Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7416319 | Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicles sun visors The present invention relates to an illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors. The illumination device does not use cables as conducting elements nor external mechanical elements such as switches, simplifying the assembly operations. A condu... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7353614 | Vehicle compass system with continuous automatic calibration The compass system of the present invention utilizes an improved calibration routine in which a processing circuit of the compass recalibrates the compass each time three data points are obtained from a magnetic field sensor that meet predetermined criteria. One suc... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7341356 | Dual magnification vanity mirror adjustable in height and orientation A dual magnification vanity mirror adjustable in height and orientation includes an elongated stanchion curved into the shape of a C having a downwardly depending threaded support leg insertably receivable through a central hole in a base plate and removably fastena... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7334925 | Lighted exterior rearview mirror system A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflective element having a heater and a breakaway joint assembly having stati... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7325953 | Vehicle exterior mirror system with turn signal light assembly A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle and a turn signal light assembly. The mirror assembly includes a reflectance element that is moveably mounted o... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7311410 | Operating table lamp An operating lamp includes a lamp body for receiving a light source, a first light source housed in the lamp body and adapted for illuminating an illumination area of an operating area, and a second light source housed in the lamp body and adapted for illuminating a... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311428 | Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element having a field of view rearward of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a portion of the interior of the vehic... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7300169 | Viewing station with retractable mirror The embodiments of the invention provide a viewing system having an upright member, a first mirror coupled to the upright member, a light source coupled to the upright member, and a retractable mirror assembly coupled to the upright member. The retractable mirror as... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7293888 | Rearview mirror assembly with utility functions An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having a mirror casing and a support for mounting said mirror casing to a vehicle. The rearview mirror assembly further includes a retractable cord for use by an occupant of the vehicle for coupli... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7264217 | Rearview mirror mounting assembly An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head, a mounting base, a support arm and a cover element. The mirror head includes a reflective element and at least one electronic component which is electrically connected to a power source of th... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7255465 | Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a field of view rearward of the vehicle when the interior mirror assembly is attached at a portion of the interior of the vehicle. The interior mirror assembly incl... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7224324 | Interactive automotive rearvision system A vehicular mirror system includes a mirror assembly with a mirror casing and a reflective element with a rearward field of view when the mirror assembly is mounted to a vehicle. The mirror casing includes a mounting portion that is adapted to mount the mirror casin... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7207702 | Vehicle lamp assembly with heat sink An apparatus including at least one LED mounted to a printed circuit board, a reflector including at least one heat stake, and a mounting plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the at least one heat stake. The at least one LED is positioned between the... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7195381 | Vehicle interior LED lighting system A vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes an accessory module assembly that is adapted for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle and configured to illuminate, for example, an area inside the vehicle. The module assembly includes a single high-intensi... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7179133 | Attachment device for the sun visor of a motor vehicle The present invention relates to an attachment device (100) for the sun visor of a motor vehicle having a receiving housing (106) mounted on the motor vehicle and a sun visor foot (108) connectable with the sun visor, wherein the receiving housi... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7168830 | Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a refle... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7165852 | Breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a pivot joint assembly pivotally mounting a movable portion to a base portion of the mirror assembly. The pivot joint assembly includes a support member, a receiving portion and a bracing member. The bracing... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7156358 | Interior rearview mirror assembly with polymeric components An interior rearview mirror assembly for vehicles incorporates a reflective mirror element and a first polymeric pivot joint allowing pivotal adjustment of the field of view of the reflective element. The assembly includes a polymeric support element, a polymeric re... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7140755 | Security lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle A security lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The assembly includes a reflective element and an actuator for positioning the reflective element about at le... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7108409 | Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective mirror element. The reflective element may be a variable reflectance reflective element having a reflectivity which is variable in accordance with a v... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7108309 | Sun visor with conducting arm for vehicles The sun visor comprises a plate (1) for fastening to the bodywork of the vehicle and an arm (2) mounted in a hinged manner on the base (1), which in turn constitutes the means of assembly for the eyeshade of the sun visor. The arm (2) has... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7104676 | Signaling assembly A signaling assembly is disclosed and which includes a reflective substrate having opposite first and second surfaces; an electromagnetic radiation emitter for emitting visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation and which is borne by the second surface of the ref... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7093965 | Automotive lighting assembly with decreased operating temperature A lighting assembly for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes an illumination source, a reflective element and a lens. The illumination source is operable to radiate radiation including visible radiation and infrared radiation. The radiation fro... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7083312 | Lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior mirror assembly having a first portion adapted for mounting to a vehicle and an actuator disposed at a second portion. A reflective element is supported by a reflective element support member mount... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7075511 | Vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly with display A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a rearview mirror case, which is adapted to mount to a vehicle, and a reflective element. The mirror system further includes a carrier, which has at least either a display screen or a user-actuatable interface ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7012727 | Rearview mirror assembly with utility functions An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element, a housing or casing supporting the reflective element, and the casing including a storage space. The storage space provides storage for at least one accessory and for storing the acces... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7012543 | Rearview mirror assembly incorporating accessories An interior rearview mirror system for use in a vehicle includes a mirror support assembly for attachment to the interior of a vehicle. The mirror support assembly comprises a first electronic accessory such as an imaging sensor. A reflective mirror element is dispo... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7012507 | Voice acquisition system for a vehicle A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes a module attached at an inner surface portion of the windshield of the vehicle. The module includes at least one microphone for receiving audio signals within a cabin of the vehicle and generating an output signal in... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6981789 | Exterior mirror having an attachment member including an approach light An exterior mirror assembly including an attachment member for supporting an approach light. The attachment member interconnects a mirror housing to a vehicle and includes an opening for receiving a lens. Light projects through the lens from the attachment member in... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6971775 | Light module for interior rearview mirror assembly A light module for an interior rearview mirror assembly is positionable at least partially within the mirror casing. The light module includes an illumination source, a housing generally surrounding the illumination source, and a cover generally encasing the illumin... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6952084 | Intelligent electrical switching device The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a micro... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6935759 | Folded longitudinal torsional hinge for gimbaled MEMS mirror In a gimbaled micromachined micromirror array optimized for parallel-plate electrostatic operation, longitudinal-type gimbal hinge elements are provided in which a plurality of torsional longitudinal hinge elements are arranged in an array parallel to the axis of ro... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6909408 | Mounting assembly for night vision display unit A mounting assembly for a night vision display unit uses friction hinges to effectively position the display unit at a desired position relative to the vehicle operator. In a dashboard mounting arrangement, the friction hinge dampens movement of the display unit. In... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6902284 | Interior rearview mirror system including a pendent accessory An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle is provided that includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an interior rearview mirror support adapted for attaching to a windshield or header portion of the vehicle. T... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6851825 | Method and apparatus for two-way viewing while reading An attachable book mirror device enables the reader of a textual document to view the facial expressions of the young adult, child, toddler, or baby who is listening in close proximity to the reader. The listener can also view the mechanical lip movements of the rea... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6848816 | Exterior mirror The present application includes a vehicle mirror which includes an approach light in the attachment assembly. The approach light is a single light source positionable in relation to predetermined inputs for directing light to various areas, depending on the inputs.... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6814476 | Exterior mirror having an attachment member including an approach light An exterior mirror assembly including an attachment member for supporting an approach light. The attachment member interconnects a mirror housing to a vehicle and includes an opening for receiving a lens. Light projects through the lens from the attachment member in... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6811288 | Sideview mirror assembly with utility features An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing or casing and a reflective element, which is supported in the casing. The casing includes a storage space, which provides storage for at least one accessory. The accessory is retrievable from the ... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6746140 | Rear-view mirror and interior lighting system A rear-view mirror for a vehicle. The rear-view mirror has a mirrow body at which is formed an accommodating member. A lamp house containing a lamp bulb and a secondary battery is accommodated in the accommodating member by holders for holding the lamp house from be... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6604836 | Variable lighted make-up mirror An illuminated mirror is provided that has a first light source of a first color and a second light source of a second color, a reflective surface adapted to be illuminated by the light sources, and a switch. The switch selectively controls the flow of po... | 08/12/2003 |
