Patents by Inventor Jerry M. Kulas

Jerry M. Kulas 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).

  • Patent number: 8246183
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a prismatic reflective element with an attachment plate attached thereto, and a display-on-demand display disposed behind the prismatic reflective element and operable to display information for viewing through a transflective mirror reflector of the prismatic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a toggle portion and an actuator, with the toggle portion pivotally mounting to a first mounting member and the actuator pivotally mounting to a second mounting member of the attachment plate. An electronic circuitry element is attached to the attachment plate and an accessory pod is attached to the mounting assembly and includes circuitry therein. The circuitry of the accessory pod is electrically connected to the electronic circuitry element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Publication number: 20110242667
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a prismatic reflective element with an attachment plate attached thereto, and a display-on-demand display disposed behind the prismatic reflective element and operable to display information for viewing through a transflective mirror reflector of the prismatic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a toggle portion and an actuator, with the toggle portion pivotally mounting to a first mounting member and the actuator pivotally mounting to a second mounting member of the attachment plate. An electronic circuitry element is attached to the attachment plate and an accessory pod is attached to the mounting assembly and includes circuitry therein. The circuitry of the accessory pod is electrically connected to the electronic circuitry element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Publication number: 20090310238
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and an attachment plate attached thereto. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a toggle portion and a cam actuator, with the toggle portion pivotally mounting to a first mounting element and the cam actuator pivotally mounting to a second mounting element of the attachment plate. The toggle portion engages the cam actuator such that pivotal movement of the cam actuator imparts a pivotal movement of the toggle portion. The attachment plate may include at least one mounting element protruding through a circuit element supported at the attachment plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Patent number: 7568810
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and at least one attachment plate attached thereto. The attachment plate has first and second mounting members protruding therefrom. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a toggle portion and a cam actuator, with the toggle portion pivotally mounting to the first mounting member and the cam actuator pivotally mounting to the second mounting member. The toggle portion engages the cam actuator such that pivotal movement of the cam actuator relative to the second mounting member imparts a pivotal movement of the toggle portion relative to the first mounting member. The attachment plate may include at least one mounting member protruding through a circuit board for engaging a mounting assembly that mounts the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Patent number: 7249860
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and a casing. An attachment plate is secured to the reflective element and an electronic circuitry element, such as a printed circuit board, is attached to the attachment plate. The attachment plate includes at least one mounting member protruding through the circuit board for engaging a mounting assembly that mounts the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle and directly supports the attachment plate, along with the printed circuit board and the reflective element at an end of the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may comprise a toggle assembly for a prismatic reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Patent number: 6030146
    Abstract: A tank buoyancy compensator for an underwater breathing tank comprises a ballast boot having a tubular portion to receive the end of the tank remote from the diver's head. The ballast boot includes an end portion that includes weight retention pin for releasably retaining one or more annular ballast weights on the end portion. A connector is attached to the retention pin and is operable by the diver at convenient location on the ballast boot for releasing the retention pin to jettison the weight(s) from the boot, for example, when the diver experiences an emergency situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventors: Wayne L. Nicolen, Jerry M. Kulas, Dale E. Walriven