Powerfold exterior mirror assembly

• US 20050111121A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weber, Richard J., Pavao, Leo W., Barve, Amit S., Shapin, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a base portion mounted to the vehicle and a movable portion that is pivotable relative to the base portion via a motor or motorized actuator or powerfold unit or the like. The powerfold unit is operable to pivot the movable portion relative to the base portion. The powerfold unit is mounted at one of the movable portion and the base portion and engages a receiving portion of the other of the movable portion and the base portion. A resilient element is positioned between and at least partially in engagement with the powerfold unit and the receiving portion. The resilient element is resilient and may at least partially compress as the powerfold unit is engaged with the receiving portion, thereby reducing or dampening vibration of the head portion relative to the base portion of the mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a base portion fixedly mountable to the vehicle;

a movable portion pivotally mounted to said base portion and pivotable about a pivot axis;

a powerfold unit operable to pivot said movable portion relative to said base portion, said powerfold unit being mounted at one of said movable portion and said base portion and engaging a receiving portion of the other of said movable portion and said base portion; and

a resilient element positioned between and at least partially in engagement with said powerfold unit and said receiving portion, said resilient element being resilient to at least partially compress as said powerfold unit is engaged with said receiving portion.

2. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein-said powerfold unit is mounted to said base unit and said movable portion comprises said receiving portion.

3. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said powerfold unit comprises a post member and said receiving portion receives said post member to mount said movable portion to said powerfold unit and said base portion.

4. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said resilient element is positioned between and at least partially engages said post member and said receiving portion.

5. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said resilient element is positioned partially within a recess or channel in at least one of said post member and said receiving portion.

6. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element is positioned partially within a recess or channel in at least one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

7. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a polymeric material.

8. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a metallic material.

9. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric material.

10. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric coating over at least a portion of one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

11. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a flexible clip that flexes from an expanded position to a compressed position as said post member is received at least partially within said receiving portion.

12. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said resilient element is biased toward said expanded position.

13. A powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a base portion fixedly mountable to the vehicle;

a movable portion pivotally mounted to said base portion and pivotable about a pivot axis, said movable portion including a receiving portion;

a powerfold unit operable to pivot said movable portion relative to said base portion, said powerfold unit comprising a post member, said powerfold unit being mounted at said base portion, said receiving portion at least partially receiving said post member to mount said movable portion to said powerfold unit and said base portion; and

a resilient element positioned at least partially between and at least partially in engagement with said post member and said receiving portion, said resilient element being resilient to at least partially compress as said post member is received in said receiving portion.

14. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element is positioned partially within a channel in at least one of said post member and said receiving portion.

15. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element comprises a polymeric material.

16. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element comprises a metallic material.

17. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric material.

18. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric coating over at least a portion of one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

19. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said resilient element comprises a flexible clip that flexes from an expanded position to a compressed position as said post member is received at least partially within said receiving portion.

20. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said resilient element is biased toward said expanded position.