Patent Publication Number: US-9421911-B2

Title: Sliding conversation mirror assembly with magnetic assist for vehicle overhead console

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to vehicle overhead consoles, and more particularly relates to a vehicle overhead console equipped with a conversation mirror. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automotive vehicles are commonly equipped with a rearview mirror that enables drivers view the road behind the vehicle. While rearview mirrors are typically positioned to provide a view of roadside conditions behind the vehicle, there may exist instances where a driver desires to view the back seat portion of the vehicle such as checking on young children or engaging occupants sitting in the rear seating area of the passenger compartment. In these scenarios, a driver must either reposition the rearview mirror or turn around, both of which may create an unsafe driving condition. For these and other types of vehicle use scenarios, it may be desirable to provide a conversation mirror that provides a view of the backseat area without obstructing the rearview mirror. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle conversation mirror assembly is provided. The conversation mirror assembly includes a housing defining a storage space and a conversation mirror. The vehicle conversation mirror also includes a slider mechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to move the conversation mirror between a stowed position within the storage space and a use position extending from the housing. The vehicle conversation mirror further includes a magnetic arrangement in communication with the slider mechanism to attract the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle overhead console is provided that includes a housing defining a storage space and a conversation mirror. The vehicle overhead console also includes a slider mechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to move the conversation mirror between a stowed position within the storage space and a use position extending from the housing. The overhead console further includes a magnetic arrangement in communication with the slider mechanism to attract the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a is a perspective view of a vehicle passenger compartment having an overhead console employing a vehicle conversation mirror assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing the conversation mirror in a downward deployed use position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the conversation mirror assembly employing friction tabs, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly of  FIG. 4  showing the conversation mirror in the downward deployed use position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken through line VI-VI of  FIG. 5  showing frictional tab engagement in the downward deployed use position; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly of  FIG. 4  shown in the downward deployed use position; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly of  FIG. 4  showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken through line IX-IX of  FIG. 8  showing frictional tab engagement; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly of  FIG. 4  showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing a magnetic arrangement according to another embodiment with the conversation mirror in the downward deployed use position; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the conversation mirror assembly shown in  FIG. 11  with the conversation mirror shown in the upward stowed position; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing a spring arrangement according to a further embodiment with the conversation mirror shown in the downward deployed use position; and 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the conversation mirror of  FIG. 13  showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle  2  is generally illustrated having a vehicle overhead console  10  generally located on the front portion of the interior roof  4  between the driver and front passenger seats. The overhead console  10  is generally rearward of and above the conventional interior rearview mirror  6  so as not to interfere with viewing of the rearview mirror  6 . The overhead console  10  may be connected to the underside of a vehicle headliner or roof  4  and may include various components such as one or more storage compartments, light assemblies, user input switches, and other vehicle assemblies. The overhead console  10  is equipped with a conversation mirror assembly  20  that includes a conversation mirror  18  that may be stowed in a stowed position within the overhead console  10  and deployed to a use position extending vertically downward below the overhead console  10  to allow a driver or front seat passenger to view the area rearward of the front seat in the passenger compartment such as the rear seating area. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the overhead console  10  includes a housing  12  which defines a storage space  14  and is located to provide generally unobstructed view of the rearview mirror. The storage space  14  contains a slider mechanism  16  capable of moving the conversation mirror  18  between an upward stowed position as shown in  FIG. 3  and a downward use position with respect to the opening of the storage space  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The conversation mirror  18  is operatively connected or secured to the slider mechanism  16  to allow the conversation mirror  18  to move between the upward stowed position and downward use position. A passenger, such as the driver of the vehicle is able to view the back seat portion of the vehicle when the slider mechanism  16  and conversation mirror  18  are deployed in the downward use position. A user may manually actuate the conversation mirror  18  upward to the stowed position by applying upward force and may deploy the conversation mirror downward to the use position by applying downward force. To transition between the stowed and use positions, the vehicle conversation mirror  18  employs the slider mechanism  16  and further employs a coupling arrangement to hold the conversation mirror  18  in the stowed and use positions. 
     The conversation mirror  18  has a reflective or mirrored surface that provides a wide viewing angle such as to enable a person seated in a front seat to view of the back seating area of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the conversation mirror  18  has a curved convex shape. The conversation mirror  18  is shown having an elongated length and a relatively smaller height to as to prevent interference of the conventional interior rearview mirror  16  for viewing of objects rearward of the vehicle. It should be appreciated that the conversation mirror  18  may have other shapes and sizes, according to other embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-10 , the coupling arrangement is shown in one embodiment employing a tab arrangement that releasably secures the sliding mechanism  16  and the conversation mirror  18  in either the use position or the stowed position. The conversation mirror assembly  20  includes a housing member  30  fixedly connected to or formed as part of the housing  12  and defining a storage space  14  for receiving the conversation mirror  18  in the stowed position. The housing member  30  includes a pair of male members  28  each adapted to slideably engage a slot formed by a pair of vertical extending rails  26 . The male members  28  may each include a vertical extending bar or one or more pins. The conversation mirror assembly  20  further includes a slider mechanism  16  operatively coupled to the conversation mirror  18 . The slider mechanism  16  includes the two pairs of rails  26  configured to receive members  28  and allows the conversation mirror  18  to be guided between the upward stowed position and the downward use position. The slider mechanism  16  includes a bracket  34  that may extend on the rear side of the conversation mirror  18  and extend thereabove with the two pairs of rails  26  extending above the conversation mirror  18 . As such, the slider mechanism  16  attaches to the conversation mirror  18  via the bracket  34 . In such an arrangement, the slider mechanism  16  extends vertical into the storage space  14 . 
     The tab arrangement includes a plurality of friction engaging tabs, such as snap tabs, that frictionally engage one another to hold the conversation mirror  18  in one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. The tabs include a first plurality of tabs  40 ,  42  and  44  shown provided on the housing member  30  and extending inward into storage space  14 . Tab  40  is located near the top of the housing member  30  central between lateral sides and tabs  42  and  44  are located near the bottom of housing  30  near opposite sides. The plurality of tabs further includes a second plurality of tabs  50 ,  52  and  54  provided on the bracket  34  of slider mechanism  16 . Certain of the first plurality of tabs  40 ,  42  and  44  are arranged to interface with and frictionally engage certain of the second plurality of tabs  50 ,  52  and  54  to hold the conversation mirror  18  in one of the use and stowed positions. 
     Additionally, the conversation mirror assembly  20  includes a protective cover  32  disposed within storage space  14 . The cover  32  shown formed as a curved sheet acts as a protective cover when the conversation mirror  18  is positioned in the upward stowed position such that the conversation mirror  18  is located rearward of cover  32 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 5-7 , the conversation mirror  18  is shown in the downward deployed use position in which the conversation mirror  18  extends below the overhead console and allows for the vehicle driver or passenger in the front seat to view an area rearward of the front seat within the passenger compartment. In the downward position, tabs  52  and  54  on the bracket  34  frictionally engage tabs  42  and  44 , respectively, on the inside of the housing member  30 . The frictional engagement of the matingly engaged tabs  42 ,  44 ,  52  and  54  holds the conversation mirror  18  in place relative to the housing member  30  sufficient to hold the conversation mirror  18  in the use position despite dynamic forces experienced on the vehicle. The frictional engagement of the matingly engaged tabs may be achieved by a snap-fit arrangement. For each pair of matingly engaged pairs of tabs, one tab may have a tooth  45  that engages a depression or notch  55  in the other of the engaged pairs of tabs. Other frictional mating engageable shapes and sizes of tabs may be employed to hold the conversation mirror  18  is the use and stowed positions. The frictional engagement of the matingly engaged tabs may be overcome by a force whereby a user may disengage the matingly engaged tabs to allow the conversation mirror to slide vertically up from the downward deployed use position. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 8-10 , the sliding conversation mirror assembly  20  is shown with the conversation mirror  18  in the upward stowed position. The conversation mirror  18  is moved upward by a user applying force vertically upward to allow the bracket  34  of slider mechanism  16  to slide on its two pairs of rails  26  which engage members  28  until the frictional tab  50  on bracket  34  frictionally engages tab  40  on housing member  30  so as to lock the sliding members into frictional engagement to hold conversation mirror  18  in the upward stowed position. The frictional engagement of tabs  40  and  50  is sufficient to prevent the conversation mirror  18  from dropping downward due to gravity or dynamic forces that are normally experienced with the vehicle. Tabs  40  and  50  may likewise be configured with one tab having a tooth  45  that engages a depression or notch  55  in the other tab. The frictional engagement between tabs  40  and  50  may be overcome by a force whereby a user may disengage the mating engagement of the tabs by pulling the conversation mirror  18  downward with a sufficient force to overcome the frictional engagement. The tab may be made of a polymeric material that flexes to allow movement between matingly engaged tabs such that the tooth  45  may move into and out of engagement with the notch  55 . 
     Furthermore, release and return mechanisms may be used to dislodge the slider mechanism  34  and conversation mirror  18  from the stored and use positions. A release mechanism may include a leverage device to leverage the slider mechanism out of frictional engagement with the housing member. Such mechanisms may include electrical activated and manual activated mechanism and may employ a spring to bias the slide mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a second embodiment of a coupling arrangement in the form of a magnetic arrangement is shown for positioning the conversation mirror  18  in the stowed and use positions. In this embodiment, a slider mechanism  16  with bracket  34  operatively coupled to conversation mirror  18  two pairs of vertically extending rails  26  matingly engaging male members  28  in housing member  30  may be employed as described in with connection with the assembly of  FIG. 4  to allow the conversation mirror  18  to slide vertically upward and downward between stowed and use positions. In this embodiment, the coupling arrangement employs magnetic attraction to hold the conversation mirror  18  in one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. The magnetic arrangement is employed to attract and secure the slider mechanism  34  and conversation mirror  18  to the upward stowed position within the storage space  14  and the use position extending downward from the housing member  30 . The magnetic arrangement includes a first magnetic portion  60  operatively coupled to the housing member  30  near the top thereof and a second magnetic portion  62  operatively coupled to the housing member  30  near a bottom side thereof, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, a ferrous member  64  is operatively coupled to the conversation mirror  18  and is magnetically attracted to the magnetic portions  60 ,  62 . The magnetic portions may each include one or more magnets that attract to a ferrous material. The ferrous member  64  may be located on the bracket  34  or on the conversation mirror  18 . The ferrous member  64  is disposed to magnetically attract to one of the first and second magnetic portions  60  and  62 . When the conversation mirror  18  is moved to the upward stowed position, the ferrous member  64  attracts to magnetic portion  60  to hold the conversation mirror  18  in the upward stowed position during normal vehicle motion. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic portion  60  and ferrous material  64  may be overcome a user applying sufficient force to pull the conversation mirror  18  downward to the use position. In the use position, the magnetic portion  62  attracts to the ferrous portion  64  to hold the conversation mirror  18  in the downward use position during normal vehicle motion. The magnetic attraction between magnetic portion  62  and ferrous member  64  may be overcome by a user applying sufficient force to push the conversation mirror  18  vertically upward to its stowed position. The magnetic attraction is sufficient to hold the conversation mirror  18  in the use or stowed positions despite forces experienced during normal operation of the vehicle. While the magnetic portions  60  and  62  are shown and described as provided on the housing member  30  and the ferrous member is provided on the conversation mirror  18 , it should be appreciated that the magnetic portions  60  and  62  may be provided on the conversation mirror  18  or bracket  34  and that the ferrous member  64  may be provided on the housing member  30 . 
     The magnetic portions  60  and  62  may include magnets that attract to a ferrous material. Each magnet may include a single magnet or a plurality of magnets. The ferrous member  64  may be provided on the back surface of the conversation mirror  18  or may be provided on a member of the slider mechanism  16 , such as the bracket  34  which, in turn, is coupled to the conversation mirror  18 . By employing the attraction force between the magnets and the ferrous material, a smooth movement of the bracket  34  and the conversation mirror  18  is achieved relative to the housing  20 , without requiring a latch mechanism. 
     In one embodiment, the slider mechanism  16  includes two pairs of rails  26  each for engaging a male member  28  such as a bar or one or more pins to allow the bracket to matingly slide relative to the housing. According to other embodiments, other pins or connectors or matingly engaging sliding mechanisms may be employed to allow the conversation mirror  18  to move vertically between the downward use position and the upward stowed position. It should further be appreciated that a release and return mechanism may be employed to dislodge the bracket  34  and conversation mirror  18  from the stowed and use positions. Such mechanism may include electrical and manual means. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a third general embodiment of the conversation mirror assembly  20  is shown having a spring arrangement that releasably secures the slider mechanism  16  and conversation mirror  18  in the use and stowed positions. There exist many types of spring arrangements suitable for the abovementioned application, which may include compression, extension, and torsion spring types. In the instant embodiment, the spring arrangement includes a torsion spring  70  operably coupled to the housing member  30  at end  72  and to the bracket  34  at end  74 , wherein moving the bracket  34  and conversation mirror  18  to the stowed position stores rotational energy in the spring&#39;s windings that are released once the conversation mirror  18  moves to the use position. The spring  70  may include an over center spring that bias the conversation mirror  18  to one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. In doing so, the slider mechanism  16  slides on the pairs of rails  26  and male guide members  28  as described above. Once the slider mechanism  16  crosses over center, the spring  70  biases the bracket  34  and conversation mirror  18  to one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. 
     Movement between the use and stowed positions may be facilitated by any of the means described in previous embodiments in addition to other suitable means not described herein. Similar to previous embodiments, a release and return mechanism may be used to dislodge the conversation mirror  18  from the stowed and use positions, which may include electrical and manual means. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.