Stephen L Mitchell

US Patent:

6575525, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Jan 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/759494

Inventors:

Margaret E Traister - Troy MI
Shing C Lo - Ann Arbor MI
Frederick G Schwarze - Lake Orion MI
Paul J Raona - Orion Township MI
Michael K Slota - Macomb Township MI
Stephen J Mitchell - Walled Lake MI
John M Sweier - Rochester Hills MI
Sheila A Wright - Bloomfield Hills MI
Daniel R Warner - Grand Blanc MI

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60J 504

US Classification:

296188, 2961466

Abstract:

The present invention provides a reinforced door assembly for a motor vehicle including a vehicle frame. The motor vehicle includes a B-pillar and a hinge pillar incorporating a hinge assembly. The reinforced door includes a door frame with a hinge shut face and a latch shut face. The door frame is attached to the hinge pillar of the motor vehicle by the hinge assembly which is attached to an outer side of the hinge shut face of the door frame. The reinforced door assembly further includes an offset intrusion beam with a first end and a second end. The first end of the offset intrusion beam is attached to an inner side of the hinge shut face by fasteners which also attach the hinge assembly to the outer side of the hinge shut face. The second end of the offset intrusion beam is attached to a reinforcement bracket which is attached to an inner side of the latch shut face through suitable fasteners. In the event of a frontal offset impact, the force of the impact causes the offset intrusion beam to protrude through the latch shut face so as to make contact with the B-pillar.

US Patent:

61451630, Nov 14, 2000

Filed:

Aug 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/141189

Inventors:

Stephen J. Mitchell - Walled Lake MI
Angelo DeSimone - Washington MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

E05F 502

US Classification:

16 82

Abstract:

A check strap arrangement for a motor vehicle door includes a dust cover which is easily and rapidly assembled without the use of separate fastening operations, tools or fasteners. The check strap housing is provided with spherical recesses and the dust cover is provided with cooperating detents. The cover detents are adapted to be snap fitted into the recesses of the check strap housing so as to securely retain the cover on the check strap housing.

US Patent:

59502959, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Nov 4, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/740885

Inventors:

Scott David Worden - Willow Beach, CA
Stephen Joseph Mitchell - Walled Lake MI
Cheaw Wang Ng - Richmond Hill, CA

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI
Multimatic, Inc. - Unionville

International Classification:

B23P 1700
B23P 1902

US Classification:

29423

Abstract:

A method for temporarily connecting a body half and a door half of a hinge, said body half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving said door half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving the body half, one of said connecting means including a portion having disposed proximate the end thereof at least one groove for receiving a resilient flexible retainer; said method including the steps of; (a) fastening the hinge when assembled to a vehicle and a door so as to fasten the door with the vehicle temporarily; (b) painting the vehicle and door together while temporarily connected; (c) subjecting the vehicle and door and the resilient flexible retainer to heat such as that found in a curing process for a painting process for vehicles; (d) separating said body and door halves of said hinge by removing the retainer and separating said halves; (e) separating said door from said vehicle by separating the body half and the door half of said hinges.

US Patent:

54998514, Mar 19, 1996

Filed:

Oct 31, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/331421

Inventors:

Stephen J. Mitchell - Walled Lake MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Highland Park MI

International Classification:

E05C 2100

US Classification:

292347

Abstract:

A handle assembly, formed with a terminal flange, is adapted for flush installation in a panel aperture from the outboard side of the panel in a rock-in manner with the terminal flange overlying the panel outer surface. The housing has at least one inboard projecting stem receiving a one-piece clip through a hole in a retaining clip enabling a nut, upon being threaded on the stem, to hold handle assembly in the panel opening. The clip of the present invention is initially installed from the inboard side of the panel by means of upper and lower tabs adapted for manual push-on frictional engagement with associated upper and lower tongues projecting inboard from the handle housing. As a result of the clip tabs being manually engaged the installer has both hands free for threading a nut on the stem and torquing the nut down to complete the handle assembly installation. The housing tongues also provide a support function in that they prevent the clip from being distorted during the torquing operation.