Patents by Inventor Bradley Richard Plymale

Bradley Richard Plymale 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).

  • Method for blow-molding an automotive instrument panel having an integral airbag door
    Patent number: 6174470
    Abstract: A method for forming an automotive instrument panel having a concealed door comprising a series of steps. A plastic parison is extruded to form the substrate layer of the instrument panel. The parison has first and second walls. The parison is placed within a mold and the first wall is contacted with the second wall to form a hinge. The area of contact forms a bond between the first and second walls. A different portion of the first and second walls are contacted to form an opening path. The opening path intersects the hinge. The opening path usually has a thickness much less than the thickness of the first and second walls to form an easily fracturable area. The door swings on the hinge to open. A elongated section of material on the second wall, enables the second wall to wrap along the hinge when the door is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Richard Plymale, Christopher Alan Myers, Gerald Arthur Heath, Jeffrey Hampton Helms, Lisandro Trevino, Sorin Stancu