Patent Description:
An example of a mirror assembly may include a mirror and a mirror support that may be fixed to a glass or roof panel of a vehicle, and an angle of the mirror may be adjustable.

One example in which the angle of the mirror is adjustable includes a rear view assembly disclosed in US Patent Publication No. <CIT>). The rear view assembly includes a display mirror assembly and an actuator assembly including a toggle switch that is operatively connected to the display mirror assembly to tilt a glass element. <CIT> relates to an interior rearview mirror assembly.

Embodiments provide a mirror assembly in which an angle of a display panel is easily changeable by simple manipulation of pressing a button.

According to the invention, a mirror assembly includes: a housing provided with a hinge shaft; a cover provided with a connection portion rotatably coupled to the hinge shaft; a slider disposed between the housing and the cover and provided with a hook; an elevation shaft disposed below the slider; and a button configured to support the elevation shaft, wherein the hook is configured to engage with a hook holder disposed on the housing, wherein the slider comprises a protrusion surface configured to slide along an outer surface of the hook holder based on movement of the slider, and wherein an angle of the slider is varied based on contact between the protrusion surface and the outer surface of the hook holder.

In an example not claimed, a mirror assembly includes: a housing; a cover rotatably coupled to the housing; a slider disposed between the housing and the cover; an elevation shaft configured to cause the slider move upward; and a button configured to cause the elevation shaft move upward, wherein the slider comprises a guide portion guided by contact with the housing resulting in a variable angle of the slider while the guide portion is contacting the housing.

The mirror assembly may further include: an outer housing to which the cover is coupled; and a display panel disposed in the outer housing.

The mirror assembly may further include: a glass housing; and a ball shaft supported on the glass housing, wherein the housing may be supported on the ball shaft.

In an embodiment, the cover comprises a slider guide, and the slider comprises a guide shaft configured to be guided by the slider guide.

The mirror assembly may further include a base cover configured to contact a projection disposed on the elevation shaft based on movement of the elevation shaft toward the base cover.

In an embodiment, the base cover comprises an upper contact portion configured to contact the projection when the elevation shaft is moved upward, and the cover comprises a lower contact portion configured to contact the projection when the elevation shaft is moved downward.

In an embodiment, the lower contact portion is one of a plurality of lower contact portions which are spaced apart from each other, and a recess configured to accommodate the projection is defined between adjacent lower contact portions.

In an embodiment, the upper contact portion comprises a plurality of alternating upper peaks and upper valleys.

In an embodiment, the lower contact portion comprises a lower valley defined between two lower peaks.

In an embodiment, the upper peaks of the upper contact portion and the lower peaks of the lower contact portion are misaligned with respect to each other.

The mirror assembly may further include a spring disposed between the cover and the slider.

According to the invention a space in which the elevation shaft is accommodated is defined in the button.

A shaft support configured to rotatably support the elevation shaft may be disposed in the button.

The mirror assembly may further include a switching configured to turn the display panel on and off, wherein a slider protrusion configured to switch the switch may be disposed on the slider.

Hereinafter, detailed embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A mirror assembly may be installed in a vehicle to provide a rear view to a driver. An example of the mirror assembly may be a device for protecting the driver's eyes from bright lights of a following vehicle during night driving. An example of the mirror assembly may include an ECM mirror.

The mirror assembly may include a mirror M and a mirror support MS supporting the mirror M.

<FIG> is a side view of a mirror assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a side view of the mirror assembly when a button illustrated in <FIG> is pressed, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the mirror assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the inside of the mirror assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a side view when the slider is moved downward according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a side view when the slider is moved upward according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A mirror assembly includes a housing <NUM>, a cover <NUM>, a slider <NUM>, an elevation shaft <NUM>, and a button <NUM>. The mirror assembly may include a glass housing <NUM> and a ball shaft <NUM>. The mirror assembly may further include a base cover <NUM>. The mirror assembly may include an outer housing <NUM> and a display panel <NUM>.

The housing <NUM>, the cover <NUM>, the slider <NUM>, the elevation shaft <NUM>, and the button <NUM>, the base cover <NUM>, the outer housing <NUM>, and the display panel <NUM> may constitute a mirror M, and the glass housing <NUM> and the ball shaft <NUM> may be a mirror support MS that supports the mirror M.

The glass housing <NUM> may be attached to a glass of a vehicle.

The glass housing <NUM> may include a glass attachment body <NUM> attached to the glass.

The ball shaft <NUM> may be connected to the glass housing <NUM>. A front ball accommodation portion <NUM> in which a front ball <NUM> of the ball shaft <NUM> is accommodated may be provided in the glass housing <NUM>.

The ball shaft <NUM> may be supported on the glass housing <NUM>.

In the ball shaft <NUM>, a pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected to opposite ends of a shaft <NUM>. The pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> may be integrated with each other.

The pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other with the shaft <NUM> therebetween. The pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed on ends of the shaft <NUM> in a longitudinal direction. The pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in a front and rear direction X. Each of the pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may have a spherical shape or a shape similar to a spherical shape. An outer circumferential surface of each of the pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may be a curved surface.

The pair of balls <NUM> and <NUM> may include a front ball <NUM> and a rear ball <NUM>.

The front ball <NUM> may be inserted into the front ball accommodation portion <NUM> and supported by the glass housing <NUM>.

The rear ball <NUM> may be inserted into the rear ball accommodation portion <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM> to support the housing <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> may have a straight-line shape or a bent shape.

A cable accommodation portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) in which a cable (not shown) is accommodated may be provided in each of the front ball <NUM>, the rear ball <NUM>, and the shaft <NUM>. The cable accommodation portion <NUM> may be a recessed groove formed in at least one of the front ball <NUM>, the rear ball <NUM>, or the shaft <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may be supported on the ball shaft <NUM>. A rear ball accommodation portion <NUM> in which the rear ball <NUM> is inserted and accommodated may be provided in the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be fixed in position while being supported by the ball shaft <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> and the glass housing <NUM> may be maintained to be spaced apart from each other by the ball shaft <NUM>. In a state in which the glass housing <NUM> is attached to the glass, the housing <NUM> may be held up by the glass housing <NUM> by the ball shaft <NUM>, and the mirror M including the housing <NUM> may be supported on the mirror support MS including the shaft <NUM> and the glass housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may rotatably support the cover <NUM>. A hinge shaft <NUM> is provided on the housing <NUM>. The hinge shaft <NUM> may be disposed above the housing <NUM>. The hinge shaft <NUM> may be disposed to be elongated in a lateral direction Y of the housing <NUM>. A pair of hinge shafts <NUM> may be provided on an upper portion of the housing <NUM>. The pair of hinge shafts <NUM> may be disposed to protrude from the housing <NUM> in opposite directions.

The housing <NUM> may further include a holder <NUM> on which the slider hangs and which limits downward movement of the slider <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> may be disposed below the hinge shaft <NUM>. The holder <NUM> may be spaced apart from the hinge shaft <NUM> in a vertical direction Z.

The holder <NUM> may be disposed on a central or lower portion of the housing <NUM>. The holder <NUM> may be disposed to be elongated in the lateral, or left and right direction Y, of the housing <NUM>. The holder <NUM> may be provided in a pair on the central or lower portion of the housing <NUM>. A pair of holders <NUM> may be disposed to protrude from the housing <NUM> in opposite directions.

The housing <NUM> may be provided with a base cover coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the base cover <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be coupled to the base cover <NUM> by a coupling member such as a screw.

A connection portion <NUM> rotatably connected to the hinge shaft <NUM> is disposed on the cover <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> may be disposed on an upper portion of the cover <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> may have a cross-sectional "U" shape. The connection portion <NUM> may be provided in a pair, like the hinge shaft <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> may cover the slider <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> may rotate to be tilted about the hinge shaft <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the hinge shaft <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may be disposed vertically when the slider <NUM> is in a lowered position and may be disposed to be tilted at a predetermined angle when the slider <NUM> is in a raised position.

An outer housing coupling portion <NUM> that is coupled to the outer housing <NUM> through a screw or the like may be disposed on the cover <NUM>.

A lower protrusion <NUM> surrounded by the button <NUM> may be disposed on the cover <NUM>. The lower protrusion <NUM> may be disposed on a lower end of the cover <NUM> to protrude downward.

A slider guide <NUM> through which the slider <NUM> is guided may be disposed on the cover <NUM>. The slider guide <NUM> may be spaced apart from the connection portion <NUM> in the left and right direction Y. The slider guide <NUM> may be provided in a pair on the cover <NUM>, and the pair of slider guides <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z.

The slider <NUM> is disposed between the housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. The slider <NUM> may be disposed to be tilted while being raised between the housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. The slider <NUM> may be disposed vertically while being lowered between the housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>.

A hook <NUM> is disposed on the slider <NUM>. The hook <NUM> may protrude toward the housing <NUM>. The hook <NUM> is configured to be hooked with the holder <NUM>, and the holder <NUM> is a hook holder <NUM> on which the hook <NUM> is hooked. Hereinafter, the holder <NUM> will be described as the hook holder <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> when the slider <NUM> is lowered, the hook <NUM> may be hooked with the hook holder <NUM> so as to be secured. When the slider <NUM> is raised, the hook <NUM> may disengage from the hook holder <NUM> and be separated from the hook holder <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

A guide shaft <NUM> may be disposed on the slider <NUM>.

The guide shaft <NUM> may be guided to the housing <NUM>. The guide shaft <NUM> may be inserted into the slider guide <NUM> and be raised and lowered along the slider guide <NUM>. The guide shaft <NUM> may be slidably fitted into the slider guide <NUM> in the vertical direction Z and may be secured to the slider guide <NUM> in the front and rear direction X and the left and right direction Y. The slider <NUM> may rotate together with the cover <NUM>.

The slider <NUM> may be provided with a guide portion <NUM> capable of movement that is guided by the housing <NUM>. When movement of the guide portion <NUM> is guided by the housing <NUM>, an angle of the slider <NUM> may vary.

The guide portion <NUM> may come in contact with or be separated from the housing <NUM>. The guide portion may come in contact with the housing <NUM> when the slider <NUM> is raised and may be guided by the housing <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be spaced apart from the housing <NUM> when the slider <NUM> is lowered.

A protrusion-referenced with the same reference number as guide portion <NUM>-that is guided along an outer surface of the hook holder <NUM> is disposed on the slider <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may be an example of the guide portion <NUM> that is guided to the housing <NUM>. Thus, hereinafter, the protrusion and the guide portion will be described with the same reference numeral <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may protrude from the slider <NUM> toward the housing <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> may be disposed to protrude forward from a front surface of the slider <NUM>, with respect to the X axis direction.

When the slider <NUM> is lowered, the protrusion <NUM> may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the hook holder <NUM> in the vertical direction Z as illustrated in <FIG>.

When the slider <NUM> is raised, the protrusion <NUM> may come in contact with the outer surface of the hook holder <NUM> and be guided along the outer surface of the hook holder <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

A curved surface <NUM> on which the protrusion <NUM> is guided may be disposed on the outer surface of the hook holder <NUM>.

The curved surface <NUM> of the hook holder <NUM> may be disposed on a surface of the hook holder <NUM>, which faces the slider <NUM>.

The hook holder <NUM> may be provided so that a width thereof in the front and rear direction gradually decreases toward the downward direction.

The hook holder <NUM> may include an upper end and a lower end, and a width of the upper end in the front and rear direction may be greater than that of the lower end in the front and rear direction.

The protrusion may include a curved surface <NUM> that is guided by the curved surface <NUM> of the hook holder <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may be provided so that a width thereof in the front and rear direction gradually increases downward. The protrusion <NUM> may include an upper end and a lower end, and a width of the lower end in the front and rear direction may be greater than that of the upper end in the front and rear direction.

While the movement of the protrusion <NUM> is guided by the outer surface of the hook holder <NUM>, the angle of the slider <NUM> may vary. Here, the angle of the slider <NUM> may be defined as an angle at which the slider <NUM> rotates to be tilted based on a vertical position of the slider <NUM>.

The angle of the slider <NUM> may be changed while being raised, and when the angle of the slider <NUM> is changed, an angle of the cover <NUM> fitted to be connected to the slider <NUM> may also be changed, and an angle of the outer housing <NUM> connected to the cover <NUM> may vary as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, resulting in an angle of the display panel <NUM> disposed in the outer housing <NUM> being varied.

The elevation shaft <NUM> is disposed below the slider <NUM>. When the elevation shaft <NUM> is raised by the button <NUM>, the slider <NUM> may be raised.

The elevation shaft <NUM> may be disposed between the slider <NUM> and the button <NUM> in the vertical direction Z.

An upper end of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be in contact with a bottom surface of the slider <NUM>, and a lower end of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be in contact with the button <NUM>.

When the button <NUM> is pushed, or raised, the elevation shaft <NUM> may be raised by the button <NUM> to allow the slider <NUM> to rise. The elevation shaft <NUM> may be a button shaft that transmits external force applied to the button <NUM> to the slider <NUM>.

The elevation shaft <NUM> may be rotatably disposed with respect to the button <NUM>.

The elevation shaft <NUM> may include a shaft <NUM> and a projection <NUM> protruding from an outer circumference of the shaft <NUM>.

The projection <NUM> may be provided in plurality on the shaft <NUM>, and the plurality of projections <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other along the outer circumference of the shaft <NUM>.

A seating body <NUM> rotatably seated in the button <NUM> may be disposed on a lower end of the elevation shaft <NUM>. The seating body <NUM> may protrude from an outer circumference of the shaft <NUM>.

The button <NUM> may support the elevation shaft <NUM>. The button <NUM> may be disposed at a lower side of the outer housing <NUM> and may be pushed upward by an external force.

The button <NUM> may be provided in a polygonal shape. A upper surface of the button <NUM> may be opened. A space <NUM> accommodating the lower protrusion <NUM> and the elevation shaft <NUM> is defined in the button <NUM>. The button <NUM> may surround the lower protrusion <NUM> and may contact the lower protrusion <NUM> to be secured in a raised position.

A shaft support <NUM> rotatably supporting the elevation shaft <NUM> may be disposed in the button <NUM>.

The base cover <NUM> may limit a range of upward movement of the elevation shaft <NUM>.

The base cover <NUM> may include a lower plate portion <NUM> and a pair of side plate portions <NUM> erected on the lower plate portion <NUM>. A housing coupling portion <NUM> coupled through a coupling member such as a screw may be disposed on the base cover <NUM>. The housing coupling portion <NUM> may match the base cover coupling portion <NUM> in the front and rear direction X.

The outer housing <NUM> may define an outer appearance of the mirror M. The cover <NUM> may be coupled to the outer housing <NUM> and may rotate about the hinge shaft <NUM> together with the cover <NUM>.

The outer housing <NUM> may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members. The outer housing <NUM> may include a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM>.

A space in which the display panel <NUM> is accommodated may be defined inside the first housing <NUM>. An opening through which a screen of the display panel <NUM> is viewed from the outside of the mirror assembly may be defined in the first housing <NUM>.

The second housing <NUM> may be coupled to the first housing <NUM>. An opening through which the housing <NUM> passes may be defined in the second housing <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> may be a rear housing in the front and rear direction X, and the second housing <NUM> may be a front housing disposed in front of the rear housing.

The first housing <NUM> may be a front panel that is seen by the driver in the driver's view point, and the second housing <NUM> may be a rear case disposed in front of the front panel in the driver's view point.

The display panel <NUM> may be disposed in the outer housing <NUM>.

When the slider <NUM> is raised, the slider <NUM> may rise based on the housing <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> to which the slider <NUM> is connected may also rise while pivoting about the hinge shaft <NUM>.

When the slider <NUM> is lowered, the slider <NUM> may also be lowered along the housing <NUM> and be hooked on the housing <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> to which the slider <NUM> is connected may pivot back about the hinge shaft <NUM> to return to its original position.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating the inside of the mirror assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a perspective view of the elevation shaft according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a perspective view of the base cover according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a bottom view of the base cover according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a plan view of the cover according to an embodiment.

The mirror assembly may further include springs S1 and S2. One example of the springs S1 and S2 may be a coil spring. The springs S1 and S2 may assist an operation of the button <NUM> and positional movement of the slider <NUM>.

Each of the springs S1 and S2 may include a first spring S1 elastically supporting the slider <NUM>. The first spring S1 may elastically support the slider <NUM> downward.

The first spring S1 may be disposed between the cover <NUM> and the slider <NUM> or between the housing <NUM> and the slider <NUM>.

An example of the first spring S1 may be a coil spring. An upper end of the first spring S1 may be in contact with the cover <NUM>, and a lower end of the first spring S2 may be in contact with the slider <NUM>.

When the slider <NUM> is raised, the first spring S1 may be compressed to elastically support the slider <NUM> downward.

The springs S1 and S2 may include the second spring S2 spaced apart from the first spring S1.

The second spring S2 may elastically support the slider <NUM> upward. The second spring S2 may be disposed between the cover <NUM> and the slider <NUM>.

A lower plate portion on which the second spring S2 is placed may be disposed on the cover <NUM>, and a second spring accommodation portion in which a portion or all of the second spring S2 is accommodated may be provided in the slider <NUM>.

An example of the second spring S2 may be a coil spring. An upper end of the second spring S2 may be in contact with the second spring accommodation portion of the slider <NUM>, and a lower end of the second spring S2 may be in contact with the lower plate portion of the cover <NUM>.

The second spring S2 may be provided in a pair, and the pair of second springs S2 may be spaced apart from each other in the left and right direction Y. One of the pair of second springs S2 may be closer to a left end of the slider <NUM>, and the other of the pair of second springs S2 may be closer to the right end of the slider <NUM>.

The second spring S2 may be compressed when the slider <NUM> is lowered and may elastically support the slider <NUM> upward.

When the springs S1 and S2 includes both the first spring S1 and the second spring S2, the springs S1 and S2 may elastically support the slider <NUM> downward when external force is not applied to the button <NUM>.

The plurality of projections <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be disposed laterally along the shaft <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> at equal intervals. For example, four projections <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the shaft <NUM> and may be disposed at equal intervals, however the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each of the projections <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be provided in an angular shape. Each of top and bottom surfaces of the projection <NUM> may have an angular shape. Each of an upper end 62a and a lower end 62b of the projection <NUM> may have a pointed shape. The upper end 62a of the projection <NUM> and the lower end 62b of the projection <NUM> may not be aligned with each other in the vertical direction Z.

An upper contact portion <NUM> may be disposed on the base cover <NUM>. When the projection <NUM> is raised, the projection <NUM> may come in contact with the upper contact portion <NUM>.

The upper contact portion <NUM> may be provided to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the lower plate portion <NUM> of the base cover <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper contact portion <NUM> may be provided in a ring shape. In the upper contact portion <NUM>, peaks <NUM> and valleys <NUM> may be alternately disposed along the upper contact portion <NUM>.

When the projection <NUM> is raised, the upper end 62a of the projection <NUM> may be inserted between the peaks <NUM> of the upper contact portion <NUM>, and the upper end 62a of the projection <NUM> may be secured against the contact portion <NUM>.

A shaft through-hole <NUM> may be defined in the base cover <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may pass through the shaft through-hole <NUM>.

When the elevation shaft <NUM> is raised, the upper end 62a of the projection <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be guided along an angled surface between a peak <NUM> and an adjacent valley <NUM>, and the elevation shaft <NUM> may be guided by the upper contact portion <NUM> to rotate by a predetermined degree of rotation.

A lower contact portion <NUM> may be disposed on the cover <NUM>. When the projection <NUM> is lowered, the projection <NUM> may come in contact with the lower contact portion <NUM>.

The lower contact portion <NUM> may be disposed inside the lower protrusion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the lower contact portion <NUM>, peaks <NUM> and valleys <NUM> may be alternately disposed. A pair of peaks <NUM> may be disposed on the lower contact portion <NUM>, and the valley <NUM> may be disposed between the pair of peaks <NUM>.

When the projection <NUM> descends, the lower end 62b of the projection <NUM> may be inserted between the peaks <NUM> of the lower contact portion <NUM>, and the lower end 62b of the projection <NUM> may be secured against the lower contact portion <NUM>.

The lower contact portion <NUM> may be provided in plurality, like the projection <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> and the lower contact portion <NUM> may correspond one-to-one to each other. The number of lower contact portions <NUM> may be the same as the number of projections <NUM>, however the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The plurality of lower contact portions <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other, and a hole <NUM> into which the projection <NUM> may be inserted in the vertical direction Z may be defined between adjacent lower contact portions <NUM>.

The hole <NUM> may be provided in plurality, like the projection <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> and the hole <NUM> may correspond one-to-one to each other, however the present disclosure is no limited thereto.

The peak <NUM> of the upper contact portion <NUM> and the peak <NUM> of the lower contact portion <NUM> may be misaligned with each other in the vertical direction.

When the elevation shaft <NUM> is lowered, the lower end 62b of the projection <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be guided along an angled surface between the peak <NUM> and the valley <NUM>, and the elevation shaft <NUM> may be guided by the lower contact portion <NUM> to rotate by a predetermined degree.

Hereinafter, an operation of the mirror assembly will be described.

First, when the button <NUM> is engaged by an external force, the elevation shaft <NUM> may be raised by the button <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) to rise above the hole <NUM>. The projection <NUM> passing through the hole <NUM> may come in contact with the upper contact portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) and be guided along an angled surface between a peak <NUM> and a valley <NUM> of the upper contact portion <NUM>, and while the projection <NUM> is guided by the angled surface, the elevation shaft <NUM> may rotate by a predetermined degree by the upper contact portion <NUM>.

As the elevation shaft <NUM> rotates, the projection <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be disposed above the lower contact portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) and may be disposed between the upper contact portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the lower contact portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) with respect to the vertical direction Z.

When the external force applied to the button <NUM> is removed, the projection <NUM> may be lowered to come in contact with the lower contact portion <NUM> and be guided along an angled surface between a peak <NUM> and a valley <NUM> of the lower contact portion <NUM>, and while the projection <NUM> is guided by the angled surface, the elevation shaft <NUM> may rotate by a predetermined degree by the lower contact portion <NUM>.

The projection <NUM> of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be secured against the lower contact portion <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> may be maintained between the upper contact portion <NUM> and the lower contact portion <NUM>, and thus, limits of a range of vertical movement of the slider <NUM> based on movement of the elevation shaft <NUM> may be defined.

In the state in which the slider <NUM> is raised, the button <NUM> may be engaged again, thus raising the elevation shaft <NUM> again via the button <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> may come into contact with the upper contact portion <NUM> again so as to be guided along an angled surface between a peak <NUM> and a valley <NUM> of the upper contact portion <NUM>. The elevation shaft <NUM> may rotate once more by a predetermined degree by the upper contact portion <NUM>, and when the elevation shaft <NUM> rotates, the projection <NUM> may be disposed above the hole <NUM>.

Thereafter, when the external force applied to the button <NUM> is removed, the projection <NUM> may be lowered into the hole <NUM> and be inserted into the hole <NUM>. The elevation shaft <NUM> may be lowered, and the projection <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the lower contact portion <NUM>.

When the projection <NUM> is lowered, the slider <NUM> may be lowered together with the elevation shaft <NUM>, and the hook <NUM> of the slider <NUM> may be hooked with the hook holder <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view depicting operation of a switch via the slider according to an embodiment.

The mirror assembly may further include a switch <NUM> that turns on/off the display panel <NUM>.

The switch <NUM> may be disposed inside the outer housing <NUM>.

An example of the switch <NUM> may be a mechanical switch or a single pole single throw (SPST).

The switch <NUM> may be mounted on a substrate <NUM> and may be spaced apart from the slider <NUM> in the front and rear direction X.

The switch <NUM> may have an operating knob <NUM> disposed on a surface facing the slider <NUM>. The operating knob <NUM> may be rotatably disposed on the switch <NUM>.

When the switch <NUM> is switched on, current may be applied to the display panel <NUM> to turn on the display panel <NUM>, and when the switch <NUM> is switched off, the switch <NUM> may block the current to the display panel <NUM> to turn off the display panel <NUM>.

A slider protrusion <NUM> that switches the switch <NUM> may be disposed on the slider <NUM>.

The slider protrusion <NUM> may be disposed to protrude toward the switch <NUM>. The slider protrusion <NUM> may protrude from a rear surface of the slider <NUM>.

When the slider <NUM> is raised, the slider protrusion <NUM> may allow the knob <NUM> to rotate, turn off the switch <NUM>, and turn off the display panel <NUM>.

When the slider <NUM> is lowered, the slider protrusion <NUM> may allow the knob <NUM> to rotate back, turn on the switch <NUM>, and turn on the display panel <NUM>.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the angle of the display panel may be easily changed in a push button manner.

In addition, when the button is pressed once, the button may be raised so that the pressed state of the button is maintained, and when the button is additionally pressed one more time, the button may be lowered, and the manipulation for changing the angle of the display panel may be easy for a user to perform, for example while operating a vehicle.

In addition, the button may smoothly return to its original position through the simple structure of the spring that elastically supports the slider.

In addition, the display panel may be conveniently turned on/off by pressing the button.

In addition, there may be the advantage in that a separate sensor for turning the display panel on/off is unnecessary, and the cost is low due to the simple structure of the switch.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other implementations, which fall within the scope of the present claims.

Claim 1:
A mirror assembly comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) provided with a hinge shaft (<NUM>);
a cover (<NUM>) provided with a connection portion (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the hinge shaft (<NUM>);
a slider (<NUM>) disposed between the housing (<NUM>) and the cover (<NUM>) and provided with a hook (<NUM>);
an elevation shaft (<NUM>) disposed below the slider (<NUM>); and
a button (<NUM>) configured to support the elevation shaft (<NUM>), wherein the button (<NUM>) comprises a space (<NUM>) configured to accommodate the elevation shaft (<NUM>),
wherein the hook (<NUM>) is configured to engage with a hook holder (<NUM>) disposed on the housing (<NUM>),
wherein the slider (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion surface (<NUM>) configured to slide along an outer surface of the hook holder (<NUM>) based on movement of the slider (<NUM>), and
wherein an angle of the slider (<NUM>) is varied based on contact between the protrusion surface (<NUM>) and the outer surface of the hook holder (<NUM>).