Patents by Inventor Kenneth Gira

Kenneth Gira 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: 11358527
    Abstract: A power telescoping external vehicle rearview assembly comprising a drive gear assembly for telescopically moving a rearview head between a retracted and an extended position is disclosed. An embodiment of the rearview assembly comprises a bracket mountable to a vehicle, a rearview head telescopically mounted to the bracket via a plurality of arm assemblies, a rearview element mounted to the rearview head, an electric motor mounted to the rearview head, and a gear assembly connected between the motor and the plurality of arm assemblies. An embodiment of the gear assembly comprises pinion drive gear assemblies with rolling clutches for selectively disengaging the motor from the arm assemblies, a fixed clutch assembly for transferring power from the motor to the pinion drive gear assemblies, and a drive shaft connecting the fixed clutch assembly to the pinion drive gear assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Douglas James Wilson, Kenneth Gira, Chad Meyea
  • Patent number: 11279286
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly for a mirror head. The actuator includes a tubular member, an inner carriage, an outer carriage, a helix drive shaft and a motor drive. The inner carriage includes one or more inner magnets. The outer carriage is coupled to the mirror head. The outer carriage includes one or more outer magnets magnetically coupled to the one or more inner magnets of the inner carriage. The helix drive shaft is drivably coupled to the inner carriage. The motor drive is configured to rotate the helix drive shaft relative to the tubular member. Upon rotation of the helix drive shaft by the motor drive, the inner carriage translates. The outer carriage also translates along with the inner carriage due to magnetic coupling between the one or more inner magnets and the one or more outer magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Douglas James Wilson, Kenneth Gira
  • Publication number: 20210323474
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator assembly for a mirror head. The actuator includes a tubular member, an inner carriage, an outer carriage, a helix drive shaft and a motor drive. The inner carriage includes one or more inner magnets. The outer carriage is coupled to the mirror head. The outer carriage includes one or more outer magnets magnetically coupled to the one or more inner magnets of the inner carriage. The helix drive shaft is drivably coupled to the inner carriage. The motor drive is configured to rotate the helix drive shaft relative to the tubular member. Upon rotation of the helix drive shaft by the motor drive, the inner carriage translates. The outer carriage also translates along with the inner carriage due to magnetic coupling between the one or more inner magnets and the one or more outer magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas James Wilson, Kenneth Gira
  • Publication number: 20210046873
    Abstract: A power telescoping external vehicle rearview assembly comprising a drive gear assembly for telescopically moving a rearview head between a retracted and an extended position is disclosed. An embodiment of the rearview assembly comprises a bracket mountable to a vehicle, a rearview head telescopically mounted to the bracket via a plurality of arm assemblies, a rearview element mounted to the rearview head, an electric motor mounted to the rearview head, and a gear assembly connected between the motor and the plurality of arm assemblies. An embodiment of the gear assembly comprises pinion drive gear assemblies with rolling clutches for selectively disengaging the motor from the arm assemblies, a fixed clutch assembly for transferring power from the motor to the pinion drive gear assemblies, and a drive shaft connecting the fixed clutch assembly to the pinion drive gear assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas James Wilson, Kenneth Gira, Chad Meyea