Interior rearview mirror assembly with polymeric components
First Claim
1. An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle comprising:
- a rearview mirror mount formed from polymeric material having a first color, said rearview mirror mount adapted for attachment to one of a windshield portion of the vehicle and a header portion of the vehicle;
a rearview mirror housing, said housing formed from polymeric material having a second color, and a reflective rearview mirror element included in said housing;
a rearview mirror support formed from polymeric material having a third color;
a first pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fourth color;
a second pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fifth color;
said support being pivotally attached to said mirror mount by said first pivot element, said rearview mirror housing being pivotally attached to said support by said second pivot element;
at least one electrical accessory included in said rearview mirror housing, said assembly including electrical conductors for electrically connecting said electrical accessory to the vehicle electrical system, said conductors extending through said first and second pivot elements and said mirror support to said rearview mirror housing;
wherein each of said mirror mount, said mirror support, said rearview mirror housing, said first pivot element, and said second pivot element is formed in its respective color by molding from polymeric material of that color.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interior rearview mirror assembly for vehicles incorporates a rearview mirror mount, a rearview mirror, and a rearview mirror support. The support is pivotally attached to the mirror mount by a first pivot element, and to the rearview mirror by a second pivot element. The mirror mount, support, a rearview mirror housing, and the pivot elements are each formed by molding from polymeric material having a respective color. In various embodiments, the colors may all be substantially the same, such as black, gray, tan, brown, burgundy, green, or another color, or may be different. In one form, the rearview mirror housing includes at least one electrical accessory. Electrical conductors may extend through the pivot elements and mirror support to the rearview mirror housing to provide an electrical connection for the electrical accessory to the vehicle electrical system. The pivot elements preferably include ball pivot members and sockets on various of the mirror mount, support and rearview mirror housing, and may include surfaces for enhanced frictional resistance to pivotal movement. In one form, the rearview mirror mount preferably includes receiving members which release the assembly from a windshield attachment member when sufficient force is applied such as upon impact.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a rearview mirror mount formed from polymeric material having a first color, said rearview mirror mount adapted for attachment to one of a windshield portion of the vehicle and a header portion of the vehicle;
a rearview mirror housing, said housing formed from polymeric material having a second color, and a reflective rearview mirror element included in said housing;
a rearview mirror support formed from polymeric material having a third color;
a first pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fourth color;
a second pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fifth color;
said support being pivotally attached to said mirror mount by said first pivot element, said rearview mirror housing being pivotally attached to said support by said second pivot element;
at least one electrical accessory included in said rearview mirror housing, said assembly including electrical conductors for electrically connecting said electrical accessory to the vehicle electrical system, said conductors extending through said first and second pivot elements and said mirror support to said rearview mirror housing;
wherein each of said mirror mount, said mirror support, said rearview mirror housing, said first pivot element, and said second pivot element is formed in its respective color by molding from polymeric material of that color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a rearview mirror mount formed from polymeric material having a first color, said rearview mirror mount adapted for attachment to one of a windshield portion and a header portion of the vehicle;
a rearview mirror housing, said housing formed from polymeric material having a second color, and a reflective rearview mirror element included in said housing;
a rearview mirror support formed from polymeric material having a third color;
a first pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fourth color;
a second pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fifth color;
said support being pivotally attached to said mirror mount by said first pivot element, said rearview mirror housing being pivotally attached to said support by said second pivot element;
said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth colors being substantially the same color;
each of said mirror mount, said mirror support, said rearview mirror housing, said first pivot element, and said second pivot element being formed in said substantially the same color by molding from polymeric material of that color. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a rearview mirror mount formed from polymeric material having a first color, said rearview mirror mount adapted for attachment to one of a windshield portion and a header portion of the vehicle;
a rearview mirror housing, said housing formed from polymeric material having a second color, and a reflective rearview mirror element included in said housing;
a rearview mirror support formed from polymeric material having a third color;
a first pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fourth color;
a second pivot element formed from polymeric material having a fifth color;
said support being pivotally attached to said mirror mount by said first pivot element, said rearview mirror housing being pivotally attached to said support by said second pivot element;
at least two of said mirror mount, said mirror support, said rearview mirror housing, said first pivot element and said second pivot element being molded from polymeric materials of different colors;
each of said mirror mount, said mirror support, said rearview mirror housing, said first pivot element, and said second pivot element being formed in its respective color by molding from polymeric material of that color. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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Specification