Abstract: A dash mat for a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and an engine compartment separated by a firewall. The dash mat comprises a decoupling layer with multiple openings and a sound barrier layer with integrally molded fasteners that are received within the decoupling layer openings to secure together the decoupling and sound barrier layers. The fasteners have at least one flange portion that overlies the sound barrier to capture a portion of the decoupling layer between the flange and the sound barrier.

Abstract: A dash mat for blocking the transfer of sound from the vehicle engine compartment, through the firewall, and into the passenger compartment. The dash mat comprising a planar sheet having a pair of opposed doors aligned with an opening in the firewall through which passes a vehicle accessory. The doors move between an open position, where the vehicle accessory can be passed through, and a closed position, where the doors seal the vehicle accessory relative to the planar sheet.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container includes a partition member located in the container a pair of lids pivotally attached to the partition member. Each lid includes a pair of integrally molded hinge arms and one or more integrally molded cantilevered hinge pins extends laterally from each of the hinge arms of each lid along a common pivot axis. Spaced sockets are formed in the partition member for pivotally receiving the cantilevered hinge pins of each lid. Some of the hinge pins of each lid have a beveled end surface, and the partition member has a beveled surface adjacent some of the sockets complementary to the hinge pin beveled end surfaces. With this arrangement, each of the lids can be installed on the container by aligning the beveled surfaces of the pins and partition wall, and forcing the hinge pins in a camming action along the beveled surfaces until the hinge pins snap into their respective sockets.

Abstract: An acoustical barrier for blocking the transfer of sound through a barrier wall. The acoustical barrier comprises a sound absorbing layer and a decoupling layer mounted to the sound absorbing layer and spacing the sound absorbing layer from the barrier wall. The decoupling layer has a constructoin defining multiple voids to reduce the quantity of material used to construct the decoupling layer and to reduce the surface area of the decoupling layer contracting the barrier wall. Preferably, the decoupling layer has multiple protrusions such as ribs between which are interstitial spaces defining the voids.

Abstract: A waste container having a hingedly mounted lid that can be moved between a closed position for covering the container to an open position for providing access to the container. The lid is provided with a groove spaced from the hinge so that when the lid is rotated from the closed position to the open position, any moisture on the lid will flow into the groove where it is directed off of the lid instead of onto the hinge or into the waste container.

Abstract: An acoustical barrier (10) for mounting to the fire wall (20) of a motor vehicle includes a sound barrier layer (12) of a molded construction and sound dampening characteristics. The sound barrier layer (12) has an integrally molded boot (40) for receiving and acoustically sealing a steering column (70). The boot (40) has a base portion (42) integrally molded with a convolute portion (48), and a cap portion (56) integrally molded with the convolute portion (48). The convolute portion (48) includes a continuous outer wall section (50) surrounding an opening (46) in the sound barrier layer (12). The continuous outer wall section (50) has an upper end integrally formed with a flexible bight portion (54). A continuous inner wall (52) has an upper end integrally formed with the bight portion (54) and a lower end integrally formed with the cap portion (56). The cap portion (56) has an opening coincident with the openings (46, 78) in the sound barrier layer (12) and fire wall (20), respectively.

Abstract: A bolster is moveably mounted on a seat back with a bolster adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust and control the support provided by the bolster. Preferably, the bolster adjustment mechanism is mounted on the back side of the seat back, and preferably includes a positioning member between adjacent ribs in order to form a stop limit or positioning element when contacted by the ribs. The positioning member can be a variety of structures, such as structures of different dimensions, hardnesses or compressibility.

Abstract: A dash mat assembly (10) for installation in a vehicle includes an acoustic barrier layer (12) attached to an absorber layer (14). The acoustic barrier layer (12) is formed of relatively stiff material while the absorber layer (14) is formed of relatively flexible material. The inner surface of the acoustic, barrier layer (12) is in direct contact with the outer surface of the absorber layer. Fasteners (16) are provided for attaching the layers together. Each fastener has an elongate pin (22) with opposite ends and a flexible holding flange (24, 26) integrally molded at each end of the pin (22). The flanges (24, 26) normally extend generally transverse to a central axis of the pin and the length of each flange is greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the pin. The fasteners (16) extend completely through the acoustic barrier layer (12) and can, extend either partially or completely through the absorber layer (14).

Abstract: An acoustical barrier (10) for a vehicle having a barrier wall which includes a floor area (23) and a fire wall area (25) extending between a wheel well area (41) and a drive train area (42). The acoustical barrier (10) includes a mass layer (12) that covers at least a portion of the barrier wall. The mass layer (12) has an inner surface (16) that faces the barrier wall with an integrally formed peripheral rib (52) projecting therefrom. A first set of elongate ribs (48) intersects and joins with a second set of elongate ribs (50). The first and second sets of elongate ribs (48, 50) are located within the enclosed area. Each elongate rib (48, 50) includes an upper portion integrally formed with the inner surface (16) of the mass layer and a lower portion with an outer edge (54, 60) adapted to at least face the barrier wall.

Abstract: A mold for molding thermoplastic parts having a plurality of pinholes wherein at least one of the mold cavities has a number of projections in the form of three-dimensional tapering shapes, for example, cones, which extend to a point near to but spaced from the confronting surface of the other mold half cavity. The taper of the angle of the projection and spacing between the apices of the projection and the surface of the other mold half are selected so that molten thermoplastic freezes before it covers the apices of the projections during the molding process to thereby form pinholes in the resulting plastic part. A method for molding plastic parts with pinholes with the use of the mold cavity with multiple projections is also disclosed.

Abstract: A barrier wall (24) separating a passenger compartment from an engine compartment of a motor vehicle has an acoustical barrier assembly (102) mounted thereto. The acoustical barrier assembly (102) includes first and second mat portions (104, 106) juxtaposed to each other in overlapping relationship. Each mat portion (104, 106) is preferably of a molded construction and has sound dampening characteristics. The first and second mat portions (104, 106) each have a terminal edge (130, 122). The terminal edge (130) of the second mat portion is in engagement with one of the surfaces of the first mat portion to thereby acoustically seal the first and second mat portions together. Spacer ribs (124, 132) are integrally with the first and second mat portions (104, 106). Each ribs (124, 132) extends from its corresponding mat portion to the other mat portion.

Abstract: A barrier wall (20) separating a passenger compartment from an engine compartment of a motor vehicle has an acoustical barrier assembly (10) mounted thereto. The acoustical barrier assembly (10) includes a sound barrier layer (12) of a molded construction and sound dampening characteristics. At least one fastener (28) is integrally molded as a single piece with the sound barrier layer (12). The fastener (28) includes a plurality of outer spacer ribs (30) that project laterally from a tube (32) and space an inner surface (24) of the sound barrier layer (12) away from the barrier wall (20). A circumferentially extending flange head (34) is integral with the tube (32) and includes a first frusto-conical section (36) and a second inverse frusto-conical section (38).

Abstract: An acoustical barrier (10) is mounted to the barrier wall (20) of a motor vehicle. The acoustical barrier (10) includes a mass layer (12) of molded construction and sound dampening characteristics. The mass layer (12) includes a plurality of grommets (14, 14', 14", 54) integrally molded as a single piece with a lower surface of the mass layer. Each grommet (14, 14', 14", 54) has a continuous wall with an inner peripheral surface (27, 27', 27") with an upper portion of the wall integrally formed with the inner surface (18) of the mass layer and a lower portion of the wall having a lower edge (22, 22', 22") abutting the barrier wall (20). The inner surface (27, 27', 27") of the continuous wall defines an opening in each grommet (14, 14', 14", 54). A plurality of openings (25, 25', 25") in the mass layer are in communication with at least some of the grommet openings.

Abstract: A refuse container constructed of a rigid plastic material comprises a walled storage bin having substantially vertical walls extending upwardly from a bottom wall. The refuse container includes a wheel-bearing axle mounted to the lower rear portion of the storage bin and at least one wheel mounted to a front portion of the storage bin. To prevent downward deflection of the storage bin bottom wall, the refuse container also includes a brace disposed beneath the bottom wall which mounts to the rear axle and the front portion of the storage bin to reinforce the bottom wall.

Abstract: A reusable, releasably lockable wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a centrally disposed hub defining an aperture in which is received an axle. A spring having diametrically opposed lugs is disposed on one side of the hub and the lugs extend into the aperture of the hub so that when the axle is inserted into the aperture, the lugs are biased into the groove on the end of the axle to lock the wheel to the axle. The lugs can be forced outwardly by a tool to withdraw the lugs from the groove so that the axle can be unlocked with respect to the wheel for removal of the wheel. In one embodiment, cooperation between a wheel cover and the spring limits slidable movement between the wheel and axle. In another embodiment, cooperation between an end cap on the wheel hub and the spring limits the slidable movement.

Abstract: An integral fastener particularly for use in mounting a sheet material to a structural member with a plurality of threaded studs. The integral fastener in one embodiment is connected to the sheet by a web adjacent an aperture in the sheet. The fastener has an opening that defines multiple flaps. To fasten the sheet material to the stud, the stud is inserted through the sheet aperture and the fastener is pressed on the stud so that it extends through the fastener opening, deflecting the flaps, which engage the threads of the stud. In another embodiment, the fastener is formed within the sheet and defines an opening through which the stud passes. In a third embodiment, the stud comprises a T-shaped flange and the fastener has a slotted opening at an acute angle to the plane of the T-shaped flange to retain the fastener on the T-shaped flange.

Abstract: An acoustical barrier having a central aperture that is defined by a flexible seal. The acoustical barrier has an inwardly directed flange circumscribing of the central aperture and spacing the mass layer from a wall a predetermined distance. The wall has an aperture in which is disposed a moisture seal through which a pass-through component extending from one side of the wall to another side of the wall is positioned. The pass-through component is mounted to an article that is disposed within the central aperture of the acoustical barrier. The flexible seal is positioned away from the moisture seal and blocks the transfer of acoustical noise from one side of the wall to the other.

Abstract: A waste container having a container body to an upper portion of which is pivotally mounted a lid. A wheel and axle assembly is mounted to a lower portion of the container body to aid in the movement of the waste container. The waste container has an upper handle disposed near the upper portion of the container body and a lift handle disposed near the lower portion of the container body in opposing and vertically aligned relationship to the upper handle. The opposing relationship of the upper handle and the lift handle provides for a person to grasp the upper handle and the lift handle to lift and invert the waste container into a receiving vehicle to dump the contents of the waste container.