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).

  • Patent number: 11001202
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20210107406
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 10875454
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20200377019
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20200361381
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 10744944
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20200238913
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew V. Steffes, Peter Krebs
  • Publication number: 20200156545
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 10543784
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20190193637
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., a corporation of the State of Michigan
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20190118713
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 10220787
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20180043830
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 9796334
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20170050568
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9487142
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20150360615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20140376119
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel