Patents Assigned to Prince Corporation
  • Illuminated vanity mirror visor
    Patent number: 4792884
    Abstract: An illuminated vanity mirror visor includes a light-transmitting housing which allows the utilization of a single light source such as a bulb which can be located behind the mirror to transmit light to opposite sides of the mirror through integral lenses for directing the light outwardly for use of the mirror in low ambient light conditions. The light-transmitting housing includes opposed spaced and curved light collecting surfaces at legs which extend towards opposite ends of the housing and terminate in integrally molded lens. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the light source mounted between the facing spaced surfaces of the light-transmitting housing is rotatably mounted and includes multi-colored surfaces such that the color temperature of the light can be varied to provide different lighting effects for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Wesley D. Mersman
  • Container holder for a vehicle
    Patent number: 4792184
    Abstract: A container holder for a vehicle is stored in an armrest and can be moved to a use position exposing a container supporting element. The container supporting element includes an aperture with adjustable dimensions for holding different sized containers. The aperture may include inwardly projecting resilient or pivoted sectors. In one embodiment the aperture is defined by spaced vertically extending rods which pivot toward and away from each other to provide support for different sized containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lindberg, Ronald A. Dykstra, Danny B. Larsen
  • Visor
    Patent number: 4783111
    Abstract: A pair of visor mounting brackets include spring clips which cooperate with the pivot axles of a visor to selectively urge the visor toward a raised stored position and hold it in such position. The visor in a preferred embodiment includes a pair of panels with a first panel mounted to the brackets to be spring-actuated to a raised stored position and a second panel slidably mounted to the first panel by interlocking arms which permit the second panel to be extended from either side of the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hemmeke, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Console mounting system
    Patent number: 4783110
    Abstract: A universal mounting bracket for mounting vehicle accessories to a vehicle includes a U-shaped body having a downwardly extending tang projecting centrally from the base. The sides of the body include lateral, outwardly projecting flanges which extend in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle when installed. A console is mounted to a vehicle using a pair of such universal mounting brackets. The console includes an upwardly extending first lip which rests upon the tang of one of a pair of spaced mounting brackets. A pair of inwardly projecting lips, spaced from the first lip, snap-fit over the lateral flanges which are sufficiently resilient to accommodate the snap-fitting of the console thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Jack A. Beukema, Robert L. Domke
  • Container holder for a vehicle
    Patent number: 4783037
    Abstract: A container holder includes a vehicle armrest having a generally horizontally extending recess opening at the front for receiving a slide member defining a support floor for containers. Pivotally mounted to the slide member are a pair of arms which define sidewalls for selectively supporting sides of a container positioned on the slide floor. The slide member is slidably supported within the recess of the vehicle support member for movement between a fully retracted and concealed stored position and selected extended positions permitted the arms, which are biased to move away from each other, to span different diameter containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Carl W. Flowerday
  • Adjustable headrest
    Patent number: 4778218
    Abstract: A headrest assembly includes a support plate attached to a seat and to which a head engaging padded member is movably attached. A pivot coupling extends between the plate and headrest for controlling the movement of the padded headrest toward and away from the support plate. In order to move the headrest, a fluid cylinder such as a pneumatic bellows is interposed between the support plate and the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Suman
  • Visor
    Patent number: 4763946
    Abstract: A visor includes a molded polymeric core having a plurality of channels on at least one side defined by a pair of spaced upstanding walls with one of the walls having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein for receiving tabs projecting outwardly from aligned upstanding walls formed in the corresponding mating visor half. The tabs extend into the corresponding slots and the backing wall prevents their removal. Visors embodying another aspect of the present invention integrally include a plurality of outwardly projecting pins and corresponding mating recesses formed continuously around the periphery on opposite visor core halves for compressing the edges of the upholstery material and clamping them in a secure position as the visor halves are brought together during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Robbins, Michael L. Lanser, Kim L. Van Order, Joseph H. Weber
  • Visor system
    Patent number: 4762359
    Abstract: A visor system includes a pair of spaced mounting brackets to support a first visor movable between a raised stored position and a lowered use position and one which can be moved to a side window for providing protection against incident light from the side. The brackets also support an auxiliary visor which is pivoted on an axis located above the vehicle's windshield between a raised, stored position and a lowered, use position and is movable laterally along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Edward T. Boerema, Michael J. Suman, Dennis J. Fleming
  • Visor for a vehicle
    Patent number: 4760503
    Abstract: A visor assembly including a pivoted cover for a vanity mirror which includes camming surfaces on the pivot socket for urging the cover between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the visor is selectively illuminated by the operation of a cover controlled switch. In another embodiment, the mirror and cover assembly is snap fitted within the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. VandenBerge, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Beverage container holder for vehicles
    Patent number: 4759584
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a housing having a recess for receiving a container holder member for storage. The container holder member includes foldable members which unfold to define the holder member when the holder member is extended from the housing for use. In another embodiment, the beverage container holder includes a support having a well formed therein with a vertically movable platform located in the well. A control structure is provided which extends between the support and the platform for controlling the motion of the platform as a container is placed therein to provide a vertically adjustable support floor for the container placed in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl W. Flowerday
  • Beverage container holder for vehicles
    Patent number: 4756572
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a housing having a recess for receiving a container holder member for storage. The container holder member includes foldable members which unfold to define the holder member when the holder member is extended from the housing for use. In another embodiment, the beverage container holder includes a support having a well formed therein with a vertically movable platform located in the well. A control structure is provided which extends between the support and the platform for controlling the motion of the platform as a container is placed therein to provide a vertically adjustable support floor for the container placed in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl W. Flowerday
  • Light control circuit
    Patent number: 4739224
    Abstract: A light control circuit includes a latching circuit actuated by a manually actuated switch to, in turn, activate a solid-state switch coupled to supply power to one or more lamps. The latching circuit is reset by a diode coupled to the door actuated switches such that in the event the interior lamp or lamps are manually operated and a door subsequently opened, the lamps will be extinguished upon the closing of the door regardless of the prior manual activation of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Geerlings
  • Overhead console of a vehicle
    Patent number: 4738481
    Abstract: The sun screen and console of the present invention provides a panel which is slideably mounted to the vehicle and movable fore and aft within the vehicle in a generally horizontal plane between a retracted position and a forwardly extended position which provides cover above the passenger's and/or driver's seat. To the forward edge of the sliding panel, there is pivotally mounted a visor which is movable between a raised stored position and a lowered use position. The invention also contemplates a console comprising a cantilever beam mount which, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a pair of parallel spaced beams which are mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the rear roof area of the vehicle and which extend forwardly under a transparent forward roof. In a preferred embodiment, the beams provide guide slots for the pair of sliding sun screen panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Sheldon J. Watjer, Ronald A. Dykstra
  • Beverage container holder and vehicles
    Patent number: 4733908
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a housing having a recess for receiving a container holder member for storage. The container holder member includes foldable members which unfold to define the holder member when the holder member is extended from the housing for use. In another embodiment, the beverage container holder includes a support having a well formed therein with a vertically movable platform located in the well. A control structure is provided which extends between the support and the platform for controlling the motion of the platform as a container is placed therein to provide a vertically adjustable support floor for the container placed in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl W. Flowerday
  • Engine cover console
    Patent number: 4733900
    Abstract: A console housing is adapted to cooperate with and be secured to an existing engine cover and includes a bifold table which can be extended from the housing to a use position or retracted within a recess in the housing for storage. The table of the preferred embodiment includes a pair of panels pivotally joined to one another with one of the panels defining a cover and having one edge pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the housing and the remaining panel defining the table and having an end which is latchably and releasably supported by an upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Fluharty
  • Visor with concealed removable vanity mirror
    Patent number: 4734831
    Abstract: A visor for a vehicle includes a vanity mirror assembly which is movable from a stored position within a compartment formed in the visor body to a first use position attached to but extended from the visor body. The vanity mirror assembly can also be detached from the visor for remote use. In the preferred embodiment, the mirror is illuminated by one or more lamps powered by a self-contained rechargeable power source in the vanity mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Keyser, Russell L. Clark
  • Visor rod mount
    Patent number: 4729590
    Abstract: A preassembled visor rod mount includes a bezel and a clamping ring rotatably movable with respect to the bezel to lock the mount in position once fitted within a socket formed in the roof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spaced tangs on the rotatable clamping ring include upwardly bent ends to cam the deflectable tangs over the roof edges. A pair of arcuate slots are provided through the bezel and a spanner wrench can be employed to extend through the bezel and engage apertures formed in the clamping ring for its rotation with respect to the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Edward R. Adams
  • Means for squaring tie bars for die casting machines
    Patent number: 4716952
    Abstract: A system and machine for squaring tie bars for die casting machines in which a detector means is provided for each of the tie bar nuts for separately and individually detecting the relative positions of the tie bar nuts of each of the tie rods whereby when the machine is originally squared by adjusting the adjustable means, the original squared positions of the nuts are detected and after operation of the machine it can be resquarded by adjusting said adjustable means to adjust said tie bar nuts back to their original squared positions. This adjustment is automatically accomplished through a logic circuit which controls the adjustment of the tie bar nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Hegel, William V. Appledorn
  • Visor system
    Patent number: 4690450
    Abstract: A visor system includes a pair of spaced mounting brackets to support a first visor movable between a raised stored position and a lowered use position and one which can be moved to a side window for providing protection against incident light from the side. The brackets also support an auxiliary visor which is pivoted on an axis located above the vehicle's windshield between a raised, stored position and a lowered, use position and is movable laterally along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Edward T. Boerema, Michael J. Suman, Dennis J. Fleming
  • Overhead console
    Patent number: D297826
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Cody