Electro-mechanically rotatable mirror
First Claim
1. An apparatus connectible to a vehicle for providing rearward vision to a driver of the vehicle at a plurality of selectable angles on either side of a neutral position, said apparatus comprising:
- a support member connectible to said vehicle;
a rearview structure connected to said support member, said rearview structure including;
a housing;
a mirror;
means for rotatably connecting said mirror to said housing;
a motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom in acute angular relationship to said mirror;
means extending from said mirror for engaging said drive shaft in a fixed angular relationship;
means for maintaining said fixed angular relationship during periods of interaction between said motor drive shaft and said drive shaft engaging means;
means associated with said rearview structure operable by said driver for actuating said rotating means wherein said drive shaft includes a first segment secured to the rotor of said motor, a second segment having one end portion threadedly connected to said drive shaft engaging means in said fixed angular relationship, and said fixed angular relationship maintaining means includes a flexible sleeve element for pivotably coupling said first segment to said second segment so that said second segment pivots with respect to said first segment to maintain said fixed angular relationship during said interaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for providing generally lateral or rearward vision at a plurality of selectable angles. This apparatus is electro-mechanically rotatable and may be remotely actuated. The apparatus includes a support member used to support the apparatus and connect it to whatever it is to be used with. Also included is a rearview structure having a housing, a mirror, a mechanism for rotatably connecting the mirror to the housing, and another mechanism for symmetrically rotating the mirror through the various angles. The apparatus also includes a mechanism which can be remotely operated to actuate the rotating mechanism of the rearview structure.
17 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus connectible to a vehicle for providing rearward vision to a driver of the vehicle at a plurality of selectable angles on either side of a neutral position, said apparatus comprising:
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a support member connectible to said vehicle; a rearview structure connected to said support member, said rearview structure including; a housing; a mirror; means for rotatably connecting said mirror to said housing; a motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom in acute angular relationship to said mirror; means extending from said mirror for engaging said drive shaft in a fixed angular relationship; means for maintaining said fixed angular relationship during periods of interaction between said motor drive shaft and said drive shaft engaging means; means associated with said rearview structure operable by said driver for actuating said rotating means wherein said drive shaft includes a first segment secured to the rotor of said motor, a second segment having one end portion threadedly connected to said drive shaft engaging means in said fixed angular relationship, and said fixed angular relationship maintaining means includes a flexible sleeve element for pivotably coupling said first segment to said second segment so that said second segment pivots with respect to said first segment to maintain said fixed angular relationship during said interaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A rearview mirror system, comprising:
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a support member; a rearview structure including; a housing connected to said support member; a mirror; means for rotatably connecting said mirror to said housing; a motor disposed within said housing, said motor having a first drive shaft segment and a second drive shaft segment; a flexible annular sleeve pivotably coupling a first end of said second drive shaft segment to said first drive shaft segment; a traveling block rigidly connected to said mirror and threadedly coupled with a second, screw end of said second drive shaft segment; and means associated with said rearview structure for acuating said motor to rotate said drive shaft segments and said annular sleeve so that said screw end of said second drive shaft segment engages said traveling block to rotate said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification