Abstract: A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a glass panel having a central region and a perimeter region, with the perimeter region having an upwardly turned spill prevention lip. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip is upwardly turned relative to the central region via a glass forming process. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip includes upwardly turned lip portions at the front, rear, left and right sides of the glass panel. The central region of the glass panel includes a storage portion. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip circumscribes the periphery of the central region to limit spillage of liquid over the sides of the glass panel. The shelf assembly may include a pair of support rails bonded at lower surfaces of the left and right sides of the glass panel and having attachment elements configured to mount the shelf assembly at the refrigerator.

Abstract: A formed glass shelf is provided having a central region with an upper planar surface and a curved perimeter region surrounding the central region, which has an edge. The curved perimeter region is non-coplanar with the central region, and the edge is offset in a range of about 2 mm to 6 mm from the upper planar surface of the central region to contain spills on the shelf. A method is provided for slump-forming the shelf, including slump-forming an oversized blank and removing an outermost portion to achieve the finished size.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a glass panel having a central region and a perimeter region, with the perimeter region having an upwardly turned spill prevention lip. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip is upwardly turned relative to the central region via a glass forming process. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip includes upwardly turned lip portions at the front, rear, left and right sides of the glass panel. The central region of the glass panel includes a storage portion. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip circumscribes the periphery of the central region to limit spillage of liquid over the sides of the glass panel. The shelf assembly may include a pair of support rails bonded at lower surfaces of the left and right sides of the glass panel and having attachment elements configured to mount the shelf assembly at the refrigerator.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a shelf panel and a pair of opposite support rails. The shelf panel has upwardly angled perimeter regions and may comprise a strengthened glass material, such as a transparent strengthened glass material, such as tempered glass. Each of the support rails includes a base portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from the base portion. The angled portions of the support rails are bonded along the lower surface of the upwardly angled side perimeter regions of the shelf panel.

Abstract: A formed glass shelf is provided having a central region with an upper planar surface and a curved perimeter region surrounding the central region, which has an edge. The curved perimeter region is non-coplanar with the central region, and the edge is offset in a range of about 2 mm to 6 mm from the upper planar surface of the central region to contain spills on the shelf. A method is provided for slump-forming the shelf including slump-forming an oversized blank and removing an outermost portion to achieve the finished size.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for a refrigerator is provided and includes a support member for supporting the shelf assembly laterally. The assembly includes a shelf panel that is supported along its side regions by respective support brackets. The support brackets are attachable or mountable to a support structure, such as to a support rack positioned at a back panel of a refrigerator. The support member is provided at one or both support brackets and may comprise a magnet or a suction cup.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a shelf panel and a pair of opposite support rails. The shelf panel has upwardly angled perimeter regions and may comprise a strengthened glass material, such as a transparent strengthened glass material, such as tempered glass. Each of the support rails includes a base portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from the base portion. The angled portions of the support rails are bonded along the lower surface of the upwardly angled side perimeter regions of the shelf panel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a headliner assembly for use in the interior compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of: placing a mold release film onto a concave mold surface of a lower mold assembly for providing a barrier against the mold surface; placing a fiber mat on the mold release film; applying a foamable material directly onto the fiber mat; expanding the foamable material around the fiber mat to embed the fiber mat therein; placing an adhesive film onto a convex mold surface of an upper mold assembly; positioning the lower mold assembly directly beneath the upper mold assembly; moving the upper mold assembly in mating engagement with the lower mold assembly to define a mold cavity between the convex mold surface and concave mold surface; curing the foamable material within the mold cavity; and bonding the mold release film and adhesive film to the foamable material with the fiber mat embedded therebetween.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a headliner assembly for use in the interior compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of: placing a mold release film onto a concave mold surface of a lower mold assembly for providing a barrier against the mold surface; placing a fiber mat on the mold release film; applying a foamable material directly onto the fiber mat; expanding the foamable material around the fiber mat to embed the fiber mat therein; placing an adhesive film onto a convex mold surface of an upper mold assembly; positioning the lower mold assembly directly beneath the upper mold assembly; moving the upper mold assembly in mating engagement with the lower mold assembly to define a mold cavity between the convex mold surface and concave mold surface; curing the foamable material within the mold cavity; and bonding the mold release film and adhesive film to the foamable material with the fiber mat embedded therebetween.

Abstract: A modular headliner assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a planar center support mat adapted for mounting to a roof panel of the vehicle. A perimeter support mat extends outwardly from the outer periphery of the center support mat and is adapted for mounting to the roof panel of the vehicle. The perimeter support mat includes a main portion and an outwardly extending flap portion pivotally connected to the main portion by a living hinge. An airbag module is mounted to an interior surface of the main portion of the perimeter support mat adjacent the flap portion. The airbag module includes an inflatable airbag and an airbag canister for inflating the airbag. The flap portion is movable between a closed position covering the airbag and an open position pivoted away from the airbag providing a passageway for deployment of the airbag through the headliner assembly when inflated by the airbag canister.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a headliner assembly for use in the interior compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of: placing a mold release film onto a concave mold surface of a lower mold assembly for providing a barrier against the mold surface; placing a fiber mat on the mold release film; applying a foamable material directly onto the fiber mat; expanding the foamable material around the fiber mat to embed the fiber mat therein; placing an adhesive film onto a convex mold surface of an upper mold assembly; positioning the lower mold assembly directly beneath the upper mold assembly; moving the upper mold assembly in mating engagement with the lower mold assembly to define a mold cavity between the convex mold surface and concave mold surface; curing the foamable material within the mold cavity; and bonding the mold release film and adhesive film to the foamable material with the fiber mat embedded therebetween.

Abstract: A headliner assembly comprising a core layer having upper and lower surfaces and formed of loosely intertangled polyester fibers. An upper bi-component layer of densely intertangled polyester fibers is attached to the upper surface of the core layer by a web adhesive and a lower bi-component layer of densely intertangled polyester fibers is attached to the lower surface of the core layer by a web adhesive. An outer covering layer is attached to the upper bi-component layer for providing an aesthetically pleasing outer appearance to the headliner assembly. Alternatively, the bi-component layers may be attached to the core layer by intertangling fibers of the bi-component layer with fibers of the core layer adjacent each of the upper and lower surfaces.

Abstract: A headliner and retainer bar assembly adapted to be installed in the roof of a vehicle, comprising a headliner panel, a retainer bar extending along the front edge portion of the panel on the top side of the panel next to the roof of the vehicle, and accessory components including sun visors on the bottom, finish side of the panel. The accessory components are secured to the retainer bar by fasteners which extend through the headliner panel to provide a sandwich assembly capable of being installed as a unit. Fasteners, preferably of the type which are installed by being pushed into the designated attaching holes and then strongly resist being pulled back out, secure the retainer bar to the roof frame structure of the vehicle.