Patents Represented by Attorney Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP

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  • Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light
    Patent number: 7377675
    Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light or security light that provides illumination at a side of the vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element, and may include a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and may be adapted to project light from a non-folding portion or support member of the mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W Pastrick, Michiel P van de Ven, Peter J Whitehead, Rick Mousseau, Niall R Lynam
  • Support frame of a hoisting machine
    Patent number: 7377486
    Abstract: A hoisting machine, such as a cable block, includes a support frame having at least two face plates, which are detachably joined together and spaced apart by at least two longitudinal members. The support frame includes a simple structural design, in which the longitudinal members are detachably joined to the face plates such that the ends of the longitudinal members are pressed against a bearing surface of the face plates in the direction of their lengthwise axis, transversely to the longitudinal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Jürgen Winter, Jürgen Backsmann
  • Cable guide of a cable winch
    Patent number: 7374126
    Abstract: A cable guide of a cable winch, such as a cable hoisting winch, includes a cable drum having at least one cable groove and a cable guide having at least two base segments expanding into a ring. The two base segments are guided in the cable groove by at least one engaging element and are supported against the cable winch by at least one torque support. Elements for guiding and holding down a cable are arranged on the base segments. To create a simplified and optionally modular design of a cable guide, the base segments may be configured such that at least one torque support and at least one add-on element for guiding and holding down a cable can be secured in a desired arrangement on the base segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kohlenberg, Josef P. Saeftel
  • Interior mirror assembly with display
    Patent number: 7370983
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a display screen that is extendable and retractable relative to a casing. The display screen is movably mounted at the casing and movable or slidable in a direction generally parallel to a length axis of the reflective element between a non-use position, where the video display screen is positioned substantially within the casing, and a use position, where the video display screen is substantially extended from a side of the casing for viewing. The display screen may be automatically extended in response to an activating event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl P. DeWind, Mark E. Kramer, Andrew D. Weller, Peter J. Whitehead, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
  • Skewed slat control system for article conveyor
    Patent number: 7370751
    Abstract: A skew detection and correction system, and method of correcting skew, in a conveyor system having an endless web that is propelled in a longitudinal direction, includes providing a skew detector and determining if at least some of the cross members of the web are non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and providing a differential lubricant application. The lubricant applicator is responsive to the skew detector and applies a relatively greater amount of lubricant to one lateral side of the web than to the other side of the web. This causes the side of the web receiving less lubricant to stretch more than the other side to reduce the difference in the amount of stretch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Robert W. Gallatin, Bradley D. Baldwin
  • Glass etching
    Patent number: 7371153
    Abstract: An apparatus for etching a workpiece in which a first abrasive particulate material, for example aluminium oxide, and a second particulate material, for example glass dust, are entrained together in a stream of gas. The apparatus recycles exhaust particulate material by introducing it into said gas stream, the exhaust particulate material including particulate material removed from the workpiece by the action of the gas stream with entrained particulate material. The apparatus is particularly suited for etching toughened glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Inventor: Basil Haslett
  • Lighted cabinet assembly
    Patent number: 7367685
    Abstract: A lighted cabinet assembly includes a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls. The sidewalls define an interior space therebetween and at least one shelf is supported between the sidewalls. The cabinet assembly further includes a base for supporting the cabinet assembly on a support surface. The base has an upper surface and a lower surface for facing the support surface. The sidewalls extend from the upper surface and are mounted to the base. In addition, each sidewall includes an elongate recess, which extends from the base up at least a portion of the sidewalls. At least one light strip is positioned in each of the recesses for illuminating at least a portion of the interior space of the cabinet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Nexlite
    Inventor: Gregory R Moll
  • Airless accumulation conveyor
    Patent number: 7364035
    Abstract: An accumulation conveyor and method, according to the invention, includes providing a plurality of tandem accumulation zones, each of the zones including a conveying surface and at least one drive roller selectively driving the conveying surface. A drive member below the conveying surface extends a length of the plurality of tandem accumulation zones. Each of the zones includes a clutch roller rotated by the drive member and an electromagnetic clutch. The clutch selectively transfers rotation of the clutch roller to the drive roller to drive the conveying surface. The clutch may be made up of a pair of concentric cylinders aligned in a vertical plane and a force transmission member between the concentric cylinders with the force transmission member transmitting force between the concentric cylinders when the clutch is electrically actuated. The clutch may be a wrapped-spring clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Harry T German, David H Cotter, Wynn M Pelak, Dennis J Schuitema
  • Handheld multi-tool
    Patent number: 7360267
    Abstract: A multi-tool includes a handle having a blade that is rotatable between open and closed positions by at least one blade rotation member mounted on the side of the handle and includes an internal socket located in the handle opposite the blade end, where the socket is adapted to removably receive various tool implements. The tool implements are held in locked engagement with the handle by a cantilevered tool lock located on the handle. The blade includes two locking recesses adapted to receive a locking member mounted to a cantilevered blade lock that extends longitudinally along the handle such that the blade is securely locked in either an open or closed position. The blade rotation members rotate a cam that disengages the blade lock from the blade and imparts rotational motion to the blade by way of a drive pin located on the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Philip J Quenzi
  • Mirror assembly for vehicle
    Patent number: 7360932
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective element having a front surface that is viewable by and directed generally toward a driver of a vehicle when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle. An overlay element applied to the front surface of the reflective element includes at least one user input for controlling at least one accessory or display of the mirror assembly or vehicle. An electrical connector connects the overlay element to circuitry at or within or associated with the mirror assembly. The overlay element may be applied to the reflective element at a desired location on the surface of the reflective element to provide a user input and/or a display at the front of the reflective element where it is readily viewable and accessible by a driver or occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Niall R. Lynam
  • Modular rearview mirror assembly
    Patent number: 7362237
    Abstract: A vehicle rearview mirror assembly including a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle. The electronic component unit may be mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror may be mounted on the other face of said carrier plate, with the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate. The electronic component unit may be adapted to receive information via the RF antenna and may display such information on a visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Lawlor, Coady Garrett
  • Window assembly suitable for use in a vehicle
    Patent number: 7360338
    Abstract: A window assembly suitable for use in an articulated side window of a vehicle comprises a glass panel and one or more hinge mounting members adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the glass panel such that there is no exposure on the outer surface of the glass panel. Each mounting member comprises a generally U-shaped portion comprising a mounting flange and a tab portion, with an arcuate leg portion interconnecting the mounting flange and the tab portion, and with the tab portion spaced from and overlying generally parallel to the mounting flange. A latch mounting member is adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel such that there is no exposure on the outer surface, and preferably comprises a disk-shaped flange with a stud configured for fitting with a latching mechanism which is used to move the glass panel between window open and window closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: R. Scott Repp, Pamela M Stallman
  • Automotive lane change aid
    Patent number: 7355524
    Abstract: A vehicle lane change aid system includes a detector that is operative to detect the presence of an other vehicle adjacent the vehicle, an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of the vehicle may affect the other vehicle and a control receiving movement information of the vehicle. The control develops a position history of the vehicle at least as a function of the movement information. The control compares the detected presence of the other vehicle with the position history and provides an indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Schofield
  • Lifting device for containers
    Patent number: 7350840
    Abstract: A lifting device for containers comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder arranged on a support frame with a piston and piston rod and at least two, spaced-apart horizontal guiding cross-bars. Lengthwise displacement of the piston rod is transformed into a synchronous upward and downward movement by at least one angle lever pivoted on the support frame. The at least one angle lever comprises two lever arms, one of the lever arms being connected to the piston rod and the other of the lever arms being connected to one of the guiding cross-bars. The guiding cross-bars are connected to a load receiving device for the container and are guided on vertical support pillars of the support frame at both ends for lifting and lowering the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Gottwald Port Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Franzen, Joachim Kröll
  • Method and apparatus for testing vehicle fuel system integrity
    Patent number: 7347082
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring leakage of a vehicle fuel system includes providing an apparatus having a gas source, a pressure meter and a reference orifice and connecting the apparatus to the fuel system. The fuel system is pressurized with the source. A first set of pressure measurements is obtained using the pressure meter with gas escaping the fuel system through leakage of the fuel system. A second set of pressure measurements is obtained with gas escaping the fuel system through leakage of the fuel system and through the reference orifice. An effect of fuel vapor pressure created by fuel in the vehicle fuel system may be measured. A leakage parameter of the fuel system may be calculated from the first and second sets of pressure measurements including compensating for the effect of fuel vapor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: SysTech International, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce R Kohn
  • Vehicular vision system
    Patent number: 7344261
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system comprises a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a predefined arrangement. The photosensor array has a field of view forward of the vehicle that is generally in line with the vehicle's primary direction of forward travel. The photosensor array captures an image of at least one item of interest exterior the vehicle within its forward field of view. A control is responsive to an output of the photosensor array. Preferably, the control analyzes particular groupings of photosensor elements of the photosensor array while ignoring other particular groupings of photosensor elements of the photosensor array so as to determine at least one of presence, size, shape, contour and motion of the at least one item of interest exterior the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Mark L Larson
  • Apparatus and method for mounting an electrical connector to a glass sheet of a vehicle window
    Patent number: 7344059
    Abstract: An electrical connector is soldered or affixed to a conductive element of a glass sheet of a vehicular window via radiation heating of a layer of solder with an infrared radiative heating device. The heating device may include an infrared lamp and a reflector, which functions to direct the radiant energy from the lamp to a target region generally corresponding with the location of the solder layer between the electrical connector and the conductive element. The heating device is operable to rapidly and substantially heat the solder layer to a desired temperature to melt the solder layer, while substantially limiting directing of heat to the glass sheet. The electrical connector may be affixed at a vehicular or modular window assembly plant, such that the glass sheet may be transported from a glass manufacturing plant to the vehicular or modular window assembly plant without the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: William A Johnson
  • Bolt seat
    Patent number: D568716
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Brammall, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Littrell, Wanda K. Beard, David L. Gilbert
  • Bench
    Patent number: D569122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Leader Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A Flaherty
  • Lighted bollard
    Patent number: D570515
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Leader Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Flaherty, Matthew A. Gray, Michael P. Coffey