Re-positionable mirror

• US 20070153407A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griffin, Dennis, Fultz, William
• Application Number:
  US11/322,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20070153407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08

Abstract

A re-positionable mirror in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The re-positionable mirror includes a control lever and a reflective surface. The control lever is secured to the mirror and manipulates the reflective surface into one of a first position, a second position, and a third position. The reflective surface provides a view along a first line of sight at the first position. The reflective surface provides another view along a second line of sight at the second position, the second line of sight being angularly disposed above the first line of sight. The reflective surface provides another view along a third line of sight at the third position, the third line of sight being angularly disposed below the first line of sight.

Claims

1. A re-positionable mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a reflective surface; and

a control lever secured to the mirror and for manipulating the reflective surface into one of a first position, a second position, and a third position;

wherein the reflective surface provides a view along a first line of sight at the first position, and the reflective surface provides another view along a second line of sight at the second position, the second line of sight being angularly disposed above the first line of sight, and the reflective surface provides another view along a third line of sight at the third position, the third line of sight being angularly disposed below the first line of sight.

2. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

3. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight by about 5 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

4. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

5. The re-positionable mirror of claim 4, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees.

6. The re-positionable mirror of claim 5, further comprising an actuating member coupled to the control lever, the actuating member being configured to move the reflective surface between the first, second, and third positions.

7. The re-positionable mirror of claim 6, wherein the actuating member is a motor.

8. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, further comprising an actuating member coupled to the control lever, the actuating member being configured to move the reflective surface between the first, second, and third positions.

9. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight by about 5 degrees.

10. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to generate first, second, and third commands to induce an actuating member to move the reflective surface to the first, second, and third positions, respectively.

11. The re-positionable mirror of claim 10, wherein the actuating member is a motor.

12. The re-positionable mirror of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to generate first, second, and third commands to induce an actuating member to move the reflective surface to the first, second, and third positions, respectively, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the actuating member is a motor.

13. A re-positionable mirror for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a reflective surface; and

a control lever for manipulating the reflective surface into one of a first position, a second position, and a third position;

wherein the reflective surface provides a view along a first line of sight at the first position, and the reflective surface provides another view along a second line of sight at the second position, the second line of sight being angularly disposed above the first line of sight, and the reflective surface provides another view along a third line of sight at the third position, the third line of sight being angularly disposed below the first line of sight, wherein a first position setting is maintained when using the control lever to move the reflective surface from the first position to the second or third positions.

14. The re-positionable mirror of claim 13, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

15. The re-positionable mirror of claim 13, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight by about 5 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

16. The re-positionable mirror of claim 13, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

17. The re-positionable mirror of claim 16, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees.

18. The re-positionable mirror of claim 17, further comprising a controller configured to generate first, second, and third commands to induce an actuating member to move the reflective surface to the first, second, and third positions, respectively.

19. The re-positionable mirror of claim 18, wherein the actuating member is a motor.

20. The re-positionable mirror of claim 13, further comprising a controller configured to generate first, second, and third commands to induce an actuating member to move the reflective surface to the first, second, and third positions, respectively.

21. The re-positionable mirror of claim 20, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight by about 5 degrees.

22. The re-positionable mirror of claim 13, further comprising a controller configured for providing commands to an actuating member for moving the reflective surface between the first, second, and third positions, wherein the controller sends a first command corresponding to the first position, a second command corresponding to the second position, and a third command corresponding to the third position, wherein the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting the re-positionable mirror, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the actuating member is a motor.

23. A re-positionable mirror for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a reflective surface;

a holding member having first, second, and third receiving portions; and

a control lever secured to the mirror and for moving the reflective surface into one of first, second, and third positions, the control lever having an engaging portion configured to engage one of the first, second, and third receiving portions to hold the reflective surface at one of the first, second, and third positions, respectively;

wherein the reflective surface provides a view along a first line of sight at the first position, and the reflective surface provides another view along a second line of sight at the second position, the second line of sight being angularly disposed above the first line of sight, and the reflective surface provides another view along a third line of sight at the third position, the third line of sight being angularly disposed below the first line of sight, wherein a first position setting is maintained when using the control lever to move the reflective surface from the first position to at least one of the second and third positions.

24. The re-positionable mirror of claim 23, wherein the second line of sight is angularly disposed above the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees and the third line of sight is angularly disposed below the first line of sight within a range of greater than zero degrees to 10 degrees, wherein the first line of sight is a default position and the first line of sight is selected by manually adjusting a position of the re-positionable mirror.

25. The re-positionable mirror of claim 24, further comprising an actuating member coupled to the control lever, the actuating member being configured to move the reflective surface between the first, second, and third positions.

26. The re-positionable mirror of claim 24, further comprising a controller configured to generate first, second, and third commands to induce an actuating member to move the reflective surface to the first, second, and third positions, respectively, and the actuating member is a motor.

27. A method for positioning a reflective surface of a re-positionable mirror, the re-positionable having a holding member with first, second, and third receiving portions, and a control lever for manipulating a position of the reflective surface, the control lever having an engaging portion, the method comprising:

moving the reflective surface to a first position, the engaging portion engaging the first receiving portion to hold the reflective surface at a first position;

moving the control lever to induce the engaging portion to engage the second receiving portion to hold the reflective surface at a second position; and

moving the control lever to induce the engaging portion to engage the third receiving portion to hold the reflective surface at a third position.