Actuator unit housing for rearview mirror

• US 4,815,837 A
• Filed: 11/25/1987
• Issued: 03/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd (Murakami Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd (Murakami Corporation)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Toshiaki, Mochizuki, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US07/126,224
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 350/604, 350/637, 350/632, 350/633, 350/634, 350/636, 439/34, 439/456, 439/457, 439/458, 439/459, 248/487
• US Class Current: 359/874
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

The actuator unit housing for a rearview mirror includes two electric motors for tilting a mirror element in an actuator unit, and a drive transmission, and means for foldably supporting a mirror element on the upper surface of the actuator housing. A guide inlet for inserting an electric supply and control harness line of the motors is formed in the actuator unit housing. Since the guide inlet is composed of a plurality of lateral slits with labyrinths, the movement of the harness line occurred when the actuator is assembled or repaired can be suppressed. When a connector socket is buried in the slit, the socket is positioned by the labyrinth, and even if an external force by engaging a plug piece is applied, the socket can be stably held.

Claims

1. A rearview mirrow device, comprising:

a base;

a mirror element with a reflecting surface;

a mirror body supported on said base;

an actuating unit means secured fixed by within said mirror body, said actuating unit including means for tiltably supporting said mirror element, driving means for tilting said mirror element and a housing enclosing said driving means; and

guiding means for guiding at least one line to said driving means and including a plurality of labyrinths leading said driving means,

said housing including a rear housing and a front housing engaging each other,

said guiding means being formed as labyrinth type guide inlets so as to constitute said plurality of labyrinths, said guide inlets including a plurality of lateral slits formed in said front housing, said slits having sidewalls with projections extending therefrom at predetermined intervals, said projections being disposed at positions displaced longitudinally of said slits,

said line is extendable in a bent manner through said lateral slits to said driving means.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein, said driving means further including two sets of mirror tilting electric motors, an adjusting nut with a movable pivot, and a drive transmission, said guiding means being formed as labyrinth type guide inlets so as to constitute said plurality of labyrinths, said guide inlets having an upper surface and being formed in said front housing for inserting a supply and control line of said sets of motors therethrough, said housing further including a cover extending over said upper surface of said guide inlets from a side of said rear housing.

3. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving means includes two electric motors and drive transmission means responsive to said two electric motors for tilting said mirror element, said means for tiltably supporting said mirror element being arranged to tiltably support said mirror element substantially at a center of said mirror element.

4. The device as defined in claim 3;

further comprising the line which is formed as a harness line for controlling a drive of said electric motors.

5. The device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising;

a housing enclosing said electric motors, said housing including a rear housing and a front housing engaging each other, said tiltably supporting means being formed at a center of said rear housing, said drive transmission means including two drive transmissions disposed in said housing and spaced apart from each other so as to define a right angle, said drive transmission further including two adjusting nuts movable back and forth at respective centers of said two drive transmissions.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections on one of said sidewalls have a triangular shape.

7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said slit defines an opening with an end, said triangular projections being formed to have a right-angled triangular cross-section with sides extending toward said end of said opening.

8. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said labyrinths are formed to hold the line into position.

9. A rearview mirror device, comprising:

a base;

a mirror element with a reflecting surface;

a mirror body supported said base;

means for foldably supporting said mirror body and including an electric motor operated foldable door mirror and gear box in said mirror body;

an actuating unit means secured fixed by within said mirror body, said actuating unit including means for tiltably supporting said mirror element, driving means for tilting said mirror element and a housing enclosing said driving means; and

guiding means for guiding at least one line to said driving means and including a plurality of labyrinths leading to said driving means,

said housing including a rear housing and a front house engaging each other,

said guiding means being formed as labyrinth type guide inlets so as to constitute said plurality of labyrinths, said guide inlets including a plurality of lateral slits formed in said front housing, said slits having sidewalls with projections extending therefrom at predetermined intervals, said projections being disposed at positions displaced longitudinally of said slits,

said line is extendable in a bent manner through said lateral slits to said driving means.

10. The device as defined in claim 9, wherein said labyrinths are to hold the line into position.

11. The device as defined in claim 9;

and further comprising;

the line, the line having an end; and

a connector socket at said end of the line, said connector socket being arranged in one of said slits.