Patents by Inventor Thomas Mally

Thomas Mally 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).

  • Patent number: 8282145
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Michael Eberlein, Thomas Mally, Douglas Dawe
  • Publication number: 20120200117
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Michael Eberlein, Thomas Mally, Douglas Dawe
  • Publication number: 20120200105
    Abstract: A vehicle interior trim assembly comprises first, second and third trim members. The first trim member has a first surface which includes a first mounting structure. The second trim member is positioned adjacent to the first trim member such that a first peripheral edge of the first trim member faces a second peripheral edge of the second trim member. The third trim member is more elastic than the first and second trim members and is coupled to and at least partially overlays the second trim member. The third trim member has a second surface including a second mounting structure, and a third peripheral edge of the third trim member extends beyond the second peripheral edge of the second trim member such that the second mounting structure of the third trim member engages the first mounting structure of the first trim member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Melaina VASKO, Thomas MALLY
  • Patent number: 7784846
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are interior vehicle surfaces having a substrate and a covering having imposed thereon a decorative pattern. The covering is applied to the substrate oriented so that a segment of the decorative pattern forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with a visual reference line. Application of the covering includes determining a visual reference line with respect to the interior vehicle surface to be covered, rotating the covering less than ninety degrees such that a segment of the pattern originally parallel to the visual reference line is now angled with respect to the visual reference line and applying the rotated covering to the interior vehicle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Doug Dawe, Thomas Mally
  • Publication number: 20100183841
    Abstract: A vehicle panel basically includes a skin layer, a substrate layer and a foam material. The skin layer includes an inbound facing side and an outbound facing side. The substrate layer includes an inbound facing side and an outbound facing side, with the inbound facing side of the substrate layer overlying and spaced from the outbound facing side of the skin layer to form a space therebetween. The foam material includes a first foam layer disposed in the space between the skin layer and the substrate layer and a second foam layer overlying the outbound facing side of the substrate layer, with the first and second foam layers being interconnected as a unitary member through at least one opening in the substrate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Mally
  • Publication number: 20100013260
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are interior vehicle surfaces having a substrate and a covering having imposed thereon a decorative pattern. The covering is applied to the substrate oriented so that a segment of the decorative pattern forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with a visual reference line. Application of the covering includes determining a visual reference line with respect to the interior vehicle surface to be covered, rotating the covering less than ninety degrees such that a segment of the pattern originally parallel to the visual reference line is now angled with respect to the visual reference line and applying the rotated covering to the interior vehicle surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Doug Dawe, Thomas Mally
  • Publication number: 20050212333
    Abstract: Basically, a vehicle body structure is configured to reduce the rotation of a side roof rail that may occur during a side collision that deforms the center pillar inwardly of the vehicle body. The vehicle body structure basically includes a side rail reinforcement member located in the area where the center pillar is attached to the roof side rail. The reinforcement member can basically be divided into a first side rail reinforcement section that extends in a forward to aft direction along the roof side rail and a second side rail reinforcement section that extends in an inward direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the roof side rail. The second section of the roof side rail overlies a portion of the sliding door pocket structure that is located just rearwardly of the center pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Mally, Daniel Moll, Robert Blanchard, Douglas Dawe