Patents by Inventor Karl H. Hanft

Karl H. Hanft has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6672730
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks, includes a reflective element, a support bracket, and an actuator mounting the reflective element to the support bracket. A mirror housing is secured to the support bracket. The electrical actuator is mounted to the support bracket by a plurality of fasteners and includes an actuator housing, which has a peripheral surface extending around the fasteners. The support bracket provides bearing contact for at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the housing to reduce the vibration and improve the stability of the mirror assembly. The electrical actuator includes a movable member which supports the reflective element for movement therewith and which extends into the actuator housing and frictionally engages the housing to minimize vibration of the movable member when it pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hadley Products
    Inventors: Karl H. Hanft, Edward A. Gahan, David N. Sizemore
  • Patent number: 6488383
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks, includes a reflective element, a support bracket, and an actuator mounting the reflective element to the support bracket. A mirror housing is secured to the support bracket. The electrical actuator is mounted to the support bracket by a plurality of fasteners and includes an actuator housing, which has a peripheral surface extending around the fasteners. The support bracket provides bearing contact for at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the housing to reduce the vibration and improve the stability of the mirror assembly. The electrical actuator includes a movable member which supports the reflective element for movement therewith and which extends into the actuator housing and frictionally engages the housing to minimize vibration of the movable member when it pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hadley Products
    Inventors: Karl H. Hanft, Edward A. Gahan, David N. Sizemore
  • Patent number: 6325520
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks, includes a reflective element, a support bracket, and an actuator mounting the reflective element to the support bracket. A mirror housing is secured to the support bracket. The electrical actuator is mounted to the support bracket by a plurality of fasteners and includes an actuator housing, which has a peripheral surface extending around the fasteners. The support bracket provides bearing contact for at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the housing to reduce the vibration and improve the stability of the mirror assembly. The electrical actuator includes a movable member which supports the reflective element for movement therewith and which extends into the actuator housing and frictionally engages the housing to minimize vibration of the movable member when it pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: KAM Truck Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl H. Hanft, Edward A. Gahan, David N. Sizemore
  • Patent number: 4859867
    Abstract: The specification discloses a modulated optical moisture sensor control circuit for a vehicle windshield wiper. The control system includes a first detector providing a signal indicative of moisture on the windshield and a second detector providing a reference signal indicative of system variables, such as ambient light. The control system includes improved circuitry for separating the steady-state portion of each detector signal due to ambient light from the modulated infrared IR signal. The system further includes a sensitivity adjustment accessible by the vehicle operator to alter the sensitivity of the circuit to at least one of the two variable detector signals. Additionally, the control system cooperates with a conventional off/intermittent/on wiper switch so that the wiper is responsive to the moisture sensor only when the conventional switch is in the intermittent position and a second manually actuated switch indicates preferred operation in the moisture sensor mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Karl H. Hanft, Desmond J. O'Farrell