Patents by Inventor Michael Eberlein
Michael Eberlein has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11801788Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp finisher, a knob and a retainer. The lamp finisher defines an exterior housing for a light source of the vehicle lamp assembly. The knob is movable with respect to the lamp finisher to operate the light source between an ON state and an OFF state. The retainer is sandwiched between a portion of the lamp finisher and a portion of the knob. The knob is retained to the lamp finisher by the retainer.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Aten, Michael McDuffie, Hiromi Felkins, Michael Eberlein, Samantha Wheeler
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Publication number: 20230066884Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp finisher, a knob and a retainer. The lamp finisher defines an exterior housing for a light source of the vehicle lamp assembly. The knob is movable with respect to the lamp finisher to operate the light source between an ON state and an OFF state. The retainer is sandwiched between a portion of the lamp finisher and a portion of the knob. The knob is retained to the lamp finisher by the retainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Daniel ATEN, Michael MCDUFFIE, Hiromi FELKINS, Michael EBERLEIN, Samantha WHEELER
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Patent number: 9586535Abstract: A vehicle interior trim assembly includes a passenger compartment, a first trim assembly, a second trim assembly and a flexible seal member. The first trim assembly is fixedly installed within the passenger compartment and has a first surface. The second trim assembly is fixedly installed within the passenger compartment and has a second surface adjacent to the first surface of the first trim assembly. The first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from one another defining a gap therebetween. The flexible seal member is attached to the one of the first surface and the second surface. The flexible seal member extends along the gap between the first and second surfaces contacting both the first surface and the second surface thereby covering the gap.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Darin Dalton, Ashley Tennant, Michael Eberlein
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Patent number: 9586534Abstract: A vehicle trim structure has a vehicle floor, a bracket assembly, a main body and a side trim panel. The vehicle floor has a plurality of first attachment parts located within a central region of a vehicle passenger compartment. The bracket assembly has a plurality of second attachment parts and at least one alignment pin. The plurality of second attachment parts are fastened to the first attachment parts. The at least one alignment pin is rigidly fixed to the bracket assembly. The main body has a horizontally extending slot along a leading edge thereof with the alignment pin being inserted into the horizontally extending slot positioning the main body relative to the bracket assembly and the vehicle floor. The side trim panel is installed to a side of the center console concealing the horizontally extending slot and the at least one alignment pin.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jessica Buza, Paul Nguyen, Michael Eberlein
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Patent number: 9539954Abstract: A vehicle compartment assembly includes a housing with a first site wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall and a bottom wall. The first and second side walls, the first and second end walls and the bottom wall define a storage cavity within the housing. The first side wall includes a first projection extending into the storage cavity. The second side wall includes a second projection extending into the storage cavity toward the first projection. The first projection, the second projection and the first end wall define a device slot within the storage cavity. The device slot is dimensioned such that with a conventional media device disposed within the device slot an upper section of the conventional media device extends above the upper end of the housing and is exposed above the upper end.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Hiromi Felkins, Jessica Buza, Michael Eberlein
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Publication number: 20160264068Abstract: A vehicle interior trim assembly includes a passenger compartment, a first trim assembly, a second trim assembly and a flexible seal member. The first trim assembly is fixedly installed within the passenger compartment and has a first surface. The second trim assembly is fixedly installed within the passenger compartment and has a second surface adjacent to the first surface of the first trim assembly. The first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from one another defining a gap therebetween. The flexible seal member is attached to the one of the first surface and the second surface. The flexible seal member extends along the gap between the first and second surfaces contacting both the first surface and the second surface thereby covering the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Darin DALTON, Ashley TENNANT, Michael EBERLEIN
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Publication number: 20160257266Abstract: A vehicle trim structure has a vehicle floor, a bracket assembly, a main body and a side trim panel. The vehicle floor has a plurality of first attachment parts located within a central region of a vehicle passenger compartment. The bracket assembly has a plurality of second attachment parts and at least one alignment pin. The plurality of second attachment parts are fastened to the first attachment parts. The at least one alignment pin is rigidly fixed to the bracket assembly. The main body has a horizontally extending slot along a leading edge thereof with the alignment pin being inserted into the horizontally extending slot positioning the main body relative to the bracket assembly and the vehicle floor. The side trim panel is installed to a side of the center console concealing the horizontally extending slot and the at least one alignment pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Jessica BUZA, Paul NGUYEN, Michael EBERLEIN
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Publication number: 20160250981Abstract: A vehicle compartment assembly includes a housing with a first site wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall and a bottom wall. The first and second side walls, the first and second end walls and the bottom wall define a storage cavity within the housing. The first side wall includes a first projection extending into the storage cavity. The second side wall includes a second projection extending into the storage cavity toward the first projection. The first projection, the second projection and the, first end wall define a device slot within the storage cavity. The device slot is dimensioned such that with a conventional media device disposed within the device slot an upper section of the conventional media device extends above the upper end of the housing and is exposed above the upper end.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Hiromi FELKINS, Jessica BUZA, Michael EBERLEIN
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Patent number: 9126543Abstract: A vehicle interior structure includes a main body, a first side trim panel and a top finisher panel. The main body has a first side defining a plurality of first side attachment portions. The first side trim panel at least partially covers the first side of the main body and has a plurality of first panel attachment portions attached to the first side attachment portions of the main body. The first side trim panel also includes at least one first projection spaced apart from the first panel attachment portions and located adjacent to the upper end of the main body, the at least one first projection having an aperture. The top finisher panel covers the upper end of the main body and has at least one downwardly extending second projection that extends into the aperture of the at least one first projection retaining the first side trim panel in position.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jessica Buza, Thomas Norton, Thomas Mally, Hsiao-Tung Yang, Michael Eberlein
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Publication number: 20150232043Abstract: A vehicle interior structure includes a main body, a first side trim panel and a top finisher panel. The main body has a first side defining a plurality of first side attachment portions. The first side trim panel at least partially covers the first side of the main body and has a plurality of first panel attachment portions attached to the first side attachment portions of the main body. The first side trim panel also includes at least one first projection spaced apart from the first panel attachment portions and located adjacent to the upper end of the main body, the at least one first projection having an aperture. The top finisher panel covers the upper end of the main body and has at least one downwardly extending second projection that extends into the aperture of the at least one first projection retaining the first side trim panel in position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jessica BUZA, Thomas NORTON, Thomas MALLY, Hsiao-Tung YANG, Michael EBERLEIN
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Publication number: 20150123420Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a center stack assembly that has a main trim surface and an attachment surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the main trim surface. The peripheral edge includes a lower first side portion and a lower second side portion laterally opposite the lower first side portion. A first side trim surface extends from the lower first side portion of the peripheral edge and a second side trim surface extends from the lower second side portion of the peripheral edge. The first side trim surface and the second side trim surface are inclined toward one another such that the first side trim surface and the second side trim surface converge toward one another in a direction moving away from the main portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2013Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael EBERLEIN, Aaron ANDERSEN
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Patent number: 9022450Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a center stack assembly that has a main trim surface and an attachment surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the main trim surface. The peripheral edge includes a lower first side portion and a lower second side portion laterally opposite the lower first side portion. A first side trim surface extends from the lower first side portion of the peripheral edge and a second side trim surface extends from the lower second side portion of the peripheral edge. The first side trim surface and the second side trim surface are inclined toward one another such that the first side trim surface and the second side trim surface converge toward one another in a direction moving away from the main portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael Eberlein, Aaron Andersen
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Patent number: 8488818Abstract: Disclosed herein is an interior structural assembly for a vehicle. The assembly includes a defrost panel forming at least a portion of a defrost duct, the defrost panel has first and second panel extensions laterally extending at opposite ends of a defrost base and an instrument panel overlaying the defrost panel, the instrument panel having at least one defrost aperture and first and second ends generally horizontally extending across the interior width of the vehicle, wherein the first and second panel extensions extend to the first and second ends of the instrument panel, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Biggs, Michael Eberlein
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Patent number: 8282145Abstract: Embodiments of interior vehicle panel assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment disclosed herein comprises a first panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a first edge and a second panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a second edge. The second edge of the second panel is aligned with the first edge of the first panel to define a gap having a height between the first edge of the first panel and the second edge of the second panel. A projection extends from one of the first and second panels in a position inward from the exterior surface and toward the respective edge of other of the first and second panels to span at least a portion of the height of the gap.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Michael Eberlein, Thomas Mally, Douglas Dawe
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Publication number: 20120200117Abstract: Embodiments of interior vehicle panel assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment disclosed herein comprises a first panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a first edge and a second panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a second edge. The second edge of the second panel is aligned with the first edge of the first panel to define a gap having a height between the first edge of the first panel and the second edge of the second panel. A projection extends from one of the first and second panels in a position inward from the exterior surface and toward the respective edge of other of the first and second panels to span at least a portion of the height of the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2011Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Michael Eberlein, Thomas Mally, Douglas Dawe
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Publication number: 20110176689Abstract: Disclosed herein is an interior structural assembly for a vehicle. The assembly includes a defrost panel forming at least a portion of a defrost duct, the defrost panel has first and second panel extensions laterally extending at opposite ends of a defrost base and an instrument panel overlaying the defrost panel, the instrument panel having at least one defrost aperture and first and second ends generally horizontally extending across the interior width of the vehicle, wherein the first and second panel extensions extend to the first and second ends of the instrument panel, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Biggs, Michael Eberlein
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Patent number: 7862098Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes an interior panel and trim panel. The interior panel includes an opening and a mating part. The trim panel is snap-fitted into the opening of the interior panel and includes a main body. An accessory opening is provided in the main body adjacent to a first end thereof. The accessory opening is configured to receive an accessory adaptor that is insertable and removable perpendicularly to the first direction of the main body. A retention tab extends away from the first end of the main body along a section of a concealed surface of the interior panel adjacent to the opening and prevents movement of the trim panel perpendicularly to the first direction of the main body. A snap-fit part is releasably secured to the mating part of the interior panel portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher James Biggs, Michael Eberlein
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Publication number: 20100213730Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes an interior panel and trim panel. The interior panel includes an opening and a mating part. The trim panel is snap-fitted into the opening of the interior panel and includes a main body. An accessory opening is provided in the main body adjacent to a first end thereof. The accessory opening is configured to receive an accessory adaptor that is insertable and removable perpendicularly to the first direction of the main body. A retention tab extends away from the first end of the main body along a section of a concealed surface of the interior panel adjacent to the opening and prevents movement of the trim panel perpendicularly to the first direction of the main body. A snap-fit part is releasably secured to the mating part of the interior panel portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Christopher James Biggs, Michael Eberlein