Mary Alice Bell

US Patent:

56929536, Dec 2, 1997

Filed:

Jun 9, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/488525

Inventors:

Mary T. Bell - Monroe MI
Melvyn J. Clough - Rochester Hills MI
Willard R. Lewis - Clinton Township MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60H 128

US Classification:

454146

Abstract:

An automotive vehicle cowl cover assembly has a body cowl surface made of a material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an elongated ventilation screen covering the air intake opening with ventilation slots therein made from a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The body cowl surface has a plurality of laterally spaced, rectangularly shaped body apertures and the screen has a plurality of circular mounting apertures formed therethrough registerable with the plurality of body mounting apertures. A plurality of fasteners engage with the ventilation screen to the body cowl surface, each of the fasteners including a rectangularly shaped nut member fitted in one of the plurality of body apertures and a toothed push-pin insertable through one of the plurality of apertures in axially fast relationship with the nut member to clampingly engaging the ventilation screen against the body cowl surface, the push-pin laterally slidingly received in the first slot and received in axially locking relationship with the ribs of the second slot such that the push-pin slides laterally with respect to the nut member to compensate for lateral relative movement between the ventilation screen and the body cowl surface in response to changes in temperature therearound.

US Patent:

57917230, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Jan 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/784887

Inventors:

Mary Teresa Bell - Monroe MI
James Mario Hagerman - Northville MI
Roger A. Shipman - West Bloomfield MI
Rajinder Pal Singh - Canton MI
Charles Lincoln Varney - Grosse Ile MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60J 506
E05F 1502

US Classification:

296155

Abstract:

In an automotive vehicle having a body opening closable by a sliding door, a door bumper wedge for restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of the sliding door has a wedge member attached to a door mating surface of the body opening, a receptacle member attached on a body mating edge of the sliding door defining a receptacle pocket, a pair of flexible, opposed prongs extending from the receptacle member a predetermined distance into the receptacle pocket, and a bumper member positioned within the receptacle pocket. The bumper member has a base portion, a pair of opposed arms extending from the base portion, each of the pair of arms positioned between one of the pair of prongs and a surface of the receptacle pocket, and a trough, defined by the pair of arms and the base portion, for receiving the wedge member therein when the sliding door is moved to a closed position, the wedge member restraining generally longitudinal movement of the sliding door by impacting the base portion, the pair of prongs and the pair of arms absorbing energy from the wedge member and limiting sliding door movement in a generally lateral direction when the sliding door is in the closed position by restraining relative movement between the wedge member and the receptacle member. An adjustment bracket is attached to an inner surface of the body pillar on an opposite side of the door mating surface for attaching the wedge plate to the door mating surface. The adjustment bracket adjustable to accommodate tolerance variation between the receptacle member and the wedge member upon first closure of the sliding door.

US Patent:

58950893, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Mar 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/828851

Inventors:

Rajinder Pal Singh - Canton MI
Roger A. Shipman - West Bloomfield MI
Giuseppe Joe Cannella - Ancaster, CA
Mary Teresa Bell - Monroe MI
Timothy Dean Pusilo - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60J 506

US Classification:

296207

Abstract:

A door bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle sliding door has an adjustable bumper head with a door face for mating with a door inner surface when the door is in a closed position to provide a predetermined lateral load to the door. A bumper base is mounted between the bumper head and a vehicle body surface at a rearward end of a door track and has a hinge face for contacting a door hinge to prevent door rearward longitudinal movement when the door is moved to a fully open position. A bolt threaded on both ends is attached on a first end to the bumper head to allow lateral adjustment with respect to the bumper base, and passes through the bumper base for attachment on a second end to a vehicle body portion.