Brian C Erickson

US Patent:

6368702, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Jan 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/240222

Inventors:

Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI

Assignee:

Johnson Controls Technology Company - Holland MI

International Classification:

B32B 2704

US Classification:

4282921, 4282877, 4283007

Abstract:

A thermoformable laminate including a rigid thermoplastic foam sheet and a fiber reinforcing layer adhered to each of two opposite faces of the rigid thermoplastic foam sheet is heated to the thermoforming softening temperature of the rigid thermoplastic foam sheet, and shaped and compressed to form a headliner having varying thicknesses, including a major portion of the headliner which is relatively thin and highly compressed, and at least one relatively thick, lightly compressed or non-compressed impact absorption area. The thermoformable laminate and method make it possible to form a headliner with integral impact absorption areas from a laminate of uniform thickness and density, using a single thermoforming operation.

US Patent:

8276879, Oct 2, 2012

Filed:

Jan 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/009238

Inventors:

Brian Lee Erickson - Holland MI, US
Jason William Spaulding - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Dual Gravity, LLC - Holland MI

International Classification:

F16K 31/44

US Classification:

251231, 40332

Abstract:

A beverage faucet lever comprising: an upper shaft, wherein the upper shaft comprises a tap marker alignment member, and wherein the upper shaft comprises a lip for engaging a tab of a tap marker mounting device, and further wherein the upper shaft is at least partially positionable within a tap marker mounting device; a lower shaft, wherein the lower shaft comprises an actuator and wherein the lower shaft is at least partially positionable within a beverage faucet; and a ball joint positioned between the upper shaft and the lower shaft, wherein the ball joint is at least partially positionable within a beverage faucet.

US Patent:

20010046587, Nov 29, 2001

Filed:

Dec 21, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/217181

Inventors:

RAJ S. MICHAEL - ZEELAND MI, US
BRIAN L. ERICKSON - HOLLAND MI, US

International Classification:

B32B003/00

US Classification:

428/137000, 442/149000, 428/343000

Abstract:

A reinforcing mat for use in vehicle trim panels, such as a headliner or roof liner, comprising a fiber layer, first and second polymer layers on each side of the fiber layer encapsulating the fibers and an adhesive layer on at least one outer surface of the first and second polymer layers. The resulting mat is perforated or apertured in either a random or non-random fashion to provide an open mat. A method of manufacturing the mat is provided in which the polymer layers are extruded onto the fiber layer and at least one adhesive outer layer is co-extruded with one of the polymer layers. After the polymer and adhesive layers are extruded, the mat is perforated either by a punch roller or a vacuum roller which displaces the polymer and adhesive from the spaces between the fibers.

US Patent:

58333045, Nov 10, 1998

Filed:

Jul 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/899218

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Daniel - Holland MI
Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI

Assignee:

Prince Corporation - Holland MI

International Classification:

B60R 1302

US Classification:

296214

Abstract:

A headliner includes one or more integrally formed flaps extending from an edge of the headliner and integrally hinged to the edge of the headliner to fold over the top of the headliner and be concealed in the area between the headliner and vehicle sheet metal roof. In one embodiment of the invention, the panel defining flaps are formed of a pleated headliner material to provide a crushable impact absorption material. In another embodiment of the invention where higher density headliner material is employed, the flaps are compressed headliner material to provide a relatively thin, high density impact absorption padding.

US Patent:

61138371, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

Aug 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/371881

Inventors:

Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI

Assignee:

Johnson Controls Interiors Technology Corp. - Holland MI

International Classification:

B29C 5142

US Classification:

264413

Abstract:

A plastic sheet capable of being shaped by a cold room temperature tool, said sheet being a semi-rigid thermoformable plastic foam doped with carbon black having a concentration within a range of 0. 0000081 to 0. 0081% by weight of the foam. And a method of forming a product from such sheet by heating it to its thermoforming temperature range by infrared (IR) heat and placing and compressing the sheet between mold parts of a cold tool, the IR heat preferably being generated by quartz lamp electric heaters.

US Patent:

58236112, Oct 20, 1998

Filed:

Sep 18, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/529366

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Daniel - Holland MI
Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI

Assignee:

Prince Corporation - Holland MI

International Classification:

B60R 1302

US Classification:

296214

Abstract:

A headliner includes one or more integrally formed flaps extending from an edge of the headliner and integrally hinged to the edge of the headliner to fold over the top of the headliner and be concealed in the area between the headliner and vehicle sheet metal roof. In one embodiment of the invention, the panel defining flaps are formed of a pleated headliner material to provide a crushable impact absorption material. In another embodiment of the invention where higher density headliner material is employed, the flaps are compressed headliner material to provide a relatively thin, high density impact absorption padding.

US Patent:

56952376, Dec 9, 1997

Filed:

Apr 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/631569

Inventors:

Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI
Patrick W. Binish - Holland MI
Kermit M. Anderson - Holland MI

Assignee:

Pince Corporation - Holland MI

International Classification:

B60J 300

US Classification:

296 971

Abstract:

A visor comprises a fiberboard butterfly-shaped core having a first or inner surface coated with a co-adhesive and has its opposite surface covered with a suitable upholstery material having an edge which extends over the periphery of the butterfly core. The core is folded over a pivot rod and torque control such that the facing adhesive surfaces adhesively engage one another to complete the visor construction. The methods of manufacturing the visor includes the steps of applying a co-adhesive to sheets of fiberboard and cutting the sheets into the butterfly shape of a desired visor configuration. The individual butterfly sheets are stacked on one another with the adhesive layers facing in the same direction, such that the adjacent butterfly cores do not adhere to one another. Subsequently, the single core members are placed on butterfly-shaped upholstery having a slightly larger dimension than that of the core. The upholstery edges are folded over the edges of the core, and a pivot rod and torque control member is positioned near the fold line of the butterfly core which defines the upper edge of the visor when completed.

US Patent:

58606904, Jan 19, 1999

Filed:

Nov 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/976390

Inventors:

Thomas J. Dellinger - Zeeland MI
Brian L. Erickson - Holland MI
Paul T. Vanderkuyl - Holland MI
Patrick W. Binish - Holland MI

Assignee:

Prince Corporation - Holland MI

International Classification:

B60J 300

US Classification:

296 971

Abstract:

A visor, according to one embodiment, comprises a closed-cell, semi-rigid urethane foam material thermoformed from sheets into a visor core construction with a reinforced backbone mounted along an edge thereof for mounting the visor to a vehicle. The visor is upholstered utilizing an adhesive and scrim laminate and is formed by heating, pressing and cutting to assure the outer upholstery material adheres smoothly to the visor core and provides a trim edge in appearance. According to another embodiment of the invention, a blend of kenaf fibers are employed as the core material, which is laminated with upholstery material as in the first embodiment to complete the visor construction. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a butterfly-type core construction is made of high density kenaf blend and upholstered in a manner employed for other butterfly visor core constructions.