Patents by Inventor Robert L. Esser
Robert L. Esser 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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Publication number: 20230356658Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a base portion configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element and an electrically-operable mirror actuator. The base portion extends through an aperture in the mirror head. The mirror head includes wall structure that circumscribes and spans a perimeter circumferential edge of a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. The mirror actuator is operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the base portion, and the aperture allows for movement of the mirror head relative to the base portion. The mirror head includes an electrically-operable accessory that moves together and in tandem with the mirror actuator and the mirror reflective element when the mirror actuator is electrically operated. The accessory, when electrically operated, meets a performance requirement throughout a range of adjustment of the mirror head relative to the base portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
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Publication number: 20230242036Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element. An electrically-operated actuator includes a first attachment element that attaches at an actuator-mounting bracket of the mounting arm and a second attachment element that attaches at the mirror head. The actuator is electrically operated to cause adjustment of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm about first and second pivot axes. A mounting post of the mounting arm passes through an opening of the mirror head, the opening providing clearance between the mirror head and the mounting arm to allow movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm during electrical operation of the actuator when the base mounting portion of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior portion of the side door of the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventor: Robert L. Esser
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Patent number: 11691567Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a vehicle includes a base portion configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, an attachment plate and an electrically-operable mirror actuator. The base portion extends through an aperture in the mirror head. The mirror actuator is attached at the attachment plate, which includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and that circumscribes and spans a perimeter circumferential edge of a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. The mirror actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the base portion. The aperture allows for movement of the mirror head relative to the base portion during operation of the mirror actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
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Patent number: 11623568Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element. An electrically-operated actuator includes a first attachment element that attaches at an actuator-mounting bracket of the mounting arm and a second attachment element that attaches at the mirror head. The actuator includes first and second motors that are electrically operated to cause adjustment of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm about respective first and second pivot axes. A mounting post of the mounting arm passes through an opening of the mirror head, the opening providing clearance between the mirror head and the mounting arm to allow movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm during electrical operation of the actuator when the base mounting portion of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior portion of the side door of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Robert L. Esser
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Patent number: 11597321Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a base portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle, a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, and an actuator within the mirror head. When the mirror actuator is electrically operated, the mirror actuator moves the mirror head and the mirror reflective element together and in tandem relative to the base portion. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate is attached at a head mounting plate, which is attached at the mirror actuator. A service recess is at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate and is accessible from exterior the mirror head. The service recess is configured to enable detachment of the mirror back plate, with the mirror reflective element adhesively attached thereto, from the head mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20230021221Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a base portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle, a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, and an actuator within the mirror head. When the mirror actuator is electrically operated, the mirror actuator moves the mirror head and the mirror reflective element together and in tandem relative to the base portion. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate is attached at a head mounting plate, which is attached at the mirror actuator. A service recess is at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate and is accessible from exterior the mirror head. The service recess is configured to enable detachment of the mirror back plate, with the mirror reflective element adhesively attached thereto, from the head mounting plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20230009664Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head. The mounting arm is received through an aperture in the mirror head, and an actuator is attached at the mounting arm within the mirror head. The actuator is operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm and includes first and second motors that drive respective first and second gears. The first gear engages an arcuate gear disposed at an attachment element attached at the mirror head, and when the first motor is operated, the arcuate gear and the attachment element pivot relative to the actuator to adjust the mirror head about a first pivot axis. The second gear engages a rotationally fixed gear rotationally fixed to the mounting arm, and when the second motor is operated, the actuator travels about the second gear to adjust the mirror head about a second pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventors: Robert L. Esser, Rudy A. Morey
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Patent number: 11458895Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a base portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle, a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and an actuator at an end of the base portion. An adapter plate of the actuator is attached at a head mounting plate attached at the mirror casing. The mirror back plate is attached at the head mounting plate. A service recess is at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate and is configured to receive a separating element that imparts a separating force at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate to detach at least a portion of the mirror back plate from the head mounting plate. With at least the portion of the mirror back plate detached, the mirror back plate is detachable from the head mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20220266752Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element. An electrically-operated actuator includes a first attachment element that attaches at an actuator-mounting bracket of the mounting arm and a second attachment element that attaches at the mirror head. The actuator includes first and second motors that are electrically operated to cause adjustment of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm about respective first and second pivot axes. A mounting post of the mounting arm passes through an opening of the mirror head, the opening providing clearance between the mirror head and the mounting arm to allow movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm during electrical operation of the actuator when the base mounting portion of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior portion of the side door of the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventor: Robert L. Esser
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Patent number: 11351919Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head having a mirror casing, a mirror reflective element and an actuator. The mounting arm is received through an aperture in the mirror casing and the actuator is attached at the mounting arm inside the mirror casing. The actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The actuator attaches at the mounting arm and to the mirror casing. The actuator includes an actuator housing that houses first and second motors that drive respective first and second gears. When the first motor is electrically operated, the first gear causes pivoting of the mirror head about a vertical pivot axis, and when the second motor is electrically operated, the second gear causes pivoting of the mirror head about a horizontal pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20220032847Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a vehicle includes a base portion configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, an attachment plate and an electrically-operable mirror actuator. The base portion extends through an aperture in the mirror head. The mirror actuator is attached at the attachment plate, which includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and that circumscribes and spans a perimeter circumferential edge of a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. The mirror actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the base portion. The aperture allows for movement of the mirror head relative to the base portion during operation of the mirror actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
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Publication number: 20210331625Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a base portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle, a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and an actuator at an end of the base portion. An adapter plate of the actuator is attached at a head mounting plate attached at the mirror casing. The mirror back plate is attached at the head mounting plate. A service recess is at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate and is configured to receive a separating element that imparts a separating force at and between the mirror back plate and the head mounting plate to detach at least a portion of the mirror back plate from the head mounting plate. With at least the portion of the mirror back plate detached, the mirror back plate is detachable from the head mounting plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20210323477Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle. The mirror head includes an actuator having a body portion attached at a back plate at the rear of the reflective element and an adapter plate attached at the mirror mount and pivotable relative to the body portion. The actuator includes a pair of arcuate gear elements that attach at one end to the adapter plate and that are movably received at the body portion. The actuator includes a pair of motors operable to rotatably drive respective gears that engage the respective arcuate gear elements. When the gears are rotably driven, the gears impart pivotal movement of the body portion and mirror head in tandem relative to the mirror mount to adjust the mirror head relative to provide a rearward view for a driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Robert L. Esser, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 11148596Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror casing, a mirror reflective element and a mirror actuator. The mounting arm is received through an aperture in the mirror casing and the mirror actuator is attached at the mounting arm inside the mirror casing. The mirror actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror reflective element and the mirror casing relative to the mounting arm. The aperture allows for movement of the mirror casing relative to the mounting arm during operation of the mirror actuator. A powerfold actuator may be operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the base portion between a folded or non-use position and an extended or use position.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
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Publication number: 20210213880Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head having a minor casing, a mirror reflective element and an actuator. The mounting arm is received through an aperture in the minor casing and the actuator is attached at the mounting arm inside the minor casing. The actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The actuator attaches at the mounting arm and to the minor casing. The actuator includes an actuator housing that houses first and second motors that drive respective first and second gears. When the first motor is electrically operated, the first gear causes pivoting of the minor head about a vertical pivot axis, and when the second motor is electrically operated, the second gear causes pivoting of the minor head about a horizontal pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventor: Robert L. Esser
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Publication number: 20200353867Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror casing, a mirror reflective element and a mirror actuator. The mounting arm is received through an aperture in the mirror casing and the mirror actuator is attached at the mounting arm inside the mirror casing. The mirror actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror reflective element and the mirror casing relative to the mounting arm. The aperture allows for movement of the mirror casing relative to the mounting arm during operation of the mirror actuator. A powerfold actuator may be operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the base portion between a folded or non-use position and an extended or use position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind