Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5838507?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-06-02 14:10:14
Document Index: 422214356

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', 'art 22', 'art 24', 'arts 22', 'art 24', 'arts 22', 'arts 22', 'arts 22', 'arts 22', 'art 22']

Patent US5838507 - Mirror assembly with friction drive - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit, a mirror unit support, and a central connection between the mirror unit and support mounting the mirror unit for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes. A first arm is mounted on the support for pivotal movement...http://www.google.com/patents/US5838507?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5838507 - Mirror assembly with friction driveAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5838507 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/769,352Publication dateNov 17, 1998Filing dateDec 19, 1996Priority dateDec 19, 1996Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2274961A1, CN1093051C, CN1240392A, DE69723295D1, DE69723295T2, EP0944496A1, EP0944496B1, WO1998026956A1Publication number08769352, 769352, US 5838507 A, US 5838507A, US-A-5838507, US5838507 A, US5838507AInventorsIan Boddy, Keith D. FooteOriginal AssigneeLowell Engineering CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (9), Classifications (10), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMirror assembly with friction drive
US 5838507 AAbstract
A rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit, a mirror unit support, and a central connection between the mirror unit and support mounting the mirror unit for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes. A first arm is mounted on the support for pivotal movement about the first axis and connected with the mirror unit for limited pivotal movement about the second axis at a position spaced from the first axis. A second arm is mounted on the support for pivotal movement about the second axis and connected with the mirror unit for compound movement for compound movement which includes limited lateral movement with respect to the first axis and pivotal movement about an axis which is either coincident with or slightly angularly related with the first axis depending upon the position of relative lateral movement. First and second power-transmitting surfaces on the first and second arms respectively are arcuate about the first and second axis respectively. First and second power-operated rotary members are constructed and arranged with respect to the first and second power-transmitting surfaces respectively (1) to move under power in peripheral rolling contact therewith to effect movement of the first and second arms respectively and (2) to move under power in peripheral sliding relation therewith in the event that movement of the first and second arms respectively is otherwise prevented.
1. A rearview mirror assembly comprisinga mirror unit having a mirror side and an opposite side, a mirror unit support disposed in facing relation to the opposite side of said mirror unit, a central connection between the opposite side of said mirror unit and said support mounting said mirror unit on said support for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes, a first arm mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about said first axis and connected with the opposite side of said mirror unit for limited pivotal movement with respect to said mirror unit about said second axis at a position spaced from said first axis, a second arm mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about said second axis and connected with the opposite side of said mirror unit for compound movement with respect to said mirror unit at a position spaced from said second axis which compound movement includes limited lateral movement with respect to said first axis and pivotal movement about an axis which is either coincident with or slightly angularly related with said first axis depending upon the position of relative lateral movement, and a remotely controlled power-operated mechanism carried in part by said support for effecting a desired movement of said mirror unit together with a corresponding movement of either one or both of said first and second arms with respect to said support in response to a remote manual movement by a user, said remotely controlled power-operated mechanism including first and second power-transmitting surfaces on said first and second arms respectively arcuate about said first and second axis respectively, and first and second power-operated rotary members being annular in cross-section and engaged with said first and second power-transmitting surfaces respectively, said first and second power-transmitting surfaces being substantially smooth and said first and second power-operated rotary members having substantially smooth peripheral surfaces, said first and second power-operated rotary members being constructed and arranged with respect to said first and second power transmitting surfaces respectively (1) to move under power in peripheral rolling contact therewith to effect movement of the first and second arms respectively and (2) to move under power in peripheral sliding relation therewith in the event that movement of the first and second arms respectively is otherwise prevented. 2. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein a first housing part has first and second openings therein through which said first and second arms respectively extend, said first and second openings being constructed and arranged to closely surround the first and second arms respectively with a clearance space which is substantially constant throughout the movement of said first and second arms respectively therethrough.
3. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said support includes first and second separate housing parts disposed in fixed cooperating relation with one another so that said second housing part faces the opposite side of said mirror unit and defines with said first housing part an interior housing space.
4. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said mirror unit includes a mirror and a mirror holder within which said mirror is mounted, said mirror holder defining the opposite side of said mirror unit, said central connection including a first connecting structure fixed to the exterior of said mirror holder and extending toward said second housing part and a second connecting structure fixed to the exterior of said second housing part and extending toward said mirror holder, said connecting structures being operable to be moved into cooperating relation with one another by a snap action.
5. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein one of said connecting structures comprises a projecting base portion having an enlarged portion on a projecting end of said base portion, said enlarged portion having a first convex connecting surface disposed within a first imaginary spherical surface having a first pair of parallel truncations one of which is defined by an intersection with said base portion, said enlarged portion having a first concave connecting surface facing away from said base portion disposed within a first imaginary spherical segmental surface having (1) a center coincident with the center of said first imaginary spherical surface and (2) a radius smaller than the radius of first imaginary spherical surface, the other of said connecting structures comprising a projecting annular wall having a second concave connecting surface disposed within a second imaginary spherical surface having (1) a radius generally equal to the radius of said first imaginary spherical surface and (2) a second pair of parallel truncations, and a projecting central portion within said annular wall having a second convex connecting surface facing in the direction of projection of said annular wall disposed within a second imaginary spherical segmental surface having (1) a center coincident with the center of said second imaginary spherical surface and (2) a radius equal to the radius of said first imaginary spherical segmental surface, the construction of said annular wall being such that said annular wall is operable in response to the movement of said enlarged portion therein to resiliently yield and resiliently return to bring (1) the first convex connecting surface of said enlarged portion into engagement with the second concave connecting surface of said annular wall so as to retain said first and second integral connecting structures against movement in a direction away from one another and (2) said first concave connecting surface of said enlarged portion into engagement with the second convex connecting surface of said projecting central portion so as to limit the movement of said first and second integral connecting structures in a direction toward one another, the engagement of said connecting surfaces permitting relative sliding movement therebetween so as to retain the members in cooperating relation in a multiplicity of different positions of pivotal movement of said mirror unit with respect to said support along said two intersecting perpendicular axes.
6. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the connections between said arms and said mirror unit include structure enabling each connection to be established by a snap action.
7. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said first arm and said mirror unit includes a first cylindrical connecting element on said first arm having an axis aligned with said second axis, said mirror unit having first surfaces receiving an outer peripheral portion of said first cylindrical connecting element and a pair of flexible cantilevered arcuate walls for engaging on opposite sides of an inner peripheral portion of said first cylindrical connecting element.
8. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said second arm and said mirror unit includes a second cylindrical connecting element on said second arm having an axis aligned with said first axis, said mirror unit having second surfaces slidably receiving an outer peripheral portion of said second cylindrical connecting element for limited lateral movement and a pair of flexible cantilevered L-shaped walls for engaging opposite ends of an inner peripheral portion of said second cylindrical connecting element.
9. A mirror assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said first arm includes a first pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said first pair of flanges being arcuate about said first axis, said second arm including a second pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said second pair of flanges being arcuate about said second axis, said first housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate concave surfaces slidably engaging convex surfaces of said first and second pairs of arcuate flanges respectively, said second housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior housing space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate convex surfaces slidably engaging concave surfaces of said first and second arcuate flanges respectively.
10. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said remotely controlled power-operated mechanism includes first and second electric motors, a worm drivingly connected with each electric motor, a worm pinion rotatably mounted between said housing parts and drivingly connected with each worm, a spiral gear fixed to rotate with each worm pinion, a toothed wheel disposed in meshing relation with each spiral gear and rotatably mounted in said support, said rotary member being rotatably mounted in said support concentrically with and alongside each toothed wheel for rotary movement therewith.
11. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 10 including a first potentiometer carried in part by said first arm and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said first arm with respect to said support, a second potentiometer carried in part by said second arm and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said second arm with respect to said support, a microprocessor electrically connected to said first and second potentiometers and to said first and second electric motors, said microprocessor being capable, upon manually applied storage command, of storing the electrical signals generated by said first and second potentiometers for at least one selected position of said mirror unit, and of causing said mirror unit to be selectively returned to said one selected position at which said storage command was applied by starting said first and second motors and causing the same to continue to run and move mirror unit until the signals generated by said first and second potentiometers are equal to said storage signals, whereupon said microprocessor then stops said first and second motors.
12. A rearview mirror assembly comprisinga mirror unit having a mirror side and an opposite side, a mirror unit support disposed on the opposite side of said mirror unit, a first member unit mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about a first axis, said first member including a first pair of spaced arms extending from said support toward said mirror unit and forming first spaced connections with the opposite side of said mirror unit at positions spaced in opposite directions from said first axis, said first member being constructed and arranged to enable limited pivotal movement of said mirror unit with respect to said first member about a second axis disposed in generally intersecting perpendicular relation with said first axis, a second member mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about said second axis, said second member including a second pair of spaced arms extending from said support toward said mirror unit and forming second spaced connections with the opposite side of said mirror unit at positions spaced in opposite directions from said second axis, said second member being constructed and arranged to enable limited pivotal movement of said mirror unit with respect to said second member about said first axis, and a remotely controlled power-operated mirror unit moving mechanism carried in part by said support for effecting a desired movement of said mirror unit together with a corresponding movement of either one or both of said first and second members with respect to said support in response to a remote manual movement by a user, said remotely controlled power-operated mirror unit moving mechanism including first and second power transmitting surfaces on one of said first and second pairs of arms respectively and first and second power-operated rotary members being annular in cross-section and engaged with said first and second power-transmitting surfaces respectively, said first and second power-transmitting surfaces being substantially smooth and said first and second power-operated rotary members having substantially smooth peripheral surfaces, said first and second power-operated rotary members being constructed and arranged with respect to said first and second power transmitting surfaces respectively (1) to move under power in peripheral rolling contact therewith to effect movement of the first and second members respectively and (2) to move under power in peripheral sliding relation therewith in the event that movement of the first and second members respectively is otherwise prevented. 13. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said remotely controlled power-operated mirror unit moving mechanism comprises a first electric motor carried by said support operatively connected with said first rotary member to effect pivotal movement of said first member between said limits and hence said mirror unit about said connections with said second pair of arms, a second electric motor carried by said support and operatively connected with said second rotary member to effect pivotal movement of said second member between said limits and hence said mirror unit about said connections with said first pair of arms.
14. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said first and second electric motors are operatively connected with said first and second rotary members by first and second gear trains respectively, each of which includes a worm drivingly connected with the associated electric motor, a worm pinion rotatably mounted between said housing parts and drivingly connected with said worm, a spiral gear fixed to rotate with said worm pinion, a toothed wheel disposed in meshing relation with said spiral gear and rotatably mount ed in said support and connected to rotate with the associated rotary member.
15. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 13 including a first potentiometer carried in part by one arm of said first pair of arms and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said first member with respect to said support, a second potentiometer carried in part by one arm of said second pair of arms and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said second member with respect to said support, a microprocessor electrically connected to said first and second potentiometers and to said first and second electric motors, said microprocessor being capable, upon manually applied storage command, of storing the electrical signals generated by said first and second potentiometers for at least one selected position of said mirror unit, and of causing said mirror unit to be selectively returned to said one selected position at which said storage command was applied by starting said first and second motors and causing the same to continue to run and move mirror unit until the signals generated by said first and second potentiometers are equal to said storage signals, whereupon said microprocessor then stops said first and second motors.
16. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the connections between said arms and said mirror unit include structure enabling each connection to be established by a snap action.
17. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said first pair of arms and said mirror unit includes a first cylindrical connecting element on each arm of said first pair of arms having an axis aligned with said second axis, said mirror unit having first surfaces receiving an outer peripheral portion of each first cylindrical connecting element and a pair of flexible cantilevered arcuate walls for engaging on opposite sides of an inner peripheral portion of each first cylindrical connecting element.
18. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said second pair of arms and said mirror unit includes a second cylindrical connecting element on each arm of said second pair of arms having an axis aligned with said first axis, said mirror unit having second surfaces receiving an outer peripheral portion of each second cylindrical connecting element and a pair of flexible cantilevered arcuate walls for engaging on opposite sides of an inner peripheral portion of each second cylindrical connecting element.
19. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said support includes first and second separate housing parts disposed in fixed cooperating relation with one another so that said second housing part faces the opposite side of said mirror unit and defines with said first housing part an interior housing space.
20. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said first member includes a first central portion between said first pair of arms having a first pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said first pair of flanges being arcuate about said first axis, said second member including a second central portion between said second pair of arms having a second pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said second pair of flanges being arcuate about said second axis, said first housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate concave surfaces slidably engaging convex surfaces of said first and second pairs of arcuate flanges respectively, said second housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior housing space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate convex surfaces slidably engaging concave surfaces of said first and second arcuate flanges respectively.
21. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein a first housing part has first and second pairs of openings therein through which said first and second pairs of arms respectively extend, said first and second pairs of openings being constructed and arranged to closely surround the first and second pairs of arms respectively with a clearance space which is substantially constant throughout the movement of said first and second pairs of arms respectively therethrough.
22. A rearview mirror assembly comprisinga mirror unit having a mirror side and an opposite side, a mirror unit support disposed in facing relation to the opposite side of said mirror unit, a central connection between the opposite side of said mirror unit and said support mounting said mirror unit on said support for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes, a first member mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about said first axis, said first member including a first pair of spaced arms extending from said support toward said mirror unit and connected with the opposite side of said mirror unit for limited pivotal movement with respect to said mirror unit about said second axis at a positions spaced in opposite directions from said first axis for limited pivotal movement with respect to said mirror unit about said second axis, a second member mounted on said support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to said support about said second axis, said second member including a second pair of arms extending from said support toward said mirror unit and connected with the opposite side of said mirror unit for compound movement with respect to thereto at positions spaced in opposite directions from said second axis which compound movement includes limited lateral movement with respect to said first axis and pivotal movement about an axis which is either coincident with or slightly angularly related with said first axis depending upon the position of relative lateral movement, and a remotely controlled power-operated mechanism carried in part by said support for effecting a desired movement of said mirror unit together with a corresponding movement of either one or both of said first and second arms with respect to said support in response to a remote manual movement by a user, said remotely controlled power-operated mechanism including first and second power-transmitting surfaces on said first and second arms respectively arcuate about said first and second axis respectively, and first and second power-operated rotary members being annular in cross-section and engaged with said first and second power-transmitting surfaces respectively, said first and second power-transmitting surfaces being substantially smooth and said first and second power-operated rotary members having substantially smooth peripheral surfaces, said first and second power-operated rotary members being constructed and arranged with respect to said first and second power transmitting surfaces respectively (1) to move under power in peripheral rolling contact therewith to effect movement of the first and second arms respectively and (2) to move under power in peripheral sliding relation therewith in the event that movement of the first and second arms respectively is otherwise prevented. 23. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein said support includes first and second separate housing parts disposed in fixed cooperating relation with one another so that said second housing part faces the opposite side of said mirror unit and defines with said first housing part an interior housing space.
24. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein said mirror unit includes a mirror and a mirror holder within which said mirror is mounted, said mirror holder defining the opposite side of said mirror unit, said central connection including a first connecting structure fixed to the exterior of said mirror holder and extending toward said second housing part and a second connecting structure fixed to the exterior of said second housing part and extending toward said mirror holder, said connecting structures being operable to be moved into cooperating relation with one another by a snap action.
25. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein the connections between said arms and said mirror unit include structure enabling each connection to be established by a snap action.
26. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 25 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said first pair of arms and said mirror unit includes a first cylindrical connecting element on each arm of said first pair of arms having an axis aligned with said second axis, said mirror unit having first surfaces receiving an outer peripheral portion of each first cylindrical connecting element and a pair of flexible cantilevered arcuate walls for engaging on opposite sides of an inner peripheral portion of each first cylindrical connecting element.
27. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 26 wherein the snap action structure of the connection between said second pair of arms and said mirror unit includes a second cylindrical connecting element on each arm of said second pair of arms having an axis aligned with said first axis, said mirror unit having second surfaces slidably receiving an outer peripheral portion of each second cylindrical connecting element for limited lateral movement and a pair of flexible cantilevered L-shaped walls for engaging opposite ends of an inner peripheral portion of each second cylindrical connecting element.
28. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein said first member includes a first central portion between said first pair of arms having a first pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said first pair of flanges being arcuate about said first axis, said second member including a second central portion between said second pair of arms having a second pair of arcuate flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said second pair of flanges being arcuate about said second axis, said first housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of first parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate concave surfaces slidably engaging convex surfaces of said first and second pairs of arcuate flanges respectively, said second housing part having first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections fixed therein within said interior housing space, said first and second arcuately spaced pairs of second parallel rail sections having first and second radially spaced arcuate convex surfaces slidably engaging concave surfaces of said first and second arcuate flanges respectively.
29. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein said remotely controlled power-operated mechanism comprises a first electric motor carried by said support operatively connected with said first rotary member to effect pivotal movement of said first member between said limits and hence said mirror unit about said central connection and said connections with said second pair of arms, a second electric motor carried by said support operatively connected with said second rotary member to effect pivotal movement of said second member between said limits and hence said mirror unit about said central connection and said connections with said first pair of arms.
30. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein said first and second electric motors are operatively connected with said first and second gear trains respectively, each of which includes a worm drivingly connected with the associated electric motor, a worm pinion rotatably mounted between said housing parts and drivingly connected with said worm, a spiral gear fixed to rotate with said worm pinion, a toothed wheel disposed in meshing relation with said spiral gear and rotatably mounted in said support and connected to rotate with the associated rotary member.
31. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 29 including a first potentiometer carried in part by one arm of said first pair of arms and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said first member with respect to said support, a second potentiometer carried in part by one arm of said second pair of arms and in part by said support for generating an electrical signal indicative of the position of pivotal movement between said limits of said second member with respect to said support, a microprocessor electrically connected to said first and second potentiometers and to said first and second electric motors, said microprocessor being capable, upon manually applied storage command, of storing the electrical signals generated by said first and second potentiometers for at least one selected position of said mirror unit, and of causing said mirror unit to be selectively returned to said one selected position at which said storage command was applied by starting said first and second motors and causing the same to continue to run and move mirror unit until the signals generated by said first and second potentiometers are equal to said storage signals, whereupon said microprocessor then stops said first and second motors.
32. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein a first housing part having first and second openings therein through which said first and second arms respectively extend, said first and second openings being constructed and arranged to closely surround the first and second arms respectively with a clearance space which is substantially constant throughout the movement of said first and second arms respectively therethrough.
33. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second power-operated rotary members are circular in cross-section.
34. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second power-operated rotary members includes a cylindrical shaft surrounded by polyurethane.
35. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second power-operated rotary members are circular in cross-section.
36. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said first and second power-operated rotary members includes a cylindrical shaft surrounded by polyurethane.
37. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said first and second power-operated rotary members are circular in cross-section.
38. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein each of said first and second power-operated rotary members includes a cylindrical shaft surrounded by polyurethane.
The specific example of a vehicle mirror assembly to which the present invention relates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,230, which issued Nov. 14, 1995, for a Dual Pivoted Member Mount for Mirror. The mirror assembly disclosed in the '230 patent has been demonstrated to function very well as a vehicle mirror assembly. However, there is an ever present need in the automotive parts supply business to be more cost-effective.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle mirror assembly of the type disclosed in the '230 patent which is more cost-effective. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing a rearview mirror assembly which comprises a mirror unit, a mirror unit support, a central connection between the mirror unit and the support mounting the mirror unit on the support for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes. A first arm is mounted on the support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to the support about the first axis and connected with the mirror unit to enable limited pivotal movement of the mirror unit with respect to the first arm about the second axis at a position spaced from the first axis. A second arm is mounted on the support for pivotal movement between limits with respect to the support about the second axis and connected with the mirror unit to enable compound movement of the mirror unit with respect to the first arm at a position spaced from the second axis which compound movement includes limited lateral movement with respect to the first axis and pivotal movement about an axis which is either coincident with or slightly angularly related with the first axis depending upon the position of relative lateral movement. A remotely controlled power-operated mechanism is carried in part by the support for effecting a desired movement of the mirror unit together with a corresponding movement of either one or both of the first and second arms with respect to the support in response to a remote manual movement by a user. The remote controlled power-operated mechanism includes first and second power-transmitting surfaces on the first and second arms respectively arcuate about the first and second axis respectively and first and second power-operated rotary members having circular peripheries engaged respectively with the first and second power-transmitting surfaces. The first and second power-operated rotary members are constructed and arranged with respect to first and second power-transmitting surfaces respectively (1) to move under power in peripheral rolling contact therewith to effect movement of the first and second arms respectively and (2) to move under power in peripheral sliding relation therewith in the event that movement of the first and second arms respectively is otherwise prevented.
A central connection formed by two connecting structures 26 and 28 is disposed between the opposite side of the mirror unit 12 and the support 14. As shown, the connecting structure 26 forms an integral part of the second housing part 24 whereas the connecting structure 28 forms an integral part of the mirror holder 20. It will be understood, however, that the two connecting structures 26 and 28 can be reversed if desired. The connecting structures 26 and 28 are of the snap-in type and are adapted to establish a pivotal interconnection between the support 14 and the mirror unit 12 which provides for pivotal movement about first and second generally intersecting perpendicular axes. The connecting structures 26 and 28 may be of any configuration suitable to establish the aforesaid pivotal movements of the mirror unit 12 with respect to the support 14. However, as shown, they are preferably constructed in the manner of U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,493, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification.
The integral connecting structure 28 also includes a projecting central portion 44 within the annular wall 40 which is in the form of a cone having its apex formed with a second convex connecting surface 46 facing in the direction of the projection oft he annular wall disposed within a second spherical segmental plane having (1) a center coincident with the center of the second truncated spherical plane and (2) a radius equal to the radius of the first spherical plane segmental plane. Surface 46, as shown, is a spherical segmental surface extending throughout the second spherical segmental plane although portions thereof may be omitted.
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the second mounting member 50 includes a central portion 72 between the second pair of arms 58 and 60 thereof which has a pair of arcuate flanges 74 extending outwardly therefrom. The flanges 74 are arcuate about the second axis. As before, the first housing part 22 includes a second arcuately spaced pair of first parallel rail sections 76 fixed therein within the interior space which have second arcuate concave surfaces 78 on the free edges thereof, spaced radially from the first concave surfaces 66, which slidably engage the convex surfaces of the second pair of arcuate flanges 74. Also, as before, the second housing part 24 includes a second arcuately spaced pair of second parallel rail sections 80 therein within the interior housing space and having convex surfaces 82 on the free edges thereof, spaced radially from the first convex surfaces 70, which slidably engage the concave surfaces of the second arcuate flanges 74. In this way, the second mounting member 50 is pivotally mounted within the housing space between the two housing parts 22 and 24 when they are moved together and fixed in cooperating relation with one another. The mounting enables the second member 50 to pivot within limits with respect to the support 14 about the second axis. It will be noted that the second housing part 24 includes openings through which the first and second pairs of arms 52-58 are enabled to extend from the support 14 toward the mirror unit 12.
It will be noted that all of the arms 52-58 are of uniform cross-sectional configuration except for their free ends which are used to connect the arms to the mirror unit 12. The openings closely surround the arms with a minimum clearance space which is substantially constant throughout the movement of the arms. The free ends of the arms are of a size to pass through the openings. It is preferable to apply a small amount of grease around each opening which serves as an effective seal to prevent dirt entrained in air from being moved into the interior space between the housing parts 22 and 24.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, it is preferable to provide a remotely controlled power-operated assembly, generally indicated at 96, for effecting the pivotal movement of each of the first and second mounting members 48 and 50 respectively. Each power-operated assembly 96 includes a reversible electric motor 98 carried within the housing space between the housing parts 22 and 24 in an appropriate position with respect to the associated mounting member. Each electric motor 98 is connected as by a yieldable gear train with the associated mounting member.
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, each yieldable gear train includes a worm 100 fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor 98. Worm 100 is disposed in meshing engagement with a worm pinion 102 suitably journalled on a shaft 104 extending between the housing parts 22 and 24 as best shown in FIG. 5. Fixed to rotate with the worm pinion 102 is a spiral gear 106 which is disposed in meshing relation with a toothed wheel 108. The toothed wheel 108 is preferably molded of a suitable plastic material integrally with a shaft 110. The ends of the shaft are suitably rotatably mounted between the housing parts 22 and 24 as best shown in FIG. 4. Mounted on the shaft 110 in side-by-side relation to the toothed wheel 108 is a rotary member 112. Each rotary member 112 constitutes a cylinder of a plastic material or of rubber. A preferred material is polyurethane. As can be appreciated from the Figures, the rotary members 112 have substantially smooth peripheral surfaces. Each rotary member 112 is suitably fixed on the shaft 110 and has a circular exterior periphery. The rotary member 112 of the power-operated assembly 96 associated with the first mounting member 48 is disposed in engagement with a power-transmitting surface 120 arcuate about the first axis formed along the outer edge of the arm 52. As can also be appreciated from the Figures, the power transmitting surfaces 120 are also substantially smooth. Likewise, the rotary member 112 of the power-operated assembly 96 associated with the second mounting member 50 is disposed in engagement with a power-transmitting surface 122 arcuate about the second axis formed along the outer edge of the arm 56 of the second mounting member 50.
It will be understood that the electric motors 98 are under the control of a control lever (not shown) which is mounted in a position of access to the driver so that a remote manual movement of the control lever will serve to energize one or both of the electric motors in the desired direction to movement the mirror unit 12 with respect to the mirror unit support 14 into a desired operating position to be viewed by the driver through the associated door window. The control lever is such that the direction of movement of the control lever determines the direction of movement of the motor or motors which are energized. When each electric motor 98 is energized, the associated worm 100 is turned which, in turn, will rotate the associated worm pinion 102 about the axis of its shaft 104. The associated spiral gear 106 turns with the worm pinion 102 in the same direction and the meshing engagement of the spiral gear 106 with the associated toothed wheel 108 will cause a corresponding rotational movement of the toothed wheel 108 and shaft 110 about the axis of the shaft 110. The rotation of the shaft 110 carries with it the rotary member 112 fixed thereon. The rotation of the rotary member 112 in engaging relation with the power-transmitting surfaces 120 or 122 on the associated arm 52 or 56 of the associated mounting member 48 or 50 will effect a corresponding pivotal movement of the associated mounting member about its pivotal axis with respect to the support 14. In the event that the mirror unit is moved under power into a limiting position, continued energization of the motor will result in the associated rotary member 112 turning with its periphery sliding with respect to the associated power-transmitting surface 120 or 122.
In the case where the second mounting member 50 is moved, the connections of the pair of arms 52 and 54 of the first member 48 with the rear holder 20 serve to restrict the pivotal movement of the mirror unit 12 about the second axis. It is noted that the spacing of the connecting elements 84 in opposite directions from the first axis is sufficient to prevent movement about the first axis and a third axis intersecting the first and second axes. In the case where the first mounting member 48 is moved, the connections of the pair of arms 56 and 58 of the second member 50 restrict the movement of the mirror unit about the first axis but the compound movement allowed by the connecting elements 90 permit the first axis to shift laterally at each connection to accommodate diagonal tilting when present. The central connection assures that the first axis will extend through the pivot point provided between the connecting structures 26 and 28. The spacing of the connecting elements 90 in opposite directions from the second axis is sufficient to prevent movement about the aforesaid third axis.
As previously indicated, the pivotal mounting of the mounting members 48 and 50 with respect to the support 14 is such as to render the present subject matter easily susceptible to having a memory function applied thereto. Moreover, the memory function can be provided by a position-sensing arrangement operatively connected between the support 14 and each of the mounting members 48 and 50 to determine the pivotal position of each of the mounting members. While any suitable means may be provided, a preferred sensing means is in the form of a potentiometer similar to the potentiometer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,295, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification. As best shown in FIG. 1, the housing part 22 is provided with first and second pairs of guides 124 which receive first and second circuit boards 126. As best shown in FIG. 6, mounted on each circuit board 126 is a pair of arcuate electric resistance elements 128 and 130. A brush 132 is operatively associated with each pair of arcuate resistance elements 128 and 130. Each brush 132 has two slides connected by a cross piece. The cross piece of one brush 132 is mounted in the arm 54 of the first mounting member 48 so that the spaced slides extend therefrom into sliding engagement with the arcuate resistance elements 128-130 of circuit board 126 mounted in the associated pair of guides 124. A second brush 132 is similarly mounted in arm 58 of the second mounting member 50 to extend therefrom in sliding engagement with the arcuate resistance elements 182-130 of the associated circuit board 126.
It will be understood, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, that, while the potentiometer is mounted with respect to the arm of each mounting member which does not have the arcuate power-transmitting surface 120 or 122 thereon that it would be nevertheless within the contemplation of the present invention to provide the potentiometer on the same arm. Moreover, it is possible in accordance with the principles of the present invention to eliminate one of the arms of each of the mounting members so that there is only a single connection of a single arm to the mirror holder for each member. The spacing of the single arms is sufficient to restrict the pivotal movements of the mirror unit in the manner previously indicated. The provision of a pair of arms is preferred because of the greater stability provided thereby.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4158483 *Feb 3, 1976Jun 19, 1979Harman International Industries, Inc.Remote controlled rearview mirrorUS4678295 *Apr 5, 1985Jul 7, 1987Magna International IncMemory positioning system for remote control rear-view mirrorUS4915493 *Jan 4, 1989Apr 10, 1990Magna International Inc.Automotive rear view mirror assemblyUS5223814 *Nov 14, 1991Jun 29, 1993Prince CorporationSensor for vehicle accessoriesUS5467230 *Aug 16, 1993Nov 14, 1995Lowell Engineering Corp.Dual pivoted member mount for mirrorEP0381016A1 *Jan 23, 1990Aug 8, 1990Hohe KgExternal rear view mirror for a motor vehicleGB2004237A * Title not availableGB2105847A * Title not availableGB2292857A * Title not availableGB2297632A * Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1 *U.K. Patent Office Search Report based on U.K. Patent corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/702,228.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5969891 *Jul 23, 1998Oct 19, 1999Metagal Industria E Comercio Ltda.Multi-use articulation for external side view mirrorsUS5980051 *Dec 31, 1998Nov 9, 1999Metagal Industria E Comercio LtdaExternal rear-view mirrorUS6168279 *Mar 25, 1998Jan 2, 2001Donnelly CorporationPivot support for adjustable rearview mirrorUS6555222Jan 13, 2000Apr 29, 2003Schefenacker Vision Systems France SaReinforced polypropylene mirror assembly and process for making the sameUS7237917 *Sep 27, 2005Jul 3, 2007Murakami CorporationMirror and angle detection deviceUS7303295Sep 23, 2005Dec 4, 2007Press Irving DRear view mirror assembly and systemUS7722199Aug 21, 2007May 25, 2010Donnelly CorporationVehicle interior rearview mirror assembly with actuatorUS8157468 *Oct 31, 2005Apr 17, 2012Tim LynnPivot connectionEP1170174A2 *Jun 30, 2001Jan 9, 2002B�hler Motor GmbHSnap mounting of a mirror drive unit* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification359/877, 359/876, 359/874, 248/481, 359/872, 248/474, 248/468International ClassificationB60R1/072Cooperative ClassificationB60R1/072European ClassificationB60R1/072Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 4, 2011FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20101117Nov 17, 2010LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJun 21, 2010REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedApr 21, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Apr 26, 2002FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 19, 1996ASAssignmentOwner name: LOWELL ENGINEERING CORPORATION, MICHIGANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BODDY, IAN;FOOTE, KEITH D.;REEL/FRAME:008397/0989Effective date: 19961216RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services