Rear view mirror actuating device
First Claim
1. An actuating device to automatically control the orientation of mirrors movably mounted on a vehicle in response to the relative positions of the vehicle and a trailer being towed by the vehicle to provide a variable field of view through the mirrors to a driver of the vehicle, said device comprising:
- mirror actuating means slidably mounted to the vehicle for movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
connection means connecting said mirror actuating means to the mirrors;
an arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle and operatively engaged with said mirror actuating means; and
actuating means attached to the trailer and automatically operatively engaging said arm when said trailer is connected to said vehicle for towing of said trailer by said vehicle, wherein said actuating means automatically operatively disengages from said arm upon the disconnection of said trailer from said vehicle,said actuating means being operable to pivot said arm in a direction and to a degree depending upon the angle existing between said vehicle and trailer whereby, as the vehicle negotiates a turn, the trailer being towed by the vehicle assumes an angle with respect to the vehicle, and in so doing said actuating means causes said arm to pivot about its pivotal mounting which in turn causes said mirror actuating means to move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, thus, moving said connection means interconnecting said mirror actuating means and the mirrors thus moving the mirrors to a position depending upon the direction and degree of turning of said vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror actuating device for automatically changing the orientation of side-view mirrors which are movably mounted to a vehicle, such as a semi-truck tractor, in response to the relative positions of the tractor and a trailer being towed by the tractor to provide a variable field of view to a driver of the tractor through the mirrors. The actuating device has two actuating plates slidably mounted to the tractor, cables interconnecting the actuating plates to the mirrors, an actuating pin attached to the trailer, and an arm pivotally mounted between its ends to the tractor and having one end connected to the actuating plates and another end connected to the actuating pin. The necessary operating connection between the actuating plates on the tractor and the pin carried by the trailer is automatically made when the tractor and trailer are hooked together in the normal manner. As the tractor-trailer combination negotiates a turn the trailer assumes various angles with respect to the tractor and in doing so the mirrors mounted on the tractor are suitably moved by the actuating device to produce a field of view which is substantially clear of the trailer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An actuating device to automatically control the orientation of mirrors movably mounted on a vehicle in response to the relative positions of the vehicle and a trailer being towed by the vehicle to provide a variable field of view through the mirrors to a driver of the vehicle, said device comprising:
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mirror actuating means slidably mounted to the vehicle for movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; connection means connecting said mirror actuating means to the mirrors; an arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle and operatively engaged with said mirror actuating means; and actuating means attached to the trailer and automatically operatively engaging said arm when said trailer is connected to said vehicle for towing of said trailer by said vehicle, wherein said actuating means automatically operatively disengages from said arm upon the disconnection of said trailer from said vehicle, said actuating means being operable to pivot said arm in a direction and to a degree depending upon the angle existing between said vehicle and trailer whereby, as the vehicle negotiates a turn, the trailer being towed by the vehicle assumes an angle with respect to the vehicle, and in so doing said actuating means causes said arm to pivot about its pivotal mounting which in turn causes said mirror actuating means to move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, thus, moving said connection means interconnecting said mirror actuating means and the mirrors thus moving the mirrors to a position depending upon the direction and degree of turning of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification