Patents by Inventor David L. Thelen

David L. Thelen 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).

  • Prism toggle spring
    Patent number: 10596968
    Abstract: A rearview mirror for a vehicle includes an actuation mechanism coupled within a housing. The actuation mechanism includes a mounting plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof. A spring plate is coupled with the mounting plate and has a first resiliently deformable arm portion extending away from the mounting plate to define a first bend disposed on a first side of the spring plate and a second resiliently deformable arm portion extending away from the mounting plate to define a second bend disposed on a second side of the spring plate. The actuation mechanism further includes a toggle barrel rotatably coupled within the interior cavity of the housing. The first and second arm portions of the spring plate are operably coupled with the toggle barrel along a coupling axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David L. Thelen, Ulrich A. Kuester
  • PRISM TOGGLE SPRING
    Publication number: 20190084480
    Abstract: A rearview mirror for a vehicle includes an actuation mechanism coupled within a housing. The actuation mechanism includes a mounting plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof. A spring plate is coupled with the mounting plate and has a first resiliently deformable arm portion extending away from the mounting plate to define a first bend disposed on a first side of the spring plate and a second resiliently deformable arm portion extending away from the mounting plate to define a second bend disposed on a second side of the spring plate. The actuation mechanism further includes a toggle barrel rotatably coupled within the interior cavity of the housing. The first and second arm portions of the spring plate are operably coupled with the toggle barrel along a coupling axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Thelen, Ulrich A. Kuester