Patents by Inventor Dennis J. Fleming
Dennis J. Fleming 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: 4824160Abstract: A visor control includes a pair of parallel spaced arms, each pivotally coupled at one end to a mounting structure secured to a vehicle headliner and having opposite ends pivotally secured to a sun shield such that the shield can be translated by rotation of the parallel arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position. A spring extends between the mounting structure and one of the movable elements to impart a force to the shield, tending to return the shield to a stored position. Releasable latching means hold the shield in a lowered position and can be operator actuated or automatically actuated with vehicle door opening to allow the spring to return the shield to the stored position permitting ease of exit from the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1983Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Prince CorporationInventor: Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4762359Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 5, 1987Date of Patent: August 9, 1988Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Edward T. Boerema, Michael J. Suman, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4690450Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 2, 1984Date of Patent: September 1, 1987Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Edward T. Boerema, Michael J. Suman, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4670819Abstract: An indirect interior vehicle light preferably located along the top edge of each of the forward vehicle doors which directs low level light downwardly and below the eye level of the vehicle occupants. The system includes an elongated generally L-shaped housing defining a light shield. The housing includes one wall which extends generally downwardly and defines a downwardly facing light transmissive window.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1985Date of Patent: June 2, 1987Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Edward T. Boerema, Carl W. Flowerday, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4500131Abstract: A visor control having an elongated elastically deformable clamp of U-shaped cross-section with sides contacting a cylindrical pivot rod to hold the visor in position. The pivot rod has noncontinuous flats broken by lobes which align with recesses formed in the sides of the clamp. The sides of the clamp engage the edges of the flats as the rod is rotated within the clamp to provide a torque on the pivot rod as the sides abut the edge of the flats to provide snap-up action to move and hold the visor in a stored position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rod includes a plurality of alternately staggered flats and lobes with the lobes positioned to selectively align with recesses in the sides of the clamp.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1982Date of Patent: February 19, 1985Assignee: Prince CorporationInventor: Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4492404Abstract: A visor actuating mechanism includes a bias spring coupled to the visor's moveable control elements tending to urge the visor body into a lowered position and a releasable catch for holding the visor in a stored position against the force provided by the bias spring. In one embodiment of the invention, the releasable catch was an electrically actuated solenoid coupled to a locking arm which, when the solenoid is actuated by an electrical push-button switch, effects release of the latching mechanism to permit the bias spring to urge the visor downwardly from the stored position.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1982Date of Patent: January 8, 1985Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4491899Abstract: A vehicle visor having a mirror and cover includes a body member with one of a socket or pivot axle for receiving, in a snap-in fashion, the cover which includes the other of a socket or axle and pivotally moves with respect to the body member between closed and open positions. A tension spring extends from the body member to the cover at a position remote from the pivot axis of the cover to provide an over-center spring for alternately urging the cover toward open or closed positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the cover is employed in connection with an illuminated mirror in which the cover also has a recess for holding an electrical contact which is press-fit into the recess and includes an extending portion which engages a fixed electrical contact for applying power to lamps associated with the illuminated mirror when the cover is moved toward an open position.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1983Date of Patent: January 1, 1985Assignee: Prince CorporationInventor: Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4491360Abstract: A visor includes a mounting structure secured to the headliner of a vehicle above a window and a pair of parallel spaced arms, each pivotally coupled at one end to the mounting structure secured to the vehicle headliner and having opposite ends pivotally secured to a visor. A cross arm extends between the spaced arms and is pivotally connected at each end to one of the arms at a position not aligned with the pivot connections of the arms to the vehicle or visor. The visor can be translated by rotation of the parallel arms between a raised or stored position above the window downwardly to a lowered use position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a module which can be snap-fitted to the vehicle roof is provided with the visor, and its control mechanism being recessed behind a decorative panel. In one embodiment of the invention, a motor is coupled to one of the pivot points to electrically lower and raise the visor to any selected position.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1982Date of Patent: January 1, 1985Assignee: Prince CorporationInventor: Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4486819Abstract: A panel includes a mirror surrounded on three sides by a generally U-shaped light source for providing illumination of the mirror for use as a vanity mirror under low ambient light conditions. The panel, in one embodiment of the invention is an integral portion of a body of a visor or a panel which is slidably extended from a visor. The U-shaped light and mirror panel can be pivoted when in an extended position such that the light and mirror can be utilized while the visor is in a raised, stored position or in a lowered use position. The panel is, in one embodiment, coupled to an X-shaped bracket with the legs forming the bracket pivotally coupled to one another. One end of each leg is pivotally coupled to one of an anchoring member or the visor panel and the opposite end pivotally and slidably mounted to one of the anchoring member or the visor panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1983Date of Patent: December 4, 1984Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Carl W. Flowerday, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4468062Abstract: Visors embodying the present invention include a mounting structure secured to the headliner of a vehicle above a side window and a pair of parallel spaced arms, each pivotally coupled at one end to the mounting structure secured to the vehicle headliner and having opposite ends pivotally secured to a sun shield such that the shield can be pivoted by rotation of the parallel arms between a raised or stored position above the side window downwardly to a lowered use position.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1982Date of Patent: August 28, 1984Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Dennis J. Fleming
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Patent number: 4390202Abstract: A visor control includes a first member positioned in the body of the visor and engaging one side of a pivot rod also extending within the visor body for moving the visor between stored and use positions. An elastically deformable plate has one end secured to the first member and engages an opposite side of the pivot rod in an elastically deformed position. The rod includes a flat formed in the opposite side for engagement by the deformable plate to provide a torque for returning the visor to a predetermined position and for releasably holding the visor in such position. In one embodiment of the invention, the first member is also an elastically deformable plate which engages flats formed in the one side of the pivot rod.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1981Date of Patent: June 28, 1983Assignee: Prince CorporationInventors: Carl Flowerday, Konrad H. Marcus, Gordon Kempkers, Edward T. Boerema, Dennis J. Fleming