REMOTE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED TWO-WAY MIRROR

• US 3,751,141 A
• Filed: 10/27/1971
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brown J. Murray
• Original Assignee: Brown J. Murray
• Inventors: Brown, J. Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/192,829
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 350/289,307,303,304 74/51M,89.15,89.17
• US Class Current: 359/873
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20432 for moving a mirror

Abstract

The mirror assembly includes support structure for mounting on a vehicle. The support structure includes means for pivotally mounting a mirror thereon. Actuating mechanism driven by a reversible electric motor is provided for changing the angular adjustment of the mirror. The actuating mechanism is mounted within a sealed housing. A screw is provided within the housing connected to the output of the motor. The screw engages and drives a nut. The nut is cammingly connected to a lever to cause swinging of the lever upon movement of the nut. The lever is, in turn, connected to the mirror for pivoting the mirror for adjustment purposes.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror assembly for mounting on the side of a vehicle comprising a support structure securable to a vehicle, spaced apart mirror holding members carried on said support structure, a mirror, pivotal means pivotally connecting said mirror at two spaced apart locations to the mirror holding members, said pivotal means defining a pivot axis for adjustment of the mirror with respect to a vehicle, one of said mirror holding members including an actuating mechanism for powered mirror adjustment from a remote location, said actuating mechanism comprising a housing including separable portions, means securing said separable portions together in sealed condition, a reversible electric motor mounted within said housing, an elongated screw connected to the output of said motor, spaced apart wall structure in said housing defining a guideway, a nut slidably received in said guideway, said screw extending into said guideway into threading engagement with said nut to drive said nut to and fro upon energization of said motor, said nut having a single slot in one face thereof, said slot being oriented generally transversely with respect to said guideway, a single lever, said lever being fixedly connected at one end to said mirror, a single cam element on the other end of said lever, said cam element being slidably received in the slot in the nut whereby to and fro movement of said nut results in displacing said cam element in said slot to cause swinging of the lever for adjustment of the mirror.

2. A mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said screw terminates at the outer end in a non-threaded portion, said housing including a wall having a socket rotatably receiving said non-threaded portion, a ring-like stop element received on said screw adjacent said outer end to thereby be interposed between said wall and said nut, said ring-like stop element serving to prevent said nut from jamming against said wall.

3. A mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said screw is detachably connected to the output of said motor to permit a degree of longitudinal movement of the screw prior to being connected, spring means interposed between the screw and the output of said motor urging said screw away from said motor to apply pressure against said nut prior to connection of the screw to the output of said motor.

4. A mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said cam element is cylindrical.

5. A mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said lever has a sleeve at said one end, a shaft extending through said sleeve and connected to said mirror, and means fixedly connecting said sleeve to said shaft.

6. A remote control rear view mirror assembly mountable on the side of a vehicle and comprising a mirror supporting structure including relatively spaced mirror supporting members, a mirror member including pivotal means connecting said mirror member to said supporting members for adjustment about a pivotal axis and with respect to the vehicle, and a housing member on one of said mirror supporting members having an electrically operative mechanism provided therewithin and operatively connected to one of said pivotal means for remote controlled adjustment actuation of said mirror member, said housing member including parts sealable against inclement weather and providing an enclosure haviNg receptive spaces for components of said electrically operative mechanism to be housed and supported therewithin, one of said components including a reversible electric motor having a screw threaded shaft operatively connected thereto and a travel nut member threadably engaged with said shaft, means within said housing precluding the relative turning of said travel nut on said shaft and for guiding the translational movement of said travel nut longitudinally of said shaft, and follower means engaged with said travel nut and including a crank arm engaged to and operative of said one pivotal means.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6, said shaft and travel nut including ball screw threads for a relatively greater ratio of translational to rotational movement therebetween, and said travel nut having a transverse slot therewithin receptive of said follower means and permissive of relative movement therebetween.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 6, said guiding means within said housing including structural walls formed within one of said housing parts and extending in parallel spaced relation longitudinally of said shaft throughout a substantial length thereof.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 8, said travel nut being of a relative width and having sidewalls formed to conform to be received between and guided on the structural walls of said one housing part for translational movement substantially exclusively, and said nut having a transverse slot therewithin receptive of said follower means and permissive of longitudinal movement substantially exclusively therewith.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 7, said crank arm being formed to extend relatively over said travel nut, said follower means including a cam element provided on said crank arm and relatively fitted to said slot for precluding relative lateral movement therebetween, and a pivot pin post mounted in said housing parts and having said crank arm engaged thereto with one end of said post exposed through an enclosing wall and formed for fixed engagement to said one pivotal means.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 10, said housing parts being formed to accommodate said pivot pin post on both sides of said screw threaded shaft and for optional selection of one thereof in providing either a right or left hand rear view mirror operating mechanism.