Patent ID: 9033526
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A powerfold mechanism for an external rear view mirror to be fitted to a motor vehicle, the mechanism comprising: a powerfold housing mountable between a mirror housing and a vehicle mountable mirror base; a clutch member urged into engagement with the mirror base by a first spring means, the clutch member axially movable from an engaged position in which clutch detent features positively restrain relative rotation between the clutch member and the mirror base and a disengaged position in which a frictional engagement torque only somewhat restrains relative rotation between the clutch member and the mirror base about an axis of a mirror head, the clutch member allowing the mirror housing to be manually moved with respect to the mirror base; an electric drive train for creating relative rotation between the power fold housing and the clutch member about the mirror head axis, said electric drive train is non-back drivable; wherein, when the clutch member is in the disengaged position and the electric drive train creates relative rotation between the power fold housing and the clutch member, the power fold housing rotates relative to the base until a drive stop face of a drive stop mean reaches a drive stop detent and induces a reaction torque, the reaction torque being larger than the frictional engagement torque so as to stop the power fold housing rotating with respect to the base and instead cause the clutch member to rotate until the clutch member reaches the engaged position, wherein the drive stop mean being movably mounted to the power fold housing and having the drive stop face engagable with the detent mounted to the mirror base, the drive stop face biased axially towards the detent, the drive stop face accurately movable with the powerfold housing between: (a) a forward position wherein the powerfold housing and mirror head are in a forward fold position; (b) a rearward position wherein the powerfold housing and mirror head are in a rearward fold position; and (c) a drive position wherein the powerfold housing and mirror head are in a deployed position, the clutch member is in the engaged position and the drive stop face is sandwiched between the detent and the powerfold housing so as to provide a positive and repeatable stop.