Patents by Inventor Rob E. Springer

Rob E. Springer 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).

  • Patent number: 6708462
    Abstract: An injection molded skin has an edge which is substantially thicker than the major surface of the skin which is adapted to be fitted within a slot in a skin-receiving substrate, such that it forms a seal when cushioned urethane foam material is injected behind the skin between the skin and substrate. The method of manufacturing the panel includes the steps of providing a substrate having a slot formed therein for receiving a peripheral edge of a skin of material, introducing a peripheral edge of a skin material having a thickness greater than the overall thickness of the skin into the slot, and injection molding a foam polymeric material behind this skin with a pressure which seals the peripheral edge of the skin to the slot for completing the decorative panel so formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tony M. Pokorzynski, Mark R. Decker, Rob E. Springer
  • Publication number: 20030194542
    Abstract: A product and a method of making it are disclosed. In the illustrated embodiment, the product is a door trim panel for a vehicle which includes an inner surface for facing a vehicle interior and an outer or “B” surface facing the inside of a vehicle door. Various components typically found on the “B” surface of the door trim panel are added to the panel in the present invention by a molding process. The components are preferably formed from a thermoplastic, and the door trim panel itself comprises a fiber or thermoplastic panel capable of forming a mechanical or a fusion bond with the components. Examples of the components which may be added to a panel using the present invention include locators, ribs or other reinforcement members, attachments for wire harnesses, supports, doghouses, flanges, etc. It is also desirable to use recycled material in the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Rob E. Springer
  • Publication number: 20020125734
    Abstract: An injection molded skin has an edge which is substantially thicker than the major surface of the skin which is adapted to be fitted within a slot in a skin-receiving substrate, such that it forms a seal when cushioned urethane foam material is injected behind the skin between the skin and substrate. The method of manufacturing the panel includes the steps of providing a substrate having a slot formed therein for receiving a peripheral edge of a skin of material, introducing a peripheral edge of a skin material having a thickness greater than the overall thickness of the skin into the slot, and injection molding a foam polymeric material behind this skin with a pressure which seals the peripheral edge of the skin to the slot for completing the decorative panel so formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Tony M. Pokorzynski, Mark R. Decker, Rob E. Springer
  • Patent number: 5868455
    Abstract: A door panel includes a support having a formed area with opposing spaced apart structures and an elongated reinforcement spanning between the opposing spaced apart structures and spaced from the formed area. A flexible cover is positioned on the support including a main panel section covering the support and covering the formed area, and a second panel section wrapped around the reinforcement for covering the reinforcement to form a handle on the door panel. As molded, the flexible cover includes inner, middle, and outer panel sections that are spaced apart to facilitate molding. The outer panel section is convexly shaped and can be inverted so that it abuts the middle panel section. The door panel is constructed by positioning the flexible cover on the support, and flexing the outer panel section inwardly so that a handle-covering portion of the flexible cover completely surrounds the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Rob E. Springer, Dennis J. Beard, David J. Phillips