REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130321939A1
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uken, John T., Karner, Lee, Hook, Richard R., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,557,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/833
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly includes an interior prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate. The circumferential edge spans a thickness of the glass substrate between its front and rear surfaces. The prismatic mirror reflective element has a mirror reflector established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. A plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about the circumferential edge of the glass substrate without overlapping onto the front surface of the glass substrate. The outermost part of the plastic molding curves and the plane of the front surface of the glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of the plastic molding.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an interior prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a planar front surface and a planar rear surface;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate;

said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said front surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element that is viewed by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate of said prismatic mirror reflective element;

a plastic molding;

wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said front surface of said glass substrate;

wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves; and

wherein the plane of said front surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves from generally adjacent to said front surface of said glass substrate.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said plastic molding comprises at least a portion of a mirror housing of said interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein, when said prismatic mirror reflective element is moved to set the field of view to the desired setting of the driver of the equipped vehicle, said mirror housing moves in tandem with said prismatic mirror reflective element.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, comprising another plastic molding and wherein said another plastic molding attaches to a rearward portion of said plastic molding to form said mirror housing.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly houses at least one accessory selected from the group consisting of (i) a camera and (ii) a visual indicator that when actuated to emit visible light, is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension spans generally laterally across said mirror reflective element and said width dimension spans generally vertically across said mirror reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the equipped vehicle, and wherein said plastic molding includes a portion that is rearward of said prismatic mirror reflective element and that spans said width dimension of said prismatic mirror reflective element.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one cap portion adapted to attach at said plastic molding, said at least one cap portion substantially encasing a rear portion of said prismatic mirror reflective element.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element nests in said plastic molding.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said outermost part of said plastic molding contacts said circumferential edge of said glass substrate.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a back plate is attached at the rear of said prismatic mirror reflective element.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a plurality of individual indicating elements that, when individually actuated, visually indicate through said prismatic mirror reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein each of said plurality of individual indicating elements is spaced from and local to another of said plurality of individual indicating elements and wherein said plurality of individual indicating elements comprises at least three individual indicating elements and wherein said at least three individual indicating elements comprise first, second and third indicating elements that are generally linearly disposed to form a row of individual indicating elements at said mirror reflective element.

12. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an interior prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a planar front surface and a planar rear surface;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate;

said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said front surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element that is viewed by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate of said prismatic mirror reflective element;

a plastic molding;

wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said front surface of said glass substrate;

wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves;

wherein the plane of said front surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;

wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves generally adjacent to said front surface of said glass substrate; and

wherein said plastic molding comprises at least a portion of a mirror housing of said interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein, when said prismatic mirror reflective element is moved to set the field of view to the desired setting of the driver of the equipped vehicle, said mirror housing moves in tandem with said prismatic mirror reflective element.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said plastic molding has a durometer value less than about 110 Shore A.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, including a toggle assembly and a double-ball mounting arm.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, including a toggle assembly and a single-ball mounting arm comprising a ball pivot element with a wiring passageway therethrough.

16. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an interior prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a planar front surface and a planar rear surface;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate;

said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said front surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element that is viewed by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate of said prismatic mirror reflective element;

a plastic molding;

wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said front surface of said glass substrate;

wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves;

wherein the plane of said front surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;

wherein said plastic molding comprises at least a portion of a mirror housing of said interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein, when said prismatic mirror reflective element is moved to set the field of view to the desired setting of the driver of the equipped vehicle, said mirror housing moves in tandem with said prismatic mirror reflective element; and

including at least one of (i) a toggle assembly and a double-ball mounting arm, (ii) a toggle assembly and a single-ball mounting arm and (iii) a toggle assembly and a single-ball mounting arm comprising a ball pivot element with a wiring passageway therethrough.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, including a toggle assembly and a single-ball mounting arm comprising a ball pivot element with a wiring passageway therethrough.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said plastic molding has a durometer value less than about 110 Shore A.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the outermost part of said plastic molding curves generally adjacent to said front surface of said glass substrate.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, including a toggle assembly and a double-ball mounting arm.