Patents by Inventor Lauren Parkins
Lauren Parkins 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).
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Patent number: 8297645Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion and a first flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Thurston, Lauren Parkins
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Publication number: 20110221170Abstract: A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion and a first flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening with the first flexible trim portion at least partially covering the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeremy Thurston, Lauren Parkins
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Patent number: 8011690Abstract: A trim panel overlaying a pillar includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion separable from one another. A handle attaches to the pillar at first and second points by fasteners extending through the second trim portion, the first and second points being vertically spaced apart from one another. An airbag disposed between the trim panel and the pillar deploys such that the first trim portion completely separates from the pillar and the second trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The airbag extends along the pillar alongside at least one of the first and second points and alongside an area between the first point and the second point. The first trim portion and the handle are configured such that the first trim portion is restrained to a limited distance of movement away from the pillar by the handle in response to deployment of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: James Zucal, Jeremy Thurston, Thomas Yang, Lauren Parkins
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Patent number: 7922189Abstract: A vehicle grip assist handle is provided with a grip assist body and a first gap hider. The grip assist body includes a gripping portion and a first attachment portion. The first gap hider is attached to the first attachment portion of the grip assist body. The first gap hider is configured to at least partially cover a first assist grip opening in a vehicle interior trim panel when the first attachment portion of the grip assist body is positioned in the first assist grip opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Craig B. Dillon, Wes Roy, Ron Morrow, Lauren Parkins
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Publication number: 20100320733Abstract: A trim panel overlaying a pillar includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion separable from one another. A handle attaches to the pillar at first and second points by fasteners extending through the second trim portion, the first and second points being vertically spaced apart from one another. An airbag disposed between the trim panel and the pillar deploys such that the first trim portion completely separates from the pillar and the second trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The airbag extends along the pillar alongside at least one of the first and second points and alongside an area between the first point and the second point. The first trim portion and the handle are configured such that the first trim portion is restrained to a limited distance of movement away from the pillar by the handle in response to deployment of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: James ZUCAL, Jeremy THURSTON, Thomas YANG, Lauren PARKINS
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Patent number: 7850197Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a trim panel, a handle and an airbag. The trim panel is configured to overlay a portion of the pillar and conceal the airbag. The trim panel includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion that is separable from the first trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The handle is rigidly attached to the pillar by at least one fastener that extends through the second trim portion of the trim panel. The airbag is disposed between the trim panel and the pillar such that in response to deployment of the airbag at least a portion of the first trim portion separates from the second trim portion along the predetermined separation line.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: James Zucal, Jeremy Thurston, Thomas Yang, Lauren Parkins
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Patent number: 7677640Abstract: A panel assembly for a vehicle door has trim panel coupled to the door and having at least a portion thereof that is spaced from the door's outboard frame. The trim panel has first and second impact areas. A plurality of energy absorbing structures is arranged in an array between the trim panel and the door frame. Each energy absorbing structure has a base end, an outboard end, and at least one sidewall. The base end is adjacent to the trim panel. The outboard end engages the vehicle door. The sidewall may include either or both of a reinforcement structure and a weakening structure that are sized and configured so that the energy absorbing structure has a predetermined range of energy absorption against the occupant during a side-impact collision. Energy absorbing structures having different energy absorption characteristics are located adjacent to the first and second impact areas.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Jeff Dix, Lauren Parkins
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Publication number: 20090289470Abstract: A panel assembly for a vehicle door has trim panel coupled to the door and having at least a portion thereof that is spaced from the door's outboard frame. The trim panel has first and second impact areas. A plurality of energy absorbing structures is arranged in an array between the trim panel and the door frame. Each energy absorbing structure has a base end, an outboard end, and at least one sidewall. The base end is adjacent to the trim panel. The outboard end engages the vehicle door. The sidewall may include either or both of a reinforcement structure and a weakening structure that are sized and configured so that the energy absorbing structure has a predetermined range of energy absorption against the occupant during a side-impact collision. Energy absorbing structures having different energy absorption characteristics are located adjacent to the first and second impact areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeff Dix, Lauren Parkins
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Publication number: 20090091103Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a trim panel, a handle and an airbag. The trim panel is configured to overlay a portion of the pillar and conceal the airbag. The trim panel includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion that is separable from the first trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The handle is rigidly attached to the pillar by at least one fastener that extends through the second trim portion of the trim panel. The airbag is disposed between the trim panel and the pillar such that in response to deployment of the airbag at least a portion of the first trim portion separates from the second trim portion along the predetermined separation line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: James ZUCAL, Jeremy THURSTON, Thomas YANG, Lauren PARKINS