Patent ID: 6522451
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
An exterior sideview mirror system suitable for use on an automobile, said exterior sideview mirror system comprising:an exterior sideview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to a side of an automobile; said exterior sideview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a rearward field of view when attached to the side of the automobile; said reflective element attached to an electrically-operated actuator and movable by said actuator in order to position said rearward field of view in response to a control; wherein said reflective element comprises a plano-multiradius reflective element assembly, said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly comprising a plano reflective element having unit magnification and a separate multiradius reflective element having a multiradius curvature, said plano reflective element having a rearward field of view with a principal axis; said plano reflective element and said multiradius reflective element of said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly mounted adjacently in said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly in a side-by-side relationship and not superimposed with one reflective element on top of the other reflective element, and supported by a backing plate element, said backing plate element mounting to said actuator such that movement of said backing plate element of said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said plano reflective element and said multiradius reflective element, said multiradius reflective element having a rearward field of view with a principal axis, said backing plate element have a first support portion supporting said plano-reflective element and a second support portion supporting said multiradius reflective element, said second support portion tilted forward with respect to said first support portion whereby said principal axis of said rearward field of view of said multiradius reflective element is angled downwardly and outwardly with respect to said principal axis of said rearward field of view of said plano reflective element when said multiradius reflective element and said plano reflective element are supported by said backing plate element of said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly and when said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is mounted in said exterior sideview mirror assembly on the automobile, and said principal axis of said rearward field of view of said plano reflective element being directed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile equipped with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly and wherein said principal axis of said rearward field of view of said multiradius reflective element is directed generally at an angle downwards to the longitudinal axis of the automobile; and said multiradius reflective element being positioned diagonally at an outboard upper portion of said plano-multiradius reflective element assembly when said exterior sideview mirror assembly is mounted to the side of the automobile.