Mirror flipper assembly

• US 10,464,488 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Kuester, Ulrich A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US15/709,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20180079365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 359604, 359872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/20 characterised by the type of display used

Abstract

A rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a housing defining an interior cavity and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a mounting plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof and a spring plate coupled with the mounting plate at a first coupling and slidably coupled with the mounting plate at a second coupling. The spring plate defines a resiliently deformable spring portion positioned between the first and second couplings and an arm portion extending away from the second coupling opposite the spring portion. The actuation mechanism further includes a toggle barrel positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and rotatable between first and second positions to compress the spring portion of the spring plate by movement of the arm portion by sliding of the spring plate with respect to the second coupling.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity; and

an actuation mechanism coupled within the interior of the housing and including;

a mounting plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof;

a spring plate coupled with the mounting plate at a first coupling and slidably coupled with the mounting plate at a second coupling, the spring plate defining a resiliently deformable spring portion positioned between the first and second couplings and an arm portion extending away from the second coupling opposite the spring portion; and

a toggle barrel positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and rotatable between first and second positions to compress the spring portion of the spring plate between the toggle barrel and the first coupling by movement of the arm portion toward the second coupling by sliding of a portion of the spring plate with respect to the second coupling.

2. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the arm portion of the spring plate is operably coupled with the toggle barrel such that a force of the spring portion urges the arm portion away from the mounting plate and the toggle barrel into one of a first stable position and a second stable position respectively corresponding to a first rotational position and a second rotational position of the housing; and

rotation of the toggle barrel between the first position and the second position compresses the spring portion by the movement of the arm portion toward the mounting plate.

3. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein the first coupling is disposed toward a first end of the spring plate relative to the second coupling and fixes the first end of the spring plate in at least five orthogonal directions with the mounting plate.

4. The rearview mirror of claim 3, wherein the at least five directions in which the first end of the spring plate is fixed with the mounting plate include opposite first and second lateral directions, opposite first and second longitudinal directions, and a first vertical direction away from the spring portion.

5. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein the second coupling is spaced from the first end of the mounting plate and fixes the spring plate in four orthogonal directions with the mounting plate, the spring plate being unfixed at the second coupling in two parallel directions orthogonal to the four orthogonal directions in which the spring plate is fixed by the second coupling.

6. The rearview mirror of claim 5, wherein the four directions in which the spring plate is fixed with the mounting plate at the second coupling consist of opposite first and second lateral directions and opposite first and second longitudinal directions, the spring plate being slideable at least in a first vertical direction toward the first end of the mounting plate at the second coupling.

7. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein a rotation of the toggle barrel between the first and second positions causes rotation of the housing about the mounting plate between first and second stable positions by movement of the first arm portion in corresponding first and second longitudinal directions.

8. The rearview mirror of claim 1, further including a mounting arm pivotably coupled with the mounting plate and extending through an opening in the housing.

9. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism further includes a lever extending from the toggle barrel through a corresponding opening in the housing.

10. The rearview mirror of claim 1, further including a display substrate coupled over an open side of the housing and having a reflective surface thereon.

11. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the spring plate is a unitary element; and

the spring portion is defined therein by a reciprocal bend in the unitary element.

12. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the spring plate includes an upper portion and an lower portion both extending along a plane; and

the spring portion extends away from the plane and separates the upper portion from the lower portion.

13. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the mounting plate defines a cavity inward of an upper wall and opposite, facing side walls; and

the spring plate is received in the cavity of the mounting plate.

14. The rearview mirror of claim 13, wherein:

the first coupling is partially defined by portions of the upper wall and the opposite facing side walls; and

the second coupling is partially defined by portions of the side walls.

15. The rearview mirror of claim 14, wherein:

the first coupling includes first and second tabs extending between the upper wall and the first and second facing side walls, respectively; and

the second coupling includes third and fourth tab extending inwardly from the first and second side walls, respectively.

16. A rear vision system for a vehicle, comprising:

a video camera mounted on the vehicle in a position to capture an image of a portion of an exterior thereof; and

a display mirror assembly, comprising;

a substrate including a display in electronic communication with the camera for presenting the image thereon, a one-way reflective layer overlying the display;

a mounting plate defining a first end thereof;

a spring plate coupled with the mounting plate at a first coupling and slidably coupled with the mounting plate at a second coupling, the spring plate defining a resiliently deformable spring portion positioned between the first and second couplings and an arm portion extending away from the second coupling opposite the spring portion;

a housing supporting the display and defining an internal cavity receiving the mounting plate therein and being rotatably coupled with the first end of the mounting plate; and

a toggle barrel positioned within the cavity of the housing and rotatable between first and second positions to compress the spring portion of the spring plate between the toggle barrel and the first coupling by movement of the arm portion toward the second coupling by sliding of the spring plate with respect to the second coupling.

17. The rear vision system of claim 16, wherein:

the spring plate is a unitary element; and

the spring portion is defined therein by a reciprocal bend in the unitary element.

18. The rear vision system of claim 16, wherein:

the spring plate includes an upper portion and an lower portion both extending along a plane; and

the spring portion extends away from the plane and separates the upper portion from the lower portion.

19. The rear vision system of claim 16, wherein:

a rotation of the toggle barrel between the first and second positions causes rotation of the housing about the mounting plate between first and second stable positions by movement of the first arm portion in corresponding first and second longitudinal directions; and

when in the second position, the substrate is angled toward a headliner of the vehicle by between 5 degrees and 10 degrees relative to the first position.

20. A vehicle, comprising:

a windshield;

a headliner adjacent an upper edge of the windshield; and

a mirror assembly, comprising;

a reflective substrate;

a mounting plate rotatably coupled defining a first end thereof;

a spring plate coupled with the mounting plate at a first coupling and slidably coupled with the mounting plate at a second coupling, the spring plate defining a resiliently deformable spring portion positioned between the first and second couplings and an arm portion extending away from the second coupling opposite the spring portion;

a mounting structure coupled with the mounting plate and coupling with the vehicle adjacent the upper edge of the windshield;

a housing supporting the substrate and defining an internal cavity receiving the mounting plate and being rotatably coupled with the first end of the mounting plate; and

a toggle barrel positioned within the cavity of the housing and rotatable between first and second positions to compress the spring portion of the spring plate between the toggle barrel and the first coupling by movement of the arm portion toward the second coupling by sliding of the spring plate with respect to the second coupling.