Multifunction sail mirror

• US 4,462,303 A
• Filed: 06/01/1982
• Issued: 07/31/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Gebhard, Harold C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US06/403,750
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 98/2, 98/2.04, 98/2.18, 350/302, 350/307
• US Class Current: 454/164
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/248 Air-extractors, air-evacuation from the vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/26 Ventilating openings in vehicle exterior; Ducts for conveying ventilating air
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/54 using gas, e.g. hot air

Abstract

A sail mirror assembly 10 is provided which is operatively connected through ducting 16 to a source of heated air in an automobile heating and ventilating system. Doors 26, 64, 84 are selectively moveable by motors 68, 74 to effect operation in four modes: Mirror defrosting, side window defrosting, air extraction, and air induction.

Claims

1. In an automotive vehicle body having a windowed side door for enclosing a passenger compartment including a generally triangular sail area at the leading edge of the window bounded on its rear edge by a substantially vertical division bar, an improved sail mirror assembly of the type having a generally hollow housing carrying a mirror and fixed to the side door in registration with the sail area and including means for passing air heated by the vehicle heating system from the passenger compartment to the mirror, characterized in that:

A. flexible conduit means are provided having one end connected to the vehicle heating system and the other, open end positioned within the side door adjacent the sail area;

B. means defining a flow path through the hollow housing around the mirror are provided;

C. a plurality of slots are formed through portions of the vehicle door proximate the division bar adjacent the inner surface of the side window;

D. first and second aligned apertures are formed through the mirror housing and the vehicle door, respectively;

E. a first door member is pivotally mounted adjacent the first aperture and includes a portion engageable with the division bar slots and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the first aperture is closed and the division bar slots and the conduit open end are in fluid communication and a second position wherein the first aperture is open and the division bar slots are closed; and

F. a second door member is pivotally mounted adjacent the second aperture and is selectively movable by first control means in unison with the first door member between a first position, coinciding with said first door first portion wherein the second aperture is closed and a second position wherein said second aperture is open.

2. A sail mirror assembly according to claim 1 further characterized in that a third aperture is formed through the mirror housing for communication with the outside, a third door member is pivotally mounted adjacent the third aperture, flap means are pivotally mounted adjacent the housing flow path defining means, and second control means are provided for selectively operating the third door member and the flap means in unison for movement between a ventilating position wherein the third door member opens the third aperture and the flap means closes the housing flow path defining means and an air induction position wherein the third door member closes the third aperture and the flap means opens the housing flow path defining means.

3. A sail mirror assembly as defined in claims 1 or 2 further characterized in that the first control means comprises a selectively operable motor drive means carried in the mirror housing and having an axially displaceable output rod member pivotally connected to the first door member, and a linking rod member pivotally connected between the first and second rod member.

4. A sail mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that the second control means comprises another selectively motor drive means carried in the mirror housing and having an axially displaceable output rod member pivotally connected to the third door member, and linkage means pivotally connected between the third door member and the flap means.