Patents by Inventor Leo W. Pavao

Leo W. Pavao 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: 7216994
    Abstract: 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 element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Leo W. Pavao
  • Patent number: 7165852
    Abstract: 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 member engages the receiving portion and extends radially inward toward the support member. The receiving portion is slidably movable relative to the bracing member in the longitudinal direction. A retaining clip is positioned at least partially around the support member and engages the bracing member and limits longitudinal movement of the bracing member relative to the support member. The bracing member is rotationally slidable relative to the receiving portion and/or the retaining clip in response to rotational movement of the receiving portion relative to the support member about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Leo W. Pavao, Daniel D. Kasbohm, Amit S. Barve
  • Patent number: 7093946
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a base portion mounted to the vehicle and a movable portion that is pivotable relative to the base portion via a motor or motorized actuator or powerfold unit or the like. The powerfold unit is operable to pivot the movable portion relative to the base portion. The powerfold unit is mounted at one of the movable portion and the base portion and engages a receiving portion of the other of the movable portion and the base portion. A resilient element is positioned between and at least partially in engagement with the powerfold unit and the receiving portion. The resilient element is resilient and may at least partially compress as the powerfold unit is engaged with the receiving portion, thereby reducing or dampening vibration of the head portion relative to the base portion of the mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Amit S. Barve, Richard J. Weber, Eric Shapin, Leo W. Pavao
  • Patent number: 7073914
    Abstract: 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 element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Leo W Pavao
  • Patent number: 7025920
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite shell member for a vehicular sideview exterior mirror assembly includes providing a decorative film substrate and a polymer resin. A shell is formed the decorative film substrate and the polymer resin to form the shell member. A discontinuity is formed in the polymer resin, with the film substrate conformed to the polymer resin to generally follow the edge definition of the discontinuity to form a surface discontinuity in an outer surface of the shell member having substantially the same edge definition of the discontinuity of the polymer resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Leo W. Pavao, Tun-Jen Chu
  • Patent number: 6916100
    Abstract: 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 element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Leo W. Pavao
  • Publication number: 20040233557
    Abstract: 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 member engages the receiving portion and extends radially inward toward the support member. The receiving portion is slidably movable relative to the bracing member in the longitudinal direction. A retaining clip is positioned at least partially around the support member and engages the bracing member and limits longitudinal movement of the bracing member relative to the support member. The bracing member is rotationally slidable relative to the receiving portion and/or the retaining clip in response to rotational movement of the receiving portion relative to the support member about a pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Leo W. Pavao, Daniel D. Kasbohm, Amit S. Barve
  • Publication number: 20030026012
    Abstract: 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 element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Leo W. Pavao
  • Publication number: 20020125737
    Abstract: A vehicular sideview exterior mirror assembly includes a body, which is adapted for mounting to a vehicle, and a reflective element supported in the body' cavity and positioned in an opening of the body which faces rearward of a vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to a vehicle. The body has a forward facing side, with at least a portion of the forward facing side including decorative film molded therewith. The portion of the forward facing side includes a surface discontinuity formed therein to reduce the wind noise of the sideview exterior mirror assembly when mounted to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Leo W. Pavao, Tun-Jen Chu
  • Patent number: 6419300
    Abstract: A vehicular sideview exterior mirror assembly includes a body, which is adapted for mounting to a vehicle, and a reflective element supported in the body' cavity and positioned in an opening of the body which faces rearward of a vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to a vehicle. The body has a forward facing side, with at least a portion of the forward facing side including decorative film molded therewith. The portion of the forward facing side includes a surface discontinuity formed therein to reduce the wind noise of the sideview exterior mirror assembly when mounted to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Leo W. Pavao, Tun-Jen Chu