Abstract: A tackle box for charging electroluminescent lures comprises a container having an interior volume; a cover mateable with the container; one or more racks for receiving and retaining lures, where each rack has a substantially planar shape, is positionable in tracks formed in the interior of the container, and has an array of recesses formed in an upper end to hold lures; a light-transmissive shelf positionable in the container above the one or more racks; and an array of light sources carried on the shelf and energizeable to illuminate electroluminescent lures retained on the one or more racks. The racks can be arrayed in parallel tracks formed in the interior side walls of the container. Each rack is preferably formed with a scallop pattern of recesses on its upper end to hold lures for charging.

Abstract: A method of making a trimmed, laminated trim component is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. Unwanted portions of the laminated sheet are trimmed.

Abstract: A marine deck member with enhanced surface traction and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces, and extending in the space between the layers or skins, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be effected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

Abstract: A mechanized tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to the coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. The tray subassembly includes a lid and a container having an opening for allowing ingress and egress of items into and out of a storage compartment of the container, respectively, in an open position of the lid. An actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path from the stowed position to the use position through stored potential energy without consuming electrical energy.

Abstract: An antimicrobial, molded laminate shopping cart part and method of manufacturing same are provided. The part, such as a small child seat, includes a structural carrier made from a thermoplastic resin and having an outer surface. The part further includes a formed plastic film sheet having upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface is bonded to the outer surface of the carrier. The film sheet includes an outer clear plastic layer including at least one antimicrobial agent disbursed throughout the plastic layer. The antimicrobial agent exhibits controlled migration through the clear plastic to the outer surface of the clear plastic layer.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated trim component is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. Interior portions of the sheets stretch during the step of pressing while remaining intact.

Abstract: A method of making a trim component having an edge-wrapped, fibrous decorative covering is provided. A fibrous decorative covering overlies and is in contact with an outer surface of a composite sheet. The composite sheet is pressed against an interior portion of the covering to bond the interior portion to the composite sheet while maintaining at least one exterior edge portion of the covering unbonded to the composite sheet. A molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet is injected in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one structural component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering. The at least one unbonded, exterior edge portion is folded over the composite sheet to form the trim component.

Abstract: A method of making a trim component having a fibrous decorative covering is provided. The method includes providing a polymeric composite sheet having inner and outer surfaces and providing a fibrous decorative covering overlying the outer surface of the composite sheet. The method also includes pressing, in a mold cavity at a molding station, the composite sheet against the covering after the steps of providing to bond the covering to the composite sheet. The method further includes injecting a molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet into the mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one structural component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering.

Abstract: A method of making a vehicle interior component having an integral airbag component and a fibrous decorative covering is provided. The method includes providing a polymeric composite sheet and a fibrous decorative covering overlying an outer surface of the composite sheet. The composite sheet is pressed against the covering after the steps of providing to bond the covering to the composite sheet. A molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet is injected into a mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one airbag component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but low enough to avoid damaging the covering.

Abstract: A method of making a vehicle interior component having an integral airbag component is provided. The method includes disposing a polymeric composite sheet having inner and outer surfaces onto a first surface of a mold at a molding station and compressing the sheet between the first surface and a second surface of the mold at the molding station. The method also includes injecting a molten polymer compatible with the polymeric material of the composite sheet into the mold cavity in accordance with a predetermined set of process parameters which are high enough to integrally form at least one airbag component via polymeric interfusion at the inner surface of the composite sheet but are low enough to reduce surface defects on the outer surface of the composite sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle trim part having an injection molded, frontside protective covering is provided. The part includes a decorative layer having an outer surface which provides the appearance of a desirable material. An injection molded, light-transmissive protective layer is inter-bonded to the decorative layer and is integrally formed from a polymeric material which overlies and protects the decorative layer and provides a desired outer surface finish with little or no need for post-molding machining or polishing. The desired outer surface finish and the outer surface of the decorative layer at the interface between the layers form a reflected light pattern which is visible at the front of the part when lighting illuminates the outer surface finish and the outer surface of the decorative layer from the front of the part. The part may be a vehicle interior trim part.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling the position of a land vehicle door includes a mobile communication device operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a first, short-range, electromagnetic field within a first range of the mobile device and a hand-held communication device, such as a key fob, operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a second, short-range, electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the first range. Control logic is coupled to the devices. The control logic is operative to detect when a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the first range and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the first range.

Abstract: A tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to be coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. A bi-directional, electrically-powered linear actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and includes a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive. The threaded member is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the use position based on a deployment command signal.

Abstract: A mechanized tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to the coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. The tray subassembly includes a lid and a container having an opening for allowing ingress and egress of items into and out of a storage compartment of the container, respectively, in an open position of the lid. An actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path from the stowed position to the use position through stored potential energy without consuming electrical energy.

Abstract: A tray table assembly capable of automatically deploying from a stowed position in a vehicular seat back towards a use position within a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a support structure adapted to be coupled to the seat back, a tray support and a tray subassembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis by the tray support. A bi-directional, electrically-powered linear actuator subassembly is mounted on the support structure and includes a motor-driven screw-drive and a threaded member mounted on the screw-drive to linearly move along a longitudinal axis of the screw-drive upon rotation of the screw-drive. The threaded member is connected to the tray support to lift the tray support to deploy the tray subassembly along a predetermined non-linear path upon rotation of the screw-drive in a first direction from the stowed position to the use position based on a deployment command signal.

Abstract: A system for enhancing the visibility of a ground surface adjacent to a land vehicle is provided. The system includes a mobile communication device, a hand-held communication device and control logic coupled to the mobile device and operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized device. An imaging assembly is supported on the vehicle to obtain an image of the ground surface. An image processor processes the image to detect an obstacle located on the ground surface. The control logic is operative to generate a display command signal. A display device is responsive to the signal to display in real time the detected obstacle or a welcome mat onto or adjacent the vehicle for enhanced viewing by an approaching pedestrian when the pedestrian carrying the authorized device is located within a predetermined range of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated trim component at a molding station is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet at the molding station. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. A plastic compatible with the plastic of the composite sheet is molded around the composite sheet to form at least one component at the inner surface of the composite sheet at the molding station.

Abstract: A tackle box for charging electroluminescent lures comprises a container having an interior volume; a cover mateable with the container; one or more racks for receiving and retaining lures, where each rack has a substantially planar shape, is positionable in tracks formed in the interior of the container, and has an array of recesses formed in an upper end to hold lures; a light-transmissive shelf positionable in the container above the one or more racks; and an array of light sources carried on the shelf and energizeable to illuminate electroluminescent lures retained on the one or more racks. The racks can be arrayed in parallel tracks formed in the interior side walls of the container. Each rack is preferably formed with a scallop pattern of recesses on its upper end to hold lures for charging.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated trim component at a pair of spaced first and second molding stations is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the composite sheet at the first molding station. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. The bonded sheets are transferred to the second molding station where a plastic compatible with the plastic of the composite sheet is molded around the composite sheet to form at least one component at the inner surface of the composite sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle trim part having a layered, decorative finish is provided. The part includes a polymeric substrate, a decorative layer overlying the polymeric substrate and a light-transmissive, protective layer overlying and protecting the decorative layer. The protective layer includes a front surface and a rear surface having a surface portion with a translucent surface finish. The decorative layer has an opening extending from a rear surface of the decorative layer to a front surface of the decorative layer and aligned with the translucent surface finish. Both a cross section of the opening at the front surface of the decorative layer and the translucent surface finish are sized and shaped to form a light pattern which is visible at the front of the part when artificial lighting illuminates the translucent surface finish from the rear of the part.