Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7374303 | Outer rearview mirror and tilting assembly The present abstract refers to a patent for utility model covering an actuating mechanism belonging to the field of the components of outer rear-view mirrors, which received the arrangement to provide a better usage and manufacturing conditions, an arrangement being... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7370985 | Vehicular mirror with slip clutch for jack screw actuator A motorized tilt actuator assembly comprises one or more threaded jack screws attached to a mirror glass case and traveling along one or more threaded actuator shafts with rotation of the motor. When a jack screw reaches its limit of travel, relative movement betwee... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370984 | Rearview mirror assembly for motor vehicles A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly has a holding component and clamping parts to clamp the mirror assembly to the holding component. Alternative embodiments of the holding component and clamping parts are also disclosed. ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7357522 | Rearview mirror assembly for motor vehicles A rearview mirror assembly for attachment to a holding tube carried by a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing framing configured to encase a portion of the holding tube and to attach with a mirror element. A clamping bracket is also configured to encase a portio... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7354170 | Vehicular mirror having tilt angle detection rod with swing axis In a vehicular mirror device, one end part of an operating shaft disposed on a side opposite to a drive shaft relative to a fulcrum of a mirror holder is swivelably coupled to the mirror holder, and a detection rod of a sensor is coupled to the operating shaft, whic... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7338247 | Quick release fastener A releasable fastener for releasably engaging a bolt body has a generally cylindrical sleeve member having an inner surface closely spaced from an outer surface of the bolt body. A latch member having a contact surface is mounted on the sleeve member for movement be... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334906 | Outer mirror tilting apparatus An outer-mirror tilting apparatus includes a holder base that fixes a main body of an outer mirror, a housing that is fitted to a bearing unit of the holder base, the housing having a pivot shaft supporting the holder base in a tiltable manner, a rod driving mechani... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7322710 | Vehicular mirror actuator with single motor actuation and inboard center of gravity and vehicular mirror incorporating the same A rearview mirror tilt actuator comprises a clutch assembly that selectively transfers torque from an actuator motor to one of at least two output shafts based upon the speed of the motor. One output shaft can pivot the mirror about a first axis of rotation; another... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7320527 | Mirror and angle detection device A vehicle mirror comprises: a mirror surface; an actuator 100 which tilts the mirror surface; a plate pivot 110, which changes its direction together with the mirror surface; a spring 112, which applies a resilient force to the plate pivot 11... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7316377 | Flat panel monitor mount with low profile ball and socket swivel and tilter mount A mounting arrangement for a flat panel monitor that allows full vertical adjustment and requires minimal space between the flat panel monitor and any surface behind the monitor. A low profile ball and socket tilter minimizing distance between a horizontally rotatin... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7290890 | Retracting mechanism of vehicular outer mirror device A retracting mechanism for storing or erecting a mirror includes, at a coupled portion of an output shaft of a drive motor and a worm gear, coupling retaining portions fitted together in a press-fitted state and rotational force transmitting portions opposing each o... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7270432 | Mirror and angle detection apparatus A mirror (18) having a specular surface changeable in orientation using an actuator (16) is provided with an angle detection capability at reduced cost. A plate pivot (10) can change its orientation together with the specular surface so as to or... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7237917 | Mirror and angle detection device A vehicle mirror comprises a mirror surface; a plate pivot 110 which tilts the mirror surface by tilting the plate pivot itself, a housing 120 which covers the plate pivot facing to the rear surface of the mirror surf... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7237918 | Vehicle mirror actuator and exterior mirror for vehicle A vehicle mirror actuator includes an actuator housing, a first motor, and a second motor. The second motor is provided in the actuator housing and configured to adjust a mirror angle in a second direction of a mirror. The first motor is provided in the actuator hou... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7232102 | Member tilting mechanism and mirror system A member tilting mechanism includes a housing rear having a concave spherical portion, a cap support having a convex spherical portion, a plate pivot having a pivot portion, which is a tubular portion with an arc-like cross section, a spring plate which presses agai... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7216996 | Mirror with interchangeable appearance covers A mirror system having a common framework that allows interchangeability of mirror styles. The mirror system includes a first skeleton support structure operatively attached to a portion of a vehicle. The support structure including a mounting bracket therein. A rem... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7216994 | Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly A mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion which is configured to mount to a side of the vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element and a reflective element actuator. The reflective e... | 05/15/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7175292 | Hand adjustable vehicle mirror mechanism An external mirror assembly for a motor vehicle with a base (16) and an adjustable mirror head (12) and a pivot and vibration absorption mechanism (14) on the base (16) allowing manual adjustment of the mirror head (12) with respec... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7167294 | Automobile exterior sideview mirror system An automobile exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview mirror assembly, which includes a reflective element assembly. The reflective element assembly includes a first reflective element having a unit magnification and a second reflective element... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7144126 | Clutch structure of automative mirror adjustment mechanism The present invention provides a clutch structure of mirror adjustment mechanism comprising a clutch driving gear with specified gear teeth formed at circumference thereof and hollow fitting chuck formed at center thereof, to be geared with the output axis of a driv... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7137717 | Outer mirror device for vehicle In an outer mirror device for a vehicle, an electrically-driven retracting unit, a mirror surface angle adjusting unit, a mirror surface angle detecting sensor, a foot lamp device, a heater, and an ECU which is a control device, which are respectively internal mecha... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7129460 | Electronic imaging apparatus with high resolution and wide field of view and method Electronic imaging apparatus includes a main mirror that rotates about two transverse axes to reflect light for an array of subimages through a lens to a correcting mirror that reflects the light to an image detector. The correcting mirror moves in translation and t... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7095546 | Micro-electro-mechanical-system two dimensional mirror with articulated suspension structures for high fill factor arrays The invention provides a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) mirror device, comprising: a mirror having a 2-dimensional rotational articulated hinge at a first end, and having a 1-dimensional rotational articulated hinge at a second end opposite the first end; a ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7090364 | Movement mechanism A movement mechanism applicable to a vehicle outside rearview mirror and employing a substantially spherical holder and a substantially spherical bowl nested one in the other and relative rotatable relative to each other about first and second mutually perpendicular... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7073914 | Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly A mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion which is configured to mount to a side of the vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element and a reflective element actuator. The reflective e... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7066612 | Magnetic boot module A magnetic boot module is described. The magnetic boot module has a pair of magnetic boots, a pair of moving devices, and a magnetic inductive path. Each of the moving devices couples to one of the magnetic boots to transversely push the magnetic boots moving on the... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7063427 | Portable mirror device The present invention is a portable mirror device for hunters or other persons who need to extend their field of view to the side or rear without moving their head appreciably. The device is reversibly attached to a body-segment of the user and can either be raised ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7048393 | Door mirror assembly for a vehicle A door mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided, which includes a housing, a frame supporting the housing internally. The housing has a shell with a front aperture, two fixation ports and an engagement port. On the other hand, the frame has a main body to be enclos... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044612 | Rear view mirror assembly for vehicles, especially commercial vehicles A rearview mirror arrangement for vehicles, in particular for utility vehicles, is disclosed which includes a mirror carrier plate 1 on which a mirror pane 11 is affixed, an adjusting unit 2 that can be attached directly to a vehicle-mounted, mi... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7025470 | Mechanism for rotatable image-taking device An improved mechanism for rotatable image taking device, the rotatable mirror set in front of a fixed image-taking device with angle of reflection controlling mechanism at the rear side of the mirror. The mechanism includes a fixed rod with universal joint at the ce... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7004594 | Mirror angle control apparatus and power mirror system having the same First and second reciprocable members are arranged between a motor and a mirror and are selectively reciprocated by rotational force conducted from the motor to tilt the mirror. When the motor is rotated in a first rotational direction, the second reciprocable membe... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6994438 | Optical component casing, optical device and projector An optical component casing (40) that houses a plurality of optical components including a reflection mirror (424) and disposes the plurality of optical components on a planarly defined illumination optical axis (L1) has a holder (81) tha... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6971757 | Mechanism for adjusting mirror of automotive outside mirror assembly The present invention relates generally to an automotive outside mirror assembly, and in particular, to a mirror adjustment mechanism with a compact and slim structure, allowing a precise adjustment of the mirror over a wider adjustment angle. A mirror adjustment me... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6955494 | Adjusting mechanism for installation of plate-like members A reflector guiding an optical axis is housed in a mirror holder with a compression spring disposed therebetween so that the reflector is biased by the compression spring to move backward. A mirror retainer is rotatably supported by a rear cover for the mirror holde... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6939016 | Mirror mounting assembly for controlling vibration of a mirror A mirror mounting assembly including a mirror support, a base portion, a pivoting joint between the support and the base portion allowing the support to pivot with respect to the base portion, a link extending between the support and the base portion, a first end of... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6923547 | Mirror device for vehicle, and retracting mechanism of outer mirror device for vehicle In a door mirror device for a vehicle, a first helical gear and a second worm gear are rotated integrally by a first worm gear. In this way, the second worm gear is rotated around a second helical gear, and a mirror is retracted or extended. The first helical gear a... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6916100 | Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly A mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion which is configured to mount to a side of the vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element and a reflective element actuator. The reflective e... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6912078 | Electrostatically actuated micro-electro-mechanical devices and method of manufacture One embodiment is directed to a gimbal mechanism for a MEMS mirror device having folded flexure hinges. Another embodiment is directed to a gimbal mechanism having a frame with through-holes or recesses distributed thereabout to reduce weight of said frame. Other em... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6851813 | Tow mirror assembly for vehicles An exterior rearview mirror assembly, especially suited for towing vehicles, includes a casing which houses a reflective element and a support supporting the casing and adapted to mount a vehicle. The mirror casing is adapted to pivot about the support between an in... | 02/08/2005 |
