AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED MIRROR

• US 3,640,609 A
• Filed: 04/22/1970
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew V. Provenzino, Clyde M. Mckee, Ward Scott
• Original Assignee: Andrew V. Provenzino, Clyde M. Mckee, Ward Scott
• Inventors: McKee, Clyde M., Provenzino, Andrew V., Scott, Ward
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/030,637
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 350/288,289,299,304,307,302 74/51M 60/54.5,54.5HA 92/13
• US Class Current: 359/843
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors

Abstract

A mirror assembly for trucks or the like actuated in response to movement of a steering wheel to move to a position providing maximum visibility. Means are clamped to a member which is a part of the steering mechanism and which is pivotally movable upon rotation of the steering wheel in such a way that pivoting of the member is translated through the means to a T-shaped pivotal member. The T-shaped pivotal member is connected to a hydraulic system to produce rotation of the mirrors upon pivotal movement of the T-shaped member.

Claims

1. A mirror actuating system for a vehicle having a pair of pivotally mounted mirrors one on each side of said vehicle and means moving in response to and in correspondence with the turning of the vehicle, said actuating system comprising:

an actuating member and means for pivotally mounting said actuating member to said vehicle, means for connecting said actuating member and said vehicle turning responsive means at a point spaced from said pivotally mounting means whereby said actuating member is pivoted about said mounting means in a direction and to a degree which depends upon the direction and degree of turning of said vehicle, a first and a second linearly movable means pivotally connected with said actuating member at points spaced from each other, from said connecting means and from said pivotally mounting means whereby pivotal movement of said actuating member produces linear movement of each of said linearly movable means, and means connected with said mirrors and each of saiD linearly movable means and responding to linear movement to produce pivotal movement of said mirrors, said linearly movable means and said actuating member being positioned when the vehicle is not turning such that extensions of the axes of linear movement of each of the linearly movable means will pass through said mounting means said actuating member including an outwardly extending leg and a pair of outwardly extending arms, the end of said leg being connected with said connecting means and the end of said arms being respectively connected with said first and second linearly movable means.

2. The system as defined in claim 4 and in which said legs are at least 90* from said arm.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 and in which said pivotally mounting means is disposed at the center of a circle passing through the points of connection between said actuating member and said linearly movable means.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 and in which said connecting means is also disposed on said circle.