Thomas R Mally

US Patent:

7784846, Aug 31, 2010

Filed:

Jul 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/174828

Inventors:

Melaina Vasko - Farmington Hills MI, US
Doug Dawe - Farmington Hills MI, US
Thomas Mally - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B62D 33/00

US Classification:

296 391

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are interior vehicle surfaces having a substrate and a covering having imposed thereon a decorative pattern. The covering is applied to the substrate oriented so that a segment of the decorative pattern forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with a visual reference line. Application of the covering includes determining a visual reference line with respect to the interior vehicle surface to be covered, rotating the covering less than ninety degrees such that a segment of the pattern originally parallel to the visual reference line is now angled with respect to the visual reference line and applying the rotated covering to the interior vehicle surface.

US Patent:

8282145, Oct 9, 2012

Filed:

Feb 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/020310

Inventors:

Melaina Vasko - Highland Township MI, US
Michael Eberlein - Plymouth MI, US
Thomas Mally - Beverly Hills MI, US
Douglas Dawe - Milford MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan North America, Inc. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B60R 13/00

US Classification:

296 2434, 296 70, 296 391, 296 108

Abstract:

Embodiments of interior vehicle panel assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment disclosed herein comprises a first panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a first edge and a second panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a second edge. The second edge of the second panel is aligned with the first edge of the first panel to define a gap having a height between the first edge of the first panel and the second edge of the second panel. A projection extends from one of the first and second panels in a position inward from the exterior surface and toward the respective edge of other of the first and second panels to span at least a portion of the height of the gap.

US Patent:

8337975, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Jan 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/356848

Inventors:

Thomas Mally - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan North America, Inc. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B32B 3/24

US Classification:

428140, 428139

Abstract:

A vehicle panel basically includes a skin layer, a substrate layer and a foam material. The skin layer includes an inbound facing side and an outbound facing side. The substrate layer includes an inbound facing side and an outbound facing side, with the inbound facing side of the substrate layer overlying and spaced from the outbound facing side of the skin layer to form a space therebetween. The foam material includes a first foam layer disposed in the space between the skin layer and the substrate layer and a second foam layer overlying the outbound facing side of the substrate layer, with the first and second foam layers being interconnected as a unitary member through at least one opening in the substrate layer.

US Patent:

8414047, Apr 9, 2013

Filed:

Sep 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/225954

Inventors:

Melaina Vasko - Highland Township MI, US
Christopher Biggs - South Lyon MI, US
Thomas Mally - Beverly Hills MI, US
Douglas Dawe - Milford MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan North America, Inc. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B60P 3/00

US Classification:

296 243, 296 378, 2482132

Abstract:

A reconfigurable console reinforcement bracket includes a first frame and first and second extension arms. In a first configuration, the first extension arm is connected to a first lateral side of the first frame at a first longitudinal end of the first frame and the second extension arm is connected to a second lateral side of the first frame at the first longitudinal end of the first frame such that the first and second extension arms extend beyond the first longitudinal end. In a second configuration, the first extension arm is connected to the first lateral side of the first frame at the second longitudinal end of the first frame and the second extension arm is connected to the second lateral side of the first frame at the second longitudinal end of the first frame such that the first and second extension arms extend beyond the second longitudinal end.

US Patent:

8540298, Sep 24, 2013

Filed:

Feb 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/020199

Inventors:

Melaina Vasko - Highland Township MI, US
Thomas Mally - Beverly Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan North America, Inc. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B60R 7/04

US Classification:

296 2434

Abstract:

A vehicle interior trim assembly comprises first, second and third trim members. The first trim member has a first surface which includes a first mounting structure. The second trim member is positioned adjacent to the first trim member such that a first peripheral edge of the first trim member faces a second peripheral edge of the second trim member. The third trim member is more elastic than the first and second trim members and is coupled to and at least partially overlays the second trim member. The third trim member has a second surface including a second mounting structure, and a third peripheral edge of the third trim member extends beyond the second peripheral edge of the second trim member such that the second mounting structure of the third trim member engages the first mounting structure of the first trim member.

US Patent:

8590931, Nov 26, 2013

Filed:

Oct 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/283661

Inventors:

Andrew Brant - Brighton MI, US
Thomas Mally - Beverly Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan North America, Inc. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B60R 21/05
B62D 37/00

US Classification:

280752, 280779, 180 90, 296 72

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a steering column cover skirt attachment bracket and steering column assemblies for a vehicle. One embodiment of a steering column assembly comprises a steering column having a steering column cover, an instrument panel and a lower driver panel forming a recess for receiving the steering column and steering column cover and having an interior surface and an attachment tower extending from the interior surface. The attachment tower is configured to couple the lower driver panel to the instrument panel. A steering column cover skirt extends between the steering column cover and the lower driver panel and has a first end attached to the steering column cover and a second end attached to the lower driver panel. A skirt attachment bracket has a body and a clip structure, wherein the body is attached to the second end of the steering column cover skirt and the clip structure is engaged with the attachment tower to retain the second end of the steering column cover skirt to the lower driver panel.

US Patent:

20050212333, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809696

Inventors:

Thomas Mally - Farmington Hills MI, US
Daniel Moll - Belleville MI, US
Robert Blanchard - Fenton MI, US
Douglas Dawe - Howell MI, US

Assignee:

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B62D025/02

US Classification:

296203030, 296187120

Abstract:

Basically, a vehicle body structure is configured to reduce the rotation of a side roof rail that may occur during a side collision that deforms the center pillar inwardly of the vehicle body. The vehicle body structure basically includes a side rail reinforcement member located in the area where the center pillar is attached to the roof side rail. The reinforcement member can basically be divided into a first side rail reinforcement section that extends in a forward to aft direction along the roof side rail and a second side rail reinforcement section that extends in an inward direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the roof side rail. The second section of the roof side rail overlies a portion of the sliding door pocket structure that is located just rearwardly of the center pillar.

US Patent:

20130234463, Sep 12, 2013

Filed:

Mar 9, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/416008

Inventors:

Melaina Vasko - Highland Township MI, US
Walter Yourke - Highland Township MI, US
Thomas Mally - Beverly Hills MI, US
Douglas Dawe - Milford MI, US

Assignee:

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. - Franklin TN

International Classification:

B60R 13/02

US Classification:

296 108

Abstract:

A vehicle center console trim assembly includes a console body and a cover. The console body includes a first side section and a ledge extending laterally from the first side section along a lower body portion of the console body. The cover is coupled to the console body and overlies a side surface of the first side section to form a side pocket between the cover and the side surface of the first side section with the ledge defining a bottom surface of the side pocket. The cover includes an upper cover portion that extends along an upper body portion of the console body, which is spaced above the lower body portion of the console body, with the upper cover portion concealing the ledge of the first side section of the console body from view in a downward vehicle looking direction from a location above the console body.