Patents by Inventor Kim L. Van Order

Kim L. Van Order 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: 4998765
    Abstract: A sliding visor includes in one embodiment a support member over which a thin butterfly core is folded and secured by a guide for slidable movement along the support member. In one embodiment, the support member has an elongated cross-sectional profile. In another embodiment, a U-shaped guide clamps a planar visor panel therein and in turn slidably extends within a slotted support member for movement along the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. Van Order, Kevin L. Wright, Nels R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4989911
    Abstract: A snap-in visor rod mounting assembly includes a mounting plate which is adapted to receive a conventional visor rod mounting bracket. The plate is provided with a spring either integrally formed thereon or attached thereto. The visor rod mounting bracket is preassembled to the mounting plate in a conventional manner and subsequently the mounting plate is snap-fitted into an aperture formed in the vehicle roof during assembly of the visor into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Kim L. Van Order
  • Patent number: 4988140
    Abstract: A visor body includes a mirror and an electrically controlled light controlling member positioned in front of the mirror. It also includes a control circuit for the light control member for selectively rendering the member either light transmissive or opaque for selectively blocking the mirror from view. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lights are provided behind the light control member which includes selective controlled zones in front of the lights for allowing illumination from the lights to be directed outwardly for use of the mirror in low ambient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Kim L. Van Order
  • Patent number: 4910648
    Abstract: A visor mounting bracket includes a lamp housing integrally formed with the visor mounting bracket and a lens covering a lamp socket and lamp mounted therein with an electrical supply line extending through the bracket for connection to the vehicle's electrical power supply system. Such construction provides a unique dual functioning structure which provides desirable interior lighting for a vehicle at a unique location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. Van Order, Kenneth D. Kreuze
  • Patent number: 4879637
    Abstract: A dimming control circuit for use in an illuminated vanity mirror includes a surface formed variable resistor on a circuit board and wiper contacts engaging the resistor. One of the resistor or wiper contacts is movably mounted to a mirror frame with the other of the resistor or wiper contacts being stationary such that the resistance can be varied to control the light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Russell L. Clark, Kim L. Van Order, Michael J. Suman, Todd A. Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 4847737
    Abstract: A light intensity control includes a current control device which delays the application of the maximum level of current to one or more lamps of an illuminated vanity mirror. In the preferred embodiment, the current responsive control device comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor coupled in series with the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. Van Order, Steven P. Dykstra, Ted A. Dekker
  • Patent number: 4818013
    Abstract: A visor pivot rod for mounting a visor to a vehicle includes a threaded fitting one end which is adapted to thread into a mounting bracket of a dissimilar material having a central bore threaded to compressibly receive the threaded end of the visor rod and hold the visor rod in an axially adjusted position with a predetermined torque to prevent sticking of the two elements. The mounted bracket in turn is adapted to be secured to the roof of a vehicle in one embodiment or be integral with the visor core or mounted within the visor core in another embodiment. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded end of the visor rod includes a polymeric molded-on fitting having a threaded end which engages a threaded bracket also made of a molded polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Kim L. Van Order
  • Patent number: 4763946
    Abstract: A visor includes a molded polymeric core having a plurality of channels on at least one side defined by a pair of spaced upstanding walls with one of the walls having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein for receiving tabs projecting outwardly from aligned upstanding walls formed in the corresponding mating visor half. The tabs extend into the corresponding slots and the backing wall prevents their removal. Visors embodying another aspect of the present invention integrally include a plurality of outwardly projecting pins and corresponding mating recesses formed continuously around the periphery on opposite visor core halves for compressing the edges of the upholstery material and clamping them in a secure position as the visor halves are brought together during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Robbins, Michael L. Lanser, Kim L. Van Order, Joseph H. Weber
  • Patent number: 4600240
    Abstract: A headrest includes a unidirectional clutch permitting adjustment of the headrest from a reference position to any desired selected position and resists motion in a rearward direction except upon release of the clutch. In one embodiment of the invention, a spring return mechanism is provided to automatically return the headrest to a reference position upon release of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Kim L. Van Order, Russell L. Clark, Ted W. Haan