REARVIEW DEVICE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

• US 20120218655A1
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Steel, Robert, Roth, Mark R., Minikey, Danny L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks

Abstract

An interior rearview device support assembly having a support member including a connecting end and a pivot end. A rearview device housing defines an internal cavity and includes a socket. The pivot end of the support member is coupled with the socket and is pivotable relative thereto. A sensor device is disposed inside the rearview device housing and is coupled to the support member.

Claims

1. An interior rearview device support assembly comprising:

a support member including a connecting end and a pivot end;

a rearview device housing defining an internal cavity and including a socket, wherein the pivot end of the support member is coupled with the socket and pivotable relative thereto; and

a sensor device disposed inside the rearview device housing and coupled to the support member.

2. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member includes an interchangeable mount interface.

3. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member extends through a top portion of the rearview device housing.

4. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, comprising:

an accessory support operably coupled with the support member and including an electronics support platform positioned below the rearview device housing.

5. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor device is a light sensor device.

6. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the rearview device housing includes a rear wall with a viewing window.

7. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 6, wherein a clear coverplate extends over the viewing window.

8. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the rearview device housing is laterally rotatable approximately 15 degrees.

9. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 8, wherein the rearview device housing is vertically rotatable approximately 12 degrees.

10. An interior rearview device support assembly comprising:

a support member fixedly connected to a light sensor device;

a rearview device housing defining an internal cavity and including a socket, the support member being operably connected with the socket and pivotable relative thereto and the light sensor device being disposed in the rearview device housing; and

a viewing window disposed in the rearview device housing, such that the light sensor device can retrieve image data from outside the rearview device housing.

11. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 10, wherein the light sensor device is recessed inside the rearview device housing.

12. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

a clear coverplate disposed over the viewing window.

13. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 10, comprising:

an accessory support operably coupled with the support member and including an electronics support platform positioned below the rearview device housing.

14. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 10, wherein the rearview device housing is laterally rotatable approximately 15 degrees.

15. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 10, wherein the rearview device housing is vertically rotatable approximately 12 degrees.

16. An interior rearview device support assembly comprising:

a support member including a connecting end and a pivot end;

a light sensor device operably connected to the support member proximate the pivot end;

a rearview device housing including a socket moveably coupled with the pivot end, wherein the pivot end of the support member and the light sensor device is disposed inside the rearview device housing, and wherein the rearview device housing is rotatable horizontally at least approximately 8 degrees;

a viewing window disposed in the rearview device housing proximate the light sensor device; and

a coverplate disposed over the viewing window.

17. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 16, wherein the support member extends through a rear portion of the rearview device housing.

18. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 16, comprising:

an accessory support operably coupled with the support member and including an electronics support platform positioned below the rearview device housing.

19. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 16, wherein the rearview device housing is laterally rotatable approximately 15 degrees.

20. The interior rearview device support assembly of claim 19, wherein the rearview device housing is vertically rotatable approximately 12 degrees.