AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED MIRRORS

• US 3,761,164 A
• Filed: 03/27/1972
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde M. Mckee, Sandor Shapiro, Ward Scott
• Original Assignee: Clyde M. Mckee, Sandor Shapiro, Ward Scott
• Inventors: McKee, Clyde M., Scott, Ward, Shapiro, Sandor
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/238,093
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 350/289,307,304 74/51M,88,112
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20432 for moving a mirror

Abstract

A mirror assembly for trucks or the like actuated in response to movement of the 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 movable upon rotation of the steering wheel to produce a corresponding pivotal movement in an arm member pivotally mounted to the vehicle. The arm member is connected to a cable system through a slide member having a Vshaped slot to produce linear movement of a cable assembly in the same direction upon pivotal movement of the arm member in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. The cable assembly is connected to pivotally mounted exterior mirrors for the vehicle.

Claims

1. Means for connecting a pair of pivotally mounted rear view mirrors to a vehicle to produce pivotal movement of the mirrors as the vehicle turns, said vehicle having steering mechanism which incluDes a first member movable in response to the turning of the vehicle, said means comprising first means connected with said first member and movable about a pivot point in response to movement of said first member, said first means including an arm member extending outwardly from said pivot point, cable members connected with said mirrors and operable upon extension and retraction of said cables to produce rotation of said mirrors, a slide assembly connected between said arm member and said cables and comprising a fixedly mounted base assembly and a slide member slidably mounted to said base assembly and operable to slide in one direction upon movement of said arm member in a pivotal direction away from a normal position regardless of the direction of pivotal movement of said arm member, said slide member having a V-shaped slot and a member carried by said arm member and extending into said slot to be positioned in the base of said Vshaped slot when said arm member is in said normal position and said V-shaped slot being disposed with the legs of said slot facing outwardly toward said cable members whereby upon pivotal movement of said arm member in either direction said slide member is moved in a direction away from said cables.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including a clamp member engaging said mirror and said cable member being connected to said clamp member whereby axial movement of said cable member causes the mirror to pivot.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 and in which said first member is a tie rod for said vehicle and said first means includes an angle bracket mounted to said tie rod and extending outwardly therefrom to be slidably pivotally engaged with said arm member.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including means for adjusting the length of the housing for said cables.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 and in which said a base assembly is adapted to be mounted to the axle of said vehicle and said first member comprises the tie rod of said vehicle.

6. Means for connecting a pair of pivotally mounted rear view mirrors to a vehicle to produce pivotal movement of said mirrors, said means comprising a first linearly movable member, said means movable about a pivot point in response to movement of said first member, said first means including an arm member extending outwardly from said pivot point, cable members connected with said mirrors and operable upon extension and retraction of said cables to produce rotation of said mirrors, a slide assembly connected between said arm member and said cables and including a slidably mounted slide member and means pivotally connecting said arm member and said slide member, said slide member having a V-shaped slot and a means carried by said arm member and extending into said slot to be positioned in the base of said V-shaped slot when said arm member is in said normal position, whereby pivotal movement of said arm member moves the means carried by said arm member into one leg of said V-shaped slot depending upon the direction of rotation of said arm member and said slide member is slidably moved in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said arm member to thereby move such cables and rotate said mirrors in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said arm member.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 and including a clamp member engaging said mirror and said cable member being connected to said clamp member whereby axial movement of said cable member causes the mirror to pivot.

8. The combination as defined in claim 6 and in which said first member is a cable and said first means includes an angle bracket, said cable being connected to said arm member to produce pivotal movement thereof upon actuation of said cable.

9. The combination as defined in claim 6 and including means for adjusting the length of the housing for said cables.

10. The combination as defined in claim 1 and in which said first means incLudes a base assembly adapted to be mounted to the axle of said vehicle.