Rearview mirror actuating device

• US 4,609,265 A
• Filed: 12/24/1984
• Issued: 09/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Valentino
• Original Assignee: Clyde M. Mckee, Dennis G. Scott, Henry A. Warren, Ward Scott
• Inventors: McKee, Clyde M., Scott, Ward, Warren, Henry A., Scott, Dennis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US06/685,406
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 350/605, 350/637, 350/633, 318/467, 307/10 R
• 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: G02B 7/1827 Motorised alignment

Abstract

An actuating device for automatically controlling the position of a movably mounted vehicle mirror comprises a motor controlled by switches for selectively actuating the motor in response to angular displacement of a trailer with respect to the vehicle. The switches are actuated in response to movement of the trailer and responsively close a circuit connecting a power source to the motor. Preferably, the switching means can include means for disconnecting the power source after a predetermined rotation of the motor in order to avoid excess energy use. Preferably, the disconnecting means comprises a plurality of switches arranged to contact lobes of a rotating cam at predetermined rotational positions of the cam. The cam can be concentrically secured to the rotor shaft or can be connected to the rotor shaft by a lever mechanism in order to form a crank which translates the rotor movement to linear displacement on a mirror positioning member.

Claims

1. An actuating device for automatically controlling the position of a movably mounted vehicle mirror in response to relative positioning of the vehicle with respect to a trailer pivotally mounted to the vehicle about a pivot axis, said device comprising:

mirror actuating means comprising a motor and means for moving said mirror upon actuation of said motor;

an electrical power source for said motor;

first switch means for actuating said motor in response to the pivoting movement of the trailer with respect to the vehicle;

second switch means for de-actuating said motor in response to a predetermined movement of said motor, said second switch means comprising a cam, means for rotating said cam in response to actuation of said motor, said cam having a plurality of lobes corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of first switches, a plurality of second switches, and means for positioning each of said second switches about said cam for engagement with one of said lobes at a predetermined rotary position of said cam; and

means for electrically connecting said power source to said motor through said first and second switching means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor comprises an electric rotary motor having a rotor and transmission means for converting the rotary motion of said rotor to an oscillating shaft motion including an oscillating shaft.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first switch means comprises a plurality of switches positioned concentrically about the pivot axis, and secured to one of the trailer and vehicle, and a pivot member having means for magnetically closing each switch when juxta-positioned with each switch, said pivot member being secured to the other of the trailer and vehicle.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor includes an oscillating shaft and wherein said cam is concentrically secured to said oscillating shaft.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said cam comprises lever means concentrically secured to said cam.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said motor comprises a plurality of switches positioned concentrically about the pivot axis of the pivoting connection between the trailer and the vehicle, and means for actuating said switches in response to pivoting movement of said trailer.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further comprising override means for selectively actuating said motor regardless of the position of said trailer with respect to said vehicle.