Extendable foldable mirror

• US 20040075921A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Evans, Rob, Buckingham, Roy, Bottrill, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing

Abstract

An extendable foldable mirror for use on a vehicle is a side view mirror that is longitudinally extendable. A mechanism is provided for moving the mirror (10) from a first normal viewing position to a second longitudinally extended position. The mirror element or mirror housing is adjusted in response to extension or retraction of the mirror to provide a consistent viewing picture.

Claims

1. A side view mirror for a vehicle, which is longitudinally extendable, said mirror comprising:

a mechanism for moving the mirror from a first normal viewing position to a second longitudinally extended position;

a mirror housing for retaining a mirror in said housing; and

a mirror adjustment mechanism for providing adjustment from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position in response to the extension or retraction of said mirror along the longitudinal axis of extension.

2. A side view mirror for a vehicle, which is longitudinally extendable, said mirror comprising:

a mechanism for extending said mirror from a first inboard position to a second extended towing position;

a control module for controlling the extension and retraction of said mirror;

said control module being operably interfaced with a wiring circuit of a vehicle such that it can sense the existence of a trailer light circuit when attached to said wiring circuit of said vehicle.

3. A lockout mechanism for locking out the extension capability of the mechanism for extending said mirror when a trailer light circuit is not sensed by said control module.

4. A side view mirror for a vehicle, which is longitudinally extendable, said mirror comprising:

a mechanism for extending said mirror from a first inboard position to a second extended towing position; and

a throat cover portion and an inner throat portion, said throat cover portion extending over at least a portion of said inner throat portion;

7. The side view mirror of claim 4 wherein said mechanism is a rack and pinion type drive mechanism.

10. The side view mirror of claim 7 wherein said first motor and said second motor are facing in opposite directions for engaging said rack.

5. A mirror attached such that said throat cover portion covers said mirror when said mirror is in the first inboard position and is uncovered and visible to a driver when extended in said second towing position.

8. The side view mirror of claim 5 wherein said rack and pinion drive mechanism includes a I-beam cross section having at least one geared rack along the central leg of said I-beam cross section;

and

said mechanism for extending said mirror further comprises a frame member for engaging said I-beam cross section of said rack member;

said frame member including at least one motor attached thereto, said motor including a gear for engaging said geared rack for providing relative movement therebetween upon actuation of said motor.

11. The side view mirror of claim 8 wherein said motors rotate in opposite directions for providing movement of said rack.

6. A side view mirror for a vehicle, which is longitudinally extendable, said mirror comprising:

a mechanism for extending said mirror from a first inboard position to a second extended towing position;

said mechanism including a motor having a gear for engaging a drive track, said motor being over modulated at the end of travel to said second extended towing position for placing tension on said drive track at the end thereof for rigidifying of the assembly in the extended position.

9. The side view mirror of claim 6 wherein a second gear rack is provided on a second side of said central leg, and further comprising a second motor with a second gear for engaging said second rack portion.

12. The side view mirror of claim 9 wherein said first motor and said second motor rotate in the same direction.

13. A side view mirror assembly for a vehicle, which mirror is longitudinally extendable, said mirror comprising:

a mechanism for extending the mirror from a first inboard position to a second extended towing position;

said mechanism being configured for overdriving of the mechanism for placing tension thereon, thereby rigidifying the mirror assembly.

14. The side view mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said mechanism further comprises a mirror casing and a cassette member which are moveable relative to one another for extension and retraction of the mirror.

15. The side view mirror of claim 14 wherein said mirror casing includes at least one track and said cassette member slideably engages at least one track for providing movement therebetween.

16. The side view mirror of claim 15 wherein said mechanism further comprises a worm gear drive mechanism for creating relative movement between said mirror casing and said cassette.

17. The side view mirror of claim 16 wherein said tracks in said mirror casing include stops at the end thereof, said mechanism being operable for driving said casing relative to said cassette, to said stop, and biasing said mechanism toward driving movement beyond the stop for placing structural tension on the assembly.

18. The mirror casing of claim 17 wherein said track is a slot and said cassette has a pin for sliding engagement of said slot.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 18 wherein said casing includes a pair of tracks and said cassette includes a pair of pins attached to said cassette for engaging said pair of slots.