Abstract: A vehicle headliner includes a two-piece headliner body made up of first and second headliner pieces that are secured together in a mechanical joint. Each of the first and second headliner pieces is comprised of a molded polymer substrate having first and second sides and a fabric on the first side. The molded polymer substrate is partially impregnated into the fabric such that the fabric is fused to the first side. The first piece defines an opening for receipt of a console. There is at least one bridge that spans across the opening and has a molded-in attachment feature for securing the console.

Abstract: A console assembly for a vehicle includes a floor console substrate that has first and second side walls, a console cover that includes a base piece comprised of a top wall and first and second side walls that are unitary with, and extend downwardly from, the top wall. A wrapping material envelops the base piece. The wrapping material has at least one seam. The floor console substrate and the console cover have pairs of slots and pairs of pegs that are slidingly receivable into the respective pairs of slots such that the console cover is secured with the floor console.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sleep-inducing system using carbon dioxide. The sleep-inducing system includes a mixed gas generation unit which generates a mixed gas of which a carbon dioxide concentration is within a preset range by mixing provided carbon dioxide and air, an emission unit which sprays the mixed gas from a position spaced apart from a user's face, a concentration sensing sensor which measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the sprayed mixed gas, and a control unit which controls the carbon dioxide concentration of the mixed gas generated by the mixed gas generation unit to be within the preset range on the basis of the measured carbon dioxide concentration.

Abstract: A vehicle headliner includes a two-piece headliner body made up of first and second headliner pieces that are secured together in a mechanical joint. Each of the first and second headliner pieces is comprised of a molded polymer substrate having first and second sides and a fabric on the first side. The molded polymer substrate is partially impregnated into the fabric such that the fabric is fused to the first side. The first piece defines an opening for receipt of a console. There is at least one bridge that spans across the opening and has a molded-in attachment feature for securing the console.

Abstract: An article includes a molded plastic body that is comprised of a main body portion and a locator pin that projects from the main body portion. The locator pin includes a base at the main body and a pin that extends from the base and has a tip end. The base and the pin are of different sizes so as to form a ledge that faces away from the main body portion. The pin includes a parallel-sided portion that is located within a zone that starts at the base and terminates short of the tip end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sleep-inducing system using carbon dioxide. The sleep-inducing system includes a mixed gas generation unit which generates a mixed gas of which a carbon dioxide concentration is within a preset range by mixing provided carbon dioxide and air, an emission unit which sprays the mixed gas from a position spaced apart from a user's face, a concentration sensing sensor which measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the sprayed mixed gas, and a control unit which controls the carbon dioxide concentration of the mixed gas generated by the mixed gas generation unit to be within the preset range on the basis of the measured carbon dioxide concentration.

Abstract: A gauging station includes a substrate plate and a fixture plate secured on the substrate plate. The fixture plate has a first mounting member. A gauging fixture has a second mounting member that is interlockable with the first mounting member to secure the gauging fixture on the fixture plate. One of the first mounting member or the second mounting member is a male wedge, and the other of the first mounting member or the second mounting member is a female wedge slot that is complementary to the male wedge.

Abstract: An automated assembly station includes a mobile platform for holding a first workpiece, a robot having a moveable arm, and a controller. The moveable arm includes a load cell and a gripper that is adapted to grasp a second workpiece. The robot is operable to use the moveable arm and gripper to insert the second workpiece into a locked position on a mating part of the first workpiece. The load cell is operable to measure an amount of insertion force used to insert the second workpiece into the locked position. The controller is configured to record the insertion force and trigger an alarm in response to the insertion force exceeding a predesignated threshold insertion force.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a molded carpet laminate includes supporting a carpet layer in a molding tool that has mold dies that define a mold cavity. The mold dies are then moved from an open position to a partially closed position. In the partially closed position, a heated polymer material is injected into the mold cavity. The heated polymer material incompletely fills the mold cavity on the working side of the carpet layer. The mold dies are then moved from the partially closed position to a closed position to spread the heated polymer material and fill the mold cavity on the working side of the carpet layer to form a molded polymer wall. The molded polymer wall adheres to the working side of the carpet layer to form a molded carpet laminate. The mold dies are then moved from the closed position and the molded carpet laminate is cooled.

Abstract: A seat belt adjustment release mechanism includes a carrier and a guide piece that is vertically slidable on the carrier. The guide piece includes an aperture configured to receive a seat belt there through and a spring-loaded button anchored on a pivot. The spring-loaded button, when pressed, is rotatable about the pivot between a home position and a depressed position for actuating a seat belt guide release lever.

Abstract: A locator mechanism for checking dimensions of a component includes a stationary base that has sides that define a pocket that opens upwards. A locator block is disposed in, and moveable in, the pocket. At least one spring biases the locator block toward one of the sides of the stationary base. The locator block carries either a recess or a portion of a pin for engaging, respectively, either a boss or a hole of a component to be checked. The spring biases the locator block, and thus also the component, toward the one side of the stationary base to remove play in positioning of the component.

Abstract: A door for a vehicle console includes first and second cover portions that each have an outer, exposed finished surface. The second cover portion is slidable between closed and open cover positions in which the second cover portion is substantially flush with the first cover portion in the closed cover position and is at least partially lapping the first cover portion in the open cover position. A bi-directional latch is actuatable in first and second opposed directions. Actuation in the first direction locks together the first and second cover portions in either closed or open positions and unlocks the door such that the first and second cover portions are rotatable in unison. Actuation in a second direction releases the first and second cover portions from one another such that the second cover portion is slidable from the closed cover position to the open cover position.

Abstract: A stowable accessory holder includes a compartment and a door rotatably mounted with respect to the compartment. The door is rotatable between a first, stowed position in which a side of the door faces into the compartment and a second, accessible position in which the side faces outwards from the compartment. At least one resilient retainer on the door is configured to retain an object on the door.

Abstract: A dual access enclosure includes a base that has a compartment therein and a lid that at least partially encloses the compartment. The lid includes first and second latch mechanisms that are configured to selectively allow the lid to be pivotably opened from two opposed sides. The first and second latch mechanisms are moveable over respective strokes between opened and closed positions, and ends of the strokes of the first and second latch mechanisms coincide such that one of the first or second latch mechanisms in its opened position blocks the other of the first or second latch mechanisms from moving from its closed position to its opened position.

Abstract: A vehicle console includes a first console member, a second console member and a snap-fit mechanism that secures the first console member and the second console member together in a self-supporting structure. The console members define a portion of a storage compartment.

Abstract: A container holder includes a housing that defines a cavity therein. A liner lines the cavity of the housing and includes a resilient portion that is laterally movable responsive to insertion of a container into the cavity, to accommodate and support containers of different sizes. At least one spring finger extends adjacent the resilient portion and opposes the lateral movement of the resilient portion.

Abstract: A storage compartment apparatus for a door of a vehicle includes an elongated body that extends along an axis. The elongated body includes impact-absorbing elements arranged along the axis and an axially elongated storage compartment opening at an axial end and coextending with the impact-absorbing elements along the axis.

Abstract: A vehicle console includes a first console member, a second console member and a snap-fit mechanism that secures the first console member and the second console member together in a self-supporting structure. The console members define a portion of a storage compartment.

Abstract: A glove compartment for a vehicle includes a carrier that is unitarily formed of a polymeric material. The carrier includes a distinct upper compartment, a distinct lower compartment, and a distinct intermediate compartment that is between the upper compartment and the lower compartment. A first door is mounted on the carrier and is moveable between open and closed positions with respect to the lower and intermediate compartments. A second door is mounted on the carrier and is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper compartment. The second door can include first and second hinge arms that extend outwards from a door panel. The hinge arms are received through first and second openings in the upper compartment and are pivotally supported on first and second hinge mounts that are situated outside of the upper compartment.

Abstract: An in-mold grain application system includes a forming machine and an adhesive applicator. The adhesive applicator is configured to apply adhesive to a cover stock sheet prior to the sheet entering the forming machine. A controller is connected to the adhesive applicator and configured to command the adhesive applicator and control the adhesive application to the sheet.