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 |
| 8308221 | Roller assembly for sliding vehicle closure A roller assembly for a sliding vehicle closure includes a bracket secured to an associated sliding vehicle closure and a ball-type roller secured to the bracket at a location spaced apart from the associated sliding vehicle closure. The ball-type roller is fixed in... | 11/13/2012 |
| 8136862 | Box frame dual mode tailgate A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a multi-piece frame. The multi-piece frame includes a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member and lower frame member extend laterally along a respe... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8069611 | Door pane position sensor assembly A sensor assembly and method includes a window regular mechanism having a main lift arm supporting the pane and a drive mechanism. The main lift arm includes a sector gear plate that is drivingly rotated by the drive mechanism. A slot defined in the sector gear plat... | 12/06/2011 |
| 7703816 | Vehicle door checker having a water management dam A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7670671 | Dust, water and sound barrier including a witness line for ease of application to a vehicle door A laminated barrier is provided that can be easily attached to the frame of a vehicle door. The barrier reduces the passage of water, dust and sound into and through the vehicle door. The barrier is generally flat and includes a channel formed therein that aids in l... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7469944 | Vehicle door checker having a water management dam A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7258373 | Vehicle lock assembly A lock assembly for selectively locking to a striker on a vehicle includes a lock body defining a lock body recess for receiving the striker therein. A latch is rotatably mounted to the lock body for selectively locking the striker in the lock body recess. The latch... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7243973 | Overstroke latch assembly A closure assembly is mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. The closure assembly includes a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between the closed position and the at least one open po... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7201422 | Tailgate synchronizer A tailgate synchronizer for coordinating mechanical communication between first and second handles mounted to a tailgate and first and second lock assemblies that selectively lock the tailgate to a vehicle body includes a first lock assembly actuator lever rotatably... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7165800 | Dual mode tailgate control system A tailgate assembly is adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed for alternatively pivoting about (1) a first axis generally parallel with the open edge of the tailgate for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position a... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7147257 | Striker assembly with lever A striker assembly is provided for use with a lock assembly in latching a first body and a second body together and allowing at least one of the first and second bodies to pivotally move relative to the other of the first and second bodies. The lock assembly is moun... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7118153 | Frame structure for vehicle tailgate A tailgate assembly adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed includes a stamped sheet metal frame having a reinforced cross-sectional shape with an inner side facing an associated vehicle's load-carrying bed and an outer side opposit... | 10/10/2006 |
| 6938941 | Tailgate dual mode hinge with integrated checker A vehicle load-carrying bed includes a generally rectangular bed floor. A front wall extends upwardly adjacent a front edge of the bed floor. A first side wall extends upwardly adjacent a first side edge of the bed floor. A second side wall extends upwardly adjacent... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6877279 | Sealing apparatus for a closure A sealing apparatus for a closure includes an elongated seal strip having a longitudinal length and including a flexible and resilient seal portion defining a substantially hollow cavity. The sealing apparatus further includes a bumper member comprising a bumper ele... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6827390 | C-pillar and rear door hinge structure for vehicles lacking a B-pillar A C-pillar assembly for a vehicle that lacks a B-pillar, the C-pillar assembly including an inner reinforcement member, an outer reinforcement member, upper and lower hinge assemblies, and an outer garnish member. The outer reinforcement member is disposed over the ... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6749253 | Hook and catch assembly A hook and catch assembly for use in securing a door to a body of a vehicle. The hook and catch assembly includes a hook that is secured to the door, a rocker panel that the door engages, a catch that is secured to the rocker panel upper surface, and a rocker panel ... | 06/15/2004 |
