Patents by Inventor Timothy G. Perkins

Timothy G. Perkins 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).

  • Publication number: 20230116278
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure, a plastic mirror casing, and a mirror reflective element having a glass substrate. The glass substrate includes a periphery surface extending between a planar first surface and a planar second surface and spanning a thickness dimension of the glass substrate. The mirror casing includes a central mounting portion and spaced apart attachment portions. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached the spaced apart attachment portions. The central mounting portion includes a first pivot element and the mounting structure includes a second pivot element, the first pivot element and the second pivot element forming a pivot joint. The periphery surface of the glass substrate includes a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side wall of the mirror casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 11472340
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a glass substrate having a planar front surface, a planar rear surface and a circumferential perimeter edge. The glass substrate is positioned at a fixture and the front perimeter edge portion of the glass substrate is ground by moving a grinding wheel around the periphery of the glass substrate to establish a rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate and between the planar front surface and a rear portion of the perimeter edge of the glass substrate. The rounded surface has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm. The rounded surface provides a curved transition between the planar front surface of the glass substrate and the rear portion of the perimeter edge of the glass substrate. The planar rear surface of the glass substrate is coated with a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20200254932
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a glass substrate having a planar front surface, a planar rear surface and a circumferential perimeter edge. The glass substrate is positioned at a fixture and the front perimeter edge portion of the glass substrate is ground by moving a grinding wheel around the periphery of the glass substrate to establish a rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate and between the planar front surface and a rear portion of the perimeter edge of the glass substrate. The rounded surface has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm. The rounded surface provides a curved transition between the planar front surface of the glass substrate and the rear portion of the perimeter edge of the glass substrate. The planar rear surface of the glass substrate is coated with a coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10632921
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic mirror reflective element. The front glass substrate of the reflective element has a planar first surface, a planar second surface and a periphery surface extending therebetween. The mirror casing includes a central mounting element and two spaced apart attachment surfaces. The rear glass substrate of the reflective element is adhesively attached at the attachment surfaces. The central mounting element includes a pivot element that pivotally mounts at a mounting structure. A central cavity exists between the central mounting element and the rear glass substrate. The mirror assembly includes a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the front glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side all of the mirror casing. No part of the mirror casing encroaches onto the planar first surface of the front glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20190168672
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic mirror reflective element. The front glass substrate of the reflective element has a planar first surface, a planar second surface and a periphery surface extending therebetween. The mirror casing includes a central mounting element and two spaced apart attachment surfaces. The rear glass substrate of the reflective element is adhesively attached at the attachment surfaces. The central mounting element includes a pivot element that pivotally mounts at a mounting structure. A central cavity exists between the central mounting element and the rear glass substrate. The mirror assembly includes a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the front glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side all of the mirror casing. No part of the mirror casing encroaches onto the planar first surface of the front glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10189407
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for a vehicular mirror assembly includes providing a glass substrate and fixturing the glass substrate at a fixture to support the glass substrate. A rotatable grinding wheel is presented to the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate and the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate is ground to establish a ground rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate. After grinding the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate to establish the ground rounded surface, a rotatable polishing wheel is presented to the ground rounded surface and the ground rounded surface is polished to establish a polished rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate. The polished rounded surface provides a smooth transition between the front surface of the glass substrate and a rear portion of the circumferential perimeter edge of the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 9598016
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a video display device operable to display video information that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle through said mirror reflective element and at a display region of said mirror reflective element. The video display device may be operable to display a directional heading at a compass display portion of the display region, and means may be provided to adjust the directional heading display to limit image sticking of the displayed directional heading. The mirror assembly may have a touch zone having at least one touch pad established at a perimeter border band of the reflective element, and may have another touch sensor to detect a touch of a user away from the touch zone to determine when a detected touch at the touch zone is an unintentional touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Blank, John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark E. Kramer, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20170043721
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for a vehicular mirror assembly includes providing a glass substrate and fixturing the glass substrate at a fixture to support the glass substrate. A rotatable grinding wheel is presented to the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate and the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate is ground to establish a ground rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate. After grinding the front perimeter portion of the glass substrate to establish the ground rounded surface, a rotatable polishing wheel is presented to the ground rounded surface and the ground rounded surface is polished to establish a polished rounded surface about and around the periphery of the glass substrate. The polished rounded surface provides a smooth transition between the front surface of the glass substrate and a rear portion of the circumferential perimeter edge of the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 9481303
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes providing a glass substrate having a generally planar front surface, a generally planar rear surface and a circumferential perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass substrate and extending between the front and rear surfaces. A grinding wheel is moved around the periphery of a front perimeter portion of the glass substrate while rotating the grinding wheel to establish a ground generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. A polishing wheel is moved around the glass substrate periphery while rotating the polishing wheel to establish a polished generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. The polished generally rounded surface provides a smooth transition between the generally planar front surface of the glass substrate and a rear portion of the circumferential perimeter edge of the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20150175074
    Abstract: A method of making a mirror substrate for an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes providing a glass substrate having a generally planar front surface, a generally planar rear surface and a circumferential perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass substrate and extending between the front and rear surfaces. A grinding wheel is moved around the periphery of a front perimeter portion of the glass substrate while rotating the grinding wheel to establish a ground generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. A polishing wheel is moved around the glass substrate periphery while rotating the polishing wheel to establish a polished generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. The polished generally rounded surface provides a smooth transition between the generally planar front surface of the glass substrate and a rear portion of the circumferential perimeter edge of the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8976439
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20140022390
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a video display device operable to display video information that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle through said mirror reflective element and at a display region of said mirror reflective element. The video display device may be operable to display a directional heading at a compass display portion of the display region, and means may be provided to adjust the directional heading display to limit image sticking of the displayed directional heading. The mirror assembly may have a touch zone having at least one touch pad established at a perimeter border band of the reflective element, and may have another touch sensor to detect a touch of a user away from the touch zone to determine when a detected touch at the touch zone is an unintentional touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Blank, John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark E. Kramer, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20130321940
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8508831
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing, a reflective element and a mounting assembly for adjustably mounting the mirror assembly at a portion of the equipped vehicle. The reflective element has a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about its periphery and extending between the front and rear surfaces. The front surface generally faces a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle. The rear surface of the reflective element may be attached to an attachment surface of an attachment plate or of the mirror casing to secure the reflective element relative to the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the reflective element may be exposed and viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the reflective element is attached to the attachment surface and when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20120038964
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing, a reflective element and a mounting assembly for adjustably mounting the mirror assembly at a portion of the equipped vehicle. The reflective element has a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about its periphery and extending between the front and rear surfaces. The front surface generally faces a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle. The rear surface of the reflective element may be attached to an attachment surface of an attachment plate or of the mirror casing to secure the reflective element relative to the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the reflective element may be exposed and viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the reflective element is attached to the attachment surface and when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins