Patents by Inventor James D. Schichtel

James D. Schichtel 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 making a vehicle panel
    Patent number: 7879424
    Abstract: A method of forming a panel is disclosed. The method includes forming a flexible skin (22); coupling a compressible material (24) to the skin (22); positioning the skin (22) and compressible material (24) in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate (20) around the skin (22) and compressible material (24) providing a first soft region (12) wherein the compressible material (24) is disposed between the skin (22) and the substrate (20) so that a first soft region (12) is defined by the compressible material (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nels R. Smith, James D. Schichtel, Chad M. Baumann