Patents by Inventor Robert E. Schnell
Robert E. Schnell 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: 6755544Abstract: A vehicle exterior mirror actuator includes an actuator case, at least two electric motors, and a wire harness. The wire harness includes a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector is joined with the actuator case, one of the terminals of the connector makes direct contact with one of the terminals of one of the motors and a second of the connector terminals makes direct contact with the corresponding terminal of the other motor. The third connector terminal makes electrical contact with the other two corresponding terminals of the motors to provide a common electrical path for the other two corresponding terminals.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore
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Patent number: 6685864Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Publication number: 20040012868Abstract: A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Applicant: Donnelly Corporation, a corporation of the State of MichiganInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore
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Patent number: 6672731Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly which enables moving the reflective mirror element to an alternate position for viewing of areas adjacent the vehicle which otherwise would be hidden in the driver's blind spot. The blind spot system includes a reflective mirror element mounted on a pivot member such as an electric actuator for adjusting the field of view of the mirror element for different drivers about an axis which is preferably centered on the mirror element. A support member has a joint spaced laterally of the axis and pivotally connected to the pivot member for moving the mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position. A power source such as an electric motor is preferably mounted on the pivot member and is spaced from the support member joint, and includes a threaded member pivotally connected to the support member and driven by a gear.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore, Richard J. Weber
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Publication number: 20020159171Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly which enables moving the reflective mirror element to an alternate position for viewing of areas adjacent the vehicle which otherwise would be hidden in the driver's blind spot. The blind spot system includes a reflective mirror element mounted on a pivot member such as an electric actuator for adjusting the field of view of the mirror element for different drivers about an axis which is preferably centered on the mirror element. A support member has a joint spaced laterally of the axis and pivotally connected to the pivot member for moving the mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position. A power source such as an electric motor is preferably mounted on the pivot member and is spaced from the support member joint, and includes a threaded member pivotally connected to the support member and driven by a gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore, Richard J. Weber
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Patent number: 6467920Abstract: A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore
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Publication number: 20020047386Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Applicant: Donnelly Corporation, a corporation of the State of MichiganInventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Publication number: 20020047378Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2000Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Patent number: 6362548Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Publication number: 20010010601Abstract: A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2001Publication date: August 2, 2001Applicant: Donnelly Corporation, a corporation of the State of MichiganInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore
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Patent number: 6229226Abstract: A vehicular mirror actuator for adjustably positioning a mirror includes at least one motor with a casing and one or more power leads for powering the motor. An electromagnetic interference suppressor is included in the mirror actuator assembly and is mounted externally to the motor casing. The interference suppressor may include either a choke or at least one ferrite bead coupled between the power lead and the motor. The interference suppressor may be positioned either internally within the actuator housing, or externally to the actuator housing. Alternatively, the interference suppressor may include a metallic lining that surrounds the vehicular mirror actuator and which includes at least one feed-through capacitor coupled to said metallic lining and a source of power.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Mark E. Kramer, Robert E. Schnell
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Patent number: 6213612Abstract: A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors'supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore
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Patent number: 6168279Abstract: An adjustable support for a reflective mirror element in a housing of a rearview mirror assembly provides improved control and more uniform movement of the reflective element. The adjustable support includes an adapter member, which supports the reflective element, a fixed member, and at least one member urging the adapter member into bearing contact with the fixed member. One of the adapter member and the fixed member includes an arcuate bearing surface, for example a semi-spherical bearing surface, and the other of the adapter member and the fixed member includes an annular line bearing surface which engages on the arcuate surface forming an annular line bearing contact between the adapter member and the fixed member to permit adjustment of a reflective mirror element in the housing. The adjustable support may comprise a handset with adjustable support, a remotely manual adjustable support, or an electrically actuated electrical adjustable support.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Robert E. Schnell
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Patent number: 6094027Abstract: A memory actuator is provided for a rearview mirror system having a reflective element and a controller. The memory actuator includes a housing and at least one positioning member extending from the housing to move the reflective element about at least one degree of freedom. At least one motor is provided for driving the positional member. A linear position transducer having a body is provided for coupling to the reflective element and a circuit board is positioned in the housing. The body of the linear position transducer is guided at the circuit board in at least one direction and moves alone the circuit board between a plurality of positions in response to movement of the reflective element about the at least one degree of freedom. The circuit board is configured to generate a signal to the controller as a function of the position of the body of the linear position transducer along the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: David K. Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Patent number: 6037689Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1999Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
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Patent number: 5986364Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell