Patents by Inventor David L. Hiemstra
David L. Hiemstra 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: 9812042Abstract: A lighted assembly includes a perforated member having a plurality of relatively small openings therethrough. The openings are arranged to provide areas forming letters, designs, or the like. A light source may be positioned adjacent the perforated member whereby light from the light source travels through the openings to form illuminated letters, designs or the like. The perforations may be filled with a light-transmitting polymer material. The light source may comprise an LED and a light guide that distributes light along a lower side of the perforated member. The light source may be positioned in a waterproof housing that is sealed to the perforated member.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignees: Innotec Corp., Vestatec (U.K.) LimitedInventors: Jason R. Mulder, David L. Hiemstra, Antony John Skirrow
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Publication number: 20140119038Abstract: A lighted assembly includes a perforated member having a plurality of relatively small openings therethrough. The openings are arranged to provide areas forming letters, designs, or the like. A light source may be positioned adjacent the perforated member whereby light from the light source travels through the openings to form illuminated letters, designs or the like. The perforations may be filled with a light-transmitting polymer material. The light source may comprise an LED and a light guide that distributes light along a lower side of the perforated member. The light source may be positioned in a waterproof housing that is sealed to the perforated member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Inventors: Jason R. Mulder, David L. Hiemstra, Anthony John Skirrow
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Patent number: 7815339Abstract: A light module includes one or more LEDs that are encapsulated in a thermoplastic polymer material. Metal conductors and electrical components providing a power supply circuit for the LED are also encapsulated in the thermoplastic polymer material. The conductive material may include a pair of relatively rigid portions that project outwardly from the thermoplastic polymer material to provide for electrical connection of the light module. The body may include connecting surface portions that permit the light module to be connected to a conventional electrical receptacle or the like, such that the light module can be mechanically and electrically connected to a socket or other connector previously utilized for incandescent bulbs.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Innotec CorporationInventors: Thomas J. Veenstra, David L. Hiemstra, Scott C. Heupel
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Publication number: 20090175044Abstract: A light module includes one or more LEDs that are encapsulated in a thermoplastic polymer material. Metal conductors and electrical components providing a power supply circuit for the LED are also encapsulated in the thermoplastic polymer material. The conductive material may include a pair of relatively rigid portions that project outwardly from the thermoplastic polymer material to provide for electrical connection of the light module. The body may include connecting surface portions that permit the light module to be connected to a conventional electrical receptacle or the like, such that the light module can be mechanically and electrically connected to a socket or other connector previously utilized for incandescent bulbs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Thomas J. Veenstra, David L. Hiemstra, Scott C. Heupel
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Patent number: 7556759Abstract: A method for making visor cores is disclosed. The method includes sequentially molding visor cores, and interconnecting the visor cores as they are molded to form a chain of visor cores. The visor cores remain oriented relative to one another, and the visor cores can be sequentially positioned in a cooling fixture and a flexing fixture. The chain of visors can be wound on a spool or the like for transport.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Inventors: David L. Hiemstra, Michael L. Lanser, Steven J. Gager
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Patent number: 7528335Abstract: A light assembly for interiors of motor vehicles and the like includes a three-way sliding switch having a switch member that is movable to at least three positions corresponding to operating states of the switch. The switch includes an electrically conductive movable contact member that selectively engages conductive members to provide the different electrical states of the switch. The movable contact member also engages a detent structure and forms a three-position detent tending to retain the switch member in the selected position. Thus, the electrically conductive material of the movable contact member provides an electrical function and a mechanical detent function to thereby reduce the complexity and associated cost of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Innotec CorporationInventors: Michael L. Lanser, David J. Hooker, Paul T. Vander Kuyl, David L. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 7416239Abstract: A visor for vehicles includes a shell made of a material such as paper, vinyl, or the like. The visor includes first and second halves joined by a hinge. The first and second halves are folded about the hinge and bonded together to define a cavity. A rigid foam core fills at least a substantial portion of the cavity, and the foam core is bonded to the shell to provide support. The visor includes a structural mounting member extending from the shell for mounting the visor to the roof of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Innotec CorporationInventors: Michael L. Lanser, Steven T. Dyk, David L. Hiemstra
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Publication number: 20080067049Abstract: A light assembly for interiors of motor vehicles and the like includes a three-way sliding switch having a switch member that is movable to at least three positions corresponding to operating states of the switch. The switch includes an electrically conductive movable contact member that selectively engages conductive members to provide the different electrical states of the switch. The movable contact member also engages a detent structure and forms a three-position detent tending to retain the switch member in the selected position. Thus, the electrically conductive material of the movable contact member provides an electrical function and a mechanical detent function to thereby reduce the complexity and associated cost of the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2006Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: Michael L. Lanser, David J. Hooker, Paul T. Vander Kuyl, David L. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 7325854Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting a visor to a vehicle includes a bracket assembly that does not require use of threaded fasteners or the like. The bracket assembly includes a housing, a bracket member, and a foot member. The foot member includes tapered extensions that engage an upper side of the roof panel to retain the bracket assembly to the roof panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Innotec CorporationInventors: Michael L. Lanser, David L. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 7281751Abstract: A visor (20) has a visor core (30,140) with a channel (36,100) for receiving a polymeric slide (54,130) fixedly coupled to a visor pivot rod (22) via a detent spring (56,120) to allow the visor to be adjustably moved along and rotated around the pivot rod.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: L. Robert Hamelink, Thomas S. Hodgson, Kirk J. Olep, Brent D. Rockafellow, Steven M. Spoerre, Robert J. Stenman, Mathias R. Fox, Kenneth D. Kreuze, Jonathan B. Lubbers, David L. Hiemstra, Jason R. Mulder
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Patent number: 6910725Abstract: A visor for vehicles includes an elbow member having an elongated portion, and a body member having an elongated slot defining a sidewall. The elongated slot extends generally parallel to the elongated portion of the elbow member. The body member is pivotably mounted to the elbow member for rotation about the elongated portion. A torque control member rotatably engages the elbow member, and has at least one finger received in the elongated slot. The finger is resiliently biased into engagement with the sidewall of the elongated slot, and frictionally engages the sidewall to provide controlled sliding movement of the body member relative to the elbow member.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Innotec CorporationInventors: Michael L. Lanser, Jonathan B. Lubbers, David L. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 5560704Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a flexible circuit which extends between a movable cover and a vanity mirror frame and provides circuit capabilities for mounting lamps on either the cover or vanity mirror frame. Other circuit elements such as control switches, dimming controls, and the like can be mounted on the opposite side of the vanity mirror package so that a relatively thin visor with spaced-apart circuit elements can be provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a flexible insulative substrate which comprise first and second circuit panels integrally interconnected by a bridge. Conductive elements are screen printed on the first and second circuit panels and on the bridge which extends across the pivot connection of the cover to the mirror frame while coupling the first and second circuit panels.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: David L. Hiemstra, Paul T. Vander Kuyl
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Patent number: 5431473Abstract: A vehicle visor includes a vanity mirror mounted on the side facing the interior of the vehicle when the visor is in the lowered front windshield use position. A sliding panel selectively defines a cover for the mirror and visor extender. A guide member is mounted to the visor to one side of the mirror to be concealed by the cover which includes guide tracks which slidably couple the cover to the guide member.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1994Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: Prince CorporationInventor: David L. Hiemstra
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Patent number: 5428513Abstract: A vanity (mirror assembly includes a flexible circuit which extends between a movable cover and a vanity mirror frame and provides circuit capabilities for mounting lamps on either the cover or vanity mirror frame. Other circuit elements such as control switches, dimming controls, and the like can be mounted on the opposite side of the vanity mirror package so that a relatively thin visor with spaced-apart circuit elements can be provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a flexible insulative substrate which comprise first and second circuit panels integrally interconnected by a bridge. Conductive elements are screen printed on the first and second circuit panels and on the bridge which extends across the pivot connection of the cover to the mirror frame while coupling the first and second circuit panels.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: David L. Hiemstra, Paul T. Vander Kuyl