Patents by Inventor Matthew V. Steffes
Matthew V. Steffes 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).
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Patent number: 11001202Abstract: A method of assembling a mirror head for an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes providing a mirror casing, a prismatic reflective element at the mirror casing, and a toggle mechanism. A pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into an upper or lower receiving portion of the mirror casing, and a body portion of the toggle mechanism is separated from a toggle lever of the toggle mechanism via breaking a frangible portion of the toggle mechanism. After breaking the frangible portion of the toggle mechanism, a second pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into the lower or upper receiving portion of the mirror casing, whereby corresponding engaging surfaces of the body portion and the toggle lever engage one another such that, when the toggle lever pivots relative to the lower receiving portion of the mirror casing, the mirror casing pivots relative to the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20210107406Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably mounted at a mounting arm via a link that pivotally attaches at one end to the mirror head and pivotally attaches at another end to the mounting arm. With the mounting arm attached at the side of a vehicle, the mirror head is adjustable relative to the mounting arm between a retracted position and an extended position. An adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm and includes an electrically operated motor that operates to pivotally adjust the link, which swings the mirror head along an arcuate path. When the motor is operated to pivotally adjust the link to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm, an angle of the mirror head relative to the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached is also adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 10875454Abstract: A method for extending and retracting a mirror head of an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing an exterior rearview mirror assembly having (i) a mounting base, (ii) a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element and (iii) an electrically-operated actuator. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at the mounting base via first and second links, with the links having respective base ends that pivotally attach at the mounting base and respective head ends that pivotally attach at the mirror head. The actuator is operated to pivot the first link to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base from a retracted position toward an extended position. As the mirror head moves toward the extended position, the first and second links pivot at their respective base ends relative to the mounting base and at their respective head ends relative to the mirror head.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20200377019Abstract: A method of assembling a mirror head for an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes providing a mirror casing, a prismatic reflective element at the mirror casing, and a toggle mechanism. A pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into an upper or lower receiving portion of the mirror casing, and a body portion of the toggle mechanism is separated from a toggle lever of the toggle mechanism via breaking a frangible portion of the toggle mechanism. After breaking the frangible portion of the toggle mechanism, a second pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into the lower or upper receiving portion of the mirror casing, whereby corresponding engaging surfaces of the body portion and the toggle lever engage one another such that, when the toggle lever pivots relative to the lower receiving portion of the mirror casing, the mirror casing pivots relative to the body portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20200361381Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, a support structure configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, with the mirror head adjustably mounted at the support structure. The support structure extends laterally from the side of the vehicle. An adjustment mechanism is disposed at the end of the support structure. The adjustment mechanism is movably received at the mirror head and includes a rotatably driven gear that engages a toothed track of a mirror head bracket. Rotation of the gear causes translational movement of the mirror head bracket and the mirror head relative to the support structure to adjust the mirror head position relative to the support structure between a retracted position and an extended position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 10744944Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror support element having at least one attachment surface at which the mirror reflective element is adhesively attached, and a mounting assembly having a mirror mount and a mounting arm that is pivotally attached at the mirror support element. The mirror mount includes a plastic structure with a metallic clip attached thereat. The metallic clip is configured to slide onto a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at a vehicle windshield. The metallic clip includes a stop tab at one end to limit sliding movement of the metallic clip onto the mirror mounting button and anti-backout tabs at another end to limit movement of the metallic clip at the mirror mounting button in the opposite direction, so as to retain the metallic clip and the mirror mount at the mirror mounting button without use of a fastener.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20200238913Abstract: A method of assembling a mirror head for a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror casing, a mirror reflective element at the mirror casing, and a toggle mechanism, which includes a body portion and a toggle lever joined to the body portion. A lower pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into a lower receiving portion of the mirror casing and an upper pivot mount of the toggle mechanism is inserted into an upper receiving portion of the mirror casing. An outer surface of the body portion corresponds with adjacent outer surfaces of the mirror casing, and, when the toggle lever pivots relative to the lower receiving portion of the mirror casing, the mirror casing pivots relative to the body portion to flip the mirror head between a first orientation and a second orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Matthew V. Steffes, Peter Krebs
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Publication number: 20200156545Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator. The turn signal indicator, with the mounting base of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, and responsive to actuation by a driver of the vehicle of a turn signal of the vehicle, projects a turn signal icon onto the ground proximate the side of the vehicle. The turn signal indicator may be disposed at a lower region of the mirror casing and may intermittently project a direction-indicating icon or shape onto the ground, with the direction-indicating shape indicating a direction away from the side of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
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Patent number: 10543784Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a light module disposed at a mirror casing. A blind zone indicator light emitting diode and a turn signal indicator light emitting diode are disposed at a single circuit board and are operable to emit light for a blind zone indicator and a turn signal indicator, respectively. The blind zone indicator and the turn signal indicator are disposed along a forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing, where the turn signal indicator is viewable and the blind zone indicator is not viewable along the forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing. When the blind zone indicator light emitting diode is operated and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the vehicle, the blind zone alert is viewable by the driver of the vehicle outboard of the mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
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Publication number: 20190193637Abstract: A method for extending and retracting a mirror head of an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing an exterior rearview mirror assembly having (i) a mounting base, (ii) a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element and (iii) an electrically-operated actuator. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at the mounting base via first and second links, with the links having respective base ends that pivotally attach at the mounting base and respective head ends that pivotally attach at the mirror head. The actuator is operated to pivot the first link to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base from a retracted position toward an extended position. As the mirror head moves toward the extended position, the first and second links pivot at their respective base ends relative to the mounting base and at their respective head ends relative to the mirror head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., a corporation of the State of MichiganInventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20190118713Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror support element having at least one attachment surface at which the mirror reflective element is adhesively attached, and a mounting assembly having a mirror mount and a mounting arm that is pivotally attached at the mirror support element. The mirror mount includes a plastic structure with a metallic clip attached thereat. The metallic clip is configured to slide onto a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at a vehicle windshield. The metallic clip includes a stop tab at one end to limit sliding movement of the metallic clip onto the mirror mounting button and anti-backout tabs at another end to limit movement of the metallic clip at the mirror mounting button in the opposite direction, so as to retain the metallic clip and the mirror mount at the mirror mounting button without use of a fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 10220787Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head adjustably mounted at a mounting arm and adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The mirror reflective element is oriented to provide a driver of the vehicle a field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle with the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle when the mirror head is in the retracted position and when the mirror head is in the extended position. The mirror head is connected to the mounting arm via pivotable first and second links that cooperatively pivot relative to the mounting arm and the mirror head to move the mirror head between the retracted and extended positions. An actuator is disposed at an end of the first link and operates to pivot the first link to move the mirror head between the retracted position and the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20180043830Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head adjustably mounted at a mounting arm and adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The mirror reflective element is oriented to provide a driver of the vehicle a field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle with the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle when the mirror head is in the retracted position and when the mirror head is in the extended position. The mirror head is connected to the mounting arm via pivotable first and second links that cooperatively pivot relative to the mounting arm and the mirror head to move the mirror head between the retracted and extended positions. An actuator is disposed at an end of the first link and operates to pivot the first link to move the mirror head between the retracted position and the extended position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 9796334Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. A mounting arm is configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle, with the mirror head adjustably mounted at the mounting arm. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the mirror head position relative to the mounting arm between a retracted position and an extended position. The adjustment mechanism, when adjusting the mirror head position, also adjusts a mirror head angle relative to the side of the vehicle. When the mirror head is in the retracted position, a mirror head surface is at a first plane, while, when the mirror head is in the extended position, the mirror head surface is at a second plane. The mirror head surface is angled more towards the side of the vehicle when in the second plane than when in the first plane.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20170050568Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a light module disposed at a mirror casing. A blind zone indicator light emitting diode and a turn signal indicator light emitting diode are disposed at a single circuit board and are operable to emit light for a blind zone indicator and a turn signal indicator, respectively. The blind zone indicator and the turn signal indicator are disposed along a forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing, where the turn signal indicator is viewable and the blind zone indicator is not viewable along the forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing. When the blind zone indicator light emitting diode is operated and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the vehicle, the blind zone alert is viewable by the driver of the vehicle outboard of the mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
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Patent number: 9487142Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at the mirror casing. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position. The mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position. Responsive to the mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of a user input, the powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
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Publication number: 20150360615Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. A mounting arm is configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle, with the mirror head adjustably mounted at the mounting arm. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the mirror head position relative to the mounting arm between a retracted position and an extended position. The adjustment mechanism, when adjusting the mirror head position, also adjusts a mirror head angle relative to the side of the vehicle. When the mirror head is in the retracted position, a mirror head surface is at a first plane, while, when the mirror head is in the extended position, the mirror head surface is at a second plane. The mirror head surface is angled more towards the side of the vehicle when in the second plane than when in the first plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Publication number: 20140376119Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at the mirror casing. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position. The mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position. Responsive to the mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of a user input, the powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel