of air vents which direct outside air into an air plenum for distribution to the interior of the vehicle through the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system. An air permeable mat is bonded to... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6220652 | Motor vehicle body with side impact protection A motor vehicle body including a plurality of vertical pillars defining therebetween a plurality of door frames for access to a passenger compartment of the vehicle body, a plurality of doors supported by pairs of hinges on the front vertical pillar of ea... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6196043 | Double vee lockbead for sheet metal forming To hold the edges of a sheet metal blank during stamping or forming, such as stretch forming, a flange of the blank is clamped between faces of one of the dies and a binder which form a lockbead in the flange that restrains movement of the flange during t... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6193006 | Dynamic all wheel drive control A selective all wheel drive powertrain has an engine and transaxle adapted to normally drive the front wheels of a vehicle. A transfer gear set, drive shaft, clutch and differential are connectable between the output of transaxle and the rear wheels of th... | 02/27/2001 |
| 6186258 | Dynamic all wheel drive An all wheel drive mechanism has a powertrain including an engine, transmission, front drive differential, a rear drive transfer gearing and a selectively operable rear drive mechanism. The rear drive mechanism has a housing, driven by the transfer gearin... | 02/13/2001 |
| 6176114 | Method and apparatus for sequential axial feed hydroforming A tube member is placed in a die having a plurality of nodules formed in the cavity thereof. A chamber is formed between a mandrel and end piece within the tube. The mandrel is positioned adjacent a first of the nodules and the chamber is pressurized duri... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6055715 | Method for hydroforming a hollow sheet metal body part A method for hydroforming a large surface area, double paneled, hollow auto body part, such as a hood, in which the inner and outer panels are concurrently shape formed and seamed structurally together in the same apparatus. A pair of upper and lower dies... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6053542 | Vehicle door latch with cinching mechanism A vehicle door latch has a rotatable forkbolt that is latched by a detent in a primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outsid... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6044589 | Motor vehicle window mounting apparatus A coupling between a motor vehicle window panel and a horizontal sash bar below a lower edge of the window panel including a pair of plastic clips rigidly attached to the window panel which hook onto an edge of the sash bar to vertically couple the window... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6036227 | Vehicle headliner with impact protection An energy absorption material for covering a rigid vehicle support surface provide impact protection for a vehicle occupant's head is a sheet of material formed into a waveform comprising a plurality of regular corrugations which have identical crests and... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6007141 | Fuel door interlock for vehicle sliding door A blocker member is mounted on the vehicle body adjacent the floor mounted door track and includes a housing and a blocker lever which is pivotally mounted on the housing. The blocker lever is operably connected to the fuel filler door by a cable. When th... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5992918 | Bi-fold gull wing vehicle door A vehicle body has front and rear door openings defined by front, middle and rear pillars and by the vehicle roof. A bi-fold door includes upper and lower door portions, each of which extends full length from the front pillar to the rear pillar. An upper ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5988734 | Passenger vehicle structure A vehicle body structure includes a perimeter frame including laterally spaced right and left side rails of tubular construction and front and rear bumper rails of tubular construction extending between the side rails. A structural tunnel extends longitud... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5967589 | Sun visor retention clip According to the invention, an aperture is provided in the roof panel including a central opening and a plurality of slot portions radiating outwardly from the central opening and each such slot portion being defined by spaced apart side walls an end wall... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5947435 | Vehicle component mounting bracket A box-shaped component is mounted within a vehicle body by a bracket attached to the vehicle and having slide surfaces which slidably receive the component. A retaining element is provided on the component. A retainer member, preferably a lever, is movabl... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5941112 | Method and apparatus for hydrotrimming and hydroshearing A tubular member is manufactured in a hydroforming and hydroshearing apparatus. A substantially right circular cylindrical workpiece is placed in a die and pressurized to hydroform a substantially rectangular tubular product. The workpiece is presheared d... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5934733 | Extruded instrument panel structure An instrument panel structure for use in an vehicle having opposing side pillars, so called "A Pillars". The structure includes an extruded cross car beam having a plurality of radially spaced grooves transversely extending along the length. End caps havi... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5897148 | Catch for door latch detent lever A door latch for latching the vehicle door in the closed position includes a fork bolt pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between the latching position engaging a striker in an unlatching position to unlatch from the striker and permit op... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5896705 | Rod guide A rod guide including an elongated strip base for connection with a vehicle door panel and to encircle an elongated control rod mounted adjacent the door panel, the strip base being spaced away from the rod; at least one mesh wing with a base end connecte... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5896703 | Power liftgate cable drive A vehicle power liftgate cable drive has a cable drive housing. An electric motor with a motor housing and an output shaft is secured to the cable drive housing. A clutch pack with a first clutch driven by the output shaft and a second clutch driven by th... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5890321 | Window regulator mounting panel A mounting device is provided for mounting a window regulator drive unit on a molded plastic mounting panel. A plurality of flexible tabs are molded integral with the mounting panel and adapted to engage with the window regulator drive unit to retain the ... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5884434 | Door handle to latch rod connection A vehicle door has a door trim panel to conceal a door inner panel. A rod is mounted on the inner panel and associated with the door latch to unlatch the door latch when the rod is pulled. A handle is pivotally mounted on the trim panel and has an arm pro... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5855096 | Rod orienting receptacles for door module installation A vehicle door module includes a door latch mounted on the module and has first and second bent wire rods pre-assembled on the door latch. The portion of the module to which the door latch is mounted is of molded plastic construction and has an integrally... | 01/05/1999 |
| 5855095 | Boltless glass channel attachment A vehicle door has a glass run channel extending vertically to guide vertical movement of a window glass. A bracket is mounted on the door adjacent the bottom of the glass run channel and has an upwardly opening slot therein. A threaded stud is carried by... | 01/05/1999 |
