Andrew R Butz Deceased196 Tiffany Ridge Dr, Holland, MI 49424

8262968, Sep 11, 2012

Jan 3, 2005

10/585038

Nels R. Smith - Holland MI, US
Scott A. Hansen - Holland MI, US
Jeffrey T. Stout - Grand Rapids MI, US
Andrew R. Butz - Zeeland MI, US
Bart W. Fox - Zeeland MI, US

Johnson Controls Technology Company - Holland MI

B29C 45/16
B29C 45/33

264254, 264255, 2643287

A molded article with multi-material or color and soft portions and a method of making the same is disclosed. The molded article comprises a multi injection substrate, and a coverstock or skin. The article is formed by a process wherein the coverstock or skin is secured within the mold, a first material is injected into a first cavity, a retractor member is moved to define a second cavity, and a second material is injected into the second cavity. The first and second materials may be different types of plastic, different colors, or combinations thereof. The first cavity is defined by two mold sections (e. g. , a cavity and a core) and the retractor member. The second cavity is also defined by the two mold sections, the retractor member, and the (at least partially) hardened first material. The first material may be configured to couple to the second material by a locking interface provided by recesses and/or projections on the mold sections. A method of forming the flexible skin may include coupling a compressible material to the skin; positioning the skin and compressible material in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate around the skin and compressible material providing a first soft region wherein the compressible material is disposed between the skin and the substrate so that a first soft region is defined by the compressible material.

2007007, Apr 12, 2007

Nov 16, 2004

10/579440

Andrew Butz - Zeeland MI, US
Christopher Hall - Hudsonville MI, US
Chad Baumann - Zeeland MI, US
Tracy Nyberg - Zeeland MI, US
Jeff Irvin - Holland MI, US
Stephanie Fogt - Hudsonville MI, US

E04H 12/00

052301000

A door module and a method of packaging and assembling the door module () to a vehicle door () is disclosed. The door module () comprises a non-structural substrate carrier (), a door trim panel () configured to be coupled to the substrate carrier, a door trim interface member () integrally molded with the carrier () as a single unitary article, and a carrier interface member () extending from the door trim panel (). The door trim panel is releasably coupled to the carrier by releasable engagement of the door trim interface member () and the substrate carrier interface member (). The carrier () may also have an integrally molded impact absorber () or an integrally molded pull cup support (). The method of preparing a module vehicle door () for transportation to a location for assembly of a vehicle door comprises mounting the trim panel () to the carrier () by engaging a projection () on the trim panel () with a retainer () integrally molded with the carrier (). The method of assembling the door module to a structural frame of a vehicle door comprises receiving the carrier and the trim panel at the location for assembly of the vehicle door, removing the trim panel from the non-structural carrier, coupling the carrier to the structural frame (), and mounting the trim panel to the non-structural carrier ().

2008007, Mar 27, 2008

Dec 16, 2005

11/792317

Nels Smith - Zeeland MI, US
Andrew Butz - Zeeland MI, US
Brian Dexter - Grand Haven MI, US

B29C 45/14
B60J 5/00

264266000, 296146700

A panel for use in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The panel includes a unitary integral one-piece flexible member (e.g., coverstock) having a first portion with a first ornamental appearance and a second portion with a second ornamental appearance, and a substrate at least partially molded behind the flexible member. A border between the first portion and the second portion is located in a recess formed when the substrate is molded. A method of forming a panel also is disclosed. The method includes moving a first mold section toward a second mold section so that a projection of the mold pushes a portion of the flexible member at least partially into a recess of the mold, and injecting a polymer resin between the flexible member and the first mold section so that the border is located in the recess.

2008023, Oct 2, 2008

Jun 14, 2005

11/629521

Michael J. VonHoltz - Holland MI, US
Jeffrey A. Cussimanio - Holland MI, US
Chad M. Baumann - Zeeland MI, US
Andrew R. Butz - Zeeland MI, US
Edward C. Lyon - Holland MI, US
Gregory P. Misiak - Holland MI, US

B29C 45/14

264275

A trim panel includes a one-piece molded member having a molded-in edge wrap along at least one edge. The molded-in edge wrap is formed by a process wherein a cover stock material () is provided with an extension (), the extension is moved by a mold () between a first position and a second position, and a resin is injected into the mold () to form the substrate () and to secure the extension in the second position.

2009008, Apr 2, 2009

Sep 28, 2007

11/863986

Chris WOLGAMOTT - Coopersville MI, US
Michael VonHoltz - Holland MI, US
Tom Dolce - Hudsonville MI, US
Andrew Butz - Holland MI, US
Richard P. Petkus - Hudsonville MI, US

B29C 45/80

264 405, 425110

A method of making a molded article using a coverstock and a substrate includes locating the coverstock between a first section of a mold and a second section of the mold. The method further includes causing relative movement between the first and second mold sections to bring the first and second mold sections closer together to shape the coverstock using a mold cavity formed by the second mold section and forming and tensioning the coverstock at least one of during and after the first and second mold sections are brought together. The tensioning includes at least any two of: (a) pressing the coverstock against a surface of the mold cavity in the second mold section using a rib structure extending from the first mold section, (b) holding at least a portion of the coverstock extending outside of the mold cavity at a constant location using at least a first retaining member extending from at least one of the first mold section and the second mold section, (c) pushing the coverstock toward the second mold section using a first pushing member disposed within the mold cavity, projecting from the first mold section, and coupled to a biasing member that biases the pushing member toward the second mold section, and (d) pressing the coverstock against an internal projection member extending from the second mold section using a thrust member projecting from and movable relative to the first mold section.

2012025, Oct 11, 2012

Apr 11, 2012

13/444682

Nels R. SMITH - Zeeland MI, US
Andrew R. Butz - Zeeland MI, US
Brian R. Dexter - Grand Haven MI, US

B29C 45/14

264279

A panel for use in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The panel includes a unitary integral one-piece flexible member (e.g., coverstock) having a first portion with a first ornamental appearance and a second portion with a second ornamental appearance, and a substrate at least partially molded behind the flexible member. A border between the first portion and the second portion is located in a recess formed when the substrate is molded. A method of forming a panel also is disclosed. The method includes moving a first mold section toward a second mold section so that a projection of the mold pushes a portion of the flexible member at least partially into a recess of the mold, and injecting a polymer resin between the flexible member and the first mold section so that the border is located in the recess.

6213537, Apr 10, 2001

Jun 18, 1999

9/336664

Andrew R. Butz - Holland MI
Michael Gard - Allegan MI
David J. McCarthy - Holland MI
Brent A. Reichard - Holland MI

Prince Technology Corp - Holland MI

B60J 120

296152

A mirror trim panel including a cover portion, a primary attachment portion, and a hinge between the cover portion and the primary attachment portion. The hinge allows the mirror trim panel to be secured to the door trim panel and to be lowered into a transit position to improve packaging density and to reduce shipping costs of the door trim panel assembly.

2015029, Oct 22, 2015

Jul 31, 2013

14/418062

- Holland MI, US
Jason M. Hipshier - Hudsonville MI, US
David J. McCarthy - Holland MI, US
Kyle B. Beeck - Grand Haven MI, US
Randy VanHoof - Zeeland MI, US
Andrew Robert Butz - Holland MI, US

Johnson Controls Technology Company - Holland MI

B60R 7/04
B60N 2/46
B60J 5/04

A vehicle door assembly having a storage compartment. One vehicle door assembly includes a support structure. The vehicle door assembly also includes an open storage compartment coupled to the support structure. The open storage compartment is positioned in a middle portion of the vehicle door assembly along a vertical axis of the vehicle door assembly. Further, the open storage compartment includes a cavity that is not within an armrest.