Patents by Inventor Tom Kopcha

Tom Kopcha 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).

  • Automotive interior trim assembly and pad insertion
    Patent number: 7077456
    Abstract: A trim assembly comprises a substrate member including a moveable panel integrally formed in the substrate and moveable between an open and closed position. A flexible skin overlies at least a portion of the substrate member and is integrally coupled to the substrate. The substrate and flexible skin are configured to define a cavity having an opening. The cavity opening is accessible when the moveable panel is in the open position. A resilient foam pad is positioned within the cavity to provide a soft feel to the trim assembly. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity using a tool that pulls a vacuum and compresses the foam pad. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity and the vacuum is released thereby expanding the foam pad to fill the cavity. The tool is removed and the moveable panel is moved to and secured in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Bailey, Mark Heinze, John Youngs, Tom Kopcha
  • AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR TRIM ASSEMBLY AND PAD INSERTION
    Publication number: 20060117540
    Abstract: A trim assembly comprises a substrate member including a moveable panel integrally formed in the substrate and moveable between an open and closed position. A flexible skin overlies at least a portion of the substrate member and is integrally coupled to the substrate. The substrate and flexible skin are configured to define a cavity having an opening. The cavity opening is accessible when the moveable panel is in the open position. A resilient foam pad is positioned within the cavity to provide a soft feel to the trim assembly. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity using a tool that pulls a vacuum and compresses the foam pad. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity and the vacuum is released thereby expanding the foam pad to fill the cavity. The tool is removed and the moveable panel is moved to and secured in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Bailey, Mark Heinze, John Youngs, Tom Kopcha
  • AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR TRIM ASSEMBLY AND PAD INSERTION
    Publication number: 20050200148
    Abstract: A trim assembly comprises a substrate member including a moveable panel integrally formed in the substrate and moveable between an open and closed position. A flexible skin overlies at least a portion of the substrate member and is integrally coupled to the substrate. The substrate and flexible skin are configured to define a cavity having an opening. The cavity opening is accessible when the moveable panel is in the open position. A resilient foam pad is positioned within the cavity to provide a soft feel to the trim assembly. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity using a tool that pulls a vacuum and compresses the foam pad. The foam pad is inserted into the cavity and the vacuum is released thereby expanding the foam pad to fill the cavity. The tool is removed and the moveable panel is moved to and secured in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Charles Bailey, Mark Heinze, John Youngs, Tom Kopcha