Patent ID: 7887202

Claim:
A mirror assembly for use on a motor vehicle comprising: a reflective element assembly for providing a rearward reflective view to an operator of a motor vehicle; a base adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle; a powered drive assembly for moving said reflective element assembly between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration; a support arm assembly for supporting said reflective element assembly, and attachable to said base for movement between said folded configuration and said unfolded configuration; a detent assembly interposed between said support arm assembly and said base; and a pivot assembly associated with said detent assembly for manual and motorized movement of said support arm assembly between said folded configuration and said unfolded configuration; said pivot assembly including: an upper housing; an annular upper actuator plate in rotational association with said powered drive assembly, characterized by a lower recess in a reverse side of said annular upper actuator plate; an annular detent plate characterized by a raised detent portion adjoining an arcuate sector portion, for nested association with said lower recess, including a depending finger associated with said raised detent portion, and a sector detent depending from said sector portion; a ring-like lower housing element characterized by an annular flange, including a flange detent portion for nested association with said sector detent; and a lower pivot plate characterized by a lower recess portion for nested association with said sector portion, a lug portion for nested association with said raised detent portion and said lower recess, a receptacle for nested association with said finger, and a boss for association with said ring-like lower housing element; wherein during motorized movement of said support arm assembly between said folded configuration and said unfolded configuration, said annular upper actuator plate is stationary relative to said base, and said powered drive assembly freely rotates about said annular upper actuator plate; and wherein during manual movement of said support arm assembly from said folded configuration to said unfolded configuration, said annular upper actuator plate rotates with rotation of said support arm assembly and said powered drive assembly, and said lower recess, said raised detent portion, and said lug portion are disengaged; and wherein during motorized movement of said support arm assembly subsequent to said manual movement, said raised detent portion is reengaged with said lower recess by relative rotation between said annular upper actuator plate and said detent plate, and said powered drive assembly freely rotates about said annular upper actuator plate.