Patent ID: 11970112
Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 16:
17. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element;
a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein, with the mounting base attached at the side of the vehicle, the mirror head is movable relative to the mounting base between at least (i) an extended position, where the mirror head is extended outward from the side of the vehicle so that the mirror reflective element is positioned to provide a rearward view at the side of the vehicle to a driver of the vehicle, and (ii) a folded position, where the mirror head is moved inward from the extended position toward the side of the vehicle;
a powerfold actuator electrically operated to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base between the folded position and the extended position;
wherein the powerfold actuator comprises a base portion that attaches at the mounting base and a pivot tube that extends from the mounting base;
wherein the pivot tube extends through a detent assembly of the powerfold actuator and through a housing of the powerfold actuator;
wherein the mirror head is attached at the housing of the powerfold actuator, and wherein the mirror head and the housing of the powerfold actuator, when the powerfold actuator is electrically operated, move together and in tandem about a pivot axis of the pivot tube of the powerfold actuator;
wherein the housing comprises an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;
wherein the powerfold actuator comprises a biasing element disposed between the upper housing portion and an upper end of the pivot tube, and wherein the biasing element releasably retains the powerfold actuator in at least one detent state of the powerfold actuator;
wherein the detent assembly of the powerfold actuator comprises (i) a lower detent disposed at the pivot tube between the base portion and the lower housing portion, (ii) an output gear disposed at the pivot tube between the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion and (iii) an upper detent disposed at the pivot tube between the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion;
wherein the lower detent is rotationally fixed relative to the output gear and is axially movable along the pivot tube;
wherein the upper detent is rotationally fixed relative to the pivot tube and is axially movable along the pivot tube;
wherein the powerfold actuator comprises an electrically powered motor disposed in the housing, and wherein the electrically powered motor, when electrically powered, rotatably drives a gear that engages the output gear to impart movement of the housing and the mirror head relative to the output gear;
wherein, when the powerfold actuator is in a primary detent state, the lower detent and the output gear are rotationally fixed relative to the pivot tube and the upper detent is axially movable along the pivot tube;
wherein the mirror head, when the powerfold actuator is in the primary detent state and the electrically powered motor is electrically powered, moves between the extended position and the folded position;
wherein, when the mirror head is manually moved between the folded position and the extended position, the primary detent state is disengaged and (i) the lower detent axially moves in a direction away from the base portion and (ii) the lower detent and the output gear rotate about the pivot tube relative to the base portion;
wherein the output gear, when the primary detent state is disengaged, is axially movable along the pivot tube; and
wherein, when the mirror head is manually moved from one of the folded position and the extended position to the other one of the folded position and the extended position, a secondary detent state is engaged to releasably retain the mirror head at the other one of the folded position and the extended position, and wherein, when the powerfold actuator is in the secondary detent state, the output gear is axially movable along the pivot tube.