Patents by Inventor Frank Litjens

Frank Litjens 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).

  • Instrument panel system with hidden airbag door
    Publication number: 20040160043
    Abstract: An instrument panel (12) includes a thermoplastic base substrate (54), with at least one tear seam notch (60) pressed into a first surface (56) of the base substrate. At least one consolidated area (66) is pressed into a second surface (58) of the base substrate. The at least one consolidated area is aligned with the at least one tear seam notch. The instrument panel further includes at least one hinge area (74). Each hinge area is an area of low consolidation where a thickness of the base substrate at the low consolidation area is greater than a thickness of the base substrate at the consolidation area. The at least one tear seam notch and the at least one hinge area define at least one airbag door (78).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank Litjens, Lahoussaine Boutghrit